Love is Blind: US Season 10 Review
Hey there, I’m Jess ✨. On The Signature, I share reflections on beauty, routines, travel, wellness, culture, and everyday life. For those drawn to a calmer, more intentional way of living, I send a free newsletter each month on the 7th. You're welcome to join.
Love is Blind is backkkk! After two ghastly yet popular seasons in the US and in France, Netflix's Love is Blind: US is back for its season 10, in Ohio. The first 6 episodes were released in February and I am here to review episode-by-episode again!
I hope we are all as excited as fellow Ohioan Nick Lachey was opening this season. Time to meet the boys and girls who are about to get their hearts broken.
Jess
Episode 1: Honey, I'm Home!
The pods are open! Let's meet a few of the contestants...
Jordan, 33: a good humoured man who loves food. He does not look like past contestants who were athletic and lean. He seems to always have a smile on his face. He has dates with Amber.
Amber, 33: the bubbly single mother of a 7-year old. I feel Love is Blind has really been incorporating single parents in the past few seasons. I would considered she looked amazing if she told us she is 50. She looks amazing yet way older than 33. She has dates with Jordan.
Victor "Vic", 33: originally from New York, he is a University professor in Public Policy and Data Analytics. He has a deep voice and one could listen to all day long. And not only is he voice deep but he is profound and speaks with intent. He has the sweetest dates with Christine.
Christine, 30: a speech language pathologist who reminds me of one of my favourite youtubers, Cecilia from Svalbarg. She cannot wait to get married, have a family and all her friends at home. As she calls it, she wants "the superbowl house". Love that. She has several dates with Vic.
Jessica, 38: is an infectious diseases doctor and has all my respect. She looks like a petite bubbly woman. She calls herself "a woman in science", is divorced and has two dogs. She wants a man for his brains and not his physicality. I love that and I loved her whole personality and how she spoke with maturity about her ex-husband. She has dates with Chris.
Chris: He was in a Black Hawk Unit in Kuwait and has a dog. He has dates with Jessica and Bri.
Brianna "Bri", 33: she starts by saying her friends call her "Breezy" and it instantly reminded me of the whole "Sparkly Meghan" from the past season and I ask myself if this nickname thing is starting to become a gimmick. She is a former competitive cheerleader and is still super active (it shows, she looks amazing). She has dates with Chris.
Connor, 31: is a proud dumpster salesman. He has a date with Bri and they instantly bond on having nicknames, being Wolverines (University slang), their love for the song "Mr. Brightside" and for skiing. He just cannot wait to settle. He also has dates with Emma and although they have banter, she compares him with a toxic past relationship. I thought that would go wrong, but he did not take it personally and supported her. Means a lot about him.
Emma, 27: she had already spoken in the introduction about having ten surgeries and I am glad that doesn't prevent her from showing her arm. Love her body confidence. She has been single for over a year and dreams of getting married. She is reluctant on the "having kids" subject as she was adopted and still has to come to terms with her origins. Speaking of adoption, she has adopted a dog and is really proud about it. Her dates are very intense and I feel she is using the pods as therapy. She has dates with Connor, Mike and Steven. Speaking of her dates with Steven, one might think they have banter but I felt some kind of off energy between them, as if they were challenging each other to open up and not doing it naturally. A few dates later this is confirmed as they disagree with their opening up capacity and tones, and agree not to talk any longer.
Mike, 29: as soon as he starts speaking, you know he is just the sweetest guy in the world. He wants to get married and have kids. The way he speaks is always intentional and I love that. He has dates with Emma.
Steven, 31: He looks like the typical finance bro with longer hair and a beard. He dives straight away in adoption talk whilst he has a date with Emma. It's curious enough as he doesn't know she is adopted herself. He feels blessed for the relationship he had with his father and grandfather and would like to be a Big Brother / father figure to other children. That is sweet.
Keya, 30: she loves the movie "Love Jones" and unconventional love. Now I want to watch that movie after the spoke about it. She has dates with Kevan.
Kevan, 31: loves the movies "Interstellar" and "Love and Basketball" (he is eclectic, I will give him that and I love it!). He has dates with Keya and Tyler.
Tyler: she is a corporate director and reached that position before 30. I immediately vibe with her because I share the same story. Although professionaly accomplished and career focused, she mentions love is more important than work and she would relocate and change her life for love. Ohhhh.... She has dates with Kevan.
