The world is talking about “Love Is Blind”—and Minnesota is a big part of that conversation. The hit dating show followed 32 local singles (hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey mention it’s the biggest cast to date) on their quest to find love and get engaged—without ever seeing each other in person. Among the cast of 26- to 43-year-old Twin Citians are a handful of nurses and other medical professionals, realtors, world travelers, and former cheerleaders.
Courtesy of Netflix
This past weekend (on Valentine’s Day, to boot), the first six episodes of the show debuted on Netflix. Episodes 7-9 will subsequently follow on Feb. 21, episodes 10-12 on Feb. 28, and episode 13 (the finale) on March 7. Vulture reported this season might put the “mid” in “Midwest.” Entertainment Weekly dubbed this the “most boring” season yet—but we beg to differ. Mostly because this is our hometown, and many of us are finding out rabbit holes of how we know some of the contestants.
Here’s what we loved about the first six episodes of the season—and a few things that didn’t quite hit the mark. Proceed with caution—the following may contain spoilers! If you haven’t watched the first drop of Season 8 episodes of ‘Love Is Blind,’ stop reading.
Courtesy of Netflix
Favorite Moments
Minne-SNOW-ta
It’s entertaining to see the show’s opening is b-roll footage of the show is a pine tree-filled, snowy backdrop. After all, the show was filmed about a year ago, and if you recall, Minneapolis had one of the least-snowiest winters on record. But despite what should be a realistic portrayal of Minnesota, they had to have pulled this from somewhere in our state, right?
Those Accents, Eh?
Goofball Joey Leveille’s accent is straight out of a Minnesota stereotype—and we love it. His “yeee-ah’s” and vowel-stressed speech is the perfect nod to our signature accent. Oh, and
Courtesy of Netflix
within the first two minutes of the first episode, the love of Woodbury’s Costco did not go unnoticed. Another strong North Star State accent is that of Lauren O’Brien.
It’s A Small Town, After All
Two contestants—Virginia Miller and Devin Buckley—realize they went to the same high school. It’s a reminder that in a state with over 5.7 million people, Minnesota’s surprisingly close-knit connections can sometimes lead to unexpected overlaps. Another spoiler, this becomes a key component of Episode 6’s cliffhanger ending—which is definitely a moment we didn’t love.
Least-Favorite Moments
Health Care Overload
It feels like just about everyone on the show works in health care—from nurses to medical sales reps. As much as we love the sector (thanks, Mayo and 3M), it’s hard to ignore that the representation feels a little too heavy-handed. Maybe there are a few more career types to round out the mix?
It’s Giving Cringe
Oh, Dave Bettenburg. You’ve got jokes. And not good ones. Upon first meeting Lauren O’Brien in the pods, she tells him she’s 31. His response? “You’re over 30, so that means you’re unattractive.” Of course he says he’s kidding, but that’s not where it ends with
Courtesy of Netflix
Dave’s jokes, unfortunately. His favorite line (aside from “Oh, my god”) is “What’s wrong with you?” Did we mention he also admitted to cheating in a previous relationship? The red flags are flagging.
Political Divide aka Avoiding the Tough Convos
While it’s refreshing to see participants touch on important social issues like the murder of George Floyd or LGBTQ+ rights, the show hints at Minnesota’s deep political divide. Some steer clear of conflict (ahem, Ben Mazzenga), while others are more vocal (Sara Carton, coincidentally Ben’s fiancé). It’s a reality for many of us—but in the context of a dating show, it makes for some awkward dinner table moments ahead.
Stay tuned for a Part II, after the next set of episodes airs on Feb. 21.
