Written by: Gretchen Sims
Content warning: contains spoilers about “Love is Blind”
The Netflix reality TV show “Love is Blind” has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Now amassing four seasons with no end in sight, “Love is Blind” is undisputedly a riveting concept and has captivated fans around the globe.
The social experiment this show revolves around poses the question of whether or not people can put aside their physical preferences and fall in love without being able to see the other person. In order to accomplish this, the participants are put into “pods” where they can hear the person on the other side but can not see them. People are shuffled around between different dates in these pods until the man proposes. After this, the couples are tested in the real world to determine whether or not love is blind.
This show fulfills all the drama cravings one could ever have, and yet it begs the question… is this just an innocent escape from reality, or does it have deeper and more concerning implications?
One of the most obvious concerns about “Love is Blind” is the demographic of the participants. Participants are straight, heterosexual couples that pursue traditional gender roles in their relationships. The show does not shy away from this and, in fact, often leans into harmful stereotypes.
In season three, Nancy Rodriguez says, “I would be a great mom to like, 10 kids. My ovaries are dancing,” after meeting a potential fiance in the pods. All of the women on the show want large families and often express how they cannot wait to start popping babies out.
Men in the third installment of the show exuded toxicity. From saying no at the altar due to his fiance’s professional opinion on abortion, to threatening a breakup because his fiance stayed out too late, all the way to telling his fiance that eating two tangerines all day would spoil her appetite for dinner, men in the third season of the “Love is Blind” franchise were always coming up with new ways to subject the women to emotional trauma.
After the third season, the “preditors,” producers slash editors, decided to even things out by making the women the drama in season four. This switch was very obvious and left viewers wondering if this act was an intentional way to even the playing field in response to backlash caused by the unhealthy relationship dynamics presented in season three.
Adding to the absurd drama, the cups that the contestants of “Love is Blind” drink from are metal — preventing the audience from seeing how much, or what, is inside them. In many instances, contestants talk about the type of alcohol that they are drinking, and, it can be deduced from many of the contestants’ actions, that they are drinking heavily. While heightened emotions can make very good reality TV, it probably isn’t the best idea to decide to marry someone in a month while under the influence.
Oh yes, and then there’s that. Choosing to spend the rest of your life with someone is a huge deal and, arguably, one month isn’t enough time to make that decision.
Many members of the “Love is Blind” cast do fall in love, but they are unable to follow through with it when it comes to the wedding day due to indecision. A good example is SK and Raven in season three and Micah and Paul in season four. Perhaps, given more time, these relationships could have worked out.
Many people can agree that drama-filled shows are their guilty pleasure, so before sitting down for a fifth season, be sure to think about the emotional toll these participants are experiencing as well as the relationship precedent it is setting for its viewers.
Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu
