Love Is Blind: Mexico Premiere Recap: Don’t Call My Name, Fernando

As a longtime observer of reality dating shows, I can confidently say that I’ve seen it all – from dramatic dust-ups to heartwarming love stories. But this season of Love Is Blind has left me particularly intrigued!

As someone who has grown up with reality TV being a staple of my entertainment diet, I must admit that I find it fascinating to observe the cultural nuances and adaptations of popular formats across different countries. In the case of “Love Is Blind: Mexico“, having watched its original American version multiple times, I found myself intrigued by the visual differences in set design, but ultimately, the emotional turmoil and raw human interactions felt strikingly similar.

The secret behind the popularity of “Love Is Blind” lies in its unique love quadrangle mechanism, ensuring that at least one man will end up courted by two women vying for his affection, while simultaneously, one of these ladies maintains a secondary option as well. However, it’s no surprise that the land of telenovelas has managed to create something even more dramatic.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the Love Heptagon.

As someone who has navigated the complexities of modern dating, I find myself intrigued by this fascinating group of characters. The story begins with Fernando Hernández, a charismatic operations manager in his late twenties, whose magnetic charm draws not just one, but three women into his orbit.

In the captivating tapestry of this series, I find myself utterly intrigued by Iraís. She treads a delicate balance between authenticity and strategy, making it both compelling and perplexing to follow her character. On one side, her heartfelt declarations about her family, particularly her brother with cerebral atrophy, resonate deeply, stirring empathy within me. Yet, on the other hand, there’s an undercurrent of suspicion that she subtly manipulates the courtroom drama to some extent.

Certainly, there’s more than one complicated relationship this season. Gerardo Zapiain, a 33-year-old musician and self-proclaimed “aspiring hippie,” finds himself caught between architect Fernanda Riva Palacio (age 36) and marketing director Mafer Trujillo (age 29), whose expressive face is one of the standouts this season. Regrettably, many of Mafer’s iconic eye rolls occur just as Gerardo praises their bond while letting her down gently. (I can’t imagine another response to his words, “The bond I felt or feel with you was and is authentic.” Gerardo, that seems rather ambiguous.)

Across the table, we find Chema Rivera, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and skilled poker player, grappling with his decision between Alejandra Caletti – a passionate 28-year-old opera singer considering abandoning her academic aspirations for him – and Silvia “Silvi” Delgado, a 30-year-old model whose sun sign, Sagittarius, resonates strongly with Chema’s dominant Leo personality. In the end, Chema chooses Silvi, a decision that seems fitting, but Alejandra leaves him with a cryptic warning: “Enjoy the beach. I’ll catch up with you there in the real world, where things will become evident for us both.” I have a feeling you’ll need to watch out for this one, Silvi!

Reflecting on the final five couples in this heartwarming tale, I can’t help but notice a striking resemblance to familiar tropes often seen in the romantic reality show “Love Is Blind.” Among them, Gerardo and Fernanda stand out as the epitome of relationship aspirations. Their shared quest for genuine love makes them the idealized couple that leaves viewers yearning for their long-term success.

In this reality show, the pair consisting of 34-year-old digital marketing manager Willy Salomón and 27-year-old indoor cycling coach Francesca Oettler are considered the wild card couples due to their relatively low visibility and seemingly enigmatic connection. Despite this, they appear committed to each other, with Willy expressing a strong desire to build a relationship with Francesca’s daughter, Mila. Lastly, Chema and Silvi, who seem to be underestimated by many, including Gerardo for some reason, are viewed as a potential short-lived romance.

It appears I’ve developed a preference for Chema and Silvi among the contestants. Despite his past shallow behavior, Chema seems sincere in forming a deep connection, especially given their shared experience of losing fathers named “Pepe” to terminal illness. Could I be misled by his actions, or is everyone else merely cynical? We’ll discover the truth together! And as expected from Love Is Blind, an unexpected twist awaits: the couples eventually learn that Chema and Francesca have known each other for five years; it turns out she dated one of his friends, but they never pursued a romantic relationship. It’s wonderful to see them reconnect! Fortunately, everyone seems indifferent, which is how it should be. I’m relieved we won’t experience another drama like The Great Uche-Lydia Controversy of 2023.

Regarding René and Iraís, it’s clear that their differences were bound to lead to trouble from the start. His lack of saving money clashed sharply with her meticulous budgeting habits. Once Iraís laid eyes on him (and his nose ring) following their engagement, it was evident that things weren’t going to work out. It remains uncertain whether they ever discussed these issues before the producers sent them packing, which seems rather harsh. However, the most puzzling question is why Iraís is seen in a wedding dress during the season preview if she didn’t make it down the aisle.

In every season, sneak peeks always leave me dazed, but my long experience with reality dating shows has shown me that appearances can be misleading. Although it seems like the producers of Love Is Blind are trying to make us believe Ira returns to disrupt Karen and Fernando’s relationship, I’d wager both my TV set and ancient laptop that she’ll actually reunite with Rene following a heartfelt conversation over a dull restaurant lunch. Notice Karen’s words in the trailer: “You’re here to annoy me, not because you like him.” We know Ira likes Fernando! Moreover, why would Karen be trying on wedding dresses if Ira took her man? The case is settled.

Pod Goss

In a straightforward manner, let me express this: It’s quite clear that Chío was deceived by the assumption that Iraís and Fernando were getting married. The only information she shared with Fernando was that Iraís had mentioned this possibility, which seemed to be believable based on her initial reaction when Iraís discussed it. Cutting Chío off in this situation seems unfair, as does the decision of other women to exclude her without giving her a chance to explain herself. Additionally, Fernando’s accusation that someone must be lying, as if misunderstandings never occur on reality TV, seems rather dramatic coming from someone who claims to dislike “drama.”

I’d appreciate if the American version of “Love Is Blind” could learn from both its U.S. and Brazilian counterparts by expanding its cast diversity in terms of body type and age. While I enjoy watching young, attractive individuals stumble into love, it’s captivating to see grown-ups do the same. They have children, they have life experiences etched onto their faces, and they bring mature insights about themselves and their relationship desires. Watching them navigate living together promises to be even more intriguing.

In other seasons of “Love Is Blind,” has there been such an intense exchange of scents? Mafer hands Gerardo a blanket that carries her scent; Iraís gives Fernando a teddy bear doused with her perfume, and Alejandra sprays a letter to Chema with her personal fragrance. Rene’s gift to Iraís, a beaded Buddhist necklace, has his scent on it, while Willy anticipates Francesca to be “elegant, quite refined, and subtly scented.” It seems that scented gifts are currently very popular.

• Speaking of sweetness, the gift-giving we see in these four episodes is unparalleled. I nearly wept when Fernanda gave Gerardo an orchid propagated from one she had gifted to her mother. Alejandra gives Chema two lullabies she wrote for his daughter. Karen gives Fernando a picture frame for when they climb a volcano in Costa Rica, which will symbolize how they’ll reach the top of the world together, and Francesca gives Willy a ball of red string to represent the bond that ties their spirits together. In return, Willy gives Francesca a cedar-tree necklace that he and his father both wear. Swoon!

2024-08-03 01:55

Love Is Blind: Mexico Premiere Recap: Don’t Call My Name, Fernando

Pod Goss

Read More

Minority Mindset