I Believe Love Is Blind Production Is Making This Good Decision With Season 9 (Did They Take A Hint From Another Reality Show's Success?)

Love Is Blind's latest season received a lot of criticism for its location and predictable storylines, but I believe producers are making better decisions for season 9. Despite its unique concept of finding love without seeing your match, the show increasingly faced issues with production and the contestants' stories. For instance, in season 8, Taylor Haag and Daniel Hastings' storyline closely mirrored season 5 contestant Lydia Velez Gonzalez, who almost dated her ex before realizing who he was.

However, the biggest issue I noticed—especially in this past season—was the location the producers chose to recruit from. The Love Is Blind season 8 contestants, particularly the men, faced scrutiny from an overwhelming number of past partners due to how small and interconnected the city is. That said, Love Is Blind appears to be taking steps to address these issues, and doing so could lead to a more successful and refreshing season 9.

Where The Pool's Too Small For Love

Love is Blind season 8 took place in the snowy city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, whose population was relatively smaller than previous seasons. Fortunately, casting director Donna A. Driscoll explained in a Backstage article they ensure people know casting is happening within at least a 50-mile radius of the chosen city. She said, "The big job for us is to make sure that everyone within a 50-mile radius is talking about the fact that ‘Love Is Blind’ is casting there." Still, many locals of "The Twin Cities" claimed they dated a few of the contestants in the past.

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Like many fans, I began to question the show's casting process and whether the producers made the right call in choosing Minneapolis. For example, TikToker Leah (@leah_bergy) revealed in a video that she dated two of the male contestants—and didn't have great experiences with either. She also questioned the production's choice of location, saying, "Everyone knows everyone here...everyone has an experience with someone on that show, or knows someone who does also. Everyone knows at least one person."

Production may need to rethink future location choices to maintain the integrity of the experiment.

Leah wasn't the only one who shared her experience with a few of the contestants. The location sparked controversy among the contestants, as the city proved to be too small to avoid overlapping social circles. This affected cast members like Dave Bettenburg and Lauren O'Brien, who frequently argued about Lauren's past relationships, which involved a few men Dave knew personally. With issues like these impacting the show's authenticity, production may need to rethink future location choices to maintain the integrity of the experiment.

Finding Love In The Mile High City

Love Is Blind season 9 cast smiling from different scenes with hosts Nick & Vanessa Lachey standing in the middle — Love Is Blind season 9 cast with hosts Nick & Vanessa Lachey

In the Love Is Blind reunion special, it was announced that season 9 would take place in Denver, Colorado. However, much like in Minneapolis, Denverites had already spotted the production crew, and some fans took to social media to share their thoughts. One Redditor GroundbreakingEmu310 said, "The dating pool here is small, but not as small as Minnesota it seems." According to City-Data, Denver's population is 67% larger than Minneapolis, so it's more likely the show will create an authentic experience and avoid contestants who already know each other.

MAFS & LIB Are Under The Same Production Company, Kinetic Content

Married At First Sight Season 17 Had A Successful Denver Season

Married at First Sight Love Is Blind Tim and Alex & Madison and Allen in side by side images looking happy — Married at First Sight Love Is Blind Tim and Alex & Madison and Allen

Married At First Sight and Love Is Blind are produced by Kinetic Content. Given the similarity in concept, I wasn't surprised to learn this, but I did wonder if LIB's new location choice was influenced by MAFS' messy Denver season. MAFS season 17 featured a controversial cast that focused on image rather than love. Still, based on Love Is Blind's format, I believe the show has a better chance at sparking real connections, as it prioritizes emotional bonds over physical appearances.

If that's the case, the production is making a smart move—both in choosing a more populated location and a city with potential for drama. Some Denver locals already expect a wild season. One Reddit comment from a thread by a since-deleted user said, "Soooo excited for Denver. Notoriously one of the worst places to find love in the USA. The culture here, especially with men is..interesting." With that said, Love Is Blind season 9 is bound to deliver fresh storylines and complex relationships, not because contestants have history, but because the road to the aisle won't be easy.

Love Is Blind seasons 1-8 are now available for streaming on Netflix.

Sources: leah_bergy/TikTok, GroundbreakingEmu310/Reddit, a since-deleted user/Reddit, Backstage, City-Data