[man 1] When you love somebody,
you don't just leave without telling them anything.
-["Fallen" by Kendra Dantes playing] -♪ Fallen… ♪
[man 1] I have no idea why you left me here alone.
♪ Fallen and lost our wings… ♪
[man 1] You let some girl come in between us
'cause of something she said?
After everything that we've been through?
-I cannot believe this. -[woman 1] You're arrogant!
-She-- She told you she loved you? -Four times.
What do I fucking owe you? I don't trust you for shit.
[woman 2] I love who you are. You have such a good heart.
I love you.
[man 2] The whole "love is blind" thing, I get that.
But love needs to have a roof. Sometimes love wants to fly first-class.
[man 3] You make me feel like I'm not enough for you.
[woman 2] You're not the person I fell in love with.
[man 4] I'm literally trying to change your mind.
[man 3] Marriage is not easy.
-Fucking asshole! -Oh, God.
[man 3] I will always fight for you.
Don't give up on me.
[dramatic music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
-Hello! -What's up, fellas?
-[Vanessa] Hi! -[all exclaiming]
-Hello! [laughs] -Ladies!
[all exclaiming]
-[Vanessa laughing] -[Nick] What's up?
Come on down, guys.
[woman laughs] Okay, Mom and Dad.
[Vanessa] Oh, my goodness.
-Did you guys just call us Mom and Dad? -[woman] I did!
-Mommy! -You guys are busted!
[all exclaiming and laughing]
-[Nick] How are you guys doing? -[men] Good!
Amazing.
I'm Vanessa Lachey.
-And I'm, of course, Nick Lachey. -[Vanessa laughs]
Welcome to Love Is Blind.
[all cheering]
You probably experienced dating has become more superficial than ever, right?
-[man 1] 100%. 100%. -[man 2] Oh, yeah.
Just off my looks, everyone kind of thinks I'm a playboy,
kind of push girls to the side,
but I'm kind of a lovey-dovey guy over here.
I'm always looking for something serious.
If you're too deep too soon, you wanna play it cool.
If you're nervous, it's gonna be a turn-off.
In the real conventional dating world?
Yeah. Here, it's like we know what we want.
I'm the skinniest guy here, so I'm always judged
for being, you know, sort of, like, smaller and don't have muscles,
so a lot of women just,
"Hey, no, you're a little bit smaller for my taste."
-They say that to you? -No, no, no, but I can definitely tell.
They're getting bold out here.
-I'd be like, "What?" -[all laughing]
It's just one of those things that I have to combat with going through.
But isn't it exciting to take all of that away?
-100%. -And be like, "This is me."
[Nick] What's great about this experiment
is it gives you the permission to ask anything you want.
Nothing is off-limits.
You guys are all open books and you're ready to bring it?
-[woman] We're ready to be vulnerable! -Yeah.
What do you think is, like, a question you're dying to ask a man
that you have never asked on a date?
-[Linda] "Have you ever been to therapy?" -Yes, that's a good one! Thank you, Linda!
-Don't worry. The question will be asked. -[laughing]
"Do you have any weird fetishes?"
"Are you gonna be sucking my toes every day?"
[laughing]
Well, over the next ten days, you'll finally have the chance
to fall in love based solely on who you are on the inside.
Not for your looks, your race, your background or your income.
And if you fall in love with someone and wanna spend your life with them,
you'll get engaged.
[woman] Whoo!
And then you get to see them for the very first time.
[all cheering]
And then the two of you leave here with a future wedding date
in four weeks,
where you'll make the biggest decision of your life.
Will you say "I do" to the person you fell in love with right here,
sight unseen?
Or will you choose to walk away forever?
[Vanessa] Is love truly blind?
Well, we hope that you prove that it is.
-[woman] Yes! -[all cheering]
[all] Whoo!
[both] The pods are now open!
-[upbeat music playing] -[all] Whoo!
-Good luck, guys! -[man] Thank you.
My wife's in there.
-[woman] Let's go find our husbands. -[all cheering]
[all exclaiming and whooping]
[indistinct chatter]
[Izzy] Good luck, y'all.
-What's up? What's up? -What's going on?
[Josh] Oh, you know, just having a great day today.
Hey!
What makes me nervous about the experiment is
they can't see nothing.
I'm gonna guess you love a Sunday brunch.
Oh, my God, listen, you're speaking my love language.
My personality has to shine,
and I have to ask them the right questions.
What are you looking for in a significant other?
The best way to describe it is just, "Give me peace."
Mmm! [snaps fingers]
I want to know the core of them and them to know the core of who I am.
-[woman] Lay down on your back. -[JP] I gotta lay on my back?
-Yeah, it's core! -[JP] All right.
I'm literally on the ground with my legs in the air.
Keep doing this and talking to me.
Make it through without breaking a sweat, you get two points.
[JP] I'm already sweating.
[man] Looking at statistics,
I mean, the danger zone for marriage is years one through two.
And years five through eight are when couples are most likely to get divorced.
Not every single guy is gonna be for me. Like… [laughs]
-So what do you like to do for fun? -Uh, fisherman.
That's the only thing I think about all day long.
Think about what a couple fish pics could do
to the quality of your social media.
-We're talking a hundred likes here. -What the eff?
So, marry, fuck, kill. Waffles, pancakes, or French toast?
What?
What's normally your type?
-Physical has never been a thing for me. -[burps]
-Okay. -Did you just burp?
-[Ernesto] I did. -Oh, my God!
Was that a good one? It wasn't a fart. It could have been worse.
[laughing] Oh, God.
What do you look for your living?
Did you say, "What do I look for in a woman?"
[woman laughs] No!
That is not the question, but, yeah, sure!
-No! Wait, no, what was the question? -[woman] What do you do for a living?
I'm a sleepyhead. Are you a morning person?
Uh, every morning. Absolutely.
-[woman] Oh, my God, I'm not. -You're not a horny person?
I would like to be!
You're not a horny person?
-"Morning!" -[chuckling] I was like, "What?"
I grew up in the beautiful tropical islands of Puerto Rico.
[in Spanish] Pure-blooded Puerto Rican. [laughs]
[in English] My accent? Oh, my God.
It's a hate and love relationship. [laughs]
There's some that do understand me, but there are some like,
"Lydia, what the hell you said?"
I am single 'cause I haven't been fortunate enough to find someone
who is emotionally matured.
Oh, mature enough!
In the past, I've been called "too much."
[Lydia exclaiming loudly]
That has definitely, like, impacted me.
Oh, my God, girl!
[Lydia] But I don't think I'm too much.
I think that I am the right amount of me.
There we go!
I am smart. I am brilliant.
Howdy.
I wanna be really loved for this amazing person that I am.
[man] Hey, what's going on?
[Lydia] Who is the lovely guy that I'm talking to?
This is Milton. Who is this?
My name is Lydia. I am from Puerto Rico.
So what do you do?
I'm a geologist.
Oh, my God, I'm really big into metamorphic rock.
-Metamorphic facies. -[Lydia] You are? Why?
Are you a geologist?
Uh, I'm an engineer in the middle of geology.
You're an engineer!
[Milton] I'm in between geology and engineering.
I have a polarizing microscope in my apartment.
[gasps]
Oh, my God, you're such a nerd.
I collect samples.
