This text accommodates spoilers for Season 9 of “Love Is Blind,” together with the reunion particular.
The current season of “Love is Blind,” Netflix’s hit relationship actuality collection, was a whirlwind, to say the least. Or possibly whirled like a hen smoothie?
For the primary time within the collection’ historical past, no {couples} mentioned “I do” on the finish of the experiment, by which singles date potential companions by means of particular person “pods,” by which they will communicate to one another however can not see one another. Solely when {couples} get engaged do they see one another for the primary time by means of a theatrical reveal.
Season 9’s individuals hail from Denver, and over the course of the experiment, six {couples} acquired engaged, although that quantity would dwindle. Kacie McIntosh and Patrick Suzuki have been the primary to separate even earlier than the normal post-pods journey to Mexico, in a cringe inducing show of affection and rejection that left Patrick — and viewers — confused about whether or not or not she was breaking apart with him. Kacie, by means of kisses and embraces, advised Patrick she wasn’t going to Mexico after telling producers she didn’t suppose her “attraction to him is gonna grow that much.”
In later episodes, we see {couples} Nick Amato and Annie Lancaster, and Joe Ferrucci and Madison Maidenberg break issues off earlier than even strolling down the aisle. Each {couples} argued incessantly after they left the pods, as clashing communication types and alcohol consumption fueled disagreements.
But when there was a central theme this season, it was about work and sophistication — and what it will imply if sure {couples} mentioned “I do.” Megan Walerius (a.ok.a. Sparkle Megan), who spoke incessantly about her wealth and work as an entrepreneur, ended up breaking issues off with Jordan Keltner, a service supervisor in transportation and logistics. One among their disagreements centered on job flexibility and obligations exterior of labor, like youngsters: “I can’t play tennis at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday,” Jordan advised Megan in a tense dialog within the penultimate episode. (Jordan’s younger son was a spotlight of their relationship.)
Equally, Ali Lima and Anton Yarosh’s demanding jobs and monetary conditions have been mentioned incessantly. Each work night time shifts and lengthy hours — Ali is a nurse and Anton works in transportation and logistics, like Jordan. Ali requested Anton if he’d be capable of assist each of them whereas she pursued the next diploma, and he mentioned sure. “And I can still get Botox?” she requested, which Anton adopted up with a much less optimistic response.
Ultimately, Ali and Anton made it to the marriage, however she mentioned she couldn’t marry him on the altar. Edmond Harvey and Kalybriah Haskin had the identical final result. Their relationship sparked dialog on social media about how individuals are vetted, with some arguing that Edmond was not prepared for the emotional depth of the experiment.
Dialog has swirled on-line because the first batch of episodes have been launched earlier this month, with followers sharing robust emotions and theories about what occurred each in the course of the season and after filming wrapped in 2024. Some consider Nick and Annie’s on-camera break-up was staged, many have made armchair diagnoses and the rumor mill has been teeming with the idea that Megan had a child with one other man after breaking apart with Jordan. (She confirmed she has a new child son, Brooks, together with her new accomplice, Paul, in the course of the reunion.)
Hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, the reunion particular premiered on Netflix Wednesday. Opening with a efficiency from singer-songwriter Myles Smith, the particular was taped in entrance of an viewers of followers, like one who scoffed at Kacie’s remarks in an immediately memeable second, and a few of the individuals’ kinfolk, like Kalybriah’s stone-faced mom.
Employees author Kaitlyn Huamani and tv editor Maira Garcia in contrast notes on the divisive season and the energetic reunion particular.
Jordan Keltner, left, mentioned he and Megan Walerius had spoken about her new relationship since they cut up. And he or she confirmed that she just lately had a child. (Netflix)
Maira Garcia: I generally tend to dip out and in of “Love Is Blind,” however for a lot of causes, I get drawn again in and Season 9 was a spotlight for me. I do know the purpose of the experiment is to finish with fortunately married {couples}, and for the primary time, that didn’t occur. However as a viewer, I’ve to say, I wasn’t dissatisfied. The messiness and disagreements between the {couples} this season saved me engaged and the discussions about matters like race and sophistication are at all times fascinating to me. I feel they’re revealing and necessary to have if you’re contemplating a severe relationship with somebody — even when the conversations can grow to be unhinged.