Ashley, 33: when she first appeared on screen, I thought she was Amber. Oops. They do look alike. She gets dizzy looking at the wall and I can relate to getting hypnotised by it. She has dates with Alex.
Alex, 30: he admits quickly he is focused on physicality. He quickly asks about Ashley physical characteristics and that scares me already.
And a couple gets engaged in Episode 1!
Vic and Christine! After a thorough montage of all their cute dates - I am always scared of a fast-forward editing! - they get engaged after sharing a prayer. In one of the cutest dates they have, they share a meal and speak about dealing with crime, misbehaviour and abuse within family. I love how they banter and open up to each other about deep subjects. Let's see how this couple fares.
The episode finishes with moans, drama and ambulance blue lights... what happened?
Episode 2: A Sticky Situation
We start the episode immediately putting to rest the drama that never was. Elissa, 38, mistook nail glue with eye drops and ended up in the ER. But she is fine and bubbly so let's move forward.
We see the first engaged couple meet for the first time. Vic and Christine have incredible physical chemistry and their meeting isn't awakward at all, it's just very sweet. They seem to fit in beautifully together. Also, Love is Blind: US has been pulling all the tunes. U2 and the Jet2Holiday ad music? waw, bring it on.
Back to the pods and dates:
Emma & Mike
We are back at the intense dates Emma likes and provides all the time. She is too much for me, she really needed to have therapy prior to getting into this show. She shares with Mike she was adopted and the conversation goes smoother with him than it did with Steven. Mike also shares he had a medical condition when he was born and they share a bond about their health grievances. Albeit it being an "easier" conversation, I don't think they match.
Emma & Connor
Emma also shares her medical issues and being adopted with Connor. He is very appreciative of her opening up and I feel their relationship is less tense than hers with Mike.
Amber & Jordan
We see Jordan expressing how dating a woman with a kid was a dealbreaker for him but he wants to pursue the relationship with Amber. The other guys let him now that her sharing about her child is a sign of trust. They go on a date where he focuses more on eating than listening to her. He shares about his learning disabilities and she shares how she wasn't confident about her looks growing up. I like Amber's personality and he seems to enjoy her a lot too. Let's see how that relationship will unfold.
The Kevan Triangle
Tyler & Kevan: we see them on a date and speaking about the future could look like for them. They speak about having children and their values and views about homosexuality. These are more important talks to have then "which side of the bed would you prefer". Kevan also shares about how him being indisciplined in school might have saved his mother during a health ailment.
Keya & Kevan: even if their names fit so well together, they talk about Kevan having another stronger connection and how it might be the end of the road for them. I just appreciate that he is honest about it and doesn't lead her on, although she is obviously disappointed. They continue talking and are aiming to pursue their connection as friends.
And then...
Kevan hesitates between Tyler and Keya after a great date with Keya. He puts the distance and moving as an hindrance between them outside the pods and Tyler chooses herself, not wanting to wait around on Kevan's hesitation. She was already territorial about him in the women's quarters but I completely get her position. Good for her. Hope Kevan does not move back from his decision to pursue Keya after all...
And a second couple gets engaged in Episode 2!
Jordan & Amber! Their engagement is not that emotional - there is an unreciprocated "I love you". I look forward to seeing what that means.
Jess
Episode 3: Um, Redo!
We see the second couple get engaged! After a show of their shadows - Jordan looking like a security guard and Amber posing like a dancer - they meet and banter. They do not seem that uncomfortable with each other but I don't think they have chemistry. Yet.
Back to the pods and dates:
Brittany & Devonta
Brittany, 32: we meet this confident nurse in episode 3, who manifested getting married through the show buying a mock engagement ring and a wedding dress on Shein. She goes on dates with Devonta.
Devonta, 31: he is a sales manager who is the cutest teddy bear with the cutest eyes. He goes on dates with Brittany and they have a great banter and laugh a lot together. That is a great sign. Their date turns sad as he shares production has just told him his grandfather passed away while he is in the experiment. He decides to stay on to find his forever partner, as something his grandfather would want as well. I understand his decision.
Ashley & Alex
After seeing them on Episode 1, we are back to check on this dynamic which has evolved and become more serious. I was scared he was just superficial from the first impressions he gave us. He shared about past voes around a sports career and showing his vulnerable side from that situation. Ashley gets emotional with what he shares, showing her feelings for him. They go on several dates and share a lot about their families and what they want about the future and their shared love for Paulo Coelho's book The Alchemist - I always love when couples bond over books.
