‘Love is Blind: After the Altar’ New Episodes Review

Ah, Love is Blind. The Netflix reality show that captured our hearts in the darkest months of quarantine is back with three new episodes, subtitled After the Altar. If you’re anything like myself (and my husband, who was initially forced— by me— to watch this dramatic, reality TV tour-de-force then became sincerely interested in the premise), you were ready to see what became of Damian and Giannina, Lauren and Cameron, Amber and Matt “Barnett”, and of course— Jessica, the wild card. That said, the new episodes revealed a good bit about where each couple stands post-season one, and the dramatic fallout (which may or may not have been a bit contrived by the producers, who knows) that awaits many of the “singles”, the “engaged”, and beyond.

So, wondering what’s been going on in Love is Blind: After the Altar? Let’s dive in—

Giannina Gibelli, a breakout star from ‘Love is Blind’, toasts her on-again-off-again man Damian Powers and his “friend” at the Hamilton and Barnett’s second anniversary party.

‘Love is Blind’: Damian and Giannina, are they together or not?

Boy oh boy, has this one been a roller coaster of emotion. Damian and Giannina were fiery from the start (with Damian leaving Giannina at the altar when she was ready to give him her all in season one), and that flame has clearly not completely burned out.

All I can say (without saying too much) is this— the anniversary party thrown by the Hamiltons (Lauren and Cameron) and the Barnetts (Amber and Matt) is the new episodes’ central focal point, and when Damian brings a new woman along to the party things get a bit… messy. I’m definitely #TeamGiannina on this one, though this couple seems to have a complicated history and definition of “being together” (like— are they or aren’t they?). I guess we’ll all have to stay tuned to find out, y’all— and the drama in these episodes reveals there’s certainly more to come.

‘Love is Blind’: Lauren and Cameron, the perfect couple (and they still are)

What can be said about the Hamiltons except for the obvious? They were the perfect couple from the start and their love story warms my heart. Every time I watch the show I notice how Cameron looks at Lauren— like she’s an angel on this earth, as he should— and it lets myself and the other viewers know that this couple is the real deal. From meeting two years ago on Love is Blind to developing their relationship and marriage into a powerful testament to true, “blind” love, this couple is doing better than ever and their emotional maturity and security shines through in every scene.

Watching this couple is a pure joy, because it seems rare to find a love like this ever, in general, and especially on a reality TV show. They love one another fully, communicate better than most, and seem to be bonded in a way that can never be broken. I’m #TeamHamiltons all the way, y’all, and these three extra episodes affirm that their love is one to last.

‘Love is Blind’: Amber and Matt “Barnett”, and their “Lord Voldemort“, Jessica

Ah, the most annoying couple on the series (IMO). Matt Barnett (who’s usually just called “Barnett” by cast mates) seems to be more emotionally mature than before, while his wife Amber seems just as unhinged and just as much of a bully as ever before. Sorry, but it’s true— during this episode we get to see Amber bully LC and Diamond (all while defending her friend, Mark, for literally cheating on someone during a pandemic), try to act fake-tough when Jessica tries to (seemingly) sincerely make amends with the couple (because, you know, they’re all grown-ups here and it’s been literally two years), and continue to just, ya’ know, bully the other cast mates, prop up their (very forced-seeming) love and marriage, and wave it around in everyone else’s face as an act of… I don’t know. Insecurity on display?

Like Jessica or not (because she was a little shiest-y in season one), Amber’s weird, “my husband isn’t allowed to talk to you” grudge seems less like a boundary and more like a mandate, which we all know never makes for a happy marriage. And, when Amber tried to bully LC and Diamond, I was just… done. I’m over watching this chick bully everyone else in her path and never admit that she’s, ya know, wrong sometimes. In other words, this couple has a long way to go to emotional maturity and fixing insecurity.

And what about the others? Though we don’t know much about Mark and his new baby-mama-drama, it’s heavily mentioned on the show, as well as Diamond’s ex-fiancé, Carlton, who felt he was “drowning in the (middle of everyone) and no one tried to save (him)” (as he reveals to Lauren in an emotional moment over dinner and drinks), each are heavily alluded to and you can somewhat piece together what these (and other) cast mates have been up to since the initial show aired.

Overall? 7/10. Some of the drama seems manufactured and contrived, while some of the initial emotion from the first season’s run seems to remain genuine, unfiltered, and raw enough to keep things interesting. I’d recommend fans of the series give it a watch, but don’t expect too much.

Xoxo, MM.