Their love is no longer blind: Why some fans say they've soured on Netflix's dating show

Not one couple who met during season nine of “Love Is Blind” had a fairy-tale ending, a shocking conclusion that has made some fans question whether the dating show is worth their time.

Not one couple who met during season nine of “Love Is Blind” had a fairy-tale ending, a shocking conclusion that has made some fans question whether the dating show is worth their time.

When the series debuted on Netflix in February 2020, viewers gravitated toward its refreshing premise: Can people fall for each other without seeing each other? The idea especially resonated with people who were starting to feel isolated as the Covid-19 pandemic began to take hold.

From their isolated “pods,” contestants speed date each other, engaging in hourslong raw conversations that sometimes can lead to proposals within days of their “meeting.” Netflix then has the lovebirds test whether they actually mesh in person. The journey ultimately leads some of the couples to the altar, where they are tasked with saying yes or no to their matches after just weeks of knowing each other.

But the absence of genuine romance this season, coupled with several controversies over the past few years, has fueled disdain for the series from some fans who say the show has become unwatchable.

“I think the series has lost its spark, the reason it was created,” said Kadidjha Traore, who was among the many fans who posted about their disappointment on TikTok. She cited the success of season one fan favorites Lauren Speed-Hamilton and Cameron Hamilton, whom she described as “the poster child of loving being blind.”