Kevan & Keya vs Kevan & Tyler.
Back at the men's quarters, Kevan shares how heartbroken he is from breaking up with Tyler. I do like a man in touch with his feelings and not eager to jump from a relationship to another. Tyler decides to leave the experiment and Keya feels gut wrenched about it, which also shows her heart. And thennnn... a U-turn, as producers convince Tyler to come back for another date with Kevan. Which they do and she decides to continue in the experiment. What?! I guess they really wanted to eat that cold burger & fries...
Bri & Connor vs Bri & Chris
We also had not checked up on this three contestants since Episode 1. Connor and Bri's banter continues to be on point, yet Bri declares she is attracted to Chris. In the confessional, Bri even confesses she would like to date a mash-up of both men. That is not great news. On the reverse side, Chris himself is hesitating between Bri & Jess...
Jessica & Chris
Chris is honest during his confessional and that he likes both women but Jess being 6 years older than him is a negative factor for him. Notwithstanding, he tells her she is his number one. He tells her that he is talking to someone else but that he considers Bri more of a bro-friend then a potential partner. They have a great conversation and I feel an engagement might be impending.
Chris shares with Bri he wants to pursue Jessica and Bri was also going to tell him she was going to pursue another contestant. They both are glad, relieved and wish each other the best.
Connor & Emma vs Connor & Bri
Connor had Emma as his number one although her not wanting to have children is an important disagreement between them. Connor really wants to be a dad and feels they'd both be great parents (based on what?, I ask myself...). Emma is reluctant about the children talk so I'd say they are incompatible in regards to that. Then he changes his mind after a heartfelt date with Bri, he chooses to pursue her and prepares to disclose that to Emma. These people have very intense feelings and varying "number ones" from minute to minute, I can't keep up!
And a third couple gets engaged in Episode 3!
Alex & Ashley get engaged and see each other for the first time. I was a bit apprehensive as Alex focuses a lot on looks and is honest about the importance the physical side has for him. It's a great thing that Ashley is gorgeous but I truly hope he can get past that and get deeper with her. I think a heartbreak is impending...
Jess
Episode 4: Stage Five Clinger
Three couples already got engaged and met, let's see how the current love triangles unfold...
Connor & Emma
After a bit of back and forth, Connor chooses his other connection - which we know is Bri - and terminates the relationship with Emma. She is devastated. This was really an intense process for her and for all of her dates. I don't think she was prepared to be on the show and it's best for her to leave.
But oh wait...
Mike & Emma
Emma is not done with the show - nor did she say she would quit, I was just hoping she'd done it. She goes on a date with Mike and is honest with him, saying someone broke up with her. But she isn't as honest when she mentions the other connection was her number two thus implying Mike was her number one all the way. Btw, why is she stabbing her lasagna with her fork?
On another date, they exchange gifts of letters from parents and bereft photo albums for the memories about to be created. They talk about having children and the fact Emma does not know more about her genes as she was adopted, but Mike is adamant about pursuing her and that is sweet of him. I am feeling she is calmer than she has ever been on this date.
Brittany & Devonta
I love the funny banter between these two, they do not take themselves seriously - I love how Brittany mentions she doesn't smell like roses as she just did a workout! how cool and real is she?! - and at the same time, their relationship is naturally deep, as Devonta is processing his grandfather's passing and his future prospects. They both share how much they want to be parents and how close they are with their parents and how it inspired them.
Kevan &...
We are brought back to Kevan's love triangle and I do not enjoy one bit of it. Tyler is still in territorial mode back at the women's quarters. In the meantime, Kevan and Keya go on a date and she offers him a watch, as watches are very symbolic for her. He also has a gift for her and it's a basket ball, as he wants to be the Lebron James of fathers. Still, he is hesitating between her and Tyler. Then he goes on a date with Tyler and he is still hesitant between the two. I do not like how I feel he is leading them both on, not having the courage to make a clean decision. He says he chooses Tyler, but then she presses him about his feelings about Keya and he is not definitive about ending things properly with her. Dude, you can't keep both!
Three couples get engaged in Episode 4!
Chris and Jessica get engaged! Connor and Bri get engaged! Brittany & Devonta get engaged! It's engagements for everyone, everywhere! The first two couples meet and it's all very sweet. Btw I loved Jessica's rich red dress, she looked amazing in it.
