Page 6 of Knot Just for Show

I’ve got to hand it to them though, they’ve been together for a long time, and from what I can see as the camera pans past their tanned and smiling faces–eyes all looking directly into the lens; they seem pretty…happy.

“Hello everyone, and welcome to Build-A-Pack-Blind!” Anna beams, spreading her hands wide—her many bracelets and rings twinkling in the light as she greets the television audience.

“This experience aims to create deep, emotional connections between prospective pack members without the outside noise of appearance, designation, or evenscent,” Steven continues, giving the camera a meaningful raise of his eyebrows.

I’m shaking my head in disbelief at his words. The idea that you could spend a few weeks talking to someone, sight unseen, scent suppressed, and be able to form a pack that would actually work well enough to bite each other in? It seems highly improbable at the very least.

I’m about to start shouting at the television, more questions filling my mind after the basic premise has been laid; but the camera moves and George begins to answer some of my burgeoning queries.

“Over the next forty days, our participants are going to undergo an incredible experience!” He begins his explanation on camera, but quickly continues in voiceover over shots of both the set and the contestants.

“One sigma and seven omega ladies along with twenty-two non-pack-affiliated gentlemen of mixed designations, will begin this journey in what we like to call ‘the bubbles’”.

I watch with interest as we get shots of the women, all eight of them entering into what appears to be a beautifully furnished hotel lobby.

Almost immediately, the shot shifts to the men. I’m a little surprised when I see that they have been kept siloed; each given the equivalent of a small but luxurious studio apartment to inhabit during this phase of the ‘experience’.

“The ladies will be living together from the start, but the gents won’t get to mix and mingle together until later,” the voiceover explains as the last of the establishment shots of the male participants in their new quarters make the rounds.

“Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Paul Milton asks, snapping us back to the television studio with the rest of Pack Milton posed together on what I can now see is part of the ‘bubble’ set.

“You’re right,” George gives a laugh that manages to feel roguish and genuine even though it’s so clearly scripted schlock. It makes me think about how strange it must be for all of them to be using what skills they've honed as entertainers of the years for a show likeBuild-A-Pack-Blind. I guess by that kind of measure, most folks would sayMuffydoesn't rank much higher.

I'm quick to remind myself, though, that this cheesy show is likely an easy payday. While I’m happy for Pack Milton, I’m not entirely sure what it means for me, a prospective contestant.

“Our pack-hopefuls will go on dates while living in these ‘bubbles’,” George backtracks, the camera once again leaving hisgood looks to show footage of contestants walking from their living areas down long secluded hallways to closed doors.

At first glance, it just looks like a hotel. The little pop-n-fresh apartments for the men, the set Pack Milton is hosting from, the ladies common areas, and now these ‘blind-date-bubbles’ all remind me of those mid-range hospitality spots that are nicer than a Holiday Inn, but not as swish as a boutique or real luxury hotel or resort.

Each bubble appears to have a loveseat, a small coffee table, a mini refrigerator and plenty of throw pillows and blankets–but most obvious and awkward of all: a large frosted glass panel lit from behind. I say panel and not partition–because there’s no actual transparency to the other ‘side’ of the bubble. The whole connection carefully managed so that no one can see a silhouette or catch a whiff of scent until later in the experience.

“After several rounds of dating blind and scentless—with the women having no clue of the men’s designations,” George continues in voiceover as we see footage of prospective contestants receiving what are obviously scent swatches.

“Dating participants can choose to exchange scent cards and reveal their designations in an attempt to deepen the connection.”

My heart starts to pound at the thought of it. The fear and trepidation of rejection mixing with the ‘what-if’ of connection, chemistry, and love.

“Men and women exchange scent matches within the omega or sigma’s sphere of interest,” Paul adds as the camera bounces back to Pack Milton, their faces taking on an array of mischievous expressions.

“The scent match marks our first elimination round,” Anna adds with an air of intrigue.

“Some matches will immediately dissolve due to scent or designation incompatibility, whereas some male participantswill still match to multiple omegas and/or sigmas.” She gives a smirk before passing the baton back to Steven, who continues forward.

“At this point, men who have been scent matched by the same omega or sigma can explore beyond their ‘bubble’ apartments and begin to intermingle in common rooms based on their scent matches to a shared omega or sigma—allowing them to interact with other prospective pack members to get a feel for compatibility.”

We’re thrown into shots of different configurations of the men in different common areas, obviously decked out to be formidableman cavesfor their temporary inhabitants. Groups of male contestants seen in the new setting appear to be introducing each other for the first time, quickly followed by more shots of individual men and women on dates in the blind one-on-one ‘bubbles’.

“Dating in the bubbles continues for an additional week, while the men and women make their decision about who they are going to choose to see at the pack reveal and potentially move on to the next step of the experience with,” Steven concludes, the camera returning to him and his pack.

“The reveal is our next elimination round.” Anna clasps her hands together in an anticipatory gesture. “Participants get to see each other for the first time and decide whether or not they want to see how real their chemistry is during a week-long getaway at a beautiful island villa with their new potential pack!”

They don’t show any specific footage of participants actually meeting here, but we are treated to a shot of a very long hallway outfitted with several overstuffed chairs and elaborate frosted French doors at either end. In case the setup wasn’t obvious enough, there’s a smash cut to one of the sets of frosted French doors—a woman’s figure illuminated by backlight on the otherside of the blurred glass; an evocative image that brings my attention to my own heartbeat throbbing in my ears.

“While in their island paradise, prospective packs will have a chance to mix and mingle for the first time since leaving the ‘bubbles’.” Paul's voice explains over a series of shots of the incredibly luxurious tropical accommodations.

“After their magical time away, prospective packs will return home for a two-week 'real life’ trial period,” Steven continues, taking the baton from Paul as he continues the explanation of the rules and itinerary of the show. As he does so, the camera revisits Pack Milton only for a moment before cutting to shots of Los Angeles.

“Our potential packs may live in a temporary nest provided by the production.” As we are treated to a mini montage of pre-furnished nests that have obviously been assembled from some of the most expensive products and trendy brands. I am surprised by how put off I am by the sight of the cookie-cutter luxury condos draped in white and cream linens; one-size-fits-most bougie nests that don't really resonate with me.

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