Netflix’s Building the Band Delivers Pitch-Perfect Drama and Tone-Deaf Eliminations

Netflix’s Building the Band just handed the genre a mic and told it to sing in the dark. This bold new reality series challenges 50 aspiring musicians to form the next hit vocal group—without ever laying eyes on one another until the band is built. Yep, it’s Love Is Blind meets The Voice, with a sprinkle of reality chaos that keeps you watching even when the singing gets shaky.

At its core, Building the Band flips the talent show script. Contestants don’t rely on looks, choreography, or Instagram followers. They sing from soundproof booths, and their only chance at forming a band depends on how many of the other singers “like” what they hear. Get five likes, and you make the cut. Less than five? It’s the musical equivalent of being left on read.

From the original 50 contestants, the show narrows the field down to six groups. The catch? Nobody knows what their bandmates even look like until the groups are officially formed. Drama alert. Once the bands are assembled, they move in together and battle it out for a prize of $500,000 and music industry mentorship.

You can’t build a band without pop legends at the helm. Enter:

• AJ McLean, formerly of Backstreet Boys, who hosts the show with just enough dad energy to hold it all together.

• Nicole Scherzinger, the ultimate girl group graduate from Pussycat Dolls, serves up fierce feedback and softer mentoring moments.

• Kelly Rowland, Destiny’s Child icon, pops in to school contestants on staying in harmony without getting in each other’s way.

• Liam Payne, of One Direction fame, appears in his final television role, filmed before his untimely passing in 2024.

Together, they guide the chaos with a blend of experience, encouragement, and the occasional side-eye.

Building the Band was filmed in mid-2024, just a few months before Liam Payne’s passing. Netflix approached the project with care, working closely with his family to ensure the show honored his legacy. The first episode even opens with a heartfelt tribute that’ll hit you in the feels whether you were a Directioner or not.

The show is produced by Banijay’s Remarkable Entertainment and split into three episode drops. Episodes 1 through 4 set the stage, Episodes 5 to 7 dive into band dynamics, and Episodes 8 through 10 deliver the final performances and ultimate winners.

And yes, there’s group housing. Because of course there is. It’s not reality TV until someone passive-aggressively moves a roommate’s shampoo.

Let’s get to the juicy part. Who made it, who tanked, and who should have gotten more likes?

Episode 1:

• Eliminated: Chance Perez, former boy bander and Power Ranger. Despite a solid audition, he didn’t get the five likes needed to progress.

• Also gone: Kevin Chung, who was clearly not vibing with the others vocally or otherwise.

Episode 2:

• Eliminated: Gabriella Lora. Good voice, bad timing. Not enough love from her fellow contestants.

Episode 3:

• Mostly focused on finalizing the remaining bands. No new eliminations, but tensions rise as fewer spots are available and people start playing vocal Survivor.

Episode 4:This is where the cuts come hard and fast. Once the six bands are finalized, everyone else is shown the door.

• Eliminated: Christian Kirk, Jenna Marquis, Jermarcus Riggins, Karlee Tanaka, Max Wright, Maya Patel, Thomas Berberian.

• Bri makes a band, then gets cut immediately after when arrangements shift. Ouch.

By this point, only 22 contestants are left, grouped into six bands with varying degrees of talent and social stability.

If you love music competitions and want something with a fresh twist, Building the Band deserves a spot on your watchlist. It’s unpredictable, emotionally resonant, and just messy enough to be entertaining without spiraling into full reality show chaos.

Sure, the format has some quirks, and the early episodes take their sweet time, but the vocal chemistry, celebrity mentorship, and emotional stakes keep things interesting. Plus, if you’re a Liam Payne fan, this show is an emotional tribute you won’t want to miss.

Building the Band on Netflix mixes sightless auditions, celebrity judges, and group drama into a surprisingly heartfelt music competition. With a unique premise, memorable eliminations, and Liam Payne’s final on-screen appearance, it offers something new for both reality TV skeptics and die-hard pop fans. Tune in for the music, stay for the drama, and maybe—just maybe—find your new favorite band in the making.

Still curious who’s got the best vocals or which group is falling apart next? Stay tuned and bring popcorn. This show’s just getting started.