Everything you need to know about the recently-released ‘The Tribe’

What happens when you combine reality television with a couple of influencers to create content in a luxurious Los Angeles penthouse? It sounds like the perfect recipe for boosting followers, landing brand collaborations, and becoming the next big thing in the digital space, among other things. Social media influencers might be just a click away, however, there’s a lot about their lives that we don’t know. And that’s exactly what Amazon Prime Video’s latest show, The Tribe, was going to show us. With the audience hooked to their screens to satiate their appetite for cringe-worthy content, the show seemed poised for success. But was it really? 

Read on to know what we liked and disliked about Amazon Prime Video's The Tribe to help you decide whether or not you should press play.

What’s the show all about?

In today’s fiercely competitive world of social media, only a few manage to rise to the top. The Tribe gives viewers a VIP pass to the high-pressure ride of becoming a social media sensation. Set against the glitzy backdrop of Los Angeles, five ambitious young women from India aim to conquer the influencer game, both on their own and as part of CollabTribe. With a mix of high fashion, relentless ambition, close-knit friendships, and the behind-the-scenes drama that shapes them, the show is unhinged at its best.

Who’s in it? 

If you’re going to watch the show, we suggest you make a note of these names, because they all sound exactly the same. Get ready for the tongue twisters as you’re set to watch Alanna, Alaviaa, Aryaana, and Alfia, along with the only influencer whose name doesn’t start with the letter A, Srushti. The leader of the pack is Alanna Panday, a multi-talented content creator with over 1.7 million Instagram followers. As co-founder of CollabTribe, she—with her entrepreneurial spirit and unstoppable drive—adds a bold new dynamic to the group, spearheading collaborations and raising the bar for success in the digital world.

A rising star in the fashion and beauty influencer scene, Alaviaa Jaaferi, daughter of actor Javed Jaaferi, was introduced to the world of entertainment from an early age. Known for her striking personality and fashion-forward content, Alaviaa brings a bold, no-nonsense attitude to The Tribe, ensuring that every moment in the LA house is glamorous and filled with high-energy drama.

An entrepreneur and content creator, Srushti Porey is the founder of the trendy clothing brand Breakfast Party. With 307k Instagram followers and deep ties to the film industry—being the daughter of award-winning filmmaker Samruddhi Porey—Srushti has built a loyal audience with her creative and relatable content. With a flair for fashion, this seasoned creator offers fresh perspectives on blending culture and creativity, making her a key player in the group. 

Singer-songwriter Aryaana Gandhi, better known as Yaani, rose to fame after her debut single 'Stockholm Syndrome' took off. The show highlights Gandhi’s musical journey and relentless pursuit of stardom on the show, bringing an emotional depth to The Tribe and giving viewers a glimpse into the struggles of chasing global fame.

Alfia Jafry, daughter of celebrated filmmaker Rumi Jaffrey, makes her on-screen debut with The Tribe. Known for her love of fashion and her creative flair, Jafry steps into the world of content creation as the newest member of CollabTribe. As the fresh face in the group, she brings a sense of discovery and experimentation to the series, highlighting her growth in the competitive digital landscape.

And finally, there’s Hardik Zaveri, a young SOBO serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of CollabTribe. Zaveri serves as the backbone of The Tribe, offering mentorship and a strategic approach to help influencers thrive in the ever-evolving social media world.

What we liked

An unfiltered glimpse into a content creator’s life

The show gives the audience a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of five of India’s top digital creators, showcasing their glitzy lifestyles while delving into their real-life challenges. It’s a perfect watch for anyone curious about the true lives of influencers as one gets to witness their personal hardships, professional struggles, and the unfiltered reality of navigating the cutthroat influencer culture of Los Angeles.

A creator’s guidebook on fashion

From the very first episode, viewers are treated to impressive fashion-forward moments. The impeccable style of these creators sets major fashion goals, showcasing a range of head-turning looks. From chic everyday streetwear to Srushti’s ‘Breakfast Party’ collection, the influencers slay in denim, trendy beachwear, and bralettes that make a bold statement. Safe to say that the blend of fashion with their unique personal flair and casual wear with ultra-fashion screams GOALS!

Exotic Locations in Los Angeles

The Tribe showcases various iconic locations across Los Angeles showing just why the place is the melting pot for content creation. While a majority of the content is shot at the CollabTribe House in suburban LA and at Hardik Zaveri's home on Mulholland Drive, the cast ventures into the heart of Hollywood, visiting the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame for outdoor shoots that capture the essence of Tinseltown. We see them explore Abbot Kinney Boulevard, go hiking in Griffith Park, and have a blast at Venice Beach along with a glamourous brand shoot (filled with drama) at Malibu's Paradise Cove. Outside the city, Pismo Beach provided a picturesque backdrop for dune bashing, while the cast camped out against spectacular vistas at Flying Flags Avila Beach.

What we didn’t like

Reality and drama don’t mix

The series is meant to offer viewers a fresh perspective on the personal and professional ups and downs of being in the spotlight. But one doesn’t get to see much of that despite the show touching upon various issues. And that’s where the problem begins. While it seems to tick a lot of boxes, the show fails to delve deep into the complexities of fame, friendships, and business. We see them try to balance all of these with picture-perfect posts without letting us in on what they do and what makes them the influencers that they are. 

A lack of audience investment

Engagement and interactions are worth their weight in gold for a content creator or influencer. It’s surprising, and in some cases shocking, to see the complete lack of it on the show over the nine episodes. With so much thought going into how every look, brand collaboration, post, and caption is going to be structured, this energy sadly isn’t translated into the viewing experience. There is no crisis, tension, or build-up, which is why viewers cannot help but feel unaffected. Don’t forget, this was supposed to be a reality show after all. Without the main ingredients to leave ample food for thought, the show does leave a sour taste.

As mentioned earlier, one just gets to know about the influencer's lives at the surface level. Porey’s got her own brand to build, Gandhi’s looking to give her music career a boost, Pandey multitasks as she takes on the role of CEO and wife at the same time, and Jafry is a complete newcomer to the world of content creation, while Jaaferi is living in her own bubble. There was so much to explore here, but the show focusses more on the group dynamic instead of showing us what their individual dreams are. What takes the cake here is that the biggest conflict on the show, which takes close to four episodes, is who will get the smallest room in the Los Angeles mansion. Now we weren’t expecting discussions on brand and content strategy, but we didn’t even get the bare minimum. 

The ending is anything but exciting

Yes, the girls got that coveted Lakmé collaboration, which should make for a happy ending. But considering the buildup to it, the treatment felt quite underwhelming. One would expect things to improve from that moment onwards, but the makers had something completely different planned. Zaveri's involvement with the CollabTribe project did not have enough explanation; just look at the Collab Tag Instagram handle and you’d see their follow count increase from 6000 to a mere 11.3k after the show began, despite Zaveri pooling in $5,00,000 to get things going. If that money and shooting in LA couldn’t make a significant impact, it's hard to see what will.

Lead image: Amazon Prime Video

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