I recently started watching the reality show Polyamory: Married and Dating on Showtime (Thursdays 11 PM), and let me tell you: it is insane. It documents two “relationships” in different parts of California: one is a “triad” consisting of a married couple and their girlfriend, and the other is a “pod” consisting of two married couples that just moved in together. Polyamory is the belief that love is limitless and monogamy is unnatural, which is why every person on the show has multiple lovers. Honestly, I thought through watching the show I could maybe begin to understand at least where these people are coming from, but the idea of polyamory still makes no sense to me. I can’t imagine sharing my boyfriend/ husband with other people and not being allowed to feel jealous (whenever someone on the show expresses the slightest bit of jealousy they are told that they are “going against the rules of poly” and “acting mono”). I’m usually pretty liberal about these types of things, but in this case I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around polyamory. Managing one relationship is hard enough, what would it be like to manage so many? What do you think?
Once Upon a Time Dating 
I’ve written reviews of the episodes on my site and have a few thoughts to share.
To make the show engaging, the director focused on “character growth”, and that growth came in the forms of characters recognizing and coping with their feelings of jealousy. While it is an awesome story and message to share, it is hard to do so well given the show’s space – a half hour time slot that is meant for adult-oriented content. There is a LOT of introspection and processing that goes on in dealing with the personal insecurities that are the root of those jealous / possessive feelings, and I don’t think that the timeslot did justice in providing the audience a chance to see that.
As for your other concern – I agree. I was a little shocked at the “that’s not following the rules of poly” and “you’re acting like a monogamous person” comments that went on (some of those comments are also seen in the discussions on the show’s FB page when discussing Jen’s reaction to Tahl’s ex being invited to the party). I am not sure how conscious everyone is that the monogamy-bashing is a turn off and potentially alienating. I called it out on the Facebook page for the show and got a very brief response.
To me the 2 couples are in great need of therapy. Kamahla is an instigator and doesn’t care about the rules set forth by Jennifer. She seems to be in it to be the center of attention at all times. Geez if you want to break up a marriage your doing a damn fine job there Kamahla. Your a self centered egotistic know it all. You can’t have your cake and eat it to. Grow up you have a young child and you spend most of the show either crying or telling your husband you don’t wanna share your lover ? I hope your husband and the other couple leave your home in the middle of the night.
LOL
absolutely retarded. human beings are naturally jealous and envious creatures. One the characters said “it’s so rare for four people to love each other”, which completely contradicts the “polyamory is natural” claim. What a bunch of crap. I feel sorry for the kids. Don’t believe me. Go search for polyamory stories in real life. Most of them fail horribly.