Oh, that’s not part of your love story? Weird…And no, I don’t mean a marriage license, I mean the K1 visa.
Alright, you’re saying, what’s this chick talking about? I’m talking about my favorite show 90 Day Fiancé! It’s back! And this time we’re taking a look at our couples BEFORE they have 90 days to get married. It’s time to tune into 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days.
Now, I’ve already written about my love for 90 Day Fiancé, the original show that stole our hearts and about 3 hours of our week, but that doesn’t air until later this month. No, I’m not counting down or anything…But since TLC doesn’t want to lose your interest, they’ve created 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days. This show introduces us to new couples who are just starting their ~love journey~. No visas have been filled out, no foreigners have moved to America only to discover it’s really not that great anymore…NO! These couples just met online like 5 days ago and now they’re meeting for the first time. What could go wrong?
NOTHING! This is TV GOLD! And if you’re not watching this franchise, you really need to start. And here are some reasons why.
Rachel and Jon
Watching a show like this, it’s always hard to distinguish who’s here for love, vs who’s here for fame (or as much fame as being on TLC can provide…). Rachel and Jon are one of those couples that truly seem to be here for love. Their relationship is earnest, and they really seem to care about each other. They could just be really good actors, but I’m inclined to let true love prevail. They even have a joint Instagram account with the handle followourfairytale. It’s nauseating.
The only snag is their plans is Jon’s criminal record. Let’s just say he thinks a little more with his fists than his brain sometimes. That’s exactly how you don’t move to America. Hopefully, they can sort it out since Rachel has been dragging her less than a year old baby back and forth from Arizona to London for the past year! That’s a well-traveled baby.
Angela and Michael
Another wacky couple from this season is Angela and Michael. Angela is a 52-year-old from Georgia and Michael is a 30-year-old from Nigeria. I know what you’re thinking: they’re meant to be.
Well, maybe not. Angela is a MAGA hat wearing, outspoken (aka LOUD) woman who needs her cigarettes. And she will not be denied. Also, there’s this:
I’m just gonna leave that there and let you make your own judgment…
Despite her politics and truly ugly purses, Angela is a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go get it. It’s pretty bold to travel all the way to Africa for love, so I give her props for that.
But that’s literally the only thing I give her props for. It’s come out throughout this season that Angela and her family may have a bit of a TV problem…she and her daughter have been on Maury not once, which is more than enough, but twice! It’s also come out that they may have a larger crime problem. Angela was recently arrested for driving under the influence and her daughter is facing serious allegations of child molestation and rape. While her daughter isn’t a main character on the show and has only appeared once or twice, his is not a family you want to be a part of, and I hope TLC removes them from our televisions, stat. Angela and Michael’s drama is not worth promoting someone who acts so horrifically.
Their scenes used to be fun to watch, but now that we know a little too much about Angela’s family, I think I’ll be watching with a look on my face like I’ve smelled something bad. Let’s hope TLC does the right thing here.
Darcey and Jesse
Ugh, these two.
Darcey and Jesse were featured on last season of Before the 90 Days, so I’m a little over them. Darcey is 44 from Connecticut, and Jesse is 24 from Amsterdam. Their relationship is toxic. Jesse has this holier-than-thou attitude that I can’t STAND, and poor Darcey has to take the brunt of his abuse. Not that she’s perfect, but the things this guy gets mad about and blows out of proportion are unreal. At the end of the day, their love doesn’t seem to be enough to hold this relationship together.
The only reason I tolerate their portion of the show is to see my great state represented. Darcey lives about a half hour from me in Connecticut, so I’m always trying to get a glimpse of places I may know. Shockingly, they spend a lot of their time in NYC (if you’ve ever been to CT this is not a shock at all…).
Karine and Paul
Karine and Paul were also featured on the last season of Before the 90 Days, and like Darcey and Jesse, their drama never ceases. Karine is 21 and Paul is in his 30s, and while that might not sound like too crazy of an age gap, it really shows. It doesn’t seem like Karine has ever lived on her own, let alone with a brand new husband who doesn’t speak the same language as her! She wants babies, Paul wants to be financially stable – they seem to be at odds at every turn. Seriously, they have to communicate through a translating app and those things do not understand colloquialisms…
But, they’ve had some of the most compelling moments of the season. Karine ends up getting pregnant and suffers a miscarriage soon after. The moment they found out what happened was truly heartbreaking. And while this show airs on the side of exposing too much of the couple’s dirt, this was something I was happy they decided to share. Miscarriages happen. They’re terrible and heart-wrenching, but I think it’s helpful for other people going through something similar to see they’re not alone. This franchise has done something right.
This show is like watching a car crash. You don’t want to look, but once you do you can’t look away. It’s one of the only things I look forward to all week (ok, that’s an exaggeration – my life is not that sad). In a time of horrible news, and daily doses of real-life drama, it’s nice to watch (and laugh at – sorry not sorry) other people bumble through life from the safety of your couch, while slurping Trader Joe’s ice cream (amazingly delicious) and enjoying the comfort of your ugliest sweatpants. I highly recommend it.
90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days is a little more than halfway through season 2, so there are plenty of episodes you can binge! And right after you finish that, you can start watching the OG 90 Day Fiance when it airs on TLC on 10/21!
So much content, so little time!