Jess
Episode 5: Where the hell is my husband?
We start the episode how the previous ended and how Kevan deserves: with an empty pod, all alone.
Brittany & Devonta
They meet for the first time and albeit he was sweet in the pods, he scares me when he says he never dated a woman of colour before. Does he think he is white to point that out? That is so weird.
Kevan & Keya
Kevan goes on a date with Keya and conveys he wants to choose her, but she is having none of it. She says she likes him and he is a great person, but he is not ready to be married. I love when she says "you don't have to want someone just because they want you" and that is very brave of her. Keya didn't want the task to build a man up to suit her needs and became my instant hero. Go girl!
A 7th couple gets engaged on Episode 5!
With little to no surprise, Mike and Emma get engaged. I don't think they are going to make it. He was her third option and that is never a good sign. Nevertheless, their first meeting is cute.
Onto the pre-honeymoons...
And there we have it, 7 couples are about to go on their pre-honeymoons! Weirdly enough, they don't all head to Cabo, 6 couples do and one goes to California. I need to look online to see what happened, not enough rooms to book? They weren't expecting to have these many couples? Weird, weird, weird... although, on second thought, I would love to be the couple who is left on their own!
Brittany & Devonta - Mexico
Devonta still goes on about Brittany not being white. I do not get good vibes about this obsession of his.
Jessica & Chris - Mexico
They seem to really bond and Chris is really sweet and attentive towards her. Chris mentions on camera the age thing . Jessica is 6 years older - didn't bother him at the end of the day. I love that.
Christine & Vic - California
They are at the same location of the honeymoon from Season 3. They seem very affectionate with each other.
Ashley & Alex - Mexico
They talk about books and the power of eye contact. They are more intense than I would have thought. Their physical chemistry is through the roof and that just scares me.
Bri & Connor - Mexico
Connor pulls his leg and instead of Bri showing support, she mocks him. He doesn't feel nice about it. It is not a good start.
Emma & Mike - Mexico
Emma mentions how comfortable she is with him and she is filled with laughter. I like this lighter version of her. I feel it won't last.
Amber & Jordan - Mexico
They have good chemistry and Jordan really compliments her. Him sleeping with a respiratory aid - CPAP - doesn't seem to phase her, which is a good sign. Jordan might think it's funny to overeat, but unless it is congenital, he should rethink his diet, is not normal for a young man to already have such a predicament.
Jess
Episode 6: Never Have I Ever
The couples continue to discover each other during their mock honeymoons...
Bri & Connor - Mexico
After waking up sunny and positive, all the couples who are in Mexico meet for Connor's birthday. Alas, I don't think they really match, Bri is quick to throw him under the bus in front of other couples in regards to his former relationship with Emma. She should be more discreet about it if it makes her nervous.
Nevertheless I agree with her that people could be less surface level when they meet. If you dated in the pods, just acknowledge that. Bri and Connor debrief after the gathering and disagree about meeting and talking with people they dated from the pods. I also think he was a bit too drunk for that conversation which could be best had in the morning.
Bri and Chris finally talk and it isn't as intense as I was expecting, but she seems relieved to have had that moment. On the other side, Connor is completely uncomfortable and his confidence plummets. You can tell the producers forced him to have a similar moment with Emma, but his head was just somewhere else.
Emma & Mike - Mexico
Mike feels the first night was magical. Wow. Emma feels some type of way after seeing Connor at his birthday celebration. Not a good sign. Also, Mike mentions to the boys that Emma is messy. Oops.
Amber & Jordan - Mexico
They mention their first night, middle of the night and morning together were great. Amber shares with the girls, during Connor's birthday celebration, how in tune she is with Jordan and that he is attentive to her. She is traumatised by her past choice in men.
Ashley & Alex - Mexico
They had sex and you already knew and you can tell. They have a talk about their upcoming five years together and they want it filled with adventure. They aspire to be David & Victoria Beckham and it reminds me of the France franchise instantly. And we know how that went.
Later on, he shares a heart-to-heart with Brittany and mentions he finds that she is more attractive and more his style than Ashley. That is shocking for me, as he just had sex with Ashley. Afterwards, Ashley mentions he was flirty with other girls, which he refuses.
Christine & Vic - California
They have such a calm energy and positivity around them, I love it. We unfortunately do not get to see much about them except they are spending their honeymoon close to a road with trucks.