Including one other layer is the dialog round parenting and changing into a step guardian between Jordan and Megan. As a guardian, I perceive how demanding and time consuming it may be, and as a toddler of divorce, I bear in mind these weekends being shuttled backwards and forwards between mother and pop. None of it’s straightforward, and as an grownup, I’ve a greater understanding of it. Kaitlyn, what about this season saved you hitting “next episode” many times?
Kaitlyn Huamani: I’ve to agree that the messier the {couples} are, the extra fascinating the season is for me, which implies this one was enthralling. Regardless of what number of seasons I watch, it by no means ceases to amaze me how robust the bonds kind between {couples} over the course of a mere 10-day interval within the pods. I’m additionally at all times amazed by how shortly it will probably all crumble in the true world.
I watched the primary six episodes of this season “blind” myself, not seeing any of the individuals till they reached the reveal. That made it fairly clear early on this season that there have been main incompatibilities between the {couples}, nevertheless it additionally added a little bit of intrigue to this season. The one couple I noticed as a long-term match early on was Kalybriah and Edmond, however clearly issues modified dramatically between them as soon as the pod bubble burst.
I’d been ready moderately impatiently for the reunion as a result of I nonetheless had loads of lingering questions after the finale. Kalybriah mentioned she wouldn’t shut the door on a future with Edmond, so have they given their relationship one other shot since filming wrapped? Why did Kacie hold the engagement ring (and why hasn’t she returned it but)? And are the rumors true? Did Megan have a child?
What have been you hoping to get some decision on within the reunion, Maira?
Garcia: There have been a couple of issues. One, I wished to see if the rumors have been true, that Megan was now a guardian. The episodes have been filmed in 2024, and lots can occur in that point span — and positive sufficient, Megan started a brand new relationship, had a child and managed to cover all of it from the web. It’s truthfully stunning and commendable how she was in a position to hold her life personal, and I’m completely satisfied for her. She additionally appears to know Jordan’s viewpoint higher about how you must surrender a few of your self to deal with a brand new life. And he shared his reservations, in hindsight, about doing the present and introducing his little one to a accomplice (“At his age, stability is very important”). Jordan and Megan additionally appeared to have a mature dialogue about transferring on from each other post-filming, and so they each struck me as probably the most stage headed of all of the {couples}.
I used to be additionally dying to see how and if Kacie and Patrick — largely Patrick — would get some decision after their breakup. The problem about giving again the engagement ring — Ali rightly identified that Netflix foots the invoice for the ring, although upgrades come out of contestants’ pockets — was much less fascinating to me versus what Patrick actually wished: an apology. She was oblique about her emotions towards him and her awkward try at breaking apart might have magnified insecurities he had about his race and relationship and what it means to be desired if you don’t seem like the vast majority of males in Denver. I nonetheless suppose he deserved higher, and I can see why he wished a solution from her sooner moderately than later in regards to the standing of their relationship.
However I can also’t condone the venom she says she obtained on-line when Patrick responded to a TikTok of hers — “People were sending me, ‘Go kill yourself.’’’ That’s horrible; reality shows have long been a criticized about whether or not they do enough to protect participants from threats on social media, but I hope they are taking some security measures. As for the random shootout with Chris Paul of the Clippers to see who gets the engagement ring? Well, I guess it’s one way to get out of asking hard questions — looking at you Nick and Vanessa.
Vanessa Lachey reaching for the engagement ring Patrick Suzuki gave to Kacie McIntosh, something he requested back.
(Adam Rose/Netflix)
Huamani: Yes, the CP3 appearance was certainly unexpected. The out of place hoops competition was just one component of the evening that really caught me off guard. The live music, the elaborate stage set-up and the strange Ninja Creami product placement at the end all made it feel like a bigger production than most years. Sure, it’s fun to know the man who’s regarded as one of the best point guards of all time is a fan of a dating reality show, but you’re absolutely right that those kind of odd gimmicks just sucked time away from the many things I wanted the cast to address.
You’re also correct in pointing out that Nick and Vanessa often fail to deliver on asking the important questions. They didn’t follow up on a comment Anton made about how “at the time” of filming, he would have a beer after work. The phrasing recommended he not does that, and will even suggest he’s now sober, however the hosts simply moved on after he mentioned that. It was fairly disappointing for that to be an unanswered query contemplating how large of a job his alcohol consumption performed within the demise of his relationship with Ali.
