The 50 Grand Premiere Review: Reality Show Faces Bigg Boss Comparisons Despite Fresh Format
The much-anticipated gaming-based captive reality show The 50 premiered on Sunday, bringing together fifty contestants including television stars, reality show veterans, and content creators. However, despite its innovative concept, the show immediately faced comparisons to the long-running reality franchise Bigg Boss, with many contestants appearing to carry what critics are calling a "Bigg Boss hangover" into the new competition.
Celebrity Lineup and Format Innovation
The show features an impressive roster of celebrities including television stalwarts like Karan Patel, Ridhi Dogra, Urvashi Dholakia, and Prince Narula competing alongside reality show faces such as Nikki Tamboli, Rajat Dalal, Bebika Dhurve, and numerous other contestants. What sets The 50 apart is its unique format that leans more toward adventure-based competitions similar to Khatron Ke Khiladi, albeit in a milder version, rather than the personality-driven drama of Bigg Boss.
In a significant departure from traditional reality shows, The 50 operates without a conventional host. Instead, the show is anchored by 'The Lion' and his army, with the identity of the person behind the lion mask remaining a closely guarded secret. This mysterious game master holds all decision-making powers throughout the competition.
Prize Money Structure and Fan Involvement
One of the most intriguing aspects of The 50 is its prize money structure. Contrary to typical reality shows where contestants compete for personal winnings, no celebrity will walk away with the Rs 50 lakh prize money. Instead, the amount constitutes a fan prize pot. Each contestant performs for their fans, and the best performer's lucky fan wins the prize money for that particular task.
However, this innovative concept faces clarity issues. The premiere episode failed to adequately explain how fans can participate or place their bets on contestants, leaving the selection criteria for the lucky winner somewhat ambiguous and potentially confusing for viewers.
Premiere Episode Highlights and Challenges
The first episode established the show's serious competitive nature from the opening scene. Contestants were divided into ten groups of five, with Urvashi Dholakia, Rajat Dalal, Mr Faisu, Karan Patel, Krishna Shroff, Monalisa, Prince Narula, Ridhi Dogra, Nikki Tamboli, and Shiv Thakare selected as team captains. The episode featured special guest Himesh Reshammiya performing while contestants tackled their first task: an obstacle course.
Several dramatic moments emerged during the premiere. Karan Patel lost his cool during the race after being pushed by fellow contestant Siddharth Bhardwaj, threatening to "break his bones" if such behavior repeated. Meanwhile, Urvashi Dholakia struggled significantly with the obstacle course, tripping multiple times and requiring encouragement from fellow contestants to complete the task.
The elimination process saw content creator Vanshaj Singh become the first contestant evicted, with captains citing his lack of interaction during the initial minutes as justification for their decision.
Bigg Boss Hangover and Contestant Dynamics
Despite the show's fresh format, many contestants appeared trapped in Bigg Boss mentality. Several participants, particularly those with previous reality show experience, seemed determined to create unnecessary drama, pick fights, and engage in arguments simply to stand out in the crowded field of fifty celebrities.
Nikki Tamboli accused Karan Patel, Urvashi Dholakia, Ridhi Dogra, and others of forming an exclusive "TV serial gang" that ignored other contestants. Meanwhile, content creator Maxtern (Sagar Thakur) appeared to be laying groundwork for confrontation with Elvish Yadav's friend Lakshay Kaushik over past controversies.
What Works for The 50
The show demonstrates genuine potential through several strengths:
- Innovative Format: The gaming-based approach provides refreshing variety compared to personality-driven reality shows
- Fast-Paced Action: The premiere maintained strong momentum without unnecessary dramatic padding
- Organic Drama: Conflicts emerged naturally from competitive situations rather than manufactured scenarios
- Original Concept: The show avoids directly copying established formats like Rise and Fall or The Traitors
- Relatable Tasks: Initial challenges resembled games many viewers played during childhood, enhancing audience connection
Areas Needing Improvement
Several challenges could potentially hinder The 50's success:
- Contestant Mindset: Participants like Nikki Tamboli, Rajat Dalal, Bebika Dhurve, Archana Gautam, and Shrutika Arjun need to shed their Bigg Boss approaches and recognize this as a skill-based competition
- Visibility Issues: With fifty celebrities competing, many contestants including Love Kataria, Siwet Tomar, Nehal Chudasama, Dushyant Kukreja, Shiny Doshi, and Yuvika Chaudhary made barely noticeable appearances in the premiere
- Clarity Concerns: The fan participation mechanism requires clearer explanation and implementation
- Reality Show Baggage: Contestants like Digvijay Rathee and Siwet Tomar need to overcome their Roadies-associated personas
Future Prospects and Broadcast Details
The 50 possesses significant potential to establish itself in the Indian reality television landscape, provided it can overcome initial challenges. The show's success will largely depend on whether contestants can adapt to its unique format rather than attempting to recreate Bigg Boss dynamics through unnecessary conflicts.
The reality competition streams on JioHotstar every Monday through Sunday at 9 PM, with television broadcasts on Colors TV at 10:30 PM. As the competition progresses, viewers will discover whether The 50 can successfully carve its own identity or remain overshadowed by comparisons to established reality franchises.