-You're such a nerd, Milton. -[laughs]
[Lydia] Puerto Rico has a bit of everything.
At the north, is, like, the quartz zones, your sedimentary, right?
Okay, I hate sedimentary rock, but I work in oil and gas,
so I have to like it.
Sedimentary goes like… It's excised easily. It's not stable.
I feel like sedimentary is, like, the weak spectrum. I'm so sorry.
We're talking about diagenesis sedimentary, right?
-Right. Yes. -That's my shit.
-Oh, God, we're getting really nerdy here. -I love it.
If you're into, like, rocks and minerals, then we can observe things
under my polarizing microscope.
-I'm down. -My God, you're such a nerd. I love it.
-[Milton] Okay, I'm really not. -I don't usually go for a nerd though!
We have, like, the same passion and the same background.
That's pretty dope.
-[Lydia] What is your age? -What is your age?
-I'm 30. -Okay. I'm close enough.
-How old are you? -[Milton] How old do I sound?
-28. -I'm 24.
Oh, my God, Milton, I'm dying!
You're younger than my brother.
[Milton] It doesn't matter.
I mean, I feel like I'm doing pretty fucking well for myself at this age.
I mean, it's more about a mindset.
Aren't we here just to, like, remove all outside factors
like age and everything else?
And just get to know each other for who we are?
I mean, yeah, that's true.
-I'm gonna ask one question. -[Lydia] Okay.
And this is gonna determine it all.
Do you ever, like, get quartz and plagioclase confused?
-I don't. -[Milton] Oh, okay.
I'm gonna put you as my number one. I'm just gonna let you know now.
[upbeat music playing]
My thoughts on Milton is
he's too young for me.
[laughing] But geology is now hot.
[intriguing music playing]
[Lydia] Oh, my God, girls! Oh, my God!
[Izzy] Hello, hello.
[Lydia] Hi!
-What's your name? -I'm Izzy. How about you?
My name is Lydia. I am from Puerto Rico.
-[Izzy in Spanish] You speak Spanish? -I speak Spanish!
-I am completely bilingual. -[in English] Nice!
-So, I'm Hispanic. My family's Mexican. -Okay!
I have a stepsister and a few other siblings. Yeah.
Like, later on in life, I ended up, like,
finding my biological father
and finding out I had so many more siblings.
Oh, my God.
It was like a novella, you know, meeting all these families.
-[Lydia] Oh, yes. Got a new telenovela. -Yeah.
-[Izzy] What do you do? -I'm a geologist.
-Oh, wow! -[Lydia] What do you do?
-[Izzy] I do insurance for businesses. -Okay.
-So, question, why are you here? -Yes.
I am here because I've been really unfortunate
on finding that person who wants to clearly communicate
what they need, and they are not emotionally matured.
Got that. Someone emotionally stable. If not, willing to work on it.
-In my opinion, all men need therapy. -Yes, yes.
-How old are you, Izzy? -I'm 29. How about yourself?
-I am 30. -Thirty. Perfect.
So, uh, family-wise.
-Do you want kids? -Yes, I do.
Right when you get married or you wanna wait a little?
[Izzy] I definitely need some time with my wife.
Perfect! I agree 100%.
I think if something happens unexpectedly,
my efforts are still gonna be there 110%.
Oh, my God, Izzy.
Oh, my God, you're so perfect. When are you gonna propose to me?
[both laugh]
[Izzy] We're working on it. We're working on it.
I've been single for the last two years,
and I've dated a lot, um, on the dating apps,
and it's exhausting. I'm ready to settle it down.
Dude, I'm excited. Yeah, baby!
My biggest insecurity?
I got a bald-ass head, and some girls don't like that.
Like, I was out at a bar, and this girl took off my hat,
and she was just like, "Ew," and walked out.
Hey, have fun, man.
You twist your knees. It's all in the hips. It's in the hips.
[chuckles] I'd highly recommend anybody to do this.
It's better than dating in the real world.
-[Izzy] What's your name? -Stacy.
I'm Izzy.
-Izzy? -[Izzy] Yes.
-What do you like to do for fun? -[Izzy] I love live music.
So, I'm a drummer. That's a hidden talent of mine.
-Oh! -[Izzy] Yeah, so I'm a drummer.
But I grew up playing sports, playing baseball through college.
This is so random. I love darts.
Ooh, darts is fun.
-I'll whoop your butt in darts. -Yeah?
-Honestly, I'm pretty good at darts. -What?
-Do you like to dance? -Yes. Take me out.
Spin me around. I'm into it.
[Izzy] So, I was raised by my aunt, my mom,
and I was passed around dancing a lot.
-[Stacy] Stop it. -I learned a lot of Latin genres.
-Shut up! -I can do, like, salsa, merengue, bachata.
Like, everything.
You are getting so many points right now.
-I'm gonna give you five points. -[laughs] Awesome.
-[Stacy] My hips don't lie. -[laughs]
[dance music playing]
After these first couple dates, like, yes, I have my standouts,
but I'm still being very open-minded
because marriage is something I consider serious.
So I really wanna keep diving deep
and explore all 15 girls' personalities.
-[Izzy] Hello, hello. -[woman] Hello.
-[Izzy] How are you? -[woman] Good.
-I love your voice already. -[woman] Oh, okay.
Best voice I've heard so far.
I don't even know your name. I'm putting a star here. [laughs]
-Are you telling all the girls this? -Oh, absolutely not. [laughs]
I'm Izzy, by the way. Ismael. Izzy for short.
-My name is Johnie. -[Izzy] Johnie!
-How old are you, Johnie? -I am 30 years old.
-[Izzy] Thirty. Nice. -How about you?
I am 29.
Well, I'm 31 next month, so I hope that's not a deal-breaker.
[Izzy] Oh, absolutely not. If anything, I'm into girls older than me,
because, like, usually by that point, the maturity and mental stability
is usually somewhat there, so…
[laughing] I like to think I'm super stable. I'm just kidding.
[Izzy] That's exactly what I'm looking for.
To be honest, I have a track record of crappy relationships.
My last relationship was six months ago,
but I just didn't feel like I was in love with him, to be honest.
-[Izzy] What are you looking for? -Intelligence, dependability, partnership.
Mmm-hmm. What I look for, the independence, for sure.
The mental stability. They're somewhat emotionally intelligent.
Ooh! I'm your girl!
I can tell we would automatically be on the same page from what you described.
I feel comfortable with you, so I'll just be honest with you.
I dated a lot of people with, like, addiction issues.
-Oh, my God, this is, like, a lot. -[Izzy] No, hey.
I'm above the surface-level stuff.
-I need to know everything. -Me too.
I'm finally in a place to choose a good partner for myself,
and I just haven't found the right person.
-Same. I'm at a great spot all around. -I like you already.
[Izzy] I feel like my next relationship, like, I hope is my last.
-[Johnie] Yeah. -It does get lonely. I'm not gonna lie.
Have you been in long-term relationships?
[Izzy] I was actually engaged.
I haven't told anyone else here this, but I've been married once before.
I don't want anyone to think, "Oh, I'm the second husband," you know?
And I think I'm a little afraid that some people will take it that way.
[Izzy] It doesn't freak me out. Doesn't scare me at all.
-[Johnie squeals] -[laughing]
[Izzy] Look, if me and you can potentially get married,
you're not gonna hold anything back from me.
