Blind to 'Love Is Blind'? What to know before Ohio season drops

Welcome to the pods.

The Ohio season of Netflix's "Love Is Blind" debuts Feb. 11, featuring singles from Cincinnati to Columbus to Cleveland.

Perhaps, like me, you've watched every single season of this show before now. You've seen countless dates, awkward family meetings and dramatic moments at the altar. You know "I Hope You Dance" is more than just a song by Lee Ann Womack.

But "Love Is Blind" might be new to some Ohioans who want to watch their fellow Buckeyes search for love. If you're diving into this season sight unseen, we've got you covered.

The pods

The show begins with 16 men and 16 women who spend 10 days going on blind dates.

The dates take place in "pods," which are 12-by-12 soundproof rooms with an opaque wall to separate contestants, according to Netflix's Tudum. Prospective couples can talk, eat dinner together and even play games, but they can't see each other. This is the foundation of the show − is love truly blind?

The men and women hang out in separate lounges when they aren't on dates. They can't have their phones during the first part of the show, which means no contact with the outside world or snooping on their crush's Instagram account.

Everyone gets the chance to meet each other on the first day, Tudum reported , but second dates and beyond depend on interest level. Expect deep conversations over gold glasses of wine and at least one love triangle.

The engagements

Couples don't meet in person until they get engaged.

This starts with a blind proposal in the pods. When the big moment comes, two sets of double doors part to reveal each person. The guy typically gets down on one knee to put a ring on his fiancée's finger.

More often that not, contestants are happy with what they see. But reveals marked the beginning of the end for some past couples.

The vacation

From here, the engaged couples head on vacation − usually somewhere warm and beachy.

The trip allows them to get to know each other on a physical level. It's romantic. It's dramatic. In past seasons, a few couples didn't even make it through a week in paradise.

The best part, in my opinion, is when all the couples get together. This allows men and women who aren't engaged and may have spoken in the pods to meet face to face. Bonus awkward points if they seriously dated.

Note: Sometimes a season yields more couples than the show can follow. When that happens, "Love Is Blind" creator Chris Coelen told Variety that producers "go with our gut" in deciding who to film.

The real world

This is where it gets really good.

After the vacation, couples return home and move into a shared apartment. They get their phones back. They meet each other's family and friends, some of whom understandably think the experiment is insane.

This phase also includes a party with all of the contestants − including folks who didn't get engaged. We've seen people air out more than a few grievances and messy breakups at these mixers.

Best-case scenario at this point? You'll watch cast members try on wedding dresses and throw their bachelor or bachelorette parties. But not everyone always makes it to the altar.

The weddings

After about a month, the weddings arrive.

Couples get help from a wedding planner and fill out questionnaires to outline their vision, according to Tudum. They don't pay for much out of pocket, unless they want something beyond the show's budget.

You'll see the whole wedding day, from hair and makeup to the moment they walk down the aisle. Then we sit on the edge of our seats as the couple decides: Do they say "I do" or ride off into the sunset alone?

The reunion

Months after filming, contestants get back together for a reunion episode.

Here, we learn how the married couples are doing and whether anyone dated after season's end. Participants get the chance to address social media rumors and hear what other cast members said about them on the show.

The tea will be spilled.

State government reporter and "Love Is Blind" correspondent Haley BeMiller can be reached at  hbemiller@usatodayco.com  or @haleybemiller on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What to know about Netflix's 'Love Is Blind' ahead of Ohio season