Love Is (not) Blind

This post was actually a long time coming actually. I've postponed this idea since last year because I felt I didn't have much to say and couldn't word it properly back then. Thankfully, I believe I can do it justice now ;) 

For context: Today we'll be talking about the Netflix reality TV show Love is Blind. 

So, I just watched the Love Is Blind reunion of it's sixth season. And it left me with a lot of thoughts. 

Reality dating shows are toxic. Shocking opinion I know. But I'm talking specifically about Love Is Blind in this post so do keep that in mind. 

This show, unlike it's sister shows, LIB is the definition of entertainment that is more dependent on making viewers concerned for the contestants as a method of getting viewership and people to talk about it. 

Let's talk about the questionable methods of Love Is Blind.

(Synopsis of the show: It's 15 guys and gals who date in pods that prevent them from seeing each other for 10 days in the span of which they can choose to get engaged. Once engaged, they live with each other for four weeks and meet each other friends, family, etc. At the end of the four weeks, they go to the altar to prove whether love is truly blind by getting married or saying no.)

You see, in typical dating shows like the Bachelor or Love Island, there is an island of people to choose from which leads to lots of stress but ultimately, drama. Which is what these shows thrive on and why people watch it. However, the difference in The Bachelor, for example, is that the there are multiple women and so the drama is never usually between two people in a couple together, but between the women competing for the dude's attention and love. A less scary form of entertainment. 

In Love Is Blind though, since the premise relies on people never seeing each other, talking in enclosed pods for a week, getting engaged and then seeing each other...the stakes are higher. The chances of having a deranged fiancee who you barely know is higher. Especially because the casting directors have proven this in previous seasons quite horrifiyingly. Sending absolutely deranged individuals onto the show to traumatize the contestants and viewers alike.

A LIB season isn't truly complete without at least one toxic or downright abusive couple in it. Normal drama and maybe even cheating is expected and the norm of these shows. However, providing the scenario for domestic abuse is not. Just last season, one of the castmates (who was cut out of the show) filed a case against the show for having known about the abuse that took place on and off-camera and doing nothing about. 

The men (not all, but a sadly big amount) in this show gaslight, cheat and downright demean the women. The way the women are treated is despicable and just sad to watch. There are some couples but the two or one good couple of the season rarely outshine the circus that is the rest of the couples. Some of them don't even want to get married, which is so funny because they are on a marriage show. Like the concept is to get engaged for four weeks and then get married. The casting directors just pick men off the streets at this point.

And let's face it, most of the cast is just there for exposure or to be on national television. They don't care about the people they're dating and just want their five seconds of fame. 

Pretty Politics. Love is never blind in this show because most of these people are conventionally attractive. Sure you fall in love with their voice because you can't see their faces but when you know that the person is gorgeous it's just against the idea of the concept which is essentially to 'fall in love sight unseen'. Something that is easy if you know they're gonna be beautiful. 

Horrible cast conditions. Many of the cast have also complained and sued the show for unfair to straight-up illegal working hours, lack of food, lack of security and allegations of sexual abuse taking place under the show's filming. 

At a certain point, it's more sad than fun to watch couple's fight because it's not stupid, it's toxic and unnecessary. And I think six seasons were more than enough to realize that love isn't blind and the couples that the show made were just incredibly lucky. 

It's just a stupid concept for a dating show because while most dating shows are stupid to begin with, this one is just a breeding ground for abusive and toxic relationships and marriages to thrive.

That being said, I'll probably watch the next season when it comes out because while some people like trains, I like train wrecks. 

🐄