by Reade Fenner ’22

Recently, Netflix released a reality dating show titled “Love is Blind” in which a group of adults test whether they can fall in love without seeing their significant other. The show premiered on February 13 and Netflix continued to release episodes over the course of the next three weeks. Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, this series spans 11 episodes, including a final reunion of the couples in the final episode. 

The show begins with 30 men and women “speed dating” for ten days. A man and a woman each enter a “pod,” in which they are separated by a wall. They cannot see each other, and can only communicate verbally using speakers in either pod. Couples get to know each other over these ten days, and must eventually decide if they have a strong enough connection with someone to propose. Once a couple gets engaged, they can meet in person and journey to Playa del Carmen, Mexico together. There, the couples are given the opportunity to get to know their partner better, as well as the other couples. After the brief vacation, the couples all move into the same apartment building in Atlanta, Georgia and are able to meet each others’ families and get a glimpse into their significant other’s everyday life. Soon, the wedding days approach and the couples must decide if they want to spend the rest of their lives with the fiancee they met 38 days prior.

“Love is Blind,” similar to reality dating shows such as “The Bachelor” and “Married at First Sight,” is packed with heaps of drama. There are couples to root for who viewers cannot help but love, but there are also problematic couples who seem doomed from the start. The premise of the show is fascinating and original, putting a new spin on reality dating. 

Full of suspense, “Love is Blind” is an entertaining series to watch because of the contestants. The cast, which contains people who either make viewers want to cheer or scream, is full of real people whom the audience can relate to. Some contestants, such as Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton, are beloved by viewers because of how honest and strong their relationship is. Others, such as Jessica Batten, receive lots of criticism on social media because of how they act on the show. Batten is involved in a love triangle with contestants Mark Cuevas and Matthew Barnett that continues even after she accepts Cuevas’ proposal, leaving those watching on the edge of their seats, dying to know who she chooses. 

Although the series is interesting to watch, it has its flaws. Certain points in the show feel extremely forced and are painfully awkward to watch, despite guarantees of limited producer involvement. Also, the entire premise of the show is whether love is blind, but the majority of the contestants chosen are conventionally attractive, which takes away from the idea that looks are unimportant in love. 

Grade: B