-I'm not gonna hold anything back. -I love you.
[both laughing]
I'm one of six kids. I'm in the middle.
I had a fairly normal upbringing.
My parents are still together.
My mom has always wanted a bunch of grandkids.
[Izzy] Whoo, that was a good date. Yeah, baby!
You know, "I'll help raise the grandchildren."
Um…
And then she saw, like, the pattern of my relationships.
[voice breaking] She was like, "Maybe…" Yeah, um…
Yeah, it's hard when your mom says,
"Maybe you're not meant to be in a relationship."
That's my boo.
I'm definitely not a perfect person, but I know I deserve love.
[Chris] Hello, hello.
Hello! What's your name?
-[Chris] Chris Fox. -My name is Johnie.
[Chris] Johnie, nice to meet you. I like that.
Thank you.
-I'm 27. -[Johnie] Okay.
I am in commercial and retail development.
Okay. I am 30.
-[Chris] Very nice. -And I am a lawyer.
Oh, shit.
Big brains over here.
Sounds sexy,
but, um, I just, like, read contracts all day long.
Oh. Well, you know, it sounds sexy. We'll leave it at that.
Okay, thanks. Do you have a dog?
-I foster on the weekends. -[Johnie gasps]
You foster?
-Yes. Yeah. -You're so sweet.
-I have a beagle named Barry. -Very cute.
-Barry the Beagle. -Yeah, my dog is my child.
-[Chris] Writing that down now. -[laughs]
Obviously we're getting to know each other in a short amount of time.
[laughs] I've kind of been through the wringer in my past relationships.
[Chris] Sorry to hear that.
I take responsibility for that.
Like, I chose those kind of dudes in the past.
-Very mature of you. -Thank you.
Number one thing for me is being open and communicative.
I feel like people hear "lawyer," and they're like…
-Did I tell you I'm a lawyer? [laughs] -Yes, you did.
I feel like they hear that and think I'm argumentative, and I'm like, "No."
Like, I wanna talk things through.
You just know how to converse with people.
-Check marks are going off on this end. -[Johnie] Oh!
-I really like you, Chris. -Yeah, I really like you too, Johnie.
[Johnie laughs]
This is different than normal dating, because we're all here to get married
and fall in love.
My connection with Johnie is just as natural as it can be.
And I'm just really optimistic.
I really feel that I could be finding my wife here, and it's very…
I can feel it in my body that it's just like…
could definitely be happening already.
[Chris] It's the one!
-[man 1] Whoo! -[man 2] Hey, bro!
[men exclaiming]
[Ernesto] Oh, my God! That was badass.
[Lydia] Oh, my God!
Okay, I wanna live in that pod. Oh, my God!
[chuckles] Lydia. When she started talking about the rocks, baby.
-The key to my heart. -[JP] That's number one?
[Milton] I said, "I putting you at number one."
Dude, if we could go hiking, we can collect some badass samples,
and cut them to 30 nanograms,
and observe them under my polarizing microscope?
What else could a man ask for in this world?
-[man] I'm happy for you, bro. -[exclaims]
-[cork pops] -[women] Whoo!
Guys my age will act a lot different than girls my age.
I wanna say it was Uche or something.
He's boring and nerdy, like…
He was like, "Yeah, I'm straightforward, to the point."
-I said, "I like that." -I like that.
-We love that. -I like it.
-[man] How's it going, Izzy? -[Izzy] We'll talk about that later.
[chuckles] It was first day, yeah. We'll get into it later.
[Stacy] I did have one guy get on the floor and do Pilates.
-No! -[woman] Oh!
It's very weird to date like this. [laughing]
Ernesto burped.
I wanna say in my face, but it wasn't in my face.
[imitates burp] And then just keeps going. And I'm like, "Did you just…"
And he's like, "Ha-ha. Yeah." And I'm like, "I burp a lot."
Say "excuse me."
[Lydia] When I spoke with Milton, he was so sweet.
He was a hot-ass mess.
Awkward date, Milton.
I hit my head on my notebook so many times I left a makeup mark on it. Next.
What about you, Carter? How's your, uh, experience?
His first question, "Do you like to fish?" She said, "No." And he just walked out.
-Well… -[Uche] Then he walked out of the room.
-I wrote "no" next to Carter. [laughing] -Stop!
[Stacy] I liked Carter.
I am dying to know what Carter looks like.
Anything-In-A-Can Carter. Cheap-Beer Carter.
He is a country bumpkin, but I just feel like "fee-fi-fo-fum."
That is what I'm picturing for Carter.
-Who's your number one? -Who's your number one?
-[Stacy] Izzy. -[laughing] You know…
I actually have a really good connection with Izzy.
And he has a really cute laugh. I love his laugh.
I'll let all these girls drop like flies.
Hold on, who's your number one?
-Izzy? -I think Izzy.
[Lydia] How was it?
Are you hoping I like someone else more?
[both laughing]
-[Izzy] Cheers, y'all! -[Milton] Let's fuckin' go.
[all cheering]
It's day one, guys.
[all cheering]
Whoo-hoo!
[cheering continues]
[upbeat music playing]
-[man 1] Is it hot? -[man 2] Hotter. Do the butter test, man.
-[Aaliyah] Who makes good eggs? -[Lydia] We doing scrambles?
-[Aaliyah] Sunny-side up. -Oh!
[all gasp]
[Aaliyah] Spill on aisle one.
[Johnie] I hope that these boys aren't looking for a chef, watching that.
[Stacy] This bacon is ten out of ten.
Day one in the pods was rush, rush, rush.
I was so nervous.
I wanna get married because, one, I want to have a family one day.
And I feel like now's a good time
because in the past, I don't think I truly loved myself.
[stifling tears]
Sorry.
[sniffles] Ugh.
Yeah. I struggled with, uh…
[sniffling] Like, loving myself.
And I feel like I…
ugh, let myself go.
And, um… [sniffles]
[chuckles] I… I love myself now.
And, um, I'm, like, ready to love somebody else.
Like, give it my all.
So when I got this opportunity, I was like, "Why wouldn't I try it?"
-[JP] Hello, hello. -[Taylor] Hi. Who am I speaking with?
Uh, this is JP.
[Taylor] Hi, JP.
-[JP] Who am I speaking with? -Taylor.
-[JP] What's up? -Did you sleep okay last night?
-[JP] Yeah. -Good. I did not.
-You did not? You were nervous or what? -Yeah, I guess.
I also get up, like, twice in the middle of the night to go pee.
[laughs]
-[JP] I'm a terrible sleeper. -What?
My job, it's--
You, like, sleep at the…
-[JP] The firehouse. -Yeah.
[JP] So, we work 24-hour shifts.
Sometimes we wake up three or four times in the night
and have to go do stuff.
-That's a scary job, I feel like. -Everybody says that, but it's…
I mean, it's scary 'cause you go into a burning building,
and you really can't see anything, and you're going to put a fire out,
but it's actually like--
-[laughs] Only a little bit scary. -[JP] It's the adrenaline rush.
And it's more camaraderie with, uh, your crew.
Honestly, it's a lot of fun.
Let's see. I wrote, "divorced parents, two sisters,"
and you went to Parkwood, which is where I teach.
