The Quill #6: Bingeable TV #3

May 7, 2025

UnREAL

Inspired by the real-life experiences of UnREAL’s co-creator Sarah Gertrude, this show takes viewers behind the scenes of reality television. Controversial to say the least, this show-in-a-show gives viewers a glimpse into what really happens when you sign-up to let someone “produce” your life. In the UnREAL world, the term “produce” is a double meaning. They say produce, but what they really mean is manipulate. They spend their time thinking of ways to get contestants to behave and react in “interesting” ways. If they want a tearful confession, they’ll comb through your mental-health history looking for the perfect bit of juicy info to evoke tears. Your parent passed away? no problem! You were abused as a child? That’s just what we’re looking for. You’re afraid of heights? In the next game we’ll be scaling walls and climbing ladders. In a place where strengths are weaknesses and weaknesses are strengths, are you brave enough to be produced?

UnREAL is the collision of whisper campaigns, prescription tampering, rigged games, affairs, death, eating disorders, addiction, mental illness, pregnancy, and more. Each episode is filled to the brim with social injustice, as it employs racism, workplace inequality, sexual harassment, verbal and physical abuse, sexual orientation, and ignites a full spectrum of emotions. The shock factor in each episode is so high that your jaw will hit the floor and stay there until the end.

Who is the star of this show? Is it Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby), a woman whose male boss refers to her only as, “little weirdo” and tells her that, “she is NOT hot enough to be crazy”? Rachel is dark and broken, with unresolved childhood trauma, so she pushes the boundaries of human decency and behaves in ways she herself can’t even believe. She is the producer who will go as far as it takes to drive the narrative toward the highest ratings — or will she?

Maybe the star is Quinn King (Constance Zimmer), who is the epitome of boss b*tches. She is dark, edgy, promiscuous, unafraid, and in total control of everyone and everything around her — or is she? She pushes her producers to the edge, so they’ll push the cast to the brink. Quinn King is a shark in heels whom you’ll love to hate. Don’t believe me? Check out these quotes from Quinn and decide for yourself.

Quinn King Quotes

• “Sl*ts get cut.”
• “It’s not my fault America is racist.”
• “Be a good meat-puppet and do as I say.”
• “Starve our villain until she’s mean like a pit-bull.”“
• Cash bonuses for nudity, 911 calls, & cat fights.”