When Love Is Blind launched in February 2020, it revolutionised Netflix. It demonstrated to Netflix that it was capable of producing high-concept and high-stakes reality romance programmes that made Love Island and The Bachelor look childish, and it ultimately inspired the streaming service to introduce a year-round reality romance lineup that included Too Hot to Handle, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, Indian Matchmaking, Love On the Spectrum, Dated & Related, and who knows what else is on the way. One of these shows followed a dozen sex fools boning their way into bankruptcy, while others explored fascinatingly how people from various backgrounds approach relationships. Now that Love Is Blind, the programme that revolutionised Netflix’s perspective on reality television, has returned for Season 3.
That’s why there’s a question mark there
Season 1 included a reality television vehicle wreck that had never been seen before. Season 2 went completely nuts and brought us what is maybe the most chaotic reality TV season on Netflix because it didn’t have the novelty factor working in its favour. We’re now in Season 3, and as someone who watched Love Is Blind Seasons 1 and 2 (as well as the After the Alter sequels, God help me), it feels strange to say that I believe Love Is Blind has somehow… developed into a fine show. And I don’t mean “excellent” in the sense that witnessing Shaina kill people with a squint was entertaining television.
However, after watching the first 10 episodes of Season 3 (spoiler-free! ), I feel confident in saying that this season is unlike the prior two and that the differences are substantial. This is particularly clear in the season’s dating section, which moves quickly and has relatively few jaw-dropping moments. Season 2 treated the pods like traps as the singles fell into humiliating misunderstanding after humiliating misunderstanding. However, this time the pods and proposals fly by. Don’t be fooled by the sluggish beginning; the honeymoons are when the real drama begins.
The exchanges that follow are exceedingly tense, and the conversations that follow are more difficult. The couples discuss difficult topics, work through seemingly insurmountable conflicts, and explore many profound psychological concerns (and occasionally, their partners pay attention…occasionally). As if you were trapped in a room with these strangers and couldn’t find the key, the editing keeps you engrossed in every dialogue for what seems like an endless amount of time.
Several scenes in this theatrical adaptation of Love Is Blind that make cringe, laugh, or scream
Since the majority of the males spend the entire season with their feet securely planted ankle-deep in their mouths, they are especially well-suited for reality television. Once the show leaves the pods and enters the real world, it remains addictive and will undoubtedly lead to a lot of talks (and, more importantly, memes). The most surprising aspect of Love Is Blind Season 3 is perhaps how it managed to weave intricate relationship studies in with all the drunken antics we’ve come to anticipate from Netflix reality series.