Shannon Alexander delivers an honest portrait of modern dating in the docuseries Alphabet Soup.
The Alphabet Soup docuseries is easily one of the rare documentaries that makes one feel seen. Directed by Shannon Alexander, the docuseries homes in on queer dating in NYC, focusing on an eclectic group of singles and couples navigating the increasingly complicated bummer fest that is dating in our modern era. And trust, the issues depicted are not exclusive to those a part of the proverbial Alphabet Soup, the series draws its name from. No, the anxieties, joy, and sheer tomfoolery of dating apply to everyone (things are rough out there), making it a natural entry point for many.
Alphabet Soup quickly establishes that its heart and soul come from the people we’ll meet along this six-episode journey. There is a wide spectrum of ages, personalities, sexualities, and gender identities on display here, offering a wonderfully diverse group to explore modern dating with.
None of them is forgettable, with each interview subject easily making an impression that is nigh impossible to shake off. Of course, every viewer will have their personal favorite. Still, no one from Alexander’s list of interview subjects is free from drama, making this experience hard to pull away from.
Everything from mental to sexual health is explored in Alphabet Soup.
While the drama in the Alphabet Soup docuseries mostly stems from dating, other topical issues arise. Mental and physical health are two of the topics, and some of the ways they manifest are surprising. Sexual health discussions are an important part of the queer community. Still, the frankness with which unprotected sex was discussed about Troy and Ray Anthony’s situationship was refreshing, even if it might have made them look bad or irresponsible in the process.
More jarring in its honesty is how Alexander highlights the tenuous nature of housing through the constantly changing situation between Saturn, Atari, and Shalimar. Saturn is confrontational and self-admittedly toxic, making their moments onscreen a little hard to absorb at times. Part of this is a consequence of my personally knowing people like Saturn, who have separated themselves from family and are on the defensive.
While it makes for dramatic viewing, there are real-world consequences, such as Saturn eventually separating from Atari, which leads to a temporary housing shortage. Dating is already complicated, but factoring in factors like a lack of housing, a toxic living environment, and instability makes it even harder to put oneself out there. The Alphabet Soup docuseries effectively underscored this reality in subtle ways as various storylines unfolded.
A timeless and necessary exploration of self-discovery.
It’s not all seriousness to this degree, however. Through the pairings and unpairings seen onscreen, the Alphabet Soup docuseries takes time to explore everyone’s likes and dislikes, their preferences (in all their blunt honesty), and their insecurities. For some, like Nova, the journey is still about figuring out what they want in a partner, making it more rooted in self-discovery. Others, like the older, seasoned couple Troy and Anthony, have reached a stage in their lives where they know (mostly) what they want and can navigate the dating scene with greater ease. However, that doesn’t necessarily reflect success in the end.
What is successful is how the lighting illuminates and showcases each interview subject in the Alphabet Soup docuseries. With lighting becoming a literal dying art in TV and film these days (curse you, flat lighting), it has become easier more than ever to wash out and flatten the features of people and places seen onscreen. This is not an issue in Alphabet Soup. No, everyone is beautifully shot, capturing the full essence of each subject’s appearance and personality, and frankly, they all look great.
If there’s anything to address, it’s that the Ray/Kiykiy storyline ends rather abruptly. Initially, it wasn’t a huge issue, as the explanation provided in Alphabet Soup made sense. The waters get muddied when Kiykiy returns in the final episode, as the docuseries reaches its conclusion. After such a lengthy absence from screentime, Kiykiy’s reappearance was a confusing surprise that had me wondering where they’d been all this time. Had there been another storyline for Kiykiy after Ray’s departure, it might have helped eliminate that confusion at the end of the series.
The bottom line.
Sometimes that’s the reality of dating. People come and go from our lives, and ultimately, their memory fades from view. The Alphabet Soup docuseries won’t fade from the mind so easily. It’s vibrant and messy, featuring a tableau of fascinating people who are so incredibly relatable as they attempt to navigate the convoluted world of modern dating. Let’s face it. Dating is the worst it’s ever been, and the Alphabet Soup docuseries dives right in to explore why this must be the case. Sure, there are no easy answers by the end, but it scratches the surface with its delightful cast of queer participants.
The Alphabet Soup docuseries is now streaming on Prime Video and Peacock in the US, and Tubi in Canada.
REVIEW RATING
-
Alphabet Soup - 8/10
8/10
