Editor’s Note: The audio quality on this episode is worse than normal because we had to use our backup Zoom recording. Apologies for this! Emma is running an operation of one while Claire is on leave.

Is “Love Is Blind” season 4 the most functional cast in LIB history? After watching the three-part “After The Altar” special which dropped on September 1, I think the answer is yes.

Often a reality dating show reunion special is filled with anxiety and despair. But coming right on the heels of Charity Lawson’s feel-good season finale and “After The Final Rose” special, “After The Altar” 4 delivered more evidence that love is real and less emotional trauma. (Is this because Kinetic’s questionable production practices have been in the news lately? I guess we’ll never know.)

In “After The Altar,” we check in with our couples a year after filming: marrieds Brett and Tiffany, Zack and Bliss, Chelsea and Kwame, as well as unmarried couple Jackie and Josh. All of them seem to be thriving, settling into the satisfying, comforting contours of a relationship where you actually know the other person. (A real contrast to what these people are thrust into during the initial show.)

Pretty much everyone in the cast showed up to filming properly chastened for their wrongs, and ready to make nice. Irina apologizes to Amber. Micah apologizes to Chelsea. Marshall and Jackie apologize to each other. Even Paul and Micah handle their on-and-off situationship with grace and maturity. No wonder they had to bring in minor characters like Paul’s mom and, most notably, Monica, to actually get some drama going.

We learn that Pod Squad member Monica got engaged to Josh during the show’s initial run. However, the relationship quickly fell apart and they were cut from filming (something that happens to one or two engaged couples every season post-pods). Monica posted about her unaired relationship, and this does NOT sit well with Josh — and by extension, Jackie who is a #standbyyourman girlie.

Several accusations of clout-chasing later, Monica might have emerged as the real winner of this mini-series. After all, it’s great to see happy couples, but we’re watching for the absurd, low-stakes conflict. Hope you enjoy the episode! Xo

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