Jessica & Chris - Mexico
They seem to really vibe with each other which is positive. Contrary to Connor, it's now Chris's birthday and he does a dinner date with Jessica. That is so sweet! They speak about their age difference and having kids or not, and how connected they are in all the levels.
Brittany & Devonta - Mexico
At the couples gathering for Connor's birthday, Brittany realises hers is the only couple who did not have sex in Mexico. They debrief afterwards but Devonta is checking out under the guise of sleepiness and they go to bed. The morning after, solo on camera, Brittany mentions she is feeling lonely and that Devonta does not reach for her unless she is the first to do it.
She confides into Jessica who gives her a boost of confidence to voice her real feelings to Devonta. And before she does that, she shares it with Alex, who also finds her more attractive and his style than Ashley. Brittany mentions she is more into tall athletic men - like Alex - and this whole conversation makes me very uncomfortable. That does not invalidate how dismissive Devonta is of her when they speak about him being distant. He should have gone home when his grandfather passed away, he is having a hard time processing that (or using that a scapegoat for not feeling attracted to Brittany).
And then we have a montage for a lot of drama for the remainder of the season and none of it is positive...
Jess
Episode 7: Moving In and Unpacking Baggage
The mock honeymoons are over and the couples are back in Ohio. It's time to get to their phones and their families again, in this order...
Brittany & Devonta
We start like we ended, with them talking at the Hotel in Mexico. It is Brittany doing most of the work, Devonta is completely checked out. Yet they hug and he seems to regret the impact of his (in)action.
A few days later we see them again, already in their new apartment, being cuddly and talkative in bed. Maybe that first heart-to-heart was good for them, yet we still need to address the fact they are both not attracted to each other.
Ashley & Alex
When they settle in their new apartment, Alex calls his mother to introduce her to Ashley. It was a nice conversation and his mother seemed like a free spirited independent woman, I loved that. Yet I still didn't digest what he said to Brittany about not being attracted to Ashley. Ashley is not feeling confident about moving out of Ohio, yet Alex is adamant he will only live in Arizona or Florida. Promising...
A few days later, they have a meal with Ashley's parents and her father puts Alex on the stand with rapid-fire questions. Alex takes it on and reveals, with pride, that he is a Trump supporter. I feel Alex is a bit rehearsed in his speech and answers but it might just be his fighting mechanism when he wants to impress.
I laughed out loud when when her father asks her what she brings to the table, she responds, after being silent for the whole conversation: "I just cry". But deep down, I didn't think it was funny, the conversation was exhausting. It ends on the positive note of her father speaking wonders about her and they are all in tears. So sweet.
Emma & Mike
They settle into their new apartment and discuss separating colours before doing their clothes washing. Mike is a bit more strict than I was anticipating from his overall sweetness in the pods.
We have not seen them much on camera but we catch them during their bedtime routine, where Mike focuses on putting lotion on his body. He mentions that as he grabbed his phone back, he was confronted with several baby announcements from his friends and that having kids is important for him. And that if they do decide to have kids, he doesn't want Emma to resent them or him. But I feel he is putting a knife to her neck to make a decision so fast. Emma needs healing, not an ultimatum. He knew that she would struggle with this from the pods, she never hid it...
Amber & Jordan
They reunite at their new pad after Amber goes and meets her 7-year-old daughter Emma. She was very excited about meeting her daughter and how she zoomed in on her engagement ring.
A few days later we see them visiting each other's home. First, we go to Jordan's townhouse which he calls "I's Home"... It's not the neatest space but it is cute and has a cool basement.
Amber shares her house in Mount Vernon - wherever that is - and it is gorgeous. She is really proud of it and would not be ready to sell it, but is open to renting it out.
Bri & Connor
At their apartment, they talk about the importance of a good marriage and not believing in divorce. They share a sweet moment where Connor conveys how much she inspires him professionally and how much of a go getter she is.
We visit the house Connor bought two years ago. It is a very cute house, yet still decorated for Christmas and the fridge is filled with beer. His bedroom is completely untidy. I was expecting them to do an outdoors close up so we could check his dumpsters as he sells them. But instead we focus on his game room which is pretty dope. Which I am always scared of adult gamers.
Christine & Vic
Glad we get to check in on them as they did not get much screen time during the pre-honeymoons. And I love that we jump right in them meeting Christine's mother who has such deep and thoughtful questions. I love the conversation the three of them have on being in the pods, careers, family and religious values. Her mother fell head over heels for Vic. I feel good about this couple!
