‘Love is Blind’ Season 10 Finale review: The I Do’s of March

Saying no is a win. And Ashley Carpenter did what reality television brides almost never do. She walked to the altar and said no first.

The Love is Blind Season 10 finale delivered two successful weddings and three rejections (one of those not even making it to the altar, shocker). Which is both better than Season 9’s zero weddings and still overall terrible. Out of seven couples who got engaged in the pods, only two married. Of those two, common sense suggests only one will stay married past the reunion. That is a 14% success rate. That is (probably) worse than just meeting someone at a bar.

But the finale also delivered something unexpected. The rare moment of genuine empowerment at the altar. Ashley Carpenter, who spent the last five episodes watching her fiancé Alex Henderson lie about his living situation, his job, his ex-girlfriend, and his intentions, walked to the altar in her wedding dress, looked Alex in the eyes, and said no before he could say anything at all. Then she said the line that will likely define Season 10.

“Saying no to you today is a win.”

Ashley Carpenter and the case of the missing integrity.

Reality television weddings typically follow a script. The bride walks down the aisle. The officiant asks if she takes this man. She says yes or she says no. Then the groom says yes or he says no. The person who says no second controls the narrative. They are rejecting someone who wanted them. They hold the power.

In the Love is Blind Season 10 finale, Ashley Carpenter tore up the script. She walked to the altar. Before Alex could answer the big question, Ashley stopped the ceremony. She delivered a speech. A clearly staged speech, bordering on cringe at best. But considering the character of the guy she’s addressing, a little cringe is understandable.

“I know your answer and it doesn’t matter to me. I know you don’t choose me and I’m not choosing you either.”

She told Alex there was no effort after they left the pods. No intimacy. No questions. They were roommates, not partners. She told him he said a lot of words but she always found herself more confused after their conversations. She told him lying is a non-negotiable. And she told him she leads her life with integrity — one of the reasons he said he fell in love with her — and she expects her husband to do the same.

If that weren’t enough, she also told him she used to ignore red flags and accept dishonesty. But she’s grown since they left Cabo. She deserves better. It’s hard to root for Ashley considering her…let’s call it baggage…but again, it’s Alex.

Groom and squalor.

Alex tried to defend himself… sort of? It was hard to tell what he was doing with his face because the f**king crumbs in his beard were too distracting. (And seriously dude, you couldn’t clean up your face on your fake wedding day?) Anyway, he said he disagreed about the integrity comment. He said Ashley’s questions about his past were designed to “catch him in something” rather than understand him. But Ashley was already gone. She got the last word, and the last word was hers.

Alex’s mother was visibly unhappy in the audience (also, why was she wearing white?!) Alex assured his family and friends there was no ill will. Then he told the cameras Ashley’s speech was a “power move” and that she was looking for a way out. He said there are things in her past he could have mentioned. After a few pointless soccer metaphors no one asked for, he said he has no regrets. He’s pleased with himself as a person because, well, someone has to be.

And kids, this is what gaslighting looks like when it fails. Alex positioned Ashley’s legitimate concerns as unreasonable interrogation. He positioned her rejection as a performance. He positioned himself as the victim. But Ashley was already checked out of the experiment, and the audience saw right through him.

Production notes.

The odd thing is how out-of-nowhere this all felt after watching the lead-up to the altar. Ashley spoke candidly to the cameras about how excited she was to marry Alex. She said a lot of nice things about him (and when Alex had his moment to talk about Ashley he barely said a word).

Sure, this was probably a trick of editing, in the sense that the producers led Ashley to talk specifically about a scenario where she says “yes” or something. It’s not unheard of. Former cast members have talked openly about being “ambiguous,” even with their vows.

My more tinfoil theory is that Ashley wanted to hide her intentions in order to catch Alex off guard. It’s not unreasonable to assume that the producers are chitchatting to both of them, dropping hints about what answer they’ll give. Considering how easily Ashley’s altar moment could have backfired, Zanab-style, it’s easy to see why she’d be more guarded about “the plan.”

Mike Gibney and the math of children.

The Episode 11 cliffhanger showed Emma Betsinger saying “I do” at the altar and the camera cutting to Mike Gibney before his answer. The Love is Blind Season 10 finale resolved the cliffhanger in the first five minutes. Mike said no, like most of us predicted.