I additionally discovered a few of the responses from the individuals felt rehearsed — particularly Nick’s contributions. That’s not as a result of I feel Netflix coached him or the opposite individuals (they couldn’t even coordinate a constant gown code!), however as a result of many individuals defaulted to remedy communicate. Peppering in phrases like “love bombing” and “disassociative” feels insincere. Possibly Nick simply cared deeply in regards to the impression of his phrases and spoke with cautious intention, however the learn I’m getting on him is that it was extra of a crafted disaster response than real apologies or weak ideas.
Fortunately, some individuals have been nonetheless fairly chaotic of their communication. Thanks Joe and Kacie for being unfiltered (sort of to a fault). That’s not less than extra fascinating than Nick persevering with to parrot that he’s taking accountability.
Garcia: Agreed, if there’s something they will’t be faulted for is telling their viewpoint. However what’s it about Joe? Is he actually that charming in actual life? I feel after the bizarre second when he was half asleep, half inebriated in Mexico that I wrote him off. Joe and Kacie admitted that they dated for a couple of weeks after he and Madison broke up, and Madison mentioned she felt that the flirtatious encounters between Joe and Kacie led to the demise of her engagement to Joe. Madison additionally tells how Kacie “had the audacity to tell me we are Eskimo sisters” — an extremely crass method of claiming they’d each had intercourse with Joe. All I would like is for Kacie to know why her actions and feedback might be seen as deeply problematic. Sigh.
Talking of accountability, Kalybriah tried her finest to take accountability for the place her relationship with Edmond went unsuitable, even pulling out a chunk of paper to lift the factors she wished to make. I get it, I’m nervous in entrance of a crowd too, particularly if I’m making an attempt to say one thing necessary. However she raised an necessary level about how she didn’t need to be portrayed merely as an offended Black girl — an onscreen stereotype — and that her causes for getting upset with Edmond have been legitimate. She felt manipulated as a result of he would usually cry and was dismissive of their points and her emotions. It simply felt like they have been dwelling in numerous realities watching them commute. In the end they have been in a position to depart on seemingly good phrases — they apologized and embraced.
Edmond Harvey and Kalybriah Haskin embraced after hashing out their breakup.
(Netflix)
Huamani: That hug was good to see, particularly with how damaged up Edmond gave the impression to be on the day of the marriage. However sure, it’s at all times fascinating when there are two fully completely different accounts of conflicts between {couples}. It’s clear that much more unfolded between them that wasn’t captured by the cameras, and I’ve at all times questioned how a lot of the reality we get within the edit about who the individuals are in actual life. Are they behaving otherwise when they’re involved with how they’ll be perceived after the present airs? I’ve to think about somebody in a forward-facing place like Edmond, who works as a realtor, is cognizant of that, not less than on some stage. I’m glad Kalybriah had the chance to make clear that their relationship was extra advanced than what we noticed on display. They do each look like they got here out on the opposite facet of the experiment in an excellent place, possibly with a stronger understanding of what they need and wish in a partnership.
I do know some followers have mentioned on-line that this season turned them off of the present due to the incompatibilities or the failings of the individuals, and a few have even known as for the present to finish with this season. (It’s already renewed for Season 10, don’t fear.) However to me, these deeply imperfect, considerably problematic and unintentionally humorous individuals who participated this season are what makes this present so nice.
What’s “Love is Blind” if not meals for thought of your personal wishes and must-haves in a relationship? And if not that, on the very least, the present is a good watch with a bunch of associates. Maybe with a large golden wine glass in hand, a la the manufacturing’s signature beverage vessel.
Garcia: As an elder, married millennial, I usually joke about how I really feel like I acquired the final copter out of a struggle zone earlier than the rise of on-line relationship — I simply hear lots in regards to the challenges individuals youthful than myself face within the relationship world! I perceive making an attempt various things to hopefully meet your match, so this experiment to me appears like a extra fruitful journey in comparison with different relationship reveals as a result of the premise is to power individuals to have exhausting conversations shortly, sight unseen. That’s what retains me as viewer, and as somebody who covers tv, . I’m not fazed by the truth that not one of the {couples} ended up married, however I additionally hope it’s not a pattern.
There are at all times debates about whether or not individuals who take part in actuality relationship reveals are “doing it for the right reasons” — in different phrases, they’re not simply chasing web clout. Some would possibly, however not all and that’s why I’ve caught with this present as a result of there have been some profitable relationships. So whereas choking down a Crystal Mild hen smoothie won’t be anybody’s thought of romance, not less than we get an actual have a look at the way it might be for somebody on the market.
