‘The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’ Proves Netflix And Bravo Have a Lot To Learn From Each Other

When the new Netflix reality series The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives appeared on the platform at the end of November, it was clear from the title what viewers would be in for: The Real Housewives of India. In fact, if the show were actually on Bravo where the popular franchise originated, that’s likely what it would’ve been called. This isn’t the first time Netflix and its bottomless budget have been inspired by Bravo though, and it sure won’t be the last. But is this actually a problem for the NBCUniversal channel — especially in 2020?

Only as much as Netflix is a problem for any competitor. But Bravo should be reacting. The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives is…not exceptional. It’s clearly a ripoff of Real Housewives when it could’ve taken the franchise formula and improved upon it — which is what Bravo must learn to do, and is already showing signs of acknowledging. Bollywood Wives had an opportunity to really let international viewers into a world they may be previously unaware of, both in terms of the glamorous lifestyle and cultural practices; instead, it leans a little too much on the interpersonal drama that could (and has) happen on any other show about affluent female friendship groups. Instead of taking us into the unique aspects of their world they are…bickering at lunch.

This is a chance for Bravo to be taking notes, as they seem to have already done with their latest installment, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Based on the internet’s reaction (in this case, actually a fair way to assess), Salt Lake City appears to be pleasing Housewives diehard and casual viewers alike, taking us into an American town that is rarely depicted, especially in this manner. The lavish lifestyles are on display and so are the contentious relationships, because if it ain’t broke. But it’s also letting viewers glimpse Mormon norms and dynamics we actually haven’t seen from Housewives before. How does one politely discuss another woman’s arranged marriage to her step-grandfather? Basically: bravo, Bravo.

While Bollywood Wives leaves much to be desired, there are rich people all over the world. Let’s go worldwide, show us something we haven’t seen — yes, with just the right amount of squabbles included, because along with rich people, gossip and petty feuds also know no international borders. Bravo was previously on the right track with the now-canceled Ladies of London, but where are the glamorous women of Paris, of Beijing, of Brazil, of South Africa, of Russia! Of Africa!? Over a dozen international Housewives franchises exist but have rarely aired in the US (with the exception of Melbourne). Give us more of that. We’re familiar enough with the happenings of Orange County and New Jersey, and especially now that travel could be impacted for quite some time, take us somewhere new via screens. Current Housewives vacations have tried to slip some culture in, because who hasn’t been craving a special Madiera poncha since The Real Housewives of Potomac visited, but there’s such greater potential.

And speaking of Potomac, as Bravo has specifically dealt with the ramifications of Black Lives Matter this year, going international to do what they do best with some added flair would be an exceptional way to add some diversity to their lineup. And it doesn’t just have to be via new Real Housewives series either. Bravo is uniquely poised to use other shows, specifically something like Below Deck which is already being filmed in other corners of the world, to show us all something new. Plus, they never have to step away from the shiny stuff. In other words, show me the money. One of the high points of last season’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was not the way the women made Denise Richards squirm over a fancy dinner. It was when Sutton Stracke took the women on a private shopping spree in Rome. That’s some exclusive shit, and she’s not the only one having those luxurious experiences that most of us will never ever know.

All this is to say, Bravo should do its best to remain aspirational. Netflix seems less interested in that route. They appear to be testing the waters and going cheap before they shell out on proven successes, and in some cases, unafraid of going as trashy as possible. Bravo has mostly moved away from the days when they would consider anything near a Love is Blind or Too Hot to Handle. But let’s hope they aren’t comparing their own Million Dollar Listing shows to Netflix’s clear clone, Selling Sunset. To me, Bravo has the upper hand here. The mostly male cast creates a balance that benefits the network and also allows for Los Angeles‘ Tracy Tutor to shine as a competent boss (not an opportunity all the women featured on this channel are afforded). Over on Selling Sunset, the emphasis is much more on the drama between the women, rather than the drama of these exquisite homes. What Million Dollar Listing has in its corner is a really sleek series that highlights homes most viewers can’t even afford to look at from the street outside. But by focusing on the details instead of the drama, MDL is a stress-free series, one I often like to binge a few episodes at a time.

Which is one more element that will always distinguish Bravo from Netflix: much of what makes Selling Sunset a success is that a full season drops all at once; people binge it, talk about it in-depth for a week, and then get a break. And while I am all for Bravo giving viewers a bit more of a break (see: Below Deck), a show like Real Housewives is designed to entertain for approx. four months at a time (who would want to rush through all that Potomac has given us this season in the matter of a weekend?).

It’s not an unwise decision for Netflix to stack their reality genre, which is less likely a move to actually compete with Bravo, but with Peacock and Hulu where full seasons of Bravo shows live, ready to be binge-watched. And while the streaming platform has excelled at so much, biting from Bravo isn’t quite one of those aspects just yet. Though that doesn’t mean Bravo should be sitting pretty either. They’ve started to take steps in the right direction with shows such as Family Karma which is set to return in 2021 for Season 2, but there are also places where they can bite right back. The streaming platform has found mixed success when it comes to their reality fashion series, but something like Styling Hollywood is a good show to point to for Bravo, especially as something they can pair with Project Runway now. It’s been long enough since we’ve witnessed the personality and the peek into the professional world of someone like a Rachel Zoe (and not just because we’ve been living in sweatpants). Netflix’s Country Ever After is a sweet family reality series that’s not at all scandalous enough for the world of Bravo, which is probably why Netflix viewers enjoy and consider it the real party for which they would not like to be tardy, ahem. Even a show like Down to Earth with Zac Efron is something Bravo should be taking seriously: a hot celebrity host traveling the world and also spreading a message of sustainability? Win, win, win. In fact, Bravo could certainly benefit from a travel show or two, because again: let’s go far and wide in the world. Netflix found success with shows such as Indian Matchmaking and Love on the Spectrum which followed young people dating in other parts of the world. Even something timely and educational such as Lenox Hill could be an interesting avenue for Bravo to explore.

Netflix and Bravo each remain in their own unique lanes when it comes to the reality TV game, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t (or can’t) peering and even swerving over each other’s lines from time to time. Bollywood Wives is a great example of how Netflix can keep learning about how to step their game up, and how Bravo can take the imitation as the sincerest form of flattery and use it to their advantage, to also step their game up, no matter how firmly-planted their high-heeled foot in the genre may be — and that’s the real reality of it all.

Where to stream The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives