‘Love Is Blind’ Season 9: I watched the present blindfolded

This text comprises spoilers for Season 9 of “Love Is Blind.”

I see faces in every little thing — a slice of Swiss cheese, the entrance of a sedan, even {an electrical} outlet. So once I watched “Love Is Blind” with a blanket draped over my tv, I didn’t suppose it will be troublesome to think about what the members regarded like.

I used to be unsuitable.

Contributors of Netflix’s standard courting collection are single individuals who say they’re prepared for marriage, they usually enter “the experiment,” because the present’s creator Chris Coelen calls it, the place they date potential companions by means of particular person “pods,” during which they’ll communicate to one another however can not see one another. They every goal to search out their future husband or spouse, and it isn’t till they’re already engaged that they see one another. 4 weeks later, they are saying “I do” — assuming all goes properly, and it often doesn’t.

As a loyal fan of the collection, I made a decision to get a style of the experiment myself with Season 9. I watched the primary six episodes, the place the members are blindly courting one another, utterly blind myself. Solely when the {couples} revealed themselves to one another did I see them. I name it “Love Is Double Blind.” (Though the pattern of watching the present this fashion has popped up on social media, that moniker has not.)

What I realized from my very own experiment is that it’s considerably simple to see (or moderately hear, I suppose) which {couples} work on a basic degree and which {couples} don’t when your judgment just isn’t clouded by appearances. I additionally realized just about everybody regarded nothing like what I had pictured, which may very well be what some members expertise after seeing the individual they’re imagined to in a short time marry for the primary time.

I diligently took notes as I listened to the early episodes (similar to the members do on their pod dates) and broke down my ideas episode by episode. From Sparkle Megan’s competing love pursuits to the dramatic breakups this season, all the drama and the cringe had been nonetheless current, even by means of this uncommon viewing expertise.

Episode 1: ‘A Love That Sparkles’

This episode was, by far, the toughest to observe by way of adjusting to my “blind” expertise. I began by blindfolding myself and rapidly realized that made my notes incoherent. I opted to swap the blindfold for a blanket protecting my TV, which was higher, however I cracked the code by the tip of this episode. The blanket-on-the-TV methodology works greatest for those who don’t cowl up the decrease third of the display screen so you’ll be able to see the members’ ages, names and occupations. This additionally helps for those who, like me, are reliant on subtitles.

As soon as I found out the optimum solution to pursue “blind” viewing, it was nonetheless troublesome to maintain monitor of the members, however a handful stood out. Patrick Suzuki rapidly expressed his insecurities about being Asian American, which made me suppose he wasn’t fairly prepared for a present like this the place your insecurities may be examined, particularly after members turn out to be engaged. (Do I seem like what they anticipated me to seem like? Am I their kind? Do they nonetheless love me within the “actual world”?)

I did word that Patrick and Anna Yuan, who additionally occurs to be Asian American, appeared like an excellent match of their early conversations even earlier than they knew one another’s ethnicity — they later had an open dialog about it.

Megan Walerius, whose opening line for all her pod dates was that she calls herself “Sparkle Megan,” had sturdy connections with Blake Anderson, Jordan Keltner and Mike Brockway. Early on, Mike appeared like one of the best match by way of chemistry however the worst by way of constructing a contented, wholesome relationship.

Episode 2: ‘Love Me Once I’m Blind?’

Ali and Anton had been the primary couple to get engaged in Season 9.

(Netflix)

Ali Lima and Anton Yarosh had been the primary couple we noticed get engaged, in order that they had been the primary couple I noticed in any respect (though they overvalued the reveal in Episode 1, I didn’t get to see them till the highest of Episode 2). It felt like we barely obtained to know them in any respect earlier than the reveal as a result of there was simply an excessive amount of floor to cowl with all the important thing gamers. I disliked Anton’s remark about how Ali may have been “twice” her dimension, however chalked it as much as nerves and adrenaline that I think about can be coursing by means of him in that second.

