Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Love is Blind season 2.
While the initial season 2 cast of Love is Blind included 30 men and women, only a handful of them were featured having made true connections with others. Despite all odds, these individuals managed to fall in love with one another without ever actually seeing the other person. It makes sense, to some degree, because with every other distraction out of the way, real bonds can form.
Of the couples who ended up proposing and meeting in person, each has their own distinct personality. And while there's still a lot of show to go, already some have emerged as fan favorites.
Shaina
Shaina is coming across like the Jessica of this season, forming strong bonds with two men only to have doubts when being proposed to by one, then meeting in secret with the other to declare deep feelings she never initially revealed.
Like with Jessica and Barnett, even after reluctant accepting a proposal from Kyle, brushing him off in Mexico, then seemingly leading him on again, Shaina continued to declare her deep feelings for Shayne. If the previews of episodes 6-10 are any indication, she doesn’t stop the pursuit either. Fans can't help but find her disingenuous in having accepted Kyle's proposal in the first place when she clearly believed there were fundamental differences between them. There are many things Jessica from season 1 of Love is Blind will never live down, and Shaina might be headed down a similar path.
Abhishek "Shake"
In just a few short episodes, "Shake" managed to show the most growth of all the cast. But out of the gate, he came across as shallow and egotistical, asking the women questions to try and learn more about their body types.
With that said, he was big enough to finally reveal that it came from a place of his own personal insecurities. He admitted his questioning was wrong and opened up to the idea of connecting with a woman that might not fit his usual "type." While he can't be faulted for not feeling a physical attraction to Deepti, and he seems to be trying to get out of his old lustful frame of mind, fans aren't quite sure if he truly loves her.
Shayne
The Barnett of the season, fans love Shayne's energy and positive attitude but were soured on the fact that he was cozying up to two women, making them both feel as though they were his number-ones. Would he have chosen Shaina instead had she expressed her feelings for him earlier? It's unclear. Nonetheless, it will likely remain in the back of his mind as well as hers and Natalie's, particularly as she appears to want to pursue him anyway.
While Shayne was simply embracing the process and exploring every connection he could, his divided attitude wasn't fair to Natalie or Shaina. He came across at times as someone who wouldn't be as committed a partner as Natalie would need him to be.
Natalie
Fans felt for Natalie when Shayne addressed her as Shaina, not realizing it was her in the pod. It was hurtful for her to hear how affectionately he was speaking to another person in the house, particularly since he made her feel as though she was the only one.
Nonetheless, she came across as shallow as well, mentioning how she had shrugged off suitors in the past simply because of their fashion choices. Natalie, who has a similar sense of humor and attitude to Amber from season 1, seems really fun and a perfect match for Shayne. But her inability to show true emotions and constantly putting Shayne down, even if in a humorous way, doesn't sit well with fans.
Kyle
Kyle was sweet and kind but also came across as desperate to make Shaina fall for him, even when she showed reluctance. His decision to propose had people questioning the motivations, since it was clear there was a huge difference in the way they lived their lives that could become a problem down the road.
While his enthusiasm and dedication to making it work is worth applauding, including insisting he would make compromises when they later met again in Chicago, he also failed to recognize that the differences they have when it comes to religion are too big to ignore. It's likely that disliking Kyle will be an unpopular opinion about Love is Blind, but fans aren't necessarily liking his approach based on how Shaina is treating him.
Danielle
Danielle was never afraid to be open and honest about her insecurities, anxiety, and trauma in her past, particularly about her weight, that made her untrusting of others. She instantly fell for Nick and continued her focus on him and only him.
The exuberant joy she expressed when Nick proposed and they met in person, including her confidence that she could trust him wholeheartedly, was refreshing. However, her insecurities led her to have some uncomfortable situations with Nick and accuse him of things that he didn't deserve. Nonetheless, they seem to truly care for one another and fans are rooting for Danielle and Nick to make it the alter and say their "I dos."
Mallory
Mallory's bubbly personality and openness was infectious, so it's no surprise that two men fell for her. She genuinely felt terrible having to reject Jarrett's proposal but recognized that Sal was the better fit for her. Rather than go for the "bad boy," she went for the "nice guy."
Level-headed, independent, confident, and "one of the guys," Mallory embodies what any guy might want in a mate. She isn't overly flirtatious and didn't try to be anyone but herself in the pods, and in Mexico, which fans loved to see. Mallory and Sal have the potential to be the season's Cameron and Lauren: one of the biggest updates from the Love is Blind After the Altar special was, of course, that the pair were celebrating their second anniversary at the time.
Iyanna
Being so open about the struggles she has faced in her life made Iyanna an instant fan favorite. She didn't she away from being real just to get the guys to like her, instead focusing on being honest.
With that said, she doesn't rank at the top of the list because fans weren't impressed with her accepting Jarrett's proposal. While she did have a connection with him that she was sure about, she knew he had intended to propose to someone else first. That alone should have been a sign that it wasn't meant to be. However, fans won't fault her for wanting to take a leap of faith and hope Jarrett ended up with the right girl.
Jarrette
Instantly a hit with the ladies, Jarrette's sense of humor, electric energy, and honest nature won over several women, including both Mallory and Iyanna. When he revealed a moment in his past when he almost lost his life, he brought Iyanna to years.
Fans loved that Jarrette was never afraid to show his emotions, crying several times and having candid conversations with Salvador about their affections for the same woman. While fans might have initially thought Jarrette would be full of ego and bravado, he was the complete opposite. He would rank higher, however, if he hadn't openly flirted with Mallory in Mexico, implying that she had made a mistake by picking Sal over him.
Nick
Sweet and kind from the beginning, Nick found the girl he connected with best right from the get-go and didn't falter in his decision. He wasn't tempted by others and made every effort to make Danielle feel safe and loved. He and Danielle were one couple from Love is Blind who had instant chemistry in the pods.
His discussions about showing empathy, encouraging Danielle to be confident in herself, and not shying away when she talked about her insecurities and anxiety, even when she had food poisoning and a panic attack in Mexico, made fans applaud their televisions. Fans suspect he and Danielle could be this season's Cameron and Lauren.
Deepti
Instead of completely shutting down Shake when he made an insensitive comment in the pods, asking if he would be able to hold her over his shoulders at a concert (he was slyly trying to find out if she was thin), Deepti used the opportunity to educate him on why what he was asking was wrong. Even when he talked about only dating blonde girls in the past, it didn't scare her away.
The fact that Deepti managed to get a guy like Shake to be honest with himself and open up about his own insecurities shows tremendous confidence, compassion, and a desire to help other people become better versions of themselves.
Salvador
From the moment he picked up a ukulele and sang a song to Mallory, to his discussions with Jarrette about how no matter what happened, even just feeling pain means he's living and that's a good thing, viewers fell in love with Sal.
Sweet, kind, seemingly innocent based on his answers to the "never have I ever" game with Mallory, and fiercely loyal to his family, Salvador came across as the diamond in the rough. Fans are hoping he and Mallory make it for the long-haul and she is able to give it a go with the guy who is the polar opposite of who she has dated in the past.