When I started the second season of Love Is Blind UK I was almost certain it was going to be a huge disappointment. I was delighted to be proved wrong.
As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of reality TV, when I do watch it I pick what I’m going to while away my hours to with extreme care.
When the first-ever Love Is Blind US season came out in 2020, I was intrigued by the hook, which to me sounded like an evolved version of Married At First Sight with a deeper emotional core.
The show invites 30 singles looking for their forever partner to date without seeing each and, and if they find someone they think is the one, they get engaged.
After a few weeks living together in the real world, they decide if the sight-unseen connection they made in the pods is strong enough to tie the knot.
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Frankly, that first season is near-perfect: (Mostly) genuine contestants; a fresh idea; and people you were really rooting for. Hey, it birthed everyone’s favourite couple, Cameron and Lauren.
Here’s the catch. After the show completely blew up, it fell foul to the curse that has befallen most reality TV these days, fame-seekers chasing clout over true love and more and more outlandish drama.
In many ways, you could call it a curse.
I gave season two a try, but after that the show left a bad taste in my mouth and I hadn’t returned…. until now.
When Love Is Blind UK launched last year, I found myself falling for it in the same way as all those years ago with a (largely) likeable cast, the wonderful Emma and Matt Willis at the helm and that quintessential British temperament which I love in all my shows.
But, history is wont to repeat itself, so I was ready to tune into season two and find that magic gone, replaced by obnoxious personalities and a show desperate to amp up the scandal and dim the simple romance.
That’s not what happened.
Somehow, the second season has found the right people once more with characters, back stories and burgeoning couples you find yourself hooked to.
Of course, there are the usual twists and turns. There’s a particularly tragic love triangle that had me shaking my fists at the screen and immediately invested in seeing how it would pan out.
Beyond that, we have some sweet couples who fall for each other almost straightaway and, in a refreshing change of pace, a South Asian couple with a connection I couldn’t help but cheer for.
Also, those who love the more eccentric and kooky characters that these shows tend to serve up, you won’t be disappointed. There’s one person this season whose philosophy in life genuinely made my jaw drop in absurd delight.
No dating show is complete without some wince-inducing pairings as well, and, without falling into the toxic, there’s some of that to sink your teeth into.
For those who enjoyed the first season, this follow-up hits many of the same notes, making me feel optimistic about the future of this UK spin-off.
And that’s just the first four episodes, so I’m excited to see where season two leads us – hopefully not astray.
The first four episodes of Love Is Blind UK season two are out now.
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