Love is Blind season 5 tests what it means to fall in love…again. Do looks, money, and other things matter when it comes to matters of the heart? Or can you fall in love with someone sight unseen? Again, we are watching a bunch of hopefuls navigate these questions in season 5 of the series. And since we can’t control selves (as evidenced by our season 5 episodes 1-4 breakdown), here is our breakdown of the episodes 5-7!
1. Have your feelings changed in general for the show in comparison to how you felt watching episodes 1-4?
Lizzie: A lot, actually. I was just here for the chaos at first — and boy, is there chaos and I’m still pretty into that, but now I have other very strong feelings. Mainly, Uche is the literal worst. Johnie is fake. Lydia didn’t really handle the Aaliyah thing well, but she seems to actually care for Milton and I’m rooting for them. Also, did I mention Uche is the worst?
I also don’t really like Izzy and Stacy. It’s hard to decide why. Maybe they just don’t work together and they don’t bring out the best in each other …which Milton and Lydia, on the other hand, seem to be doing. And though they are not nearly as bad as Uche, no one really is.
Lyra: I feel like a brand new woman after watching episodes 5 through 7. At first I was just like Lizzie. I was here for the shits and giggles. And the drama. We can’t forget about that. Then these episodes happened. Now I have a couple that I ship and I did not see it coming at all. It’s Lydia and Milton. I’ll explain a little bit more further on in the round table on why I like them. But I feel like it’s night and day for me in comparison to the first four episodes.
Stacy and Izzy on the other hand, they’re not it. They might like each other but they are on two completely different trajectories and I don’t think they bring out the best in each other. Uche isn’t it either. And you can throw Johnie right in there with them. Everyone besides Lydia and Milton seems to be on this show for the wrong reasons and it shows.
Gissane: The mess keeps getting messier and I just don’t know how to function. I went from being forced to watch this (thanks to the two of you) to immediately binging because I couldn’t stop watching the trainwreck unravel. I’m in agreement with everything said here, but I’m way more invested in various downfalls (cough Uche cough) than anything else, far more than romance. Hard same about Izzy and Stacy, and I can’t put my finger on what it is with those two that’s so off-balance. But it doesn’t feel like it’d last.
2. Was Aaliyah right in leaving without saying something to Uche?
Lizzie: Yes. Aaliyah was absolutely right to prioritize herself in Love is Blind. We don’t know what happened with Lydia (and isn’t THAT weird? This is a reality show, shouldn’t they be capitalizing on the drama?), but whatever it was clearly made her uncomfortable enough to leave. Uche’s general… everything didn’t help. He made a big deal out of Aaliyah cheating when HE was a recent cheater …much more recent than Aaliyah. Plus that phone call was unhinged. He pretended he was heartbroken to get her on the phone and then all he did was berate her. Nah, he can kick rocks.
Lyra: Aaliyah was 100% right in leaving. In fact, I think she dodged a bullet with Uche. He listened to her break down on that call and it did not phase him a bit. I understand that he was upset but your potential partner is crying on the phone and you decide to berate her? It’s made even worse by the fact that you find out later on that he cheated much more recently than Aaliyah did. It gives a lot of perspective on what Uche prioritizes and that just so happens to be himself. He doesn’t care for Aaliyah or Lydia. He cares about being right and teaching other people how they’re wrong in this nice and gentle voice that makes you wonder if you’re going crazy.
Gissane: 100%. I still cannot believe this man had the gall to berate her for the cheating and her sincerity in feeling guilty then turn around and treat her like this when he’s been outright lying. Like, boy do you realize how cruel and hypocritical you come off? Oh wait, he’s a narcissist, so I’m sure he doesn’t. I’m glad she left, and frankly, I’m annoyed that she came back. What part of him did you fall in love with? The part that’s clearly trying to control the relationship? Run for the hills, girly.