Madison Maidenberg’s honesty about her imaginative and prescient points and the chance she may go blind sooner or later was unhappy to study, but it surely was good to listen to her being weak, and it appeared like her match Joe Ferrucci took it properly. Edmond Harvey and Kalybriah Haskin seemed to be an unproblematic, sturdy (albeit surprising) match, not less than to date. Nick Amato already got here off as a participant, and I’m not a fan of the spicy discuss within the pods. Isn’t your loved ones going to observe this?

With Patrick, the insecurity about his identification and his hesitation to share his ethnicity with Kacie McIntosh was uncomfortable to hearken to — I don’t envy those that truly watched this scene. Kacie was receptive and open to the dialog, but it surely nonetheless felt like Patrick and Anna made an excellent match at this level, even when she and Blake additionally appeared to actually work collectively. So many love triangles!

The intense spot of the episode was Joe’s proposal to Madison, which appeared real and heartfelt. The low level was Anna ghosting Patrick. That was surprising and made me really feel horrible for him, however once more, I used to be grateful I didn’t have to observe the cringey second.

Episode 3: ‘Ghost City’

Edmond and Kalybriah obtained engaged after having weak conversations within the pods.

(Netflix)

Megan was in a troublesome spot right here. Mike was the man she says she would usually go for in the actual world. However Jordan was a greater match emotionally, not less than in my thoughts. Blake, nonetheless, bowed out and left the present early, like Anna. That left the door open for Jordan, so it was a win in my e-book. If Blake’s departure had led her to Mike, I’d have been extra upset.

Madison and Joe’s reveal (and his shock) felt like one of many extra life like ones I’ve seen on this present. Matching a stranger’s face to the voice you fell in love with would most likely be fairly jarring. Listening to the present versus watching has made me much more sympathetic to the extra awkward or stunned reveals. I’ll lower Joe some slack right here, however I’ll be watching him with nearer eyes now that I can truly see him.

Edmond’s proposal to Kalybriah and their reveal afterward felt excellent for his or her personalities. They appear to have had essentially the most open and deep conversations to date, however I at all times should surprise if the edit makes anybody appear extra deep or extra shallow than they’re to favor the juicier stuff. Perhaps what we’re seeing of Edmond and KB is a fraction of their conversations that occur to be attention-grabbing, and the remainder may very well be unbearably boring.

A fast rundown on my ideas of all the opposite key gamers at this level: Kait Nemunaitis and Nick look like a greater match than Nick and Annie Lancaster, Annie and Brenden Guthrie are most likely not a match made in heaven, Patrick and Kacie have little or no chemistry, and I nonetheless actually don’t like Mike (Sorry Mike! I simply personally wouldn’t wish to date you).

Episode 4: ‘The Harmful Video games We Play’

Nick, who’s a luxurious watch seller, had two sturdy connections within the pods.

(Netflix)

Nick’s conversations with Kait about faith had been irritating to hearken to — he appeared to behave blindsided that she didn’t have a robust connection to faith after she articulated her emotions properly in an earlier dialog. Annie and Nick really feel like they is likely to be a greater match by way of their background and upbringings, however listening to their dialog about elevating LGBTQ+ youngsters was uncomfortable. Annie stated she felt like younger folks figuring out as part of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood was “100%” a fad, and Nick stated when youngsters “begin having these ideas too younger,” it’s regarding to him. (Each Nick and Annie have since walked again these feedback in latest interviews.)

By the tip of the episode, it felt like Nick was making an attempt to make the emotional reference to Annie catch as much as their chemistry. “That is going to finish in a messy breakup,” I wrote in my pocket book, predicting the demise of their relationship. And poor Brenden, who’s so clearly in love with Annie, didn’t win her coronary heart. I feel he might have dodged a bullet.

On Kacie and Patrick, let me first say that I don’t perceive how anybody may discuss soiled within the pods, particularly realizing that that is going to be televised. She did appear to like him, but it surely seems like that gained’t be sufficient to beat his insecurities. Patrick’s proposal was extremely awkward — if I used to be proposed to and my associate instantly erupted into screams of “Let’s go!” after I stated sure, I would revoke that reply.

