0/5

Public 1, critics 0 on Seven Year Switch.

Emotional abuse? Ratings hit? Or both.... there are plenty more putting their hand up to find out.

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Seven relationship series Seven Year Switch may have the critics offside, but it there is no shortage of those putting their hand up for a second season. For real.

According to AAP Seven has been swamped in a call-out for Season Two (yet to be formally announced).

That’s despite volatile relationships, arguments, tears and flirting in what is pitched as a couples “therapy.”

“They had more than 500 the first time, and you’d think after people had watched it they would say ‘no I don’t want to do that’ and yet they’ve had far more,” Counsellor Jo Lamble said.

But as Karl Quinn wrote in Fairfax, many on social media were lashing out at the show this week, following questionable conduct and couple staying together.

“On Facebook, Brad was labelled a manipulator, controlling and dangerous. On Twitter he was called an emotional abuser, with some people wondering why his behaviour was not being condemned by the show’s resident therapists, Jo Lamble and Peter Charleston. In my opinion, those criticisms were absolutely spot-on.”

He noted, the Department of Social Services defines emotional abuse thus:

  • blaming the victim for all problems in the relationship
  • constantly comparing the victim with others to undermine self-esteem and self worth
  • sporadic sulking
  • withdrawing all interest and engagement (for example weeks of silence)
  • emotional blackmail

Dating and relationship shows have been one of the few successes for networks lately.

Most of them are proving to be good bang (ahem) for buck, in terms of the money spent and the ratings they deliver.

Seven Year Switch (despite it’s irrelevant title and too many episodes) definitely falls into that category. It may be a polarising show, but even those on social media who are against it are outweighed by the numbers that matter: OzTAM and advertisers.

Seven still has one more episode to roll-out, with a Reunion on Monday.

No doubt many of those who were furious with it this week will turn in to be furious once more.

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