[JP] What's your favorite part about teaching kindergarten?
I feel like they're just my babies, you know?
Some will remember me, but the others,
I'm like, "Are you gonna remember me one day?"
-[JP] I loved my kindergarten teacher. -You remember her?
-Oh, 100%. Mrs. Wilburn. -[Taylor] That's exciting.
We'll see after this. Hopefully, you'll remember me.
[chuckles]
[Taylor] I want someone who's hardworking.
I think being married at least for a couple years
before we have kids, just so we get our time together,
'cause I think once you have kids, um…
-[JP] It's all about the kids. -Yeah.
-But in my near future, absolutely. -That's how I feel.
Do you like to cook?
-I've gotten better at it, um-- -You don't have to cook.
-I'll cook for you. -Okay. [laughs]
What's, like, your favorite thing to cook?
[JP] Uh, I like prime rib, stuffed chicken, chicken Alfredo.
Can you cook, um, like, a good grilled cheese? [chuckles]
That's, like, one of my favorite foods.
-Seriously. -Just bread and cheese?
Yeah. Just bread and cheese.
I can cook anything. And I can cook grilled cheese.
[both laugh]
[Taylor] I think we have very similar…
-[JP] Values? -Yeah.
So far, at least.
I was actually, like, drawn to you from, like, our first ten-minute interaction.
-I thought you were sweet. -[JP] I'm definitely sweet.
My mom dipped me in sugar as soon as I was born.
-That's why I'm so sweet. -[laughs] And you're silly.
-You're kind of silly. I like that. -[JP laughs]
Uh, but yeah. And I was drawn to you.
Yeah, I was drawn to you.
I actually told one of the girls that I was drawn to you.
I was definitely drawn to you too. You seem like a really good person.
-[Taylor] Thanks. -I'll stop talking to every other girl.
Yeah, please.
[laughs] Just propose now.
I'm kidding!
-I would. -Whatever.
-Right now you would propose to me? -Right now. For sure.
-Okay, we'll see. -[uplifting music playing]
♪ I believe hope Is gonna change the world ♪
♪ Oh, it's gonna change the world I know ♪
♪ It's gonna change the world… ♪
-[Izzy] Good one? -[JP] That was a good one.
-[Izzy] Attaboy! -I would propose to her right now.
[Izzy] I love that for you, brother.
♪ A change, a change, a change, a change A change is coming in today ♪
♪ Oh! ♪
♪ A change, a change, a change A change is coming ♪
Ultimately, I just wanna get it down to, like, two or three.
-Yeah. -You can't focus on that many people.
I don't know if you ever had, like, online dating apps
where you match with a whole bunch of people.
"This is too many decisions. I just wanna--"
People are wondering, like, why people get so tired.
That's so taxing, bro, having that many conversations.
Exactly.
I think what's different with this experience in the pods
versus the real world
is that you don't have any distractions at all.
[man] See y'all on the other side.
[Uche] You're here to literally focus on one thing,
and that's finding that person that's for you to hold your standards high
and be able to establish that connection that's going to lead to marriage.
-Hey, there. -Hello.
It's Uche.
Hi, Uche! It's Miriam.
[Uche] Great to speak with you again. I was hoping it was gonna be you.
Oh, that's sweet.
[Uche] Miriam, you were born and raised in Nigeria, correct?
-[Miriam] Yeah, yeah, yeah. -So, remind me, you came here alone?
Hmm. Well, yeah, but I have family here.
[chuckles] I had the option to go to England or the US
for my college education,
and I chose the US because it's a better place for medicine.
[chuckles] 'Cause, yeah, at first I was gonna study medicine.
[Uche] You were going to study medicine. What did you end up doing?
I ended up exploring a career in chemistry, so I'm a scientist.
What type of science?
Um, I've worked in different industries.
[Uche] Okay, what are you doing now?
Working in academia, but I work overseas.
Oh, where overseas?
In the Middle East. [laughs]
You work in the Middle East?
Yeah, but I'm gonna be moving back to Houston full-time soon.
Okay. When are you moving back?
-Um, pretty much in a couple of weeks. -Okay.
When you move back to Houston,
where do you think you're gonna be moving to?
-I already moved back. -Already?
I live in River Oaks.
I miss home. So, yeah, I'm back in the city.
I also see my business thriving.
-[Uche] Which kind of business? -Skincare. [chuckles]
-[Uche] Like dermatology? -Well, not dermatology, but, um…
-Selling skincare products? -[Miriam laughs] No.
Um, offering…
a…
a distinct…
mmm, composition.
-I feel like that's very ambiguous. -[both laugh]
-[dance music playing] -♪ On to the next one… ♪
Hey, there, it's Uche.
Hi, Uche. This is Aaliyah.
-[Uche] Aaliyah. -Hi!
I was hoping I would be speaking with you again.
-[Aaliyah] Me too. I'm so glad. -[laughs]
You kind of have, like, a nerdy vibe.
"A nerdy vibe." Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
[Aaliyah] I mean, I like nerdy men. I'm not gonna lie.
-That's something that… -[chuckles]
Honestly, I feel like I have multiple sides to me.
[Uche] Yeah. Is one of those sides a little bit nerdy?
-Yes. I like to read. -Okay.
[Aaliyah] I play solitaire.
I like random anime movies from when I lived in Japan as a kid
that I still watch.
Why were you in Japan?
[Aaliyah] Uh, my parents were in the Air Force.
-[Uche] Oh, awesome. -Yes.
I was there nine and a half years and then we moved to Texas.
-I got started with my nursing career. -[Uche] Okay.
I wanted to work in the Medical Center.
'Cause that's, like, the biggest medical center in the region.
-Absolutely, yeah. -[Aaliyah] Best surgeons and…
I work in CV, which is, like, cardiovascular surgery.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a lawyer by trade, so, you know, people think I argue for a living,
but I own a software company.
[Aaliyah] Oh, awesome.
That's probably where the nerdy vibe, you know, comes from.
[both laugh]
Something that I absolutely love and enjoy. I enjoy being my own boss.
Now I'm like, "I wanna be my own boss as well."
It would be nice to have a partner who can kind of, like,
you know, catapult me in the right direction a little bit,
especially if they have more experience.
You are so ambitious, and you're so motivated,
and that's the number one thing
that I look for in somebody, and I definitely see that in you.
Thank you. You get some points for that, Uche.
[both laugh]
-[uplifting music playing] -♪ You can't do wrong ♪
-[dance music playing] -♪ I'm getting ready, baby, fill my cup ♪
I don't ask someone, like, how many people they slept with.
[Aaliyah] Me neither. I don't care.
As long as everyone's, like, safe, and clean, and healthy.
[Aaliyah] Yeah. Everybody has a past at this point.
We're older in life. This is not…
-I'm not trying to-- -[Renee] I don't ask any of that stuff.
-I want them to be experienced. -Right.
So sexy.
-You need to be teachable. -[Renee] Yeah.
On both sides.
Physical intimacy looks different for everyone.
-[dance music playing] -♪ Are you ready for it? Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Are you ready for it? ♪
You have to be willing to be open and talk about those things.
And I know my sex drive, so…
Uh… [laughing]
I'm just saying. [laughs]
[Aaliyah] What turns you on more?
Like, softer moans, or, like, when it's aggressive?