At this level, the competitors between Jordan and Mike over Megan was heating up — and their responses to that competitors had been fairly telling. Mike was cocky and overconfident and Jordan was simply involved with Megan’s happiness. I started questioning right here whether or not their sweetness towards her was inflated or synthetic due to this duel between the 2 males. Is flattery and kindness a method to an finish for these guys? It felt that means for Mike.

Episode 5: ‘I Need You to Need Me’

Megan had a troublesome time selecting between her two connections, Jordan and Mike.

(Netflix)

This was the ultimate blind episode for me. The most important crime was the music. I’m not the primary individual to make the purpose that the music on the collection is nearly sickeningly on the nostril, however this episode took the cake for me. Mike says to Megan, “I would like you to need me,” in a uncommon second of vulnerability for him. In what felt like a record-scratch second, particularly for me with none visuals, the soundtrack burst right into a tune with these precise lyrics. We obtained the purpose already!

Nick and Annie’s proposal was candy, however I nonetheless felt pessimistic about them. Their reveal was essentially the most shocking as a result of I simply couldn’t pin down any semblance of an thought of what they regarded like. They give the impression of being good collectively, however I jotted down a intestine feeling that they’re not going to final.

I used to be completely happy for Patrick and Kacie within the reveal — it was nonetheless awkward, however they each appeared so completely happy. I famous right here that if I had seen Kacie once they had been speaking within the pods, I by no means would have thought it will work out between them as a result of she wouldn’t go for a man like Patrick based mostly off seems alone. I nonetheless don’t really feel like they’ve the strongest relationship, however they’d a candy reveal.

Megan and Jordan regarded like an excellent pair collectively of their giddy reveal, and I used to be relieved she didn’t observe by means of with Mike. I used to be additionally completely happy to lastly see one of many males stroll his fiancee again to her aspect of the room as soon as they should half methods.

Episode 6: ‘Coming in Scorching’

Kacie and Patrick’s breakup occurred shortly after they noticed one another for the primary time.

(Netflix)

From this episode on, my blanket was not obscuring my display screen. It took some adjustment to reconcile the picture of every individual I had crafted in my mind and what they really regarded like, however as soon as I obtained over that, it was good to see what was occurring.

The early occasions of the episode between Kacie and Patrick did make me want I had that blanket again although. I hate that she couldn’t give him a straight reply about whether or not she was breaking apart with him, and that she insisted it wasn’t about his seems. Poor Patrick, he deserves higher.

As soon as the remainder of the {couples} obtained to Mexico for his or her romantic getaways, it was enjoyable to see how they interacted with one another. It was additionally enjoyable to see these dumb, large golden goblets the producers make them drink each liquid out of — I had missed these throughout my blind viewing.

Points between the {couples} began coming to a head now — Edmond was annoyed with Kalybriah’s determination to attend till the marriage to have intercourse and Joe was behaving in a fairly weird method. His allure was beginning to put on off on Madison (and me).

You possibly can at all times anticipate drama when all the {couples} meet (and see one another) for the primary time, and this episode didn’t disappoint.

Episodes 7-11

After the {couples} depart the pods, they work together with one another in the actual world and meet among the singles who they initially linked with, which regularly causes drama.

(Netflix)

I’ll break my ideas down on these episodes by couple for simplicity’s sake.

Annie and Nick
My prediction was right. It’s not a shock that they cut up. Their pod conversations by no means felt like they obtained that deep and it didn’t really feel like there was a robust sufficient connection between them to justify getting married, particularly so rapidly.

Madison and Joe
Joe’s hesitation within the reveal ought to have been extra telling to me, I suppose. His conduct was fairly erratic from the primary episode out of the pods and that solely appeared to proceed and worsen. I really feel unhealthy for candy Madison, however I’ll admit I’m additionally simply typically inclined to aspect with a lady over a person.

