Just in time for the end of Pride Month, “The Ultimatum: Queer Love” has returned to our screens. And after watching the first seven episodes of season 2, we couldn’t help but wonder… why does the straight version even exist when “Queer Love” is so far superior?

The new season follows six couples who have reached a crossroads in their longterm relationship. One partner wants to get married, and the other has reservations. For some couples, the hesitancy has to do with familial rejection or disapproval; for others it’s a more run-of-the-mill uncertainty about fundamental compatibility. (Looking at you, Marita and Ashley!)

So, shepherded through the process by host Joanna Garcia Swisher (who remains an inexplicable choice for a show about queer love), the couples break up, date everyone else on the cast, and choose a new partner for a three-week trial marriage. And oh boy do these people take their trial marriages SERIOUSLY. Some become each other’s therapists/besties (Marita and Britney), and others fall into full-on new relationships (Haley and Magan, Mel and Dayna). After those three weeks are up, they return to their original partners and figure out if they still can (and want to!) make it work.

It’s transcendent reality television — a true window into the human experience, full of love, sex, betrayal and emotional messiness. We talk about everything from the first seven episodes we could fit into one taping, and we had an absolute blast doing it. Hope you enjoy! Xo

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