Share this
Spoilers Ahead!!
Episode 13: “The Weddings”
Hey LIB Watchers –
Today, it’s just one ol’ long episode (one hour and 45 minutes) of all the weddings, hence the aptly named title.
And out of the gates… we have stumbling blocks:
Sara rejects Ben at the altar but tries to massage it with – ‘oh let’s chat after about our potential’ – and historically speaking (after 7 previous seasons), there’s never an ‘us’ and no recovery from these rejections, especially when lines like these are used. IMHO – It’s over (for real), folks!
Stray thoughts: There’s nothing quite like walking back down the aisle in a beautiful wedding dress after you’ve rejected someone or have been rejected (the juxtaposition is jarring). So this awkwardness never ceases to give me cringe vibes. Ultimately, what Sara claimed it boiled down to was Ben’s ignorance towards religion and human rights. But not only that, she adds that it was a lack of effort/interest from him in asking her for her opinion(s) on this. Eeeps. Meanwhile, poor Ben seems blind-sided. I don’t think they hashed out these issues as much as she claimed they did and/or attempted to talk about them.
Now onto Monica and Joey
Rumors were that this was supposed to be the most ‘hopeful’ couple to say yes at the altar. But damn, during her makeup/hair wedding prep she was just talking about everything he was lacking… if that was ever a sign that she was alluding to a no at the altar… welp… this was it. Also, there was a LOT of talking (AKA screen time filler) leading up to the weddings (Joey’s family/ Monica’s family) and I feel like a lot of this could have been cut down.
“You know the answer in your heart, mind, and vagina,” says Monica’s family – a sound piece of advice given to her right before she walks down the aisle. I’m so real for this quote.
Oh god – not Joey long-boarding down the aisle…CRINGE. Now I hope it’s a hard ‘no’ from her.
The preamble and gracious ‘thank you’ talks between them at the altar feel so fake especially when finding out that Monica ultimately rejects Joey. “I don’t right now…” she says. “We are not quite there…and I love you…” but obviously love isn’t enough for people to say yes to a life-altering thing like marriage. ALSO – that (* I love you *) was the first time she said it to him… “I didn’t know that at all,” he claims. SAY WHAT? That is so incredibly problematic and hypocritical when she cited he wasn’t expressing enough overt gestures of affection (verbal and non). Well, girl – you weren’t exactly reciprocating either. Another bullet dodged IMHO.
Two down, two to go. The odds are not looking good right now for Season 8 couples.
Virginia and Devin
“I feel fortunate the have the love of a beautiful man…” says Virginia.
Well, apparently not.
It’s a big fat ‘no’ from her even with all of the gushy “I love meeting you – being with you – I have so much respect for you -” between the duo. This one stings much more than the other two because Devin did say ‘yes’. “I love you so much… but I’m just not ready…” she says – and not him breaking down at the altar. Ouch. I got tingles of sadness watching this scene unfold. Even worse is when Devin’s little niece says “what’s happening”… and Devin’s dad tells her what happened. This scene was tough and heartbreaking to watch.
Welp, after seeing this unfold, it’s no wonder Virginia was gunning for that prenup so hard…
And with her post- wedding confessional, cited that the relationship was still in its infancy… “we didn’t get to the depths of the relationship…” this was her referencing their inability to reconcile communication differences regarding serious topics of discussion (religion, politics) as well as intimacy issues between them.
Stray thoughts on this comment made at the venue: “I just don’t get these girls… he doesn’t deserve it…” says one of Devin’s family members at the wedding. Who are ‘these girls’ ?? Let’s stop with the reductive and generalizing statements, thanks.
Okay last couple up to bat:
Taylor and Daniel
From the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to make of this couple. Aside from the misleading Instagram-stalker narrative, everything was pretty standard-ish with these two.
As it turns out, they are THE only couple of Season 8 to get married (she was asked first, and said yes, FYI) Wow. I was not expecting it to be this couple – but I’m happy for them… well, as much as one can be as a viewer LOL
Stray thoughts: Daniel and Taylor reading out vows to another … they were also the only couple to do this. Even with my cold and cynical black heart – I actually thought this was sweet (as gushy/mushy as it all was) – probably because all the other couples ended up being failed relationships. I’m taking the wins where I can, I suppose!
Final thoughts: The experiment does prove that Love Is Blind BUT when reality hits and you take stock of friends, financials, politics, and religion (as some baseline examples) – we’ve been shown that love is definitely NOT enough for the couples of Season 8 to take the leap of faith and get hitched (AKA marriage, life-partnerships, all that serious adulting…)
Up next on March 9… The Reunion… * rubs hands together * – bring on the unhinged and unfiltered thoughts!