Jess
Episode 8: A Snake in the Grass
We check on the couples as they are settling into premarital life and them being pushed by producers to overtalk about having children or not...
Christine & Vic
During the intro, we see them being active playing pickleball together. I feel pickleball fever in the US might match padel fever in Europe?
Then we see them walking around a park, going nowhere specific and talking about kids and their age difference. They also talk about having biracial kids and Christine is open about not coming from an open background but she doesn't mind. And I am sure her mother minds it even less, she adored Vic. I like how they say they both will have a lot to learn from each other. That is really nice to be that insightful and humble.
Regardless of how cute and "feel good" this couple is, I am feeling some time of way about how little screen time they are having. This is episode 8 and we still have yet to really know them. What happened for such little editing? Were they that boring?
Ashley & Alex
During the intro, we see them doing a mud treatment. How is this interesting? Then we see them sharing the table as office space, as Alex is listening to the Federal reserve quarter meeting that will impact the market he daily trades on and Ashley is restarting her remote work. Alex pressures her about speaking to her boss to grant her a promotion or they move, knowing that he does want to move to Trump-Florida. But it's because of the weather and the golf, sure. She seems to be about to burst into tears. Then they share grievances with one another, from domestic habits to not being intimate enough. And then, to make things worse, Alex proves to Ashley and the whole world he is ignorant in regards to reproductive matters and thinks women get pregnant right after they get their period. I think I know everything I need to know about Alex at this point.
Brittany & Devonta
During the intro, we see them working out together at the gym. And Brittany being the woman she is and we all are, is thinking about the grocery list and seasonings that she needs to buy. Devonta being the man he is and they all are, says he doesn't think about anything else whilst he works out.
They go meet Brittany's family and they are all very nice. Brittany seems very enamoured about him and I don't know if it was so appease her family or because they have connected more over domestic life than during the honeymoon. She praises him about how good he is at home, so that is a positive.
Devonta has a 1-on-1 talk with Brittany's father, a man who wears his emotions on his sleeve and I love that. I don't think Devonta is 100% honest about how he feels about Brittany. He seemed to fit right in her family, but you could just tell by his face he was not comfortable being around non-white people.
Amber & Jordan
Amber's brother pays them a visit and is very friendly with Jordan. Jordan, a chef, says he is good at making burgers and just started doing homemade fries. Okay. Then we get serious about family and Amber's child, and Jordan mentions how much he sees a future with Amber and she is really touched by that. I hope this love inspires him enough to learn how to do, I dunno, an omelette or a salad soon.
Bri & Connor
They do a 2-in-1 and they meet her mother at her place so both things are done in one single go. Bri talks a lot and doesn't let Connor speak much. He seems deflected for me. Although their words don't match a disconnect, I don't think they are going to make it as Bri trail-blazes over him and is not that in touch with how he is really feeling.
Emma & Mike
We meet Mike's parents and very quickly they want to correct Emma's pronunciation and her stand on kids. That's intense.
And then they ask the right questions, tone themselves down, understand her adopted point of view better and even get emotional about her getting into their family. I hope this dynamic sticks and they don't come in hard on Emma, as she needs to feel safe and welcomed, no matter how she pronounces "coffee".
Jessica & Chris
They were not very present in the past episode, so we check back on them visiting Chris's gorgeous apartment and his cat. His place is adorable and neat. Love it about him. And he has a cold plunge Jessica shows no interest in. I am Jessica, completely.
They have an honest conversation about not having kids, sharing it with their families and what it means for their future. I love that they are aligned in regards to this subject and there is no pressure from side to side.
Then we visit her house which is still under renovation, with a gorgeous dark green bedroom - I loved it! - and a few rooms that she still wants to work on. All in all, they both loved each other's spaces and that is just nice to see.
And then, on the last minutes of the episode, a major U-turn. Chris is dismissive, mentions he has needed space and less need to communicate with Jessica. And, how of the blue, he says he wanted someone who'd workout more and be more body focused than she is. A feel a slash in the gut. I can just imagine how Jessica feels.
Jess
Episode 9: I'm Just Being Honest
Couples who I thought were going to make it won't and couples I didn't give two cents about are going stronger...
