Reality dating show “Love is Blind” touched down in the Mile High City this week, giving Netflix audiences an inside look at Denver’s infamous dating scene where women say they often meet noncommittal men who are more interested in finding skiing buddies than a romantic partner.
From inside the pods – which served as the backdrop for the first five of six episodes that dropped on Oct. 1 – it was hard to tell if that sentiment would ring true of the guys cast for this unique matchmaking experiment. In fact, there were few clues at all that these folks lived in Mile High City.
None of the eligible bachelors had large beards or sported brewery T-shirts. Only a few mentioned the outdoors in pod dating conversations, and only one admitted to driving a Toyota 4Runner. (The woman he was courting, on the other hand, owned two different Jeeps.)
“He is not the mountain man I envisioned,” said one woman named Annie after meeting her partner Nick at the highly anticipated post-engagement “reveal,” where couples get to see each other for the first time since they started dating. “I was fully ready for him to have a beard down to his chest and his work boots.”
Still, there were hints of the Colorado aesthetic peppered throughout. One couple hosted a camping-themed date that included s’mores, and in a departure from past “Love is Blind” seasons, it was mostly women who had more than one option to choose for a partner. That led to a couple of guys desperately pitching themselves as “the one” in the final day or so before an expected engagement.
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In all, six couples ended up getting engaged and therefore earned the opportunity to meet their fiancée in the flesh. Only five made it to Mexico for the honeymoon phase of the experiment – more on that in a minute – and that’s where some of the Colorado bro behavior started to peek through.
After a few days spending time as individual couples, the entire cast met up for a pool party and after a few tequila drinks, several of the women were visibly perturbed that their partners were focusing more on their friends than their fiancées. The vibes were officially off with many of the couples and viewers then got to see how they handled conflict. For the most part, it did not go well.
Based on that insight and the initial chemistry, we’re rating how likely it is we think each couple will say “I do” at the altar. Warning: spoilers ahead.
Kacie and Patrick
Likelihood of staying together: 0% chance
Even from within the pods, hair/makeup artist Kacie and construction manager Patrick seemed like an unusual match. Though they both like sports and seemed to laugh a lot, many of their interactions felt forced. Like the time Kacie was dirty-talking Patrick with sexually explicit language that seemed to make him squirm awkwardly. Nonetheless, the two got engaged, and at the reveal, it was clear on Kacie’s face that she had made a mistake. Before they could even get to the honeymoon, the two met in a hotel lobby where Kacie broke off the relationship. Patrick didn’t seem to get the hint, though, probably because she was jumping into his arms, kissing him and telling him it was definitely not his looks that made her want to quit filming. He fully expected to try to continue their relationship off-camera. But based on Kacie telling producers, “I don’t think my attraction to him can grow,” we aren’t buying it.
Kalybriah and Edmond
Likelihood of staying together: 75% chance
Kalybriah and Edmond seemed to hit it off and have natural chemistry. Edmond, who was raised in the foster care system, is a deeply sensitive dude, and that appealed to Kalybriah, who is a social worker. They somehow even showed up in matching red outfits for their reveal. Their candor with one another also showed a genuine willingness to figure out how to do life together. After the pool party, both agreed they were one of the strongest couples. But later in that conversation, things devolved when talking about intimacy. Kalybriah and Edmond were the only couple not to sleep together, and Kalybriah said she would likely wait until after they were married to have sex. Edmond, on the other hand, wasn’t keen on that. The night ended with many tears and much misunderstanding. Still, we think they have what it takes to find a middle ground.
Madison and Joe
Likelihood of staying together: 10% chance
From the moment of the reveal, it seemed like Joe wasn’t feeling the relationship with Madison. Perhaps he was unable to adequately express his emotions, but he came off as more surprised than delighted. Things continued to spiral downward in Mexico when he commented about “thinner women” being his usual type. And when Madison tried to confront him about not prioritizing her at the pool party, Joe shut down and went solo back to their room for a nap. The couple continually struggled to communicate thereafter, and given that they haven’t so far been able to resolve conflict effectively, we don’t see this relationship being sustainable.
Annie and Nick
Likelihood of staying together: 50% chance
Judging solely by their interactions together, Annie and Nick seem to have it all. Their chemistry was instant at the reveal and seemed authentic. They also seem to align on their values and enjoy being in the company of one another. However, Nick, a luxury watch dealer, raises a few red flags. For instance, in the pods, he abruptly broke it off with his top choice when she said she wasn’t religious – even after Nick had already said “I love you.” From what viewers have seen so far, he doesn’t appear to have been forthright with Annie with that information. In the pods, Nick says his mom once asked him when he was younger if he was gay. He said no but we’d be lying if we said the thought hadn’t crossed our mind.
Ali and Anton
Likelihood of staying together: 50% chance
Ali and Anton are the wildcard couple, who seem like a good match. Ali is a nurse with Brazilian heritage, while Anton works in transportation logistics and has Russian heritage. Both speak multiple languages and seem like well-traveled, well-rounded individuals. They were the first couple to get engaged, in episode one no less. But their time in Mexico showed where there may be a few fractures. When Anton says he spent $5,000 on the engagement ring, Ali insists it should have cost at least $10,000. After all, “it’s an act of appreciation for the future mother of your children,” she says. Still, all the other women were jealous of how attentive Anton is to Ali. We feel like it could go either way simply because the couple didn’t get as much screen time as others.
Megan and Jordan
Likelihood of staying together: 75% chance
Megan and Jordan knew in the pods they were something of an unlikely match, but one that viewers were rooting for. “Sparkle Megan,” as she calls herself, is a wellness entrepreneur with a taste for the finer things in life. Jordan is a no-frills dad to a five-year-old. They bonded over the fact that Jordan’s son has Type 1 Diabetes, which Megan’s late father also dealt with. But at the pool party, Megan was not shy to say she was annoyed with Jordan after finding some of his jokes juvenile. He immediately promised to stop the banter, but Megan didn’t seem satisfied. We’re hopeful this won’t be a serious speed bump and that they can continue to level each other out.
“Love is Blind” drops new episodes on Wednesday, Oct. 8 on Netflix.