-I'm not even gonna lie. I'm a freak. -Me too.
[laughing]
-[Renee] Are you a handyman? -Oh, yeah.
I could see a man see something messed up and start fixing it and just get wet.
I'm really good at cunnilingus.
I know it's my God-given talent. Everybody gets one God-given talent.
Ooh!
Favorite sexual position?
Yes.
-[Taylor] Yes. All. -[both laugh]
-Are you a good kisser? -Yes.
-[Josh] Same. -Ask my hand.
Oh, yeah.
-Ask my pillow and my hand. -[Stacy laughs]
You have made out with your pillow?
Yeah. You don't do that?
-[Renee] Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. -That's cute.
He's so funny, and she's perfect to begin with, so that--
Yeah. Let's take a moment of silence for both of 'em, 'cause holy shit.
[Renee] 'Kay.
-Okay. That's enough. Um, so… [laughs] -[Carter laughs] Okay.
[Stacy] You wanna know a special talent of mine?
[Izzy] Yes.
Like, I could look at your feet and just guess your shoe size.
99% of the time I can guess it.
Really?
[Stacy] Yeah. I did it one time at the rodeo.
This guy was being a dick. I looked at his feet, and they were small.
I was like, "What are you, a size six?"
And then this guy was like, "Tell me how big mine are."
He had a fucking flipper. So I was like, "Uh, like a 13."
Then all these guys like, "What size am I? What size am I?"
That's where it started. I was like, "I am good at this."
[Izzy] I can already tell you're, like, the fun girl when you're out.
-Yup! -[Izzy] Which I love.
Stacy's very loud and fun,
and that's exciting because that's how I am.
At the bar, I'll walk by, smack your ass, then laugh about it.
[Izzy] Oh, my God. Yes.
I'm just like… I'm just raunchy, and weird, and like--
-What do you define raunchy as? -You.
[laughing]
[Izzy] I can definitely see myself with Stacy.
You know, she's confident and everything,
and, like, that's what I want in a partner.
But then there's, like, Johnie.
Johnie is very, like, calm, and sweet, and tender, you know.
How are you, honey? You good?
[Johnie] I'm good.
-I've been waiting all day to talk to you. -[Izzy] Same.
I really just kind of wanna fully take in the experience with these girls,
because I really wanna narrow it down.
-What you wearing today? -[laughing]
-I have a red dress on. -Ooh!
Are you a cuddler? Are you not? You need that space?
I'm definitely a mixed bag,
but, like, I think the relationships I feel the most, I'm really affectionate.
Are you open-minded in the bedroom to explore?
-Yeah, I'm kind of shy with this stuff. -[Izzy] Are you?
They say the shy ones are the freakiest, so…
Well…
Well, they may not be wrong.
-[both laugh] -[Izzy] What type of kisser are you?
I think I'm a great kisser. [laughs] No, I'm just kidding.
[chuckles] Oh, hey, I agree. Same. My Google reviews are up there.
-Oh, my God. I'm gonna check Yelp. -[Izzy laughs]
Yeah, check my Yelp. [laughs]
Lights on or off during sex?
-They can be on on. -Yes!
But if it's the middle of the night,
and something's happening,
I'm not going to be like, "Turn the lights on!"
[both laughing]
Unless we get, like, the clap-on… Like, clap it.
Might be giving you some booty claps.
-Lights on right now. -[Izzy laughs]
All right, how's your connections been?
[Johnie] I would say, I have, like, a few…
-[Izzy] Uh-huh. -But definitely you're the strongest.
[Izzy] I'm right there with you.
-[upbeat music playing] -♪ I won't fall asleep ♪
♪ Now I'm caught in a dream ♪
♪ Now, come on Come on, let's make it ours… ♪
[indistinct chatter]
[man] Oh, yeah! Bus it. Down.
[Chris] Ooh, there's a lot of games in here.
I grabbed the cards.
Yeah, I think that's Let's Get Deep.
[Chris] Yes, Let's Get Deep.
"What do you wish health class had taught you about sex?"
[Johnie] Mmm… nothing.
[laughs] I wish I hadn't had a fucking health--
[Chris] No health class?
Health class starts with, "Guys, everyone say 'vagina' three times."
-[Johnie laughs] Yes. -"Vagina, vagina, vagina."
"Everyone say 'penis' three times." [laughs]
-That's not a good one. Draw another one. -[Chris] Okay.
I don't need them to teach me anything.
-We're just gonna go deeper. -We can go deeper.
[Chris] "If you could change how you lost your virginity, would you?"
Oh!
That is a deeper one.
So, I lost my virginity,
like, my junior or senior year in high school?
When did you lose yours?
Um…
You don't want to say?
No, uh…
I've told everyone for a very, very long time
that I lost it my junior year to this girl.
Okay.
[Chris] Um…
And…
I don't know. I feel like this whole experience is about honesty and truth.
[Johnie] Mmm-hmm.
And I do feel, like, very, very comfortable with you.
Um…
I took a trip.
And we went to Mexico, and… [sighs]
Like, we met these girls there,
and we were all drinking tequila in the suite.
Me, my friend, and these two girls.
And, um, this girl, like…
I was ready to go to bed,
and she pressured herself on me.
And I know it's, like, hard to imagine…
Like, I feel like there's a stigma on guys being…
pushed into sex.
[Johnie] Yeah.
[Chris] 'Cause, like, oh, you know,
you have to get hard, and then you have to do it.
-You know? -Yeah. [clears throat]
[Chris] And I just remember
my friend in the twin bed next to me.
And she was…
getting on top of me, and I specifically remember saying no.
-Yeah. -[Chris] Like, multiple times.
Like, "No, I don't wanna do this."
Yeah.
Um, but I just felt pressure from her, and then…
like, that's how I lost my virginity.
Wow. When was that?
[Chris] That was when we were…
seventeen.
I'm sorry that happened to you.
It's okay. I've--
[Johnie] It definitely sounds like you were taken advantage of,
so don't make excuses for, like, her,
'cause that's not okay.
I'm just sorry that happened to you. Especially, like, your first time, like…
[Chris] Yeah. I appreciate it.
I don't know what it is about this place, but I feel like I can just unload
all my deepest secrets to you.
-[Johnie] Yeah, trust me. I understand. -Um…
I'm glad you told me.
That makes me feel closer to you.
I do feel safe with you.
And I want you to know everything about me
'cause I want to know everything about you.
-[Johnie] Same. -And it's just so easy with you.
And I love talking to you.
-And I wanna be with you all the time. -I like you too.
I definitely would say that the baby brother of love
is caring for someone.
And I definitely care tremendously about Johnie.
You know, it's…
Just a little, little care and then it grows into love.
[chuckles] It's the seed, and then it grows in.
I'm just gonna stop. [chuckles]
[emotional music playing]
[Lydia] Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
I'm a big personality, and I love hard. I love to laugh. I love to make jokes.
I love to dance. I am loud.
I'm from Puerto Rico, so it comes with the territory.
[laughing]
But having someone to truly love me for who I am, for my soul,
not knowing how I look like…
For my whole entire life, that's what I want so badly.
-Izzy! How are you? -How are you?
-[Izzy] I'm great. Yourself? -I am great.
-Oh, man, what a day. -Uh, yes!
-I'm laying on the floor with my blanket. -Oh, my God, yes! My blanket too.