3. How are you feeling about Lydia/Milton? Have your feelings changed?
Lizzie: Totally. Man, am I rooting for them? I really like their vibe together, the way they tease each other and how comfortable they seem around one another. It just feels …natural. Real. And this is reality TV, so those are big, big words. I hope they make it, I do. And only about 20% because I would hate for Uche to actually manage to drive a wedge between them.
Lyra: I’m absolutely rooting for them. I feel like there was a shift when they saw each other and the time that they spent on the honeymoon. Milton was sure. He’s the kind of person who is always sure about things since entering Love is Blind. But Lydia, I think she was settling in the beginning. And maybe she settled because she wanted to stay longer on the show. But the way that she is acting with Milton, that’s natural. I’ve seen couples like this with my friends and family. The kind of couples that tease each other and then banter the entire night.
Even the whole thing about him teasing her on her language and her shooting back at him, is told with tenderness and teasing love. And it’s totally understandable on the language part for people to feel weird and like he’s crossing a line especially with people weaponizing the fact that people speak multiple languages and sometimes they don’t speak at the best. But in this instance, it’s not that.
I really hope that the upcoming speed bump that is Uche doesn’t derail Lydia and Milton’s relationship. Because I think Lydia can tell that this is something real and something so unexpected. And she doesn’t want to lose it. But knowing Milton, I don’t think she will.
Gissane: In reality, it makes me a little nervous, not going to lie. And yes, age is just a number and Milton really is the most mature of the men here, but like even the most seemingly mature are still kids at 24, heck I was. So it’s just one of those situations that’s so hard to predict. They’re definitely adorable though. And that height difference is basically what every romance writer digs into these days. They’re certainly the most promising pair.
4. From the plastic cups to the money conversation, what about Stacy/Izzy?
Lizzie: I don’t mind the money conversation in an abstract sense, I believe couples should have all of these conversations without marriage. But when you put it all together, yes, it does feel like Stacy prizes money and appearances above most other things. She also has a very outdated idea of relationships and gender dynamics. And she can’t admit to that, either. She’s privileged, but she refuses to see it. That being said, yes, my partner should be willing to go half/half on household expenses on the house that will be ours. Basic stuff, really.
Lyra: Let’s start off with the plastic cups. A part of me feels like Stacy is being ridiculous and was kind of ridiculing him for going the simple route. But maybe she was also gauging where he was in life and if that matched up with her because she was building a home. And she wants to make sure that the person that she marries is on that same level. Really really appreciate that she’s advocating for herself.
Even the money situation of it all, you should talk to your partner about that. This important conversation should be had in all marriages before the wedding day. But I do think that there are some gender roles that are sneaking their way into this that throw off Stacy’s argument. Because you can’t advocate for equality in the relationship and then ask for things that kind of feel like weird gender roles where the man has to be a man’s man and stuff.
Gissane: I’m going to echo what both of you said. This is a really important and sometimes uncomfortable conversation to have, but it’s absolutely necessary, and I give Stacy credit for bringing it up as bluntly as she does. But the materialistic nature is still there, and here’s the thing, that’s perfectly fine if you have the means to live your life a certain way. She isn’t wrong for wanting a certain lifestyle and working toward it, but I got the ick when she judged him for living differently. I have loads of fancy plates and all the best kinds of nerdy mugs, but what happens when you order a box of pizza? Gasp, plastic plates, sometimes even, no plates.
It’s not the end of the world and it’s certainly not something to be baffled by. You know what would’ve made her argument compelling? Talking about the environment and why plastic is really a problem. She could’ve noted that there are affordable products to buy, but plastic is an issue because of the environment and climate change. But something tells me she doesn’t care about any of that. I’m also all for partners taking each other out to dinner and whatnot, but her demand was riddled in a tone that just came off wrong.
5. Let’s talk about JP telling Taylor she was fake with makeup on…BECAUSE WTF?!
Lizzie: This season of Love is Blind has Uche, so when I say that nothing has made me angrier up to this point than JP’s makeup BS, that’s saying something. The woman wore makeup ONCE. For the reveal, where I’m pretty sure she contractually had to. And this is how he acts?
