After five episodes of pod dating and a honeymoon trip to Mexico, the Denver couples that got engaged on season nine of “Love is Blind” are finally starting to settle in… or are they?
Netflix dropped three new episodes this week, where the locals entered the most intense phase of the experiment yet: living together in the real world. The show put them up in a generic high-rise apartment building in downtown Denver, complete with glass windows, bright yellow front doors and no outdoor patio space. The individual units appeared to be one-bedroom abodes but with studio-esque feels, only notable because they seemed to lack private space.
Several couples welcomed family to their apartments for meet and greets, and when it came time, for example, for local realtor Edmond to have a one-on-one conversation with his mom, fiancée Kalybriah left their apartment so they could do so. Adding to the studio vibe was the fact that everyone always congregated around their kitchen islands. No shade to the design, but the lack of dining space and close quarters made for many awkward moments.
How compatible are Denver’s ‘Love is Blind’ couples? Here’s a breakdown.
In fact, even before returning to the Mile High City from Mexico, all the cast members seemed to be low-key freaking out about what they had gotten themselves into. There was hair salon owner, Annie, who, on their last night of the honeymoon, borderline berated her partner, Nick, stating, “I don’t need you in my life” and “my life will not fall apart with you.”
Then there was salesman Joe, who gaslighted his fiancée, Madison, into having doubts about their relationship and the “Love is Blind” process by telling her she’d be more human if she stopped being so optimistic about everything. His ability to whip her into a frenzy over nothing is actually impressive – that is, if you’re looking to marry someone who brings out your worst insecurities.
There was also an unusual breakfast date that Ali and Anton had after their night shifts at work. They fumbled around the kitchen, both visibly exhausted, trying to figure out how to interact with each other and share the space. It was all very, very uncomfortable.
Outside of the apartments, several couples met family and friends at local restaurants and bars around Denver. They also met up with other members of the “pod squad” for a mini-reunion that was overflowing with weird vibes.
Here are the locales we spotted in the new episodes and what they say about the cast members who visited them.
The main dining room at Le Bilboquet in Cherry Creek North. The French restaurant hails from New York and also has locations in Dallas, Atlanta and Sag Harbor, NY.
Le Bilboquet Denver
This upscale French restaurant was an apt backdrop for the Denverite who calls herself “Sparkle Megan” to introduce her new fiancée, Jordan, to the fam. It’s no secret that Megan has a taste for the finer things in life, including chandeliers, so she is right at home among the white tablecloths and orchid centerpieces of this Cherry Creek eatery.
Linger
This LoHi haunt, located in a former mortuary, is where Joe hosted his family for their first meeting with Madison. The dinner went exceptionally well – thanks in no small part to Madison’s bubbly and warm personality – but I can’t help feeling like the setting foreshadows the death of their relationship.
My Neighbor Felix
The party is always on at this Mexican spot, and that proved to be a point of contention when Ali and Anton met some of the latter’s friends there for a meal. During the conversation, Ali admitted she didn’t like living in Denver and being surrounded by nonstop nightlife. Later, as the boys were discussing tequila shots, Ali was in the bathroom getting the tea about Anton’s love of strip clubs and drinking. Candidly, it sounds like this party might be over.
Stampede Club
All five couples and additional singles from the pod squad reunited at this Western joint in Aurora, where they rode a mechanical bull, learned to line dance, and confronted their pod exes for the first time. Viewers could tell the vibes were off by body language and other not-so-subtle clues. Kalybriah and Edmond, for one, had a blowout fight where she became so frustrated that she no longer wanted to talk to him. And the drunker Joe got, the more Madison got the ick. “This is weirder than I thought it’d be,” Megan said at one point, roping the whole soiree into one concise sentiment.
An idyllic cabin in the mountains
As the couples returned to Denver, they also began seeing each other’s homes for the first time. One standout was Nick’s cabin. While it’s unclear where in the mountains he lives – he said it was about an hour from Denver – the Colorado aesthetic was impossible to miss. In his garage, Nick had a collection of toys that would make a native swoon, from skis, snowboards and hockey gear to motor bikes, an ice boat and a bright red 1965 sports car. Maybe that mountain tattoo on his forearm isn’t just for show.
“Love is Blind” drops new episodes on Wednesday, Oct. 15 on Netflix.