[Izzy] Oh, God, this is great.
So how are you in a relationship? 'Cause, like, I know how I am. You know?
-I'm a giver. I… -[Izzy] Mmm-hmm.
My pleasure and my giving is, like,
I want my partner to have the same, like…
Yeah. I'm the same way. I'm very selfless. Um…
Always people-pleasing, you know? I always just…
I like to take care of you. Um--
Just hearing you say that is, like, nice.
-You know what I'm saying? -[Izzy laughs] Yeah, I hear ya.
-Are you a detail-oriented person? -Very.
-[gasps] I am too! 100%. -[Izzy laughs] Very. Yeah.
So, like, for me, like, I will remember things,
and you'll be like, "Oh, how do you remember that?"
-'Cause it matters to me, right? -Yeah.
[Lydia] Everything you say, the little details.
-Everything's in the little details. -Yeah.
So, yeah, that's kind of how I am. Very affectionate.
Oh, my God. We're the same.
Oh, my God. It's surprising 'cause I was, like…
'Cause I know, like, we have a lot in common.
-[Izzy] Uh-huh. -Do you feel the same way?
[nervously] Uh-huh.
[Lydia] It's mind-blowing.
And for me to hear you say that is, like, "Oh, my God."
Like, "Aw!" I like your vibe. I like your energy.
It's so weird 'cause I wanna feel you.
[hesitatingly] Yeah.
How did the rest of your dates go?
-Great. I mean, they went well. -[Izzy] Yeah?
-But I'm gonna be brutally honest. -Yeah, be honest.
You're my number one.
Oh, wow, that's flat-- Thank you.
For me, with you, I didn't get, like, a boring moment at all.
I know you have other connections here.
Yeah, I have made connections with a few of the other girls.
I will not lie to you about that.
You told me I'm your number one, but, like,
are you having any other connections with anybody else?
I have, but they haven't been in the same level.
And I'm just trying to follow my gut. You know what I'm saying?
[Izzy] Yeah. As you should.
-I've connected with some people. -[Lydia] Yes?
[Izzy] Like, I'm the type of person that it takes me a while.
I gotta sit and process things.
It's kind of hard hopping from pod to pod,
but I haven't really got to sit by myself
to, like, reflect and weigh things out.
Well, I hope that you don't forget about me.
Oh, no, absolutely not.
[chuckles] I will not forget about you.
I knew it was you the minute I heard your voice, so…
-You're definitely good. -Aw!
You're so sweet. That is so nice.
I wish I could be all night here talking with you.
[Izzy] But you'll tell me that another day.
You have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow.
[Lydia] You too, sir. I hope to see you in my dreams.
[Izzy] Bye.
-[romantic music playing] -♪ Say you'll come home forever ♪
♪ Baby, baby ♪
-[Aaliyah] Hello? -Hey, hey, it's Uche.
Uche, I'm so happy! I was hoping it was you.
-I kind of miss you. -Aaliyah.
-[Aaliyah laughs] -Now I can go to bed happy.
[Aaliyah] I know! I'm so glad I'm talking to you.
If we get married and we get a house together,
I need my own woman cave.
-[Uche] Woman cave? Okay. -Right.
So, you know how you guys get your man cave?
-Yeah. -I want my woman cave.
And I wanna be able to paint and play my guitar.
I wanna have a space where I can play my records,
and paint, and listen to music, and write my poetry.
-And express myself. -No way. Stop it. Stop it.
-[Aaliyah] Mmm-hmm. -You write poetry?
I do.
-Oh, that's funny. -What?
I've been, for four years in, you know, college,
I wrote and performed spoken word poetry.
[mouths]
Uche, do you know what my favorite movie is?
-[Uche] What? -Love Jones.
[laughing]
Like, I'm not lying.
[laughs] Like, I'm deadass serious.
My favorite movie of all time is Love Jones,
because of the spoken word aspect.
-I think just-- -[Aaliyah] It is my favorite thing to do.
I love going to the events.
[Uche] We've gotta go to a spoken word show.
-Yay! Oh, my God! -[Uche] I've been wanting to get back.
I've gotten busy, and then I've fallen out of the community.
I would even-- We gotta get you to perform.
-Can I? -[Uche] I'll call up my old poetry group.
We would get you up there.
And it'll encourage me to keep on writing too,
'cause I haven't written any poetry in such a long time.
Uh, it's something I would love to get back into. And you play the guitar?
I used to play the guitar as well.
I haven't touched it in years. I still have a guitar hanging on my wall.
[Aaliyah] I'll be honest and say that it's not like a…
-I need to get more into practicing, but… -So do I.
I've taken classes. I took classes in college.
-And I have a Fender, and I-- -[Uche] I have a Fender as well.
-[Aaliyah] Yeah. -Is it acoustic?
[Aaliyah] Yeah, six-string.
I feel like every single thing, like, we really have in common.
And I love that you have that creative side.
'Cause that's why I initially got into poetry,
is because I felt it very hard to express my emotions.
You know, performing that poetry for other people,
you know, made me be more comfortable
with being vulnerable and expressing myself.
Oh, my God. I just… Oof, I just need to, like…
Honestly, I wanna just kiss you now. [laughs]
-I just wanna see you… -[Uche] I feel the same way.
[both exclaim and laugh]
This is… This is crazy.
[laughing]
[upbeat music playing]
[dance music playing]
♪ Come on, everybody Let me see your hair ♪
[JP] Me and Taylor are on the same page.
We talked about sex a little bit,
but we didn't, uh, spend the whole time talking about it.
She's like, "Let's move on. I feel like we're compatible. We know it."
"We know what we like, and I feel like it's gonna be…
uh, good either way."
-Yeah. -"Let's talk about other stuff."
-"Let's just keep going. Keep diving." -Yeah.
I think if I am so in love with who you are as a person,
everything else will just fall into place, the sex, the physical appearance.
-Because I love who you are, you know? -Right. Right.
[Taylor] But I have a good feeling I'm gonna leave engaged.
[laughing]
I came here to find a husband not based on what they look like,
and based on just their heart and, um, how I feel around them.
I feel like that's been my problem in the past.
I have based it so much on, like, looks,
and it hasn't worked out for me.
I just feel different around JP.
I don't know how to explain it. It's the weirdest feeling in the world.
-[JP] Hoo-whee! What's up? -Hello. I missed you.
-[JP] You did? -[Taylor laughs] Yeah.
-[JP] Guess what color my shoes are? -Blue.
Mostly, but there's two other colors with it.
-[Taylor] Red and white. -Yeah!
[laughs] Is everything you own red, white, and blue?
[JP] Everything I like to wear.
Like, are you gonna come out and I see you in red, white, and blue?
-[JP] You'll just have to find out. -[laughs]
[yawning] It's just…
You need to do a push-up.
-I need to do a push-up? -Mmm-hmm. I heard you yawn.
-Oh, I did yawn. You're right. -Mmm-hmm.
-How many you want me to do? -Spell my name, T…
[both] A.
Y.
-L. -[Taylor chuckles]
-[JP] A. -O!
[JP laughs] Oh, yeah. O-R.
[Taylor chuckles] Who spells "Taylar?"
-Like, A-R? -I don't know what I was thinking.
I'll do yours. Ready?
Ready.
