Love is Blind and its sibling series, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, are both reality dating shows that conduct “social experiments” to explore the complexities of relationships and romance. However, they differ in their focus, with The Ultimatum centering on pre-existing couples facing a marriage ultimatum, while Love Is Blind involves singles getting engaged before they meet face-to-face. Both shows offer plenty of drama, emotional depth, and relatable themes—but The Ultimatum adds an extra layer of chaos by testing the strength of pre-existing couples through three-week-long trial marriages with other people.
Sounds crazy, huh? You’re not wrong. Yet clearly, people are resonating with these shows or they simply can’t look away from the mess considering it’s the most popular reality TV franchise in Netflix history.
Is love really blind?
Premiering on Netflix in February 2020, Love Is Blind gained immense popularity due to its unique and unconventional approach to matchmaking, exploring the idea of forming deep connections through heart-to-heart conversations without ever seeing the physical appearance of potential partners. The show and its successors, The Ultimatum and Perfect Match, are hosted by early aughts power couple, Nick and Vanessa Lachey.
The premise of Love Is Blind involves a group of singles who are isolated in individual pods, unable to see or meet each other in person. They can only communicate through a wall. Participants go through a series of “dates” with other people with the hope of finding a romantic connection that can potentially lead to marriage.
The couples who get engaged have to live together in a “trial marriage,” acclimating to each other’s lifestyles and habits. At the end of the trial is a wedding where they must decide whether love is really blind and say “I do” or leave their partner in tears—with their friends and family as their witnesses.
Let’s take the drama up a notch
The Love Is Blind spin-off series, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, premiered on Netflix in April 2022. This show takes a slightly different approach but shares some similarities with its predecessor. In The Ultimatum, the premise revolves around a group of couples who have been in long-term relationships but have not yet taken the step towards marriage. The experiment involves couples “breaking up” and dating the other participants, eventually living in a “trial marriage” with someone new to find out what’s missing or being taken for granted in their former relationships. The original couples’ reunions are usually intense and emotionally charged. However, it pushes them to decide whether to get engaged or pack up and move on.
Is this experiment just as absurd as getting engaged to someone through a pod wall? Absolutely. But in its defense, as Nick Lachey states in episode 1 of Season 2: “Psychologists agree that giving an ultimatum isn’t exactly a good way to get someone else to do what you want. BUT, it is the very best way to get the answers that you need.”
Perhaps this “need” also resonates with viewers who have experienced the trials and tribulations of long-term relationships. Or, dare I say it, find themselves questioning if marriage should be the ultimate destination of a relationship.
Couples to root for or root against
Both shows have seduced viewers into becoming emotionally invested in the couples and their journeys. We cheer for our favorite pairs such as Season One’s beloved interracial couple Lauren and Cameron, or Season Three’s city girl/country boy duo, Alexa and Brennon. Many viewers also harangue online about their least favorite pairs, often describing them as “toxic”: Matt and Colleen from Season 3 (who are still married today) were strongly criticized for their explosive on-screen fights (which makes you wonder what was happening off camera), and some couples’ drama continued years after they wrapped filming: Season 2’s Natalie and Shayne are still going head-to-head about what really happened behind the scenes during their volatile relationship on the show.
Despite the drama, betrayal, and engagement rings circling the bottom of a resort pool, the experiments on Love Is Blind and The Ultimatum have proven to be somewhat successful.
Which couples are still married from Love is Blind?
Surprisingly, more couples than you would think. In addition to the three couples who got married in Season 4, (and starred in the three-part After The Altar special that aired on September 1, 2023) these are the Love Is Blind couples that are still married today:
Love Is Blind Season 1:
Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton
Amber Pike and Matt Barnett
Love is Blind Season 3:
Alexa Alfia and Brennon Lemieux
Colleen Reed and Matt Bolton
What about the couples from The Ultimatum?
The Ultimatum, Season 1:
Alexis Maloney and Hunter Parr (married)
Madlyn Ballatori and Colby Kissinger (married)
Lauren Pounds and Nathan Ruggles (married)
Shanique Imari and Randall Griffin (still engaged)
The Ultimatum, Season 2:
Roxanne Kaiser and Antonio Mattei (still engaged)
Riah Nelson and Trey Brunson (still engaged)
Ryann McCracken and James Morris (still engaged)
Kat Shelton and Alex Chapman (still engaged)
Now, onto your burning questions…
Are Bryan Okoyein and Lisa Horne from The Ultimatum Season 2 still together?
Bryan and Lisa left the show early when the couple had an argument that turned physical *insert RED FLAG* and shortly after, hosts Vanessa and Nick Lachey announced that Lisa was pregnant. According to Tudum, the two are still together and raising their child.
Is there going to be a Love Is Blind Season 5?
Yes! Netflix will release the first 4 episodes of Love is Blind Season 5 on Friday, September 22, so prepare for a weekend binge.
Is The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On renewed for a third season?
Netflix has yet to announce an official release date for Season 3 of The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, but considering how popular the franchise is, and the social media buzz around the sapphic spin-off show, Queer Love: The Ultimatum, it’s probably safe to assume there will be another season in 2024.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, viewers’ preferences for either show may vary depending on whether they are more interested in the excitement of new connections or the challenges of existing relationships. Given how popular the franchise is with spin-offs like Queer Love: The Ultimatum, Perfect Match, Love is Blind: Japan, and Love Is Blind: Brazil, it’s clear the reality TV phenomenon will continue to grow and capture our universal cringe and fascination.
Sources Cited
O’Connell, Mikey. “‘Love Is Blind’ Creator: Revelations From Reality’s Biggest Hitmaker.” The Hollywood Reporter, 18 July 2023, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/love-is-blind-creator-chris-coelen-revelations-reality-shows-1235535758/
Briese, Nicole. “Nick and Vanessa Lachey’s Relationship Timeline.” BRIDES, 26 September 2022, https://www.brides.com/nick-vanessa-lachey-relationship-timeline-6743227
McRady, Rachel. “‘Love Is Blind’ Alum Shayne Calls Out Ex Natalie for Podcast Comments, Offers to Appear as a Guest.” ET, 10 April 2023, https://www.etonline.com/love-is-blind-alum-shayne-calls-out-ex-natalie-for-podcast-comments-offers-to-appear-as-a-guest
Delbyck, Cole. “Which ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 4 Couples Are Still Together After the Reunion?” TUDUM, 13 September 2023, https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/love-is-blind-season-4-cast-where-are-they-now
Delbyck, Cole. “Here’s Who’s Still Together from ‘The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On’ Season 2.” TUDUM, 31 August 2023, https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-ultimatum-marry-or-move-on-season-2-where-are-they-now
Delbyck, Cole. “Step Back Into The Pods with ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 5.” TUDUM, 7 September 2023, https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/love-is-blind-season-5-release-date-news#:~:text=When%20is%20the%20Love%20Is,the%20singles%20journeys%20for%20love.
Felbin, Sarah and Geller, Lindsay. “Which ‘The Ultimatum’ Couples Are Still Together In 2023? Here’s Everything To Know.” Women’s Health, 6 September 2023, https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a39639192/the-ultimatum-couples-now/