Jessica & Chris
The ghastly conversation continues. I feel completely blindsided by Chris not wanting to pursue Jessica any longer. They seemed to be in tune and something must have happened off camera for him to just dismiss and humiliate her this way. And then he gaslights her saying they can continue to have fun? Dude, you just destroyed this woman's confidence harshly criticizing her body, her lifestyle choices and her inner being. That is just cruel. As they zoomed on his phone, I was scared he connected inappropriately with Bri, his other connection, and thus reacting this way. But we see Bri in tune-ish with Connor in another segment so she is either playing him or completely off Chris's boat as she correctly felt, in Mexico, that he wasn't a deep guy after all.
Jessica girl, just get out of that house, continue on saving lives and find yourself an amazing man. Not a boy.
Chris meets Connor for a weirdly produced moment and says that Jessica doesn't want to fight for them. Dude...
Bri & Connor
Albeit smitten by Connor in her words, Bri's actions show she talks to him as if he were a kid, nagging him on his cleaning and untidy habits. What is she going to give him after cleaning around, sticky stars in a fridge chart? Argh.
Bri receives a text from Jess and Connor receives a text from Chris at the same time. They go on to have dinner anyway.
Connor meets Chris for a non-talk in their building patio. He does not seem he wanted to be there or hear more of his fiancée's former prospect, as much as they say "bros" and "i love yous".
Then it's time to meet Connor's parents and sisters. Bri is her talkative self as usual, always pointed out the negatives about Connor with minutia.
Christine & Vic
They get on the road to Christine's hometown and... that is it. I feel the editing is always very sparse on this couple.
Brittany & Devonta
They have dinner made by Devonta. As the body builder he is, it's chicken, rice and broccoli and it looks delicious. Brittany takes a moment to convey how she feels he doesn't compliment her enough - just her clothes, never herself - and Devonta takes it back at being defensive about compliments since Mexico.
Ashley & Alex
Alex's mother visits them and she is a free spirit truck driver who instilled those values of freedom onto her son. The visit goes well and then Ashley has a talk with Alex's mom on her own, where they speak about previous relationships. His mom does not seem fond of his exes, which is not a great sign.
On the topic of previous relationships, Ashley challenges Alex on his dating timeline and it feels crowded and confusing. Also, he was contacted via LinkedIn to be on the show? How weird is that?
Amber & Jordan
They go to a restaurant with Jordan's mother and sisters. The four of them have the exact same eyes! They all seem to tag along great and they are excited about Amber's daughter too.
Emma & Mike
They visit Emma's parents and sisters. They talk in the garden about having kids, belonging and Emma's childhood. One of Emma's sister is very adamant on protecting Emma's prior decision to not have kids. Hopefully Emma tells her that she has the right to change her mind. Her sister has kids but kind of regrets it. But then we see her two kids arrive with the brothers in law and that is such a sweet moment, as you can see Emma is close to her nephews. A good aunt does not mean a good mother, but it's all very sweet at the end. Her parents seem nice and supportive. I feel they hoped to be the best for her, although she was guarded and emotionally independent in the past.
And... there is a Couples Gathering and a few questions I have... and so do you?!
For the first time since Mexico, at the end of episode 9, all the couples gather and other contestants who didn't get to the engagement phase join in. Seeing them all together at once made me realise how tall Amber is. She towers over all the other girls!
What happened to Christine and Vic for them not to head to the same honeymoon destination as the other couples on season 9?
Christine and Vic join. All the other couples seemed surprised to see them arrive. I need to know why they were excluded from the group and from most of the editing! If you do know the behind the scenes reasons, please share what you know or a link in the comments!
Chris contacted Bri and thought it was okay?
I knew it! I knew Chris was fishy and that Connor was kind of dismissive when they met! I am glad Bri told Connor immediately about Chris's message (he slid into her DMs after requesting her friendship on Instagram) after he broke up with Jessica. What was he expecting? For Bri to be as flimsy about her relationship as he was and run to him? So disrespectful.
How do the contestants feel about Chris right now?
I am glad Chris is getting the Nick-from-Season-8 treatment at gatherings, being mocked and excluded. They show disdain for him posting after a stripper on his social media and for the fact he says he wants to date 20-year-olds... Another diss at Jessica who is 38 and he knew it from the start! Amber does not greet him or hug him when he arrives and it makes me love her more. Also, all the girls rally around Jessica when she arrives, complimenting her body. That is so sweet of them!
Which are contestants get to the gathering?