-[Taylor] J. -[JP] Whoa!
-[Taylor] P. -[both laughing]
[Taylor] I'll just twerk my butt over here.
-Damn! -[Taylor laughing]
-[JP] We'll have to dance together. -Oh, absolutely.
I'm a terrible dancer, by the way. I just like to have a good time.
-[Taylor] To move? -Yeah. Can't wait to dance with you.
[Taylor] Aww. What do you like to call your significant other?
Do you have a nickname, like "babe," "baby," whatever?
[JP] Yeah, I'm not too big on, like, pet names.
-[Taylor] But you know what I like? -No.
-[Taylor laughs] Sugar butt. -Sugar butt? [laughs]
[Taylor] You can be sugar butt. Hey, sugar butt.
-[JP] I like that. -That's definitely your name.
Sugar butt and sugar.
It's so cute.
When I walk into the pod, and I hear Taylor's voice,
it's just that giddy feeling.
Butterfly, bubbles, whatever.
Your stomach feels all tied in knots,
and I really don't know how to explain it.
-It's just… a happy feeling. -[romantic music playing]
-♪ And I feel I can love you forever… ♪ -[laughing]
♪ As long as the sea held the tide ♪
-Okay, this is beautiful. -[Renee laughs]
Oh, you're messing me up! Shh!
[Lydia] Izzy. I really like him a lot.
He has been my number one since day one.
And every time that I talk to him, like, I have a huge smile on my face,
and I get, like, really excited,
and I'm like, "I cannot wait to talk to you again."
-You know? That kind of feeling. -Yeah.
In the lounge, it's a little more real
that I'm not the only person that Izzy's talking to.
Women are getting territorial. People are getting invested.
That person that I'm like, "Head to toe, perfect."
I don't know how Izzy feels about me, but I know how I feel about him,
and I'm so not sharing
who I'm interested in with the other girls.
I haven't had that.
It should feel good though.
It does feel good. Like, I was…
It really didn't kick in until, like, today.
When Izzy is talking to me, it feels good.
Izzy has been consistent since day one. There's just this easiness.
It's like… [sighs]
Finally, I'm being accepted truly for who I am.
And it's been great to get to know
that potential guy that could be my husband.
-[upbeat music playing] -♪ Now I know… ♪
[Izzy] Hello.
Hola, mi amor!
I miss you.
Hello?
-[Izzy] I'm here. I'm here. -What's up?
[Izzy exhales] Okay.
This is… difficult.
Um…
You're a really amazing girl.
I've just developed connections with other girls
that is stronger than the connection that I've had with you.
-[dark music playing] -What do you think is missing?
[Izzy] Um…
It's just…
[clicks tongue and hesitates]
Just please tell me why. There has to be a reason.
[exhales] I'm just, like, evaluating everything.
I think it's just, like, the chemistry for me.
[dark music continues]
[crying] This sucks. This sucks.
[somber music playing]
[crying]
I had no intent to make you feel this way.
[crying continues]
[crying] I crave so hard and so badly to be loved.
[stifling tears]
I just… [sobbing]
I just have had a lifetime of really wondering always why.
And here I am, even being vulnerable, being completely transparent with you…
And… [sobbing]
Oh, fuck.
And again I am left clueless.
It doesn't make sense.
I just don't understand. I just don't. I just don't.
I just cannot believe this is actually happening.
I was so excited to talk to you.
I was, like, looking forward to it the entire day,
and I was not expecting this.
Like, literally, there's nothing bad about you that I can say.
I've just had stronger connections with other people.
[clears throat] Ugh. Izzy, this just obviously sucks.
It does hurt. Um…
[sniffles] But you have a great rest of your day, sir,
with your… people.
It does make me wonder, "Will I ever find love?"
Won't every--
Will ever just someone really love my soul, who I am, as I am?
-[sad music playing] -♪ There ain't nothing more I can say ♪
♪ That'd change everything That's in the way ♪
♪ Every day is the same now… ♪
[Izzy] It was a pleasure meeting you, Lydia.
[Lydia sighs]
[sobbing]
♪ 'Cause I don't know What I want any more ♪
[Lydia sobbing]
[Aaliyah] Are you okay, honey? Come here.
I love you. I'm sorry that you feel this way.
-[Lydia] I love you too. -[Aaliyah] I'm sorry.
I know this is really tough.
-Who was it? -[Lydia] Izzy.
He just ended it?
[Lydia] He was like, "Oh, I just have stronger connections otherwise."
[Aaliyah] I'm sorry.
You are deserving of somebody who is totally sure
of what they want and what they have.
If he's not seeing that, he's not for you.
You still deserve to be loved.
Okay? Don't let him do that to you.
-Okay? -["You Lost Me" by Aria and Zopke playing]
You wanna open your heart up to somebody, but no one wants to just get hurt.
[laughs] Like, no one wants to feel those feelings that we know we all fight
day in and day out to avoid feeling again.
But being vulnerable, being transparent, being honest, it's so important.
And with Uche, it makes me feel more reassured.
Like, this man really does want me because of who I am.
It's so different, because I've never had it before.
This is a risk in so many ways.
But no risk, no reward. So… [laughs]
So, my emotional brain is saying that I'm gonna leave here with you.
My logical brain is like,
"You gotta protect yourself because you just don't know."
Listen to me, anytime you're feeling uncertain about anything,
you bring that up to me.
I'm always going to be that person for you.
I want you to know how much I care about you.
[Aaliyah] I want to challenge the fact that we feel so sure.
I want you to make sure that you know I'm who you want.
-Aaliyah, you're my girl, okay? -Yeah.
Okay.
We're leaving together.
[chuckles] If I don't leave here with you, I don't know what I'm gonna do.
-[Aaliyah] Ugh! Uche. It's weird, Uche. -[Uche laughs]
[Aaliyah] What's wrong with you? Why are you so perfect?
[emotional music playing]
-What would be a deal-breaker for you? -Yeah.
I think, um…
the biggest thing is dishonesty.
What is… What is your deal-breaker?
Like, literally the same. I can't stand a liar.
Specifically for marriage, it's very important to me that I know
that your moral center is in a good place.
[Uche] Do you feel like you've lied before in relationships in the past?
Of course! I mean, I'm human.
And I'm not saying, like, I've never lied and hurt somebody.
You know, I mean, in my past, I've done things,
and sometimes it was selfish, but--
You've done things? Have you ever cheated in a relationship?
-Once. -You can be honest. Tell me about it.
[Aaliyah] It was in the relationship
where I was just not sexually satisfied for two and a half years.
When was this?
[Aaliyah] Two years ago.
Oh, boy, you're a recent cheater.
-[dramatic note playing] -Not like that, Uche. Don't say that.
[Uche] Oh.
Don't say it like that because--
It's the truth, isn't it?
[Aaliyah] I mean, it is, but it's just…
Look, I have to say… [sighs]
That relationship, I really, really tried.
And I did everything that a person would do to try to fix the issues
in the morally correct ways.
I told him that I wasn't satisfied. I made suggestions.
Like, I approached him in a loving way multiple times about our sex.
I told him that I needed more, like, multiple times.
Then why didn't you just break up with him?
[Aaliyah] I was afraid of being alone.
What if I don't ever find anybody who…
will have the good things about him?
