Ever since the couples of Love Is Blind Season 7 moved back home to DC, settling in is proving more challenging than expected. The reality TV show cast members have lots of compromises to make over how they’re going to integrate their lives moving forward.
In this episode, we see tense conversations with some of the cast’s family members as they’re thrown from being informed about the experiment. And, in one case, one of the engagements ends in accusations and tears.
Stephen Walks The Walk With Monica
In order to make up for not getting Monica flowers as she’d previously requested, Stephen goes a step further and takes her to a flower pressing class. Stephen jokes with the cameras that he’s happy to do kind things for Monica so long as he’s rewarded in the bedroom later.
After their class, Monica shares that her father doesn’t want to be filmed for the show, so he won’t be there to walk her down the aisle, but it doesn’t mean he’s not supportive of their relationship. For his part, Stephen says he’s finally beginning to relax in their relationship, confident that this is right where he’s supposed to be.
Later, the two have a frank conversation about sex. Monica notes that they’ve had great physical chemistry so far, but when she sensed that he may not be fully committed to getting married, she started to pull away. Stephen says he’s happy for her to take the lead in that department—for his part, he doesn’t mind being treated like “a hunk of meat” and is happy to go along with whatever.
Big Introductions Between The Couples
The next at-home introduction is between Hannah and Nick, who brings her back to his family home, where he’s currently living. He shows her around the house, noting that his parents are rather religious, though he assures Hannah it won’t be an issue that she isn’t. Given how much Nick acted like a playboy in the pods, Hannah says she’s surprised to see what his room actually looks like—she’d been expecting a pool table and a bunch of liquor bottles instead of his childhood bedroom.
Next, Marissa introduces Ramses to her circle of girlfriends. When her friends ask Ramses what would happen if Marissa were to re-enlist, he says it’s a “line” for him and that he wouldn’t be able to support her, but he assures them he doesn’t want to make “sweeping judgments” about anyone. Marissa also expresses that she won’t be returning to the military, so it’ll be a non-issue for them going forward.
Meanwhile, Tim and Alex plan to have a conversation with her family to explain the experiment and their relationship to them. Tim explains that he once had two sisters of his own, so he understands how Alex’s brothers might feel protective towards her. Alex’s father seems interested in Tim’s experience in the Navy, and after the group has lunch, Tim has a private conversation with him.
Once they’re alone, Tim asks him for Alex’s hand, and reads him the letter he wrote in the pods that was always meant to be addressed to him:
With the ultimate amount of respect and love in my heart, I would like to kindly ask for Alex’s hand in marriage for a lifetime.
Alex’s father is emotional, saying that Alex is his “baby girl,” and that, despite the fact that he’s only just met Tim, he believes his words and accepts him as his son.
ylor Takes Garrett Home For The First Time
Taylor shows Garrett her apartment, a basement unit just downstairs from her best friend. She tells him that she actually has an interest in living in San Diego and wants to see if Garrett would be open to it. He says it’s a bit far from his family, but that he really enjoys California. That said, if they eventually have kids of their own, his parents want to make sure they’re close enough to remain involved as grandparents.
After talking it through, the pair decides that they’re still on the right track and that they believe things will work out. Garrett notes that while it’s still scary not to know what they’ll each say at the altar, he’d rather “lean in” now and risk it out of his immense love for Taylor.
Hannah Gets Deep About Deep Cleaning
Back at her apartment, Hannah gets real about her cleaning expectations with Nick. She’s very intense about her cleaning schedule and walks him through her daily and weekly expectations. When the conversation switches over to finances, talking about how they’d split bills and whether they’d have a joint account, Nick seems overwhelmed, saying he doesn’t even know what stocks are.
Meanwhile, Ashley introduces Tyler to her father, who tells Tyler that his only daughter is “the total package” and that he wants to make sure he’s fully committed to her. Ashley speaks to how chivalrous and respectful Tyler is with her, and that it’s unlike the kind of love she’s ever experienced before. When the men are alone, Tyler officially asks for Ashley’s hand, and her father says yes.
At the end of the episode, there’s a tense scene between Monica and Taylor, who are both crying on the couch. Monica shares that she worries Stephen has been going out and hooking up with other women—he claimed he went out for a sleep test the night before, but she’s not sure that he’s telling the truth. Taylor shows empathy for her friend in her time of need:
I’m just so sorry. You don’t deserve that. You really don’t. I can’t believe someone would say that then do that to you. I’m so sorry. It’s disgusting. It’s f****** evil.
After Taylor leaves, Monica confronts Stephen about “disgusting” text messages of his that she found between him and another woman. Stephen says he doesn’t feel he can say anything that would make her believe him and decides to pack up and leave. Monica is irate that he lied to her about his intentions to get married, saying “I’m almost embarrassed about how much of my heart I’ve given you.”
