Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, Grindr and Match.com. The list can go on for all infamous dating apps, but more recently, there’s been a change in the game — a Netflix original series. Netflix seems to be getting ahead by airing the series over the course of three weeks to keep viewers hooked. Is it working? No doubt. The most recent episodes dropped and there’s still huge talk on social media about the show “Love Is Blind.”
“Love Is Blind” is an experiment in which the producers put the cast members in pods. The cast members have no information about the person they’re talking to — even what they look like. They only have the sound of their voice and info gleaned from conversation to determine their match … to marry.
Now, this isn’t the first show to do this. Netflix’s series “The Circle” had a similar premise in which players never met each other; all they had to go off of were profiles that they created — some were accurate while others were straight up catfishes. Social media ate that series up too, though the end goal wasn’t love or marriage; it was money.
Netflix isn’t the only company to do these types of shows; there’s been “The Bachelor,” “Are You The One” and “Rock of Love.” There are even shows such as “America’s Next Top Model,” “The X Factor” and “America Ninja Warrior,” where the premise isn’t about love or hidden appearance, but about competing head on for a prize or sponsor deal.
Have people really gotten to the point where they’re so absorbed with followers, fame and fortune that it takes being on a reality series to find love or feel satisfied? How desperate are people to display their personal lives on the big screen? The issue is that these series are too relatable. Yet, a majority of the people who relate to these corny shows are too embarrassed to talk about the experiences they’ve had when dating or chatting with strangers online.
But if there is anything that the show “Love Is Blind” has done, it confirms that reality TV series dating is just the same as app or online dating. Going deeper into the premise of the show, there’s six couples that ended up getting engaged: Jessica and Mark, Diamond and Carlton, Cameron and Lauren, Barnett and Amber, Damian and Giannina, and Kelly and Kenny.
Upon initial connection, there was no communication with the outside world, nor was there any way for the contestants to see their potential partner — hence the name “Love Is Blind.” The only way to figure out who was the best match was by conversation, and in conversation comes truth. So how have these six couples confirmed that dating on screen is the same as app or online dating?
Well, first proof came from the couple Diamond and Carlton, who ended up calling off their engagement due to some truth bombs. The reason why this relationship ended so quickly was that Carlton wasn’t 100% truthful with Diamond in regards to his past relationships. Diamond slept on that truth bomb, then went to talk with Carlton in the morning; it resulted in a heated argument, Diamond throwing her drink at him and quoting Beyoncé as she walked away. On or off screen, honesty is the best policy.
The choice Diamond made to walk away may have proved that not everyone is so desperate or willing to put their personal lives on the big screen. Yet, one contestant has continued on in the show in spite of her hesitation, which could confirm that some people have become too absorbed with fame and fortune to be satisfied. This contestant is Jessica.
Jessica had initially fallen in love with Barnett; Barnett had even told Jessica he was going to propose to her, but the next night he decided to go with Amber. Jessica was hurt and settled for Mark, who became her fiance. Amber and Barnett seemed to be a good match with how their personalities meshed, but Jessica just kept trying to get between them, as she hadn’t gotten any closure and still felt hesitant toward Mark — who is a total gentleman by the way.
Jessica seemed to display more emotions for Barnett and not Mark, who tried to get Jessica to “choose” him. Jessica had claimed to want to take it slow, but after committing to Mark during a horse ride and lunch date, did a quick 180 in Barnett’s presence, so much so that she took off her engagement ring.
Yet, in the second set of episodes, Jessica had put the ring back on and wanted to continue with the engagement, though she constantly brought up the 10-year age difference between her and Mark and threw herself at Barnett during a surprise party. Jessica exemplified the desperation of someone putting their life out on the television screen.
What’s a bit unfortunate is that this often happens a lot in real relationships, but it’s not exposed like it is on a show. Thirty percent of U.S. adults have used an online dating app. Young adults are more likely to use online dating apps or websites than those who are older. Is this because the younger generation is too afraid to take that risk of the classic, old-fashioned meet-up? Or is it because they’re more in tune with technology, and it removes the obstacles of finding things out about someone to get to know them?
Are people so shallow that it takes a Netflix series to stop and think about future relationships or the future of marriage? Whatever the reason may be, it’s up to you to decide if love is blind.