And the entire convo they have about it was him …gaslighting her. He wanted her to be THANKFUL he found her attractive without makeup, and then just let him decide what to do with her own body after what …two weeks together? He was a walking red flag before this — no man with so much red, white, and blue in his closet can be trusted — but this was the nail in the coffin.
Lyra: I am so proud of Taylor for recognizing the walking red flag that JP was And then dumping his ass. Because at first, I thought Taylor was pushing a little bit too hard for him to talk. It has to be a shock to see someone face to face and then explore the beginnings of your relationship with cameras around you. I would be freaked out. But you signed up for this so you have to try. But instead of trying what JP did was try to gaslight her into thinking that only he knew how she would look best and that he was just giving her advice that would make her seem less fake.
JP had the audacity to try to control Taylor and I hope that she is living her best life, wearing whatever makeup she wants, and that she does something extra like start a makeup line. Because we will be buying if she does.
Gissane: LOST IT. I wanted to fast forward so badly because holy smokes the ick that man gives me is through the roof. I am disgusted. Like, how insecure do you have to be to be so bothered by makeup? My dude, have you looked in the mirror? I just. I can’t guys. I’m gonna stop talking because otherwise, I’ll say a lot of things that will get me in trouble. But this man is the worst kind of human being, I’m sure of it.
6. What the hell was the purpose of Uche confronting Lydia?
Lizzie: Narcissists will make themselves the center of attention. I think he wanted to blame Lydia for her relationship with Aaliyah failing — which, again, we don’t know what Lydia might have said or what transpired in the fight the two had, but Lydia wasn’t the one in a relationship with Aaliyah, Uche was. And he did plenty to ruin it himself.
But that’s not even the worst part, no. After his own relationship broke down, Uche decided he now had to ruin Lydia’s. For shits and giggles, really. He didn’t want Lydia anymore. And it’s BS that he wanted accountability for Aaliyah because he hurt Aaliyah too. He just wanted to hurt Lydia, because he could …and make the conversation about him, once again.
Lyra: I think that Uche confronted Lydia during that cast reunion for two reasons. One, he knew that his own actions would get backlash from viewers and he wanted to get ahead of that. And secondly, he wanted to gaslight somebody else. He couldn’t do that with Aaliyah so he shifted his sights to Lydia.
And there was something so nasty about the way that he was telling Lydia in his little calm voice to just let him continue talking or explaining his side of things even though there was no reason to have this conversation, to begin with. And I’m glad that Lydia shut him down and said enough is enough.
This conversation in particular shifted my whole perspective on Lydia. Because she didn’t say anything about Uche cheating until he tried to corner her. Meaning that even if she initially came into the show to get back with him, she was past it and wasn’t going to blow up his spot. But he was going to blow up hers. So she recognized the signs of a narcissist trying to gaslight her and make her question her own reality and she shut it down. Good for her.
Gissane: Echoing both of you. He gets off hearing the sound of his voice and wants to twist everything around. But it’s also incredibly sus that we have no context of how this drama went down or any of the fights, and I really hope it’s something we’ll see because that’s what’s fair to everyone involved. I hate the fact that everyone’s jumping on Lydia’s throat about it when this man clearly won’t let shit go.
7. Who is going to make it down the aisle?
Lizzie: It BETER be Lydia and Milton, or we riot. I’m not so sure about Stacy and Izzy. I feel like they want to, but they won’t.
Lyra: Looking back at my answers in the first four episodes of the Love Is Blind season 5 roundtable, I can’t believe I’m saying this. I hope Lydia and Milton make it down the aisle. There’s something real there. And I think that they will last in a way that Stacy and Izzy could never.
Gissane: Probably Lydia and Milton, but you know what else I need to see? I need to see Chris dump Johnie because that sweet baby angel with someone as conniving as her is making me so uncomfortable.
Love is Blind season 5 episodes 1-7 are available on Netflix.
