Is Season 7 of Love Is Blind Proof that The Show Is Getting Worse?

Love is Blind first stole our hearts with the unforgettable love triangle between Jessica Batten, Amber Pike, and Matt Barnett. When the show debuted, times were uncertain, but we could always count on the wild drama, quickly turning it into an obsession unlike anything we’d seen since The Bachelor’s debut in the early 2000s. The success of that initial season paved the way for six more, each introducing new villains, fan favorites, and memorable cast members. However, some critics now claim that Love is Blind has been getting worse with each season. I have to disagree, and here’s why.

Comparing the six subsequent seasons to the first is unfair. So much has changed since the spring of 2020 when the Love is Blind experiment first hit streaming. The novelty of the concept has inevitably faded and we all know the formula by now. Usually, one or two couples make it while most struggle to navigate the online fallout, either cast as villains or left heartbroken. Sure, the first season had a freshness that can’t be recreated, but that doesn’t mean the show has lost its appeal. It’s just the natural evolution of any reality show as the shock value wears off.

One reason people might think the show is declining is because of the increased clout chasing. As Love is Blind has gotten more popular, more contestants seem drawn to the spotlight rather than actually finding love. To quote Season 7’s Nick Dorka, some are just there to “be the most famous person on Love Is Blind.” And as a devoted fan, you can practically smell the ulterior motives—like with Ramses this season. The moment he walked out of the pods, we knew he wasn’t in it for real, and poor Marissa was just collateral.

The two biggest complaints I’ve seen online are, first, that casting lets too many clout chasers and 'toxic' personalities slip through, and second, that the show lacks the good old-fashioned drama fans yearn for. Ironically, though, the first issue—more disingenuous cast members—doesn’t actually help with the second. People don’t want to watch contestants lie through their teeth just to get famous; they want the juicy chaos of a genuine love triangle. But have we already forgotten Season 6 earlier this year, with the Jessica-Jimmy-Chelsea drama? Personally, I can quote Jessica’s iconic 'When you see and realize what you missed out on, you are going to choke' speech from memory. But one season slump like Season 7 doesn’t mean the show has lost its luster. If anything, that unpredictability is exactly why we’re obsessed in the first place.

Perhaps people have just grown tired of the concept, or maybe they’re being a bit too demanding. But when it comes to real people, you can’t force drama without turning the show into a completely scripted production. After all, we’re not here to watch MTV’s Next; we’re here for real-life heartbreak and betrayal. Whatever the reason behind this idea that the show is 'getting worse,' millions of us will keep tuning in—and no matter how juicy the plot gets, plenty of fans will still go online claiming the show is 'washed.'