The great Keya is in the house! The not great Kevan arrives. The tearful Priyanka arrives and Alex says he had known her from outside the pods. Hope there is no back story there...
Does Bri break up with Connor? Do Chris and Bri get together?
Chris and Bri have the weirdest and most uncomfortable conversation at the end of the episode where he questions her about her relationship with Connor and how he doesn't fit in either with her sexual preferences (because he feels he does?!) or with her father's background. I don't love how much oxygen and smiles she is giving to this conversation, it feels disrespectful towards Connor. I guess the last batch of episodes will let us know.
Episode 10: Vanishing Mode & Episode 11: Where The Chips Fall
The couples dismantle at the bowling alley... and then they try on their dresses and suits, except Brittany who already has a wedding dress bought by her hopeful mom prior to the wedding.
Jessica & Chris
I did not think I was going to speak about this couple again, but they got together as Chris forced Jessica's hand in talking at the get together. He is still a gaslighter, doesn't care about her feelings and keeps asking adjacent questions. She has had enough of him. And I hope we don't see them together again, aside from the mandatory Reunion episode.
Ashley & Alex
I thought seeing that conversation between Bri and Chris was uncomfortable but nothing compares to Ashley and Alex having a heated talk as they seat at a table with Priyanka, who had met Alex before. And then we get on the timeline spiral again, and it gets uncomfortable and snappy in front of Priyanka. It only gets solved when Alex is the man of the day ordering McDonalds Nuggets for his tired fiancée.
After the wedding outfits segments, we see them having a romantic date where they are less snappy, but the "where are we going to live" is still at the forefront of the conversation. I just love when it's mentioned "we want to live in a place where we don't think about other places". I wish I could feel that too. I am constantly thinking about moving to Scotland, not gonna lie. Anyhoo, during their "calmer" date, I think it was so peaceful Alex was falling asleep in between questions. Didn't you get the same impression?
During their bachelor night, Alex says he seems himself in 5 years with a wife and kids. Not with Ashley and kids. I think we all know he is not going to say yes at the altar at this point, right?
Christine & Vic
Christine and Vic head to a florist to make her wedding bouquet and have a very sweet moment. I think they are so lovely and truly in love, the editors found them too drama-free to film.
After the wedding outfits segments, we see them again at the spa having a date and this is where they differ from the other couples: they talk lovingly to one another, they are not snappy, they kiss, they cannot wait to enjoy any moment together... this is what Love is Blind should mostly be about!
Brittany & Devonta
We are in episode 10 and it's just now that we get to see Brittany's place. It is very cute and she transformed her basement into a lash bar. She is very proud of it as she should be. Alas, they do not have the sufficient bond to form a marriage and they are pushing it hard. Devonta seems very checked out under the guise of it being his personality. Him bringing up the prenup in a romantic conversation is like a cold shower. Brittany is about to get her heart broken. I am just confused how we went from her wanting to tell him he wasn't his type - and Alex was... - to her being head over heels about him.
Amber & Jordan
Amber overhears Jordan express his doubts about meeting Emma, Amber's daughter. She is very intoxicated but she tells him right there that he can tell her he wants to bail out. They speak the day after, after Jordan eats his weight in pizza and reads the same page of a book for hours. She doesn't feel he was honest and doesn't feel as confident to introduce him to his daughter and about their communication in general.
Bri & Connor
Bri & Connor meet her father off camera and hard questions are asked by her aunts to Connor. After trying their wedding outfits they have a date in a beautiful train and confirm that they want to get married and want to move forward together. To be honest, I don't feel it 100%. I am afraid Chris's talk might have gone to Bri's head. I hope not though!
A few days later, they have a deeper conversation and my suspicions are confirmed: Bri does not want to get married to Connor as he is. She feels he is laidback, waiting for her lead, unorganised, doesn't want to project the power couple image she craves. And you can see in his eyes that his heart is breaking and he doesn't want to lose hope.
Albeit hard, it's best that they called it quits before the wedding.
Emma & Mike
We see Emma pick things for their wedding and Mike completely out of his depth saying yes to things. He wants to be a guest at his own wedding, that much is clear.
And theirs is the first Wedding Prep and Ceremony we get to see... with lots of tears and emotions, but then Emma takes a whole Bible reading to answer to the "I do" part. I don't like how they make these moments linger, hence always skipping the weddings honestly. They are too stretched out for maximum anxiety-induction.
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