He told Emma he loves her. Told her he is not ready to say “I do” right now. That he wants kids and he wants to know she definitely, 100%, wants a family with him. The guy doesn’t want to say yes and jump into something and have it change down the road. He wants her to be sure. He does not want it to be “half-ass.”

Emma had told Mike at the altar that she wants to marry him. She knows they have a lot to work through. That she sees glimpses of a future. She even knows he will be an amazing father. Anyone can see that she would not be there if she had not started seeing that. Still, these are not the words of someone who is 100% sure.

Mike was right to say no.

This is not a controversial opinion. This is math. Emma is unsure about having kids. Mike is certain he wants kids. For the last time, you cannot compromise on children!

If Mike had said yes, they would have married each other. And Emma’s feelings about kids might never have solidified. Mike would spend years hoping she’d change her mind. Emma would then feel pressured to want something she does. Not. Want. One of them would resent the other. The marriage would implode.

Mike chose honesty over hope. He chose the hard decision that saves both of them years of pain. The internet has given these two a lot of grief over the course of the season for delaying the inevitable. But I’ve become marginally more sympathetic after listening to Emma talk about the relationship more candidly on the “Love to See It” podcast. There, she highlighted how the editing really does leave out a lot of what kept these two together up to this point. The chemistry, the similar senses of humor, etc.

It wasn’t enough, of course, and that’s unfortunate. But math usually is.

What happened to the other couples during the Love is Blind Season 10 finale (in descending order of tragedy).

1. Brittany and Devonta, AKA the “Couch Convo Couple.”

Brittany Wicker and Devonta Anderson did not make it to the altar. They ended their engagement right before the wedding. Their game of chicken finally ended when Devo told Brittany he could not walk into a marriage with self-doubt about whether he could love her the way she needs to be loved. He said the more he is pressured to do something, the more he pushes back. He said she was ready for marriage but there were always doubts in his head.

Who could’ve seen this coming besides literally everyone except for Brittany.

Brittany told Devo — and the cameras — that she believes he will be her husband and they are just taking a “pause.” She reminded everyone she bought her wedding dress before entering the pods. She said she has the dress, the lashes, the heels. Brittany wants to be his wife. Correction, she wants to be a wife. And the tragic thing is that you can watch her trying to convince herself of this to the camera in real-time. At a certain point, it came off as an SNL skit watching her talk about this relationship is fine actually while intercutting to Devo actively trying to get away from her.

Because Devo was clearly, even comically not on the same page. He told her he does not know what the future holds. He will be “in touch.”

Bro said he’d be in touch.

The breakup was about as one-sided as these things get. Brittany thought they were pausing, but Devo knew it was over. His “I’ll be in touch” was a dismissal, not a promise.

Devo confessed to the cameras that Brittany having a dress pre-bought really threw him. He questioned whether she wants to marry him or just wants to be married. He also said she feels like his “shadow” and he wants to be with someone who does not follow him around.

This is easily the second cruelest breakup of the season because it is the most dishonest. Devo was never attracted to Brittany. He said as much in Episode 1 after meeting her in person for the first time. “It just so happens that she’s a woman of color. That’s something I’ve never actually dated.” The racial subtext has been there since Cabo. Their lack of physical affection. His emotional distance. The prenup conversation framed as protecting his assets. All of it pointed to a man who was going through the motions of an engagement he did not want. An engagement he clearly never wanted.

But similar to Ashley and Alex, who clearly knew they’d say no pretty early in this process, Devo and Brittany apparently had one goal. Screen-time. Ride this thing out until the bitter end, because that’s how influencer careers are made on this show.

2. Jordan and Amber, AKA the “Could’ve Looked More Excited Couple.”

Amber Morrison and Jordan Faeth both said “I do” at the altar. Jordan whispered “I don’t know what to do” to his mom hours before the ceremony. Amber told Jordan it was a yes from her, but she understood if he needed more time. She gave him an out. He did not take it. He said yes.

The wedding was tough to watch. Amber gave Jordan a heartfelt speech about bringing him into her life. Jordan gave her about two sentences, if that. He was all nerves and throwing back PBRs and looking visibly unsure during the entire lead-up to the altar. And to make matters worse, he talked about how Amber would have to move to the city. That he would have to drive Emma to school an hour every day.

This is in spite of the fact that Amber has her own house and life in Mount Vernon. Jordan claims to his family that he made it clear in the pods that he wanted to be close to bars and concerts and sporting events. But dude, give us all an actual break. You can’t drive an hour to catch a show? You have to uproot a kid’s life for your own benefit? In what actual planet does this make you ready for being a stepdad when you can’t even make the most bare minimum sacrifice?

