What Is 'Love Is Blind?' New Netflix Dating Show Prompts Engagements Before Couples Meet Face To Face

A new reality tv show has launched on Netflix, just in time for Valentine's Day.

The series, Love Is Blind, features a handful of singles who go on blind dates in an effort to find the one. However, it isn't your typical blind date -- instead, the singles who participate in the show are put into isolation and only allowed to speak to their prospective partner who is also alone in a separate room. The pairs are told to avoid discussing physical characteristics, with the idea that this will allow for a deeper emotional bond.

What happens next is a reality TV first. In order to get to the next phase of the show, singles must get engaged to the person they fancy the most. "I love yous" are exchanged, for some, in the first episode.

It's a shockingly fast process and one that could be compared to TLC's cult-favorite 90 Day Fiancé or Lifetime's Married At First Sight. The differences are noticeable, though. 90 Day, which is mainly based on internet relationships, shows most relationships starting because of physical attraction. Married At First Sight, on the other hand, doesn't even give couples a chance to talk before they walk down the aisle.

Love Is Blind provides a different experience that will leave viewers wondering if the connections can really be so strong so quickly. From there, the excitement only builds. Couples are allowed to meet each other face to face only after they've become engaged. Then, they're sent on a tropical vacation where they can explore their relationship in real life.

The vacation can't last forever, though. Even removed from the outside world, some couples begin to discuss real-life problems, ones they were able to avoid while in isolation. Eventually, the couples move in with each other and experience life without the glamor or isolation offered in the first two phases.

The show's starting concept is similar to The Circle, a reality competition Netflix released in January. The show also isolated competitors and allowed them to play an entire game show based on social media without seeing one another. Each had a social media-like profile to represent them. This allowed some to "catfish" the group, while others tried to portray their authentic selves.

Five episodes of Love Is Blind became available to viewers on Thursday, following the couples through their vacation phase. Moving in together, and whatever happens next for each relationship, will be uploaded next Thursday, February 20.

The finale, which will feature weddings between those who take the ultimate step, airs February 27.