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UnREAL season 3: Everything you need to know

Photo credit: James Dittiger / Lifetime
Photo credit: James Dittiger / Lifetime

From Digital Spy

UnREAL was one of the hits of 2015 with its sharp skewering of reality TV dating shows, before suffering from a dip in quality in the second season.

Even star Shiri Appleby admitted to EW that she "kind of agreed" with the reaction. "I felt the same way. But it was sort of like, 'Okay, it's here in print, so let's just address it and make the show better'," she explained.

In case you need reminding, UnREAL takes place behind the scenes of the fictional dating competition show Everlasting, following the attempts of the producers to get the footage they need by manipulating the contestants, while balancing their real-life dramas.

Photo credit: James Dittiger / Lifetime
Photo credit: James Dittiger / Lifetime

18 months after the second season finale, following a slight delay, the show is back for its third season – and already has a fourth season confirmed – so what can we expect?

UnREAL season 3 release date: When's it arriving?

Lifetime has confirmed that the show will return to its channel on Monday, February 26 in the US, with Amazon Prime Video again streaming it in the UK, starting from Tuesday, February 27.

UnREAL season 3 trailer: What can we expect?

The full trailer for the third season was unveiled in early January and promised more of the debauched joy we've come to expect from the show.

This time around, Everlasting has a female "suitress", technology mogul Serena (played by Masters of Sex star Caitlin FitzGerald), who the producers have to keep in check as she works her way through 25 male suitors.

Photo credit: Lifetime
Photo credit: Lifetime

"We asked, 'How do we get this show back to what worked?' And what worked was making it a show about feminism," Appleby told EW. "We could explore what it means to be a working woman and find love. What are the obstacles? Will men find you attractive if you're more successful than them, or will they feel emasculated by you? How do you overcome that?"

But don't worry, UnREAL fans, the trailer looks like the show will still contain its fair amount of sex, drugs and violence.

UnREAL season 3 cast: Who's back?

All of the major cast are back for the new season, including Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer as Everlasting producers Rachel and Quinn, Craig Bierko as executive producer Chet, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman as Jay, Josh Kelly as cameraman and Rachel's ex-boyfriend Jeremy and Brennan Elliott as Everlasting host Graham.

Photo credit: Lifetime
Photo credit: Lifetime

Kassandra Clementi as Chet's girlfriend Crystal, Jaime Callica as Jay's boyfriend Xavier, Tracie Thoms as Quinn's close friend Fiona and Brandon Jay McLaren as psychologist Dr Simon join Fitzgerald as newcomers on the show.

Some of the potential male suitors for Serena will be played by Bart Edwards, Alex Hernandez, Alex Sparrow, Tyler Hynes and Marcus Rosner.

UnREAL season 3 spoilers: What happened in season 2 again?

The season two finale ended with Jeremy causing a (likely) fatal car crash involving Rachel's ex Coleman and journalist Yael, who went on Everlasting to uncover secrets, specifically about the death of former contestant Mary in season one.

Photo credit: Lifetime
Photo credit: Lifetime

Jeremy may have saved the show, but Kelly told The Hollywood Reporter that his character is struggling with his actions. "He's dealing subconsciously but he's not yet dealing with, consciously, the fact that he may or may not have killed people," he explained, adding that he had a 70-pound weight loss to film the new season.

The new season will also see Rachel finally seek professional help for the mental health issues she's suffered from throughout the show.

Photo credit: Lifetime
Photo credit: Lifetime

"She does have to take responsibility for what happened at the end of last season and whether or not she produced Jeremy to do what he did and whether she knew exactly what he would do," showrunner Stacy Rukeyser told TV Guide. "I think she knew he would do something and she has to deal with that."

The presence of a female "suitress" also affects both Rachel and Quinn as it makes the women compare themselves to her, given that she is a successful businesswoman.

Photo credit: Lifetime
Photo credit: Lifetime

"Having a female avatar up there makes everybody say, 'I'm like Serena in this way' or 'I'm not like Serena in this way.' It gives everybody someone to project onto all their issues with feminism and where it's left them," co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro told Variety.

Rukeyser added: "A smart, strong woman is one of the scariest things to America, and Rachel and Quinn have to deal with that as they're selling Serena to America. But it's also a great discussion about what is it to be a woman today and how are we supposed to be."


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