There’s just no way this marriage lasts. Marriage requires compromise. Parenthood requires sacrifice. Jordan is clearly not ready for either, and the logistics always win out in the end. Sure, Jordan and Amber say they love each other. But love alone cannot solve structural incompatibilities.

3. Vic and Christine, AKA “Our New Parents.”

Victor “Vic” St. John and Christine Hamilton both said “I do” with zero hesitation. Their wedding was the season’s most heartwarming moment. Vic told Christine she makes it easy to open up and be vulnerable. She knows more about him than anyone else on the planet. He accepts her for her, and she accepts him for him. Christine said it felt so right. It has been a calm love and an easy love, a very fulfilling and passionate love. She feels honored to be there with him.

They kissed. They celebrated. Vic called it “the best day of my life times 10.” Christine said being married feels just like it should. Watching her meet his mom was like looking out into a field of grass and realizing they’re all just tiny green flags on the ground.

Vic and Christine were the season’s insurance policy from the jump. After Season 9 ended with zero weddings, the Love is Blind Season 10 finale needed at least one couple who would say yes and stay married. Vic and Christine delivered on that front and then some. At this point, it’s easy to assume they’re still together and thriving.

Perfecting and ruining the reality TV wedding formula.

Reality television weddings exist to maximize drama. The couple walks to the altar in front of family and friends. Then the officiant asks if they take each other. The answer is always a “surprise,” or at least cued up like one with sound effects. Because yes, the surprise has to be the point. The show wants you on the edge of your seat wondering if they will say yes or no. That’s why we’re here.

But the surprise only works if the couple has been hiding their true feelings. If the couple has been honest with each other about their doubts, there is no surprise. They have already decided at that point. The altar, as we saw in the Love is Blind Season 10 finale, is just theater.

Mike and Emma had been honest about the kids question since the pods. Mike wanted kids. Emma was unsure. They talked about it endlessly. Went on dates to feed giraffes so Emma could picture Mike as a father. Picked up a marriage license together. They did everything except solve the problem. Mike saying no was not a surprise. It was the only logical outcome.

Blinded by “love.”

Ashley and Alex had been dishonest with each other since they left the pods. Alex lied about his living situation. He lied about his ex. Lied about his job. Ashley asked questions. Alex deflected. They fought. Then they reconciled. Ate McDonald’s product placement. Then fought again. Ashley saying no first was a surprise to Alex, but it was not a surprise to the audience. The surprise was that Ashley reclaimed her power in such thrilling fashion.

Devo and Brittany never even made it to the altar because Devo couldn’t pretend anymore. He was never committed to Brittany. He let her believe they were pausing when he knew it was over. The lack of an altar rejection is its own kind of rejection. Both of these people need therapy, not marriage.

Jordan and Amber said yes because they love each other and hope it will be enough. It will not be. Love doesn’t turn you into an adult.

Vic and Christine said yes because they are genuinely compatible. They have no drama because they do not need drama. These two simply fell in love in the pods. They are the exception that proves the rule.

And that rule is this. Most people on Love is Blind are not ready for marriage. They are ready for the idea of marriage. They are ready for the performance of marriage. But when confronted with the reality of marriage — the compromise, the sacrifice, the daily work of building a life with another person — most of them flinch.

Finale thoughts.

Love is Blind Season 10 began with seven engaged couples and ended with (probably) one lasting marriage. A lot of these folks might’ve had better luck with a blind date set up by their mom. Well, except for Alex.

It was a rough season that now exists in a maze of rough seasons. Primarily because it’s unsettling to watch a bunch of women with bare minimum emotional intelligence or higher agree to marry dudes who aren’t even ready to have a roommate. Let alone sign legal documents committing to a romantic partner for life. And some of these women aren’t exactly awesome people either. If anything, they’re just kind of normal, everyday people looking for love. The bar is just that low.

Of the guys, who really stood out as normal? Basically just Vic and Connor. The rest are a sliding scale of monster to movie monster. It’s not easy watching a show where you have to sit there and watch so many of these men do psychic damage on unsuspecting women twice a year. But hey, if Love is Blind has taught us one thing, it’s that the audience is willingly blind to these things, too.

The Love is Blind Season 10 finale is now streaming on Netflix. The reunion episode drops March 11, 2026.

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Images courtesy of Netflix