“Love Is Blind”: Matchmakers See Heartbreak Ahead

Singles everywhere know how brutal the dating scene can be, yet season 8 of “Love Is Blind” hints that radically overhauling dating norms may not be pure sunshine and rainbows either.

The “Love Is Blind” couples are dealing with a pile of relationship problems, from the classic worries about exes to money differences.

There's still some distance between these couples and the altar, and any of the relationships could get better (or, more likely, fall apart). Still, a couple's first few weeks together say a lot, and these pairs are no different.

We talked with Kara Laricks, Date Coach & Senior Matchmaker at Three Day Rule, about how she thinks season 8's couples will fare. We hope everyone on the show gets a happily ever after, but it's fair to say a few of them could be dating around Minneapolis again once the show wraps.

Sara and Ben Aren't Built to Last

Their surface-level connection might be great, but Kara told us she doesn't think Sara's and Ben's values will go the distance.

The matchmaker told us, “Sara and Ben, sadly, won’t last. Her values around social issues are deeply rooted and very personal. Ultimately, his political apathy is going to be a turnoff. As a brave, outspoken advocate, she needs an equally strong and informed support system.”

In the pods, Sara had doubts about Ben because he didn't hold strong political convictions.

In Kara's view, Ben's lack of interest in social issues was a major red flag. “It’s not just that Ben isn’t into politics — it’s that he seemed completely disengaged from the issues that matter deeply to Sara,” she explained. “Values misalignment isn’t just about opposing views; it’s about whether you even care to have the conversation. Sara clearly does, and Ben’s ambivalence suggests a fundamental disconnect in how they see the world and, more importantly, their future.”

“His political apathy is going to be a turn off.” –Matchmaker Kara Laricks

Today more than ever, socially conscious singles like Sara are putting deeper compatibility ahead of an initial spark. “Love Is Blind” tries to encourage that depth by taking physical attraction out of the compatibility equation.

Sadly, core compatibility isn't always something you can work out in a couple of days. It takes time, and the longer Sara and Ben spend together, the shakier their relationship looks.

Things Turn Ugly for Lauren and David

Part of what draws Lauren and David to each other seems to come from relationship patterns already present in their lives. That can be a good thing: my partner's personality closely mirrors my best friend's, and the traits they share suit me really well.

The patterns Lauren and David are repeating, though, point to an unpleasant power dynamic headed their way.

“While he admires her ‘motherly’ ways now, I think this is going to turn into her mothering him,” Kara explained. “I’m not surprised he feels comfortable with Lauren’s sweet and nurturing ways while at the same time drawn to the familiar dynamic of a strong female presence holding him accountable for ‘what’s right.’”

In the pods, David negged his matches and gaslit them.

David is also worried about his sister's reaction to the engagement, and he puts a lot of weight on her judgment. If her reaction is negative, conflict is sure to follow. “David describes how close he is to his sister, and yet, he fears her reaction to this process,” Kara observed. “Not only will David’s sister and Lauren clash, but I think he will end up feeling controlled.”

According to the matchmaker, the pods exposed David's true colors. “From the moment he stepped into the pods, Dave was cracking jokes about women’s ages — something that immediately read as tone-deaf and lacking emotional intelligence,” Kara explained. “If he were truly serious about the experiment, he’d recognize that the women on the other side of the pod wall were in a vulnerable position, looking for deep, meaningful connections — not dismissive quips that felt more like locker-room banter than genuine conversation.”

Insensitive jokes, particularly early in dating, reveal a lot about someone and the beliefs they hold underneath. Jokes often let people voice what they truly think while dodging accountability.

Meanwhile, David appears to still be hung up on Molly. “Molly was fun, lighthearted, and upfront about her lack of long-term relationship experience,” according to the matchmaker. “He knew their similarities might not lead to lasting love, yet he couldn’t shake his attraction to what felt easy and exciting.”

David may have picked Lauren, but if there's trouble in paradise, that lingering attraction could plant doubt in his relationship.

Virginia and Devin Could Make It

We haven't watched Virginia and Devin long enough to say for sure where their relationship is headed, but so far, they seem to be on track.

“I think Virginia and Devin have some staying power,” the matchmaker said. “Unless they were on their best behavior in the pods and their personalities shift once together in the real world, these two seem well-suited based on values, demeanor, and appreciation for a more traditional type of relationship.”

“On paper and based on appearances, these two are a fit.” –Matchmaker Kara Laricks

That said, their disagreement over signing a prenup suggests a deeper split between them when it comes to money. Some people read a prenup as proof that a relationship is insecure; others consider it a necessary safeguard that people only avoid out of insecurity (in the interest of transparency, I'm in the second group).

Each position points to a different set of values about money and, to some degree, about marriage.

Monica and Joey Are Headed for Success

Monica and Joey are this season's favorites; nobody, us included, can get enough of them. It's still early, but they might be the Cam and Lauren of this season (nobody can truly match Cam and Lauren, of course).

“Monica and Joey are my pick for the season 8 success,” Kara told us. “These two quirky birds seem to get each other. They are the type of couple who will develop their own language  —  two peas in a pod!”

Monica and Joey are comfortable acting silly around each other.

Monica's sister may be wary of Joey, but that could simply be a natural response to learning your sister got engaged to a man she met two weeks earlier. Realistically, most people would throw at least a little side-eye. We think the two of them will get past the family worries and go the distance.

Taylor and Daniel Don't Stand a Chance

The insecurity Taylor and Daniel feel about their relationship seems to seep into their fights in a way that will almost certainly sink it. That was never clearer than in Taylor's fixation on Daniel's social media.

“After the big reveal, Taylor’s reaction to Daniel suggested she might have been expecting — maybe even hoping for — someone different,” Kara theorized. “If the attraction had been instant, would she have still gone digging for a reason to sabotage the relationship? Accusing him of knowing what she looked like all along felt more like a knee-jerk attempt to rationalize her doubts than an actual red flag on his part.”

They may both love Christmas, but not much else seems to be falling into place for them.

“I have a feeling that if Daniel was 6’1" and in finance (does he have blue eyes?), she may have never mentioned the possibility of the two crossing paths already on social media,” Kara proposed. “I get the sense he would adore her, and she would quietly and sweetly, yet quickly, walk all over him, eventually losing respect.”

“From the jump, Daniel was hyper-focused on his height, bringing it up repeatedly.” –Matchmaker Kara Laricks

On the other hand, Daniel's short stature was a big part of why he joined “Love Is Blind” in the first place.

“Sure, height can matter in dating, especially on apps, but confidence and presence usually outweigh inches in real-life chemistry,” Kara told us. “His insecurities were basically the whole reason he entered the experiment, and as any matchmaker will tell you, if you don’t truly love yourself, it’s hard to build a healthy relationship with someone else.”

Contestants Might Want to Open Their Eyes to Red Flags

We've all been there: we land in doomed relationships because we ignored the red flags. Talk to a friend who's just been through a breakup, and four times out of five, they'll say the warning signs of a disconnect had been there all along.

With an engagement lasting only four weeks, keeping an eye out for red flags matters even more. Contestants might not get enough time to find out whether their partner's yellow flags are harmless or dangerous. They should trust their instincts, honestly weigh the insecurities and warning signs, and say no at the altar if they're not 100% sure about the relationship.