Shiri Appleby knows fans disliked their second date withUnREAL.

I felt the same way.

And what better way to win someone back than with a grand gesture?

UnReal, Ep 301 “Oath”

Credit: Bettina Strauss/Lifetime

Unlike former leads, Serena has a sterling reputation and doesnt need the shows promise of good PR.

That conflict, Appleby notes, centered the season.

We asked, How do we get this show back to what worked?

UnReal, Ep 302 “Shield”

Bettina Strauss/Lifetime

And what worked was making it a show about feminism, she says.

[With Serena], we could explore what it means to be a working woman and find love.

What are the obstacles?

Will men find you attractive if youre more successful than them, or will they feel emasculated by you?

How do you overcome that?