I don't know. I just… I just…
It's not good.
[tense music playing]
And you told your boyfriend that this happened?
Aaliyah?
[Aaliyah] Yeah.
Did you tell him about it?
No.
Why not?
[tense music continues]
I didn't wanna hurt him. And I knew I was wrong.
Do you think it was about not wanting to hurt him, though,
or was it more about you?
I mean, it wasn't about me. I…
[Uche] You don't feel embarrassed or ashamed of what you did?
I dealt with that guilt for a long, long time.
[Uche] If you actually told him about it, you would have had to confront
that embarrassment and guilt, and you would have felt even worse.
So, you said it's not about hurting him,
but, really, it might have been about you, right?
[dramatic music playing]
Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
I really hated myself for doing that.
But I didn't-- I don't--
I can't take it back.
What good would it have done to, like, drop something like that on somebody,
and they're trying to start their life, and their career?
You would have made yourself be an honest person.
You cheating on somebody and you being dishonest is about you.
It's not about him.
And I think he would have wanted to know about it.
Okay.
I've cheated in a relationship, all right?
But when I did cheat, it was when I was 18 years old,
and I only kissed somebody else.
[chuckles] So it's a little bit different.
I would never do that to somebody else, and I think if I did,
like, I have the type of conscience
where I would have to tell that person about it.
[Aaliyah] Okay.
I wouldn't put myself in that situation again.
It would just be a no. I'm not…
How much longer were you with him after you cheated on him?
[Aaliyah] Three months.
Three months.
And did you sleep with that guy another time?
It was just once. Literally just once.
That was my first and only time ever doing that in a relationship.
-In your entire life. -In my entire life. Literally.
I'm human. Like, I have my needs too.
And I'm not saying that…
Like, it was selfish, but I have my needs too.
And I'm supposed to just stay with somebody? No.
No, you're supposed to break up with that person.
-[Aaliyah] I should have. -That's the honest thing.
-Just break up with that person. -And I would do that now.
[pensive music playing]
Yeah, well, uh, thank you for being honest with me about that.
Do you have more girl friends or guy friends?
More girl friends, for sure. But I would never do that to you.
[Uche] How do you know?
[Aaliyah] I'm not the same woman I was at that time, Uche.
-So please don't-- -That's only two years ago though.
-[Aaliyah] I know, but-- -[laughing] That's not a long time ago.
-[Aaliyah] Two years is a long time. -No, it's really not.
Okay.
-[emotional music playing] -♪ Dug a hole with my hand… ♪
Well, clearly, you see…
me differently, as a result of this.
-[scoffs] -♪ Find it hard to understand ♪
♪ Why I want the things I do ♪
♪ Why I don't want you… ♪
I understand.
[sighs]
Okay.
Bye.
♪ I've done nothing wrong I just don't wanna stay the same ♪
♪ I feel shame and I can't shake it off ♪
Aaliyah, you didn't have to tell me about that,
but you chose to tell me about it.
-And I think that's a good thing. -[door closes]
Aaliyah?
[Aaliyah crying]
[Uche sighs]
[Aaliyah sobbing]
[emotional music continues]
♪ I feel shame and I can't shake it off ♪
[Aaliyah crying] Oh, God.
[sniffling]
What happened?
You okay? What's up?
No, no, no, no. Tranquilo. Tranquilo.
[shushing]
[Estefania] Calm down. Sit down somewhere.
This girl that I'm talking to,
we're always on the same page about everything.
Our futures, who we are as a person, our values.
We literally have everything in common.
This is not like…
[sighs]
I don't know. It's not like a fucking game to me.
If I ask somebody to marry me, I'm actually asking them to marry me.
So, I'm like, "I'm gonna start asking you some of the tough questions."
And, you know, one of those questions,
I heard an answer that I didn't really… that I didn't really like.
But then, on the other hand, it's like,
"She didn't have to fucking tell me about that."
She knew that by telling me this
it might mean that she loses me completely.
I have to value that.
I mean, you want them to put all the cards on the table.
I mean, I'm 33 years old.
There are certain things that are negotiable
and certain things that are non-negotiable.
And it's like I'm still figuring out what those things are for me.
Like, what is a deal-breaker and what is not a deal-breaker?
And am I being reasonable or not? Or am I overreacting or not?
Can you forgive her for whatever she did?
In my mind right now, I'm trying to see her perspective,
and that's not something I always do.
I think I could get past it.
Yeah. Yeah, I don't know.
Is it worth losing her over it?
[suspenseful music playing]
The voice of reason.
-[Aaliyah sobbing] -[Lydia shushing]
[Lydia] Let it all… Let it all out.
[Aaliyah sobbing]
[Lydia] Talk to me. What's up? What's up, baby?
[Aaliyah sobbing] I just… I think I lost him.
-[Lydia] Who was it? Can you tell me? -Uche.
[Lydia] Oh, my God. Okay.
[Aaliyah sobbing]
[Lydia] Okay. Look at me. Look at me.
-He thinks that I'm gonna cheat on him. -[Lydia] Why?
'Cause I've cheated before.
-[sobbing continues] -[Lydia] Look at me. Listen.
This is something that gives you the clarity of how Uche reacts.
I don't wanna be judged for it though, you know?
-I love you, baby. -[Aaliyah] I love you too.
-I love you more. -[Aaliyah] I love you more.
-[Lydia] There's nothing wrong with you. -I know.
-[Lydia] There's nothing wrong with you. -[sobbing fades]
[Lydia] But do you know what I believe?
-He's not the one for you. -[sniffles]
Is this the guy that you really wanna marry?
-A guy who's gonna judge you this easily? -[Aaliyah] Mmm-mmm.
[Lydia] And I don't wanna say this.
You're so like me that I could see this happening.
I'm pretty sure you told him all the truth.
-I did. -[Lydia] You gave him details, didn't you?
Telling Uche the truth was not a mistake.
-[Aaliyah] Yeah. -[Lydia] He does not get to judge you.
-Look at me. -[exhales] Yeah.
[Lydia] He does not get to judge you.
He has his own thing that he needs to resolve.
-["I Got a Secret" by Joíe playing] -[Lydia] Believe me when I say this.
If he doesn't have the capacity, as smart as he is, to put things aside?
-Mmm. -[Lydia] That's on him.
He needs to resolve those traumas.
He needs to figure out what the fuck he does really want.
[Aaliyah] Yeah.
[Lydia] He needs to stop blaming others
and start taking accountability for his actions.
[Aaliyah] Mmm-hmm.
[Lydia] You're better. You're so much better.
And I know this because I see myself in you.
-Look at me. Look at me. -[sighs]
[Lydia] He might have a blind spot 'cause you're me.
You are so much like me.
-You and I are so similar. -I know.
Believe me.
-Believe me. -["I Got a Secret" continues playing]
And that might be it.
♪ I got a secret ♪
♪ Oh, can you tell? ♪
♪ I'll keep this secret till it drags me ♪
♪ Till it drags me down ♪
♪ Maybe I'll pray ♪
♪ Maybe I'll rise again ♪
♪ Singin', singin' hallelujah ♪
[vocalizing]
♪ Maybe we're looking at the end ♪
♪ Singin', singin' hallelujah ♪
♪ Rise up from the ashes ♪
♪ You got a secret you'll never tell… ♪