Note: This article includes spoilers from the first six episodes of “Love Is Blind” Season 9, currently available on Netflix.
The opening episodes of Season 9 of “Love Is Blind” delivered an exciting mix of emotions and twists. The six episodes featured an impressive six engagements: Ali and Anton, Madison and Joe, Annie and Nick, Megan and Jordan, Kalybriah and Edmond, and Kacie and Patrick. Unlike past seasons, where some engagements were kept off-screen, this season showcased all six on camera.
However, only five couples advanced to the vacation phase post-pods. Shortly after their first meeting, Kacie made an unexpected exit in one of the most unusual breakup scenarios captured on camera. While speaking to Patrick and expressing her inability to continue, he misinterpreted her statement, believing she was referring to the trip. In reality, she meant their romantic involvement. She mentioned she feared that the editing might portray her as having a breakdown due to his looks, clarifying that wasn’t her issue but added, “I just don’t think my attraction to him is going to grow much.” Yet, following their farewell, she leaped into his arms, hugging and kissing him.
In a chat with Tudum, Kacie expressed that Patrick felt like a “stranger” after their face-to-face meeting, and she realized that for a relationship to succeed, she wanted to approach it slowly, away from the cameras, and explore their connection in a more gradual manner back in Denver. She emphasized that her conversation with him wasn’t a definitive breakup and that she aimed to deepen their acquaintance: “I genuinely wanted to talk more, go on dates, and explore our chemistry on a physical level to determine if this was real.”
She firmly stated that her decision wasn’t based on his looks: “He’s an attractive guy. It was more about feeling that he was a stranger in my embrace than anything related to his appearance.”
As customary, Variety spoke with Chris Coelen, the creator and CEO of Kinetic Content, about the initial six episodes, including the unusual split, other contestants who chose to leave, and the essential discussions that unfolded in the pods.
To kick things off, an engagement occurred in episode 1. Can you confirm that’s a result of editing?
Yeah, that’s purely a matter of editing. It’s just the storytelling approach we use. The narratives aren’t presented linearly. People sometimes connect at different moments; for instance, Lauren and Cameron also became engaged in the first episode of Season 1.
This season, both Anna Yuan and Blake Anderson opted out during the pods and ghosted their connections. How does this affect your TV production process when someone chooses to leave early?
The beauty of this experience is that we simply follow what unfolds. If people find love, that’s wonderful. If someone feels it’s not right for them and decides to leave for any reason, we respect that choice and reflect it in the narrative. Each season has its unique twists because of the diverse personalities involved. The way they engage is often unpredictable—Blake and Anna’s departures in the pods were particularly significant to the storylines we were crafting.
It’s uncommon for contestants to just ghost. While that might happen in real life, if they choose to ghost here, that’s their decision.
Kacie and Patrick’s quirky non-breakup raised eyebrows, as she appeared to lack attraction yet also refrained from ending things, even jumping into his arms. What are your thoughts on those scenes?
That’s really a question best directed to her. People will interpret those moments in various ways. As we’ve observed before, showcasing a scene can lead to vastly different perceptions. While I have my own interpretations, I suspect the situation is quite complex, filled with multiple emotions, possibly related to attraction, sensitivity towards others’ feelings, and an inability to confront those feelings directly.
Throughout the seasons, we’ve witnessed serious conversations in the pods. This time, Nick and Annie engaged in a meaningful discussion regarding the potential of having a child who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. In today’s social climate, are contestants being encouraged to delve deeper into such important topics?
It’s entirely up to what they want to discuss. Contestants engage in a wide variety of conversations over the 10-day period. As producers, our challenge is to highlight the elements that truly resonate with their unique stories and journeys.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
