Denver season just ended “Love is Blind” The show may be exploring the Mountain West for the first time, but Netflix’s dating reality show series already has plenty of experience traveling the world.
In just five years, the show has aired seasons in nine different U.S. cities and spawned nearly a dozen international versions. With a focus on emotional connections over appearances and a premise that challenges traditional notions of love, each season reflects the cultural nuances of its surroundings, whether it’s Dallas or Japan.
Romance aside, the show has not been accepted as a pure fairy tale. The show has been the subject of lawsuits over its treatment of contestants, and fans and critics alike have pointed out that internalized bias cannot be ignored — something that often rears its head when engaged pairs finally meet, as happened when their engagements broke off in recent seasons.
Still, the show has found a formula for showcasing different cultural norms and values, with international versions to be broadcast in Brazil, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the Middle East, Germany, Argentina, France, and in the future in Italy and the Netherlands. many forms of love What exists.
“The duality of local authenticity and global relevance allowed ‘Love Is Blind’ to not only be entertaining, but also to subtly shape how audiences around the world think about love,” said Brandon League, vice president of nonfiction series and sports at Netflix.
Culturally aware adaptation
From the understated dynamics of “Love is Blind: Japan” to the bold emotions of “Love is Blind: Brazil,” each adaptation is designed around cultural norms and expectations, Rieg said.
“Just as important, we gravitate towards regions rich in relationship dynamics and cultural nuances because those stories make for the most compelling adaptations,” League says.
When “Love Is Blind: Habibi” (an adaptation filmed primarily in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates and starring contestants from all over the Arab world) was announced, some wondered what the show would portray. traditionally conservative culture, Marriage is a family affair. Participant Safa Al Jubouli said she felt the show was ultimately thoughtful in respecting Arab society’s cultural values, such as modesty, living separately, prohibition of physical intimacy, and recognition of family.
“In fact, it reflects how our grandparents met: a short conversation, one encounter, and then marriage,” Al Jubouli said. “It’s a modern twist on a very traditional concept.”
But the show also created room for personal choice, al-Jubouli said. This isn’t always guaranteed in arranged marriages, but it creates what she calls “a respectful blend of tradition and autonomy.”
Dallas Short, 37, has watched “Love Is Blind” from the beginning and says the international versions, many of which also feature ethnically diverse casts, really show how love can transcend everything.
“I feel like I’m looking at all races and religions and seeing how we can all work together to find love,” Short said.
Another longtime viewer, Kristen Maldonado, 35, recently started watching this version. Set in Japan, Another more conservative society. She was surprised that participants were more reticent to meet each other’s families on camera, and that many couples chose to end the experience sooner rather than have their families be present at the wedding they had planned to say no to. This is something she feels doesn’t happen as much in the US version.
“I thought that was really respectful,” Maldonado said. “Culturally, it was cool to see how different there is from here.”
At the other end of the spectrum, she says, is Brazil, where participants have close relationships from the beginning.
“With the Brazilian one, it seems like it’s so funny every time we meet, people hit it off right away and it’s like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,'” Maldonado says.
Diversity and representation, an ongoing debate
Since the first season aired in 2020, Racial and ethnic fault lines It caused tension between family members and arguments among fans. During the Minneapolis season, online discussions centered on the lack of diversity, with many memes claiming that the male contestants all looked the same.
League said the casting was intentionally inclusive, but ultimately only a fraction of the participants keep the pod running — Choose who you connect with and stay invisible.
Taylor Kraus, who married Garrett Josemans during the season set in Washington, D.C., waited until he revealed that he was half-Asian. Although this choice drew backlash from people who didn’t think she should hide her identity, Ms. Krauss said the show’s premise gave her the opportunity to put race aside a little and have a more authentic experience.
“I’m very proud to be an Asian American woman, but I also know that sometimes my identity can be fetishized or stereotyped,” Kraus said, adding that she’s glad she called it out.
Laura Crompton, 43, watched the first season, which was set in Atlanta, while living in the UK. At first she couldn’t understand why there was a relationship Between Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed. Being an interracial couple was a hot topic, but after moving to Los Angeles, they gained a deeper understanding of how racial dynamics can play a role in relationships in America.
However, even in the British version, certain factors such as ethnicity and religion have proven impossible to ignore. Season 2, which aired in August, depicted the engagement and marriage of Kal Pasha, who is half-Pakistani, and Sarovar Aujla, who is of Indian descent. On the show, the couple discussed in detail the differences between historical religions and religions. geopolitical tensions It can affect their relationship. Their separation was ultimately due to other reasons, but Crompton was aware that such tensions existed in Britain as well.
Friendship: What is true love?
The friendships forged on “Love Is Blind” often take a backseat to romantic relationships, but not all couples end up at the altar, so the show has recently leant toward showing the participants’ life journeys. self-discovery and friendship, says the league.
“Expanding the lens of love to include those experiences helps the show feel more authentic and meaningful,” League says.
Love is Blind: Germany’s Alina Rothbauer said the unique and intense setting created camaraderie and eased the experience, especially since participants had no contact with outside friends or family while in the pod.
“Some of the friendships we formed behind the scenes are still strong,” says Rossbauer, who is married to Elias Pappas. “These friendships kept us grounded during filming.”
Al Jubouli said he would like to see more friendship portrayed in “Love is Blind: Habibi” as it is one of the most underrated parts of the experience.
“The friendships between men and women were powerful,” she says. “In such an emotionally intense space, friendship became a lifeline and sometimes the purest form of love.”
Queer love is blind
As the show’s success grew, fans began to support queer versions of the show. League said that while there are no plans to do so at the moment, Netflix is always looking at new ways to reflect the different kinds of love people are looking for.
I don’t know how the logistics will work, but Short, himself a queer man, thinks such a version would make for an interesting season.
Kraus says future seasons need to reflect many things people experience love By casting adults who are polyamorous, disabled, neurodivergent, or part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Love is more than just one story,” says Kraus. “I think this show has an opportunity to highlight that.”
