Take any love or dating show you’ve ever watched and shove it down the drain. You have not seen an absolutely solid dating show until you’ve watched “Love on the Spectrum.”
Season four of “Love on the Spectrum” was released April 1 on Netflix and it was absolutely perfect.
This show first came out in 2022 and I was hooked instantly. It is so different from anything I’ve ever seen before. First of all, it’s a show about autistic people. But it is so real and heartfelt in a way most dating shows miss.
There’s no weird, overproduced drama or situations that leave you stressed out, which is rare for this genre. Instead, it’s genuine people genuinely searching for love, and you actually feel invested in every single one of them.
The premise is simple: the show follows different autistic individuals who are looking for love who get set up on dates with other autistic people. It’s brilliant and I kind of wish I had thought of the idea.
Each season introduces new people while also checking back in on couples from previous seasons who are making it work, shoutout Abbey and David, and some who are not having as much luck. Regardless, every storyline just hits perfectly.
The best part of the show is how they let it play out. They let the moments breathe, especially the awkward ones, the silent moments during dates, the nerves and the coaching sessions before each date. They don’t cover anything up and that’s what makes it so real and relatable. Like, if I hated a date I was on, I’d want to put my head down on the table too. They’re so real for that.
Everyone on the show is so uniquely amazing. Their personalities are all completely different, but they’re all unintentionally hilarious. The kind where you’re laughing with them, not at them.
Watching them all learn to navigate romantic relationships, especially when it’s their first time, feels so raw. It’s awkward, sweet, honest and sometimes very unpredictable, but that’s what makes it so good.
Season four consisted of returning cast member couples Madison Marilla and Tyler White, introduced together in season three, Connor Tomlinson and Georgie Harris, also introduced together in season three and James Jones, introduced in season one and his girlfriend Shelley Wolfe, introduced in season four.
New cast members included Logan Pereira, Emma Miller and Dylan Aguilar.
Seeing Madison and Tyler back together to continue their story was amazing because they are absolutely meant for each other. Like, that’s her cowboy sweetheart. They are such a strong couple and, spoiler ahead, their engagement was absolutely everything.
Connor and Georgie, on the other hand, were on a rollercoaster. Back in season three, I was convinced they were soulmates, but this season, you could see things slowly unraveling between the two. I mean, when he invited her to England to meet his extended family, I thought we were in the clear. But their personalities started clashing and they grew apart.
James and Shelley…I support all of the couples on the show, but them. They are polar opposites. James is incredibly loud and annoying, and Shelley is timid and shy. Whenever they come on screen, it turned into the James show.
That said, he’s trying to work on it. He even admitted how he used to want to be the center of attention on their wedding day, but now he’s letting Shelley get the attention. Good man. Also, he’s from Boston, and so am I, so naturally I’m going to try and run into them this summer.
Dylan, who is new to the show, didn’t give me much in regards to relationship progress. He went on two dates, neither of which worked out. He seems really sweet, but he didn’t have too much screen time, so I think a relationship isn’t in his near future.
I honestly loved Emma. She was so fun to watch. She was so energetic and lovable and she handled herself so well on her dates. However, I liked how she clicked with Austin on her first date way more than she did with Eric on her second date. I thought going back and forth doing voice impressions of Disney characters with Austin was enough, but I guess not. Either way, she and Eric are just friends now, even after a few dates, but she was a great addition to the show.
And I saved the best for last: Logan. Easily the standout of the season.
He had never been on a date before, but the way he approached it was so sweet. He bought a full suit, brought flowers and was so polite and so thoughtful, he was a true gentleman. And when he went out with Hailey, you could see how genuinely into her he was. He was really set on having a girl with curvy straight hair, but even though Hailey’s hair was just straight, he made it known that he loved spending time with her because of how much they had in common and her beauty. All boyfriends should be required to watch Logan and take notes from him. He’s a true gentleman.
They kept going on dates and eventually met each other’s parents and I just felt like they were such a good match. What more do you need than a girlfriend who promises to help you clean up your room that, according to her, smells like dog pee?
And honestly, even outside of dating, Logan was just so funny, so kind and so easy to watch. I petition for a whole spin-off show about him.
On the final episode at Madison and Tyler’s engagement party, we also caught up with older cast members like Tanner Smith, Dani Bowman and Abbey Lutes and David Isaacman (the ultimate power couple). The show has truly created such an amazing community between them all.
That’s what makes “Love on the Spectrum” so special. It’s not just about dating but about finding real connections, growth and the power of people being completely themselves. After watching four seasons of “Love on the Spectrum,” every other dating show blows.
If you’re going to watch a dating show, make it this one.
