Can people truly fall in love without ever meeting in person? Love Is Blind, the popular Netflix show, has been attempting to answer that question since its debut in February 2020. However, the most recent season of the show had a different outcome compared to previous seasons. In Season 5, which concluded on October 13th, only two couples actually made it to the altar, and out of those two, only one couple actually got married. This raised doubts about the show’s premise.
While there have been success stories from Love Is Blind, with some couples who met in the show’s pods still being together, there have also been plenty of breakups and dramatic moments. Can couples who fall in love without seeing each other truly have a lasting and loving relationship outside of the reality TV bubble? Dating and relationship experts weigh in on the matter.
Love Is Blind is considered a social experiment where singles interact with each other through a wall in pods to determine if love is truly blind. They even get engaged in the pods and get married within a matter of weeks. Chris Coelen, the series creator, and CEO of Kinetic Content, describes the show’s experiment as simple, yet powerful. The authenticity and journey of the participants are what elevate the show season after season. The show is transparent, with participants being informed about what to expect and the potential challenges they may face.
In Season 5, set in Houston, viewers witnessed the couples transition from initial excitement and romance to encountering various issues related to physical appearance, finances, and age differences. Despite the drama, there was one couple, Lydia and Milton, who stood out for their genuine commitment to each other. They remained together even after the cameras stopped rolling. Amber Brooks, a dating and relationship expert, praised their relationship as a testament to the fact that love can thrive when both individuals are willing to put in the effort and have difficult conversations.
Lydia and Milton faced their fair share of challenges, including their age gap, but they managed to overcome them. Milton expressed his satisfaction with the experience, stating that he wouldn’t change anything. Their journey proved that love can endure when both partners are willing to work on the relationship.
As of the latest reunion on October 15th, Lydia and Milton are still married but have to face the additional challenge of maintaining a long-distance relationship. They miss each other immensely and cherish every moment spent together. Reality TV, despite its flaws, has managed to capture real emotions and feelings.
However, not every couple’s story gets shown on camera. The show’s creators have to make judgment calls about which stories to include, meaning there are plenty of untold stories that don’t make it to the final cut.
While some relationship experts see the potential in Love Is Blind’s experiment, others are more skeptical. For Amy Morin, a psychotherapist, successful relationships require chemistry, compatibility, and commitment. Love Is Blind allows couples to determine emotional chemistry through conversations, but they don’t get to experience physical chemistry until they meet in person. Amy emphasizes the importance of physical attraction in romantic relationships and believes that lack of attraction doesn’t necessarily make someone shallow but could signify the absence of a spark.
Kelsey Latimer, a licensed psychologist, acknowledges Love Is Blind as an experiment but points out that the participants applying for the show are likely romantics who believe in the potential success of the experiment. However, she doubts if the show’s premise can be successful on a mass scale.
Liv Talley, a dating coach, shares a similar sentiment, considering the show’s premise flawed. She believes that real connections cannot be formed in the setting of Love Is Blind and rushing participants into marriages can be detrimental. According to Talley, couples who work out on the show have primarily chosen partners they felt a physical connection with after meeting in person. Infatuation can cloud judgment, even in unconventional situations, and rushing into marriage may not be a healthy approach.
In conclusion, Love Is Blind continues to captivate audiences with its unique concept of determining if love can transcend physical appearances. While it has produced success stories, the show’s premise is still subject to debate among experts. Whether love can truly be blind remains an unanswered question.
