The Women of ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 8 Won’t Settle

Episodes 1-6 of Love Is Blind Season 8 dropped on Netflix on February 14, and all six episodes cover the pods portion of the experiment at the heart of the reality dating show. There has been some criticism from fans that six full episodes of just the pods have made for a slow start to the season and that not enough of the largest Love Is Blind cast so far was shown during the process. But there was a saving grace for these early episodes of Love Is Blind Season 8 in that the women refused to settle for anything less than what they came for. Despite a lack of sparks flying between contestants this season, a clear theme for the pod episodes emerged: The women of Love Is Blind Season 8 are taking charge of their own fate and experience on the show.

The Women on Season 8 of ‘Love Is Blind’ Know What They Want

While earlier seasons of Love Is Blind have seen contestants enter into engagements despite clear incompatibilities – like Nick Dorka and Hannah Jiles last season – the women of Season 8 are proving they will accept nothing less than a true love match coming out of the pods. One of the first women this season to walk away from a strong connection when she knew it wasn’t what she was looking for was Brittany Dodson. Brittany chose to end things with Devin Buckley, despite their shared love of basketball and compatible energy in the pods, after she opened up to him about her sexuality, and he didn’t show her the same kind of support and understanding that she had given him just moments prior when he opened up to her about a past injury and addiction to painkillers that resulted from it. Not only did Brittany swiftly end things once she realized that Devin wasn’t her person, but she also concluded their final conversation in the pods by speaking highly of Devin’s other connection, Virginia Miller. This reinforced that Brittany wasn’t acting out of anger or jealousy, but because she knew exactly what she was looking for in a partner, and Devin didn’t have it.

Brittany wasn’t the only woman to stand out in the pod episodes for knowing exactly what she was, or wasn’t, looking for in a life partner. Sara Carton wanted to ensure that Ben Mezzenga’s values aligned with hers and that he was someone capable of empathy and growth before accepting his proposal. As such, she dedicated some of their time in the pods together to asking him his views regarding the LGBTQ+ community and on Black Lives Matter, two socially relevant topics that Sara discussed as playing an important role in shaping her values. Molly Mullaney, on the other hand, ended things on Dave Bettenburg’s behalf because he wouldn’t give her clarity about his connection with Lauren O’Brien. When Dave questioned why she was so “cool” about it, Molly confidently told him that if someone doesn’t choose her first, then she knows they aren’t her person. After watching these women navigate forming connections in the pods, one thing is certain. The women this season know what they want and are moving with confidence.

The Women of ‘Love Is Blind’ Season 8 Have Given Viewers Hope for the Series

Another woman on Season 8 of Love Is Blind who refused to settle was Meg Fink. Meg chose to end things with Mason Horacek – despite their strong connection throughout the pod episodes – because she refused to be someone’s second choice. While Meg could’ve easily pursued things further with Mason in order to be on the show for longer, she made it clear that she joined for nothing less than finding love.

The Love Is Blind Season 8 pods may not have resulted in many promising love matches, but they did give viewers a cast of strong women who are proving that they don’t just want to be on the show for fame – like numerous contestants in seasons past – and that they know exactly what they came in search of, true love and connection. Just when it seemed that the series was becoming incapable of casting people who are both genuinely looking for love and ready to find it, these women proved otherwise. And it’s been both refreshing and empowering to see.

Love Is Blind is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.