The sixth season of Love Is Blind just wrapped, and so many people are talking about it. Aren’t Amy and Johnny cute? Can you believe Jeramy? Was Chelsea or Jimmy more to blame for their relationship demise? What really happened between Brittany and Kenneth? Isn’t Clay’s mom the best? And while we’re at it, Clay, how could you? During the season’s final episode (“The Reunion”), when cast members were interviewed about a year after the show wrapped, Season 5 cast member Brennan Lemieux said, “Watching the show is therapy.” Here we’re going to cover why this is.
For the uninitiated (where exactly have you been?!), Love Is Blind is a reality dating show, where couples get to know each other in “pods.” In the pods, cast members are able to talk and spend time together, but they can’t see one another. They get to know each other in the pods for 10 days, whittling down their connections, and toward the end of this, they have the option to get engaged (or not). The couples who get engaged are then allowed to see each other for the first time in what the show calls a “reveal.” Once they’ve met face to face, the engaged couples are whisked off to a tropical location to get to know each other better. Then, they have a couple of weeks back home, where they move in together and get a glimpse of everyday life as a couple. Shortly after, they go to the altar to say their “I dos” (or “I don’ts”). In total, they have 28 days from engagement to the altar. Part of the allure here is the guessing game. Will he say yes? Will she back out before the wedding? It’s all very scintillating, and while there are cameras rolling and careful editing, as a couple of the cast members reminded us at the reunion, real-life emotions are at stake.
While the show may be “real life,” this editing and cliffhanging draw us in. After the original few-episode drop, we wait impatiently for the following week to get our updates. We need to know what happened before we come across any spoilers from others. The show’s numbers reflect our interest. Season 6 topped the Nielsen ratings when first released during Valentine’s Day week. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Love Is Blind aficionados in the U.S. watched 907 million minutes of the show that week alone, easily surpassing other Netflix originals. So why such a strong attraction to the show? Here are a few reasons we think viewers are so obsessed:
Familiarity: There’s a formula to the show, and by now, Love Is Blind loyalists have it down pat. We know what to expect, from the Lacheys’ intros to the pod dates, the reveals, the vacations, move-ins, and more. While the stories develop with a few twists, there’s something comforting about knowing the show’s structure. It’s predictable, soothing even, that we have a sense of what’s to unfold. Humans like what is familiar to us. The show’s familiarity also makes it easy to follow, and it can serve as a careless distraction from the stressors of life, a “mind candy” of sorts. This lack of complexity also allows us to watch without our full attention. We can follow the plot while simultaneously scrolling on our phones, as many watch television these days. Love Is Blind does a good job at balancing predictability with some suspense.
Warm feelings: When it’s good it’s good. We love watching couples develop meaningful and lasting relationships. Cameron and Lauren, Brett and Tiffany, Brennon and Alexa (she’s pregnant!), and Zack and Bliss (her too!) remind us that true love is possible. Each season, we’re anxious to see who will be the next lucky couple(s). Season 6 delivered the sweet love story of Johnny and Amy; their relationship was heartwarming to watch. These Love Is Blind “wins” can also inspire hope in us. If they can do it, maybe we can too. And there’s a part of us that likes the idea of the experiment. Maybe appearance doesn’t have to play such a big part in dating relationships. Wouldn’t that be a refreshing?
Rubbernecking: When it’s bad it’s bad. While we might not always admit it, humans love a little drama. The lies, secret meet-ups, arguments, and more may be cringey, but they certainly draw us in. There’s a curiosity around others’ suffering. In psychology, we call this “rubbernecking,” derived from the fact that we literally turn our heads/stretch our necks to witness others’ pain. It happens often with car accidents, when traffic will back up near the scene of a crash as passersby slow down to gawk. And it happens here with love. There’s a morbid curiosity around others’ shortcomings, conflicts, and dirty laundry.
Learning: As Brennon shared above, watching the show can educate us on what it takes to sustain a healthy relationship. We learn what helps and harms a new dynamic. If we haven’t had many healthy relationship models ourselves, we might look to see how the seemingly more stable and wise cast members carry themselves through difficult scenarios. This might actually help us do the same. And watching the show with a partner can spark conversation, giving couples content upon which to reflect. “What would you do in this situation?”, you might ask your partner. “How would we navigate this?” Couples might learn more about themselves and spot potential challenges sooner as a result of watching the show.
Connection: And finally, dissecting the show allows us to connect with others. Episode drops provide “water cooler” fodder, as we review recent developments and offer our personal reflections. We’ve even done it at Gatewell. If you aren’t watching the show, you’re left out from these analyses and interactions. Love Is Blind is a cultural phenomenon and those who aren’t watching can end up feeling our of the loop or excluded.
These are some of our thoughts about why people gravitate toward the show. But how about you? If you’re a fan of Love Is Blind, why do you watch?