Given the chance that Madison will lose her imaginative and prescient, I hoped she would discover a match that actually felt love is blind and would embrace her.

And as a lot hate as this present will get for the music decisions, taking part in Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” as Joe ran out of his tuxedo becoming was fairly excellent. Extra of that, please!

Ali and Anton
This simply doesn’t really feel like an ideal match. They each trouble me right here and there — Anton’s consuming and Ali’s insistence on not selecting up after herself, for instance — however neither considered one of them looks like a foul individual or a foul associate. By Episode 11, I simply didn’t suppose they need to get married, and their conversations earlier than the proposal didn’t appear significant sufficient to warrant an engagement.

Megan and Jordan
There’s clearly rather a lot at play between this couple by way of adjusting to one another’s lives, particularly since Jordan has a younger son, however each appear to be dealing with the hurdles properly collectively.

I did surprise what the deal is with Jordan’s job, although. Is he secretly a CIA agent? His occupation is listed as a service supervisor and he instructed Megan on their first date that he works in transportation and logistics, however his job has been the topic of intense on-line sleuthing and scrutiny since their respective work lives grew to become a sore spot between the couple. Aside from the stress between their completely different life, for some cause, they really feel like the one couple I may see having a profitable marriage down the road.

Kalybriah and Edmond
Edmond’s character gave the impression to be completely different within the pods than in actual life — he appeared softer and extra open to speaking earlier than they obtained engaged. Kalybriah even famous in a single argument that he acts in a different way when the cameras are rolling than once they’re truly alone. I’ve at all times puzzled how the truth tv component of the experiment messes with the integrity of the experiment itself.

I do suppose they might work out collectively, but it surely simply seems like they want extra time thus far one another earlier than leaping into marriage.

Episode 12: ‘Vow or By no means’

The season finale confirmed the weddings between the {couples}, however none went by means of with the nuptials.

(Netflix)

The surprising finale this season revealed that for the primary time, not one of the relationships on “Love Is Blind” led to marriage. The dramatic scoring and tense modifying makes the “no” on the altar really feel so surprising, however after the preliminary dramatic second (and one other have a look at my notes all through the season), it’s not completely shocking there weren’t any completely happy newlyweds on the finish.

Though I had pegged Ali and Anton as an imperfect match, her interviews the morning earlier than the marriage, the candy second she shared with Anton’s mother and her shifting vows all made me suppose she was going to say sure.

Kalybriah’s “no” appeared becoming given the problems that they’d within the weeks main as much as the marriage, and Edmond’s response was most likely essentially the most tempered I’ve seen from anybody getting rejected on the altar. Their breakup highlighted the extremes of this experiment. If the present was crafted to assist the {couples} find yourself with completely happy, wholesome relationships as a substitute of a design that maximizes drama and makes for juicy, must-see TV, perhaps KB and Edmond would have had extra time to see their relationship by means of. Or, on the very least, they wouldn’t have the added stress of each phrase being scrutinized by a nationwide viewers.

Megan and Jordan’s breakup damage essentially the most as somebody who observed their sturdy emotional bond because the starting. It’s upsetting to see actual life get in the way in which of the love they’ve for one another, but it surely’s additionally clear it wouldn’t have been a clean journey in the event that they did get married. Megan was sort although to not make the sting of the cut up worse by going by means of the motions of the marriage day simply to say no.

Parting phrases on ‘blind’ viewing

My experiment was a hit, I’d say, in that I challenged myself to suppose deeper in regards to the basis of those relationships past the visuals, which uncovered that there have been only a few contenders for completely happy marriages this season.

Would I watch future seasons like this? Provided that I did so with a companion. It’s a very difficult take a look at of your reminiscence to observe like this alone, and I think about it will be extra enjoyable with a bunch, particularly so you’ll be able to experience your shock on the reveals with individuals who perceive how unimaginable it’s to ascertain what these folks seem like.