Every romantic spark starts with the strike of a potentially Perfect Match. But sometimes, it takes a few blindfolded smooching sessions, surprise eliminations, and rounds of spin the bottle to ignite a lasting flame.
Single stars from across the Netflix Reality Universe have coupled up in Season 4, which is streaming now, to test their situationships in hopes of being named the most compatible couple. Along the way, dramatic love triangles have formed, mismatched communication styles have clashed, and exes have reluctantly reunited. Plus, one long-standing friendship has evolved into something much steamier, and a few self-proclaimed red flags have formed secure and seriously sweet connections.
Ahead of the finale, which launches on May 27, it’s time to check in where each couple stands before all the Season 4 participants reunite to vote for which pair deserves to be crowned Perfect Match.
During the season’s very first game, Marissa plays her cards right and gets the chance to whisper sweet nothings to DeMari. After locking lips, they lock in as a couple — despite Alison’s competing interest in DeMari. Alison continues to pursue him, with new addition Kayla also joining the chase, but Marissa and DeMari ultimately re-match after winning a romantic date and control in the boardroom.
They then plunge feetfirst into the next challenge, securing another date and more power in the game. Back in the boardroom, however, cracks in their connection begin to show as DeMari admits there could be something to worry about if they bring in his fellow Too Hot to Handle finalist Katherine, but Marissa decides it’s worth the risk.
DeMari’s existing friendship with Katherine triggers insecurities in Marissa. But DeMari decides Marissa is still his priority, telling her, “I really enjoy how you make me feel.” While he clearly thinks it’s a compliment, the comment bothers Marissa, and the two begin to butt heads. “In the past, I have dated a lot of men that I have had to elevate or take care of somehow, and that’s not the kind of partner I want,” she says.
With emotions heightened, the two separate for the singles’ mixers, where Marissa gets to know — and shares an extremely long and intense kiss with — Weston. DeMari, meanwhile, has a heated conversation with Bri, his ex, about their breakup. When they reunite, Marissa admits that she kissed someone else, but reassures DeMari that she’s not interested in pursuing Weston further. At the ten-round kissing challenge, however, Weston’s highest compatibility score is with Marissa, and he soon invites her on a date. DeMari, too, has high kissing compatibility with Kayla, so they also go out.
After their dates with others, messiness ensues. During their debrief, DeMari gets upset that Marissa keeps interrupting him, and she asks him to give her grace. The two continue to clash back and forth for so long that both Kayla and Weston lose patience and decide to match up instead of waiting around for them to make up their minds. With no other options, they finally re-match, but they’re incredibly frustrated and emotionally exhausted.
Ally sets up a season of indecision when she opts to kiss both Jimmy and Chris in the competition’s first game. But the Love Is Blind alum manages to pull focus, and the two settle into a great chat right off the bat. Though Jimmy also connects with Natalie, and Ally talks with Chris and Nick, they all match with others, leaving Jimmy and Ally to couple up. “Saved the best for last,” Ally tells him after everyone else has flipped their Do Not Disturb signs. “But I really like you … I feel like I can be myself around you.”
The slightly chaotic couple struggles with compatibility challenges and stirs up drama inside the villa. When Dave is added to the mix, Ally wastes no time getting to know him, and the two lock lips during their very first conversation. Of course, Jimmy is a bit bitter, but remains interested, and the following night, he rematches with Ally. When Jimmy goes on a date with Kassy, Ally begins to realize her feelings for her partner might be getting more serious. So when he returns, they match again — much to Kassy’s surprise.
While Ally’s ready to close things off ahead of the singles’ mixer, Jimmy isn’t quite there yet. His resistance to commitment leaves Ally free to see what else is out there, so she shares a kiss with Hashim. Jimmy, however, doesn’t actually end up connecting with any of the single women and realizes he’s “catching some feelings” for Ally. When he shares that he’s hurt that she kissed someone else, she’s left frustrated by his lack of conviction, especially since Hashim was so clear about his intentions.
In the series’ biggest-ever kissing challenge, Jimmy and Ally once again rank below their fellow couples. Hashim’s high rating in the kissing challenge gains him admission into the game and a date with anyone of his choosing. He, of course, picks Ally. “It feels really good to have this gorgeous Princeton man pursuing me,” she says after being selected. “Jimmy has made it pretty clear that we are remaining open, so if he’s bothered, he really doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”
Back at the villa, Ally, Jimmy, and Hashim find themselves in a full-blown love triangle, and Ally begins to spiral about which of the men to match with. Ally admits it feels good to see Jimmy sweat because she’s been waiting for that reassurance, but it may be too little too late. As Ally remains torn, Jimmy grows impatient, and he takes it upon himself to walk away. “If you actually are super intrigued by him, then this is not fair for me,” he says. “I’ll make the decision for you and just leave the house.” As he exits, Ally — in tears — matches with Hashim.
Though she initially matched with Yamen, Alison begins to vibe with Jimmy as soon as he enters the villa. Physically, they’re very much each other’s types, and the two quickly bond over a shared love of music. He selects her for his first date, which goes very well, but both keep their options open as they approach the next match. Eventually, though, both admit that the chemistry on their date hit just the right note, so Jimmy and Alison officially match.
When new bombshells enter the villa, they waste no time getting to know Jimmy. Both Sophie and Katherine pull him for conversations, and Katherine even selects him for a date. After dipping his toes into the new matchup, however, Jimmy decides he wants to dive into the deep end with Alison. “It comes down to the way you balance me out,” he tells Alison as they re-match poolside. “You feel like home.”
Ahead of the singles’ mixers, the pair are locked in, uninterested in exploring potential connections. “I feel like I’m the only person that doesn’t want to make out with someone today,” Alison tells the other women. Even during a rousing game of spin the bottle, Jimmy is respectful and refuses to kiss the new singles anywhere but on the cheek. In the kissing challenge, Alison and Jimmy unsurprisingly score each other very high. As many others scramble to decide who they want to be with heading into the finale, Alison and Jimmy aren’t pressed. “You’re my person. I’m not afraid to wear my heart on my sleeve. You’re my match,” he tells her. “Obviously,” she responds.
When Sophie enters the villa, her attention is split between the two Jimmys. But, after her fellow bombshells select Jimmy S. and Jimmy P. for their own dates, she leaves to go out with Dave, whom she worries is too much like her typical type. Despite her concerns that he may be a walking red flag who lacks substance, the two really hit it off over chocolate, cheese, and mezcal, and they kiss. “It feels like he’s the male version of me,” she says. “I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or not.”
Back at the villa, Dave checks in with his current match, Mackenzie, and admits that they don’t share the spark he’s looking for. Eventually, he decides to make Sophie his match. “I think you and I can have a lot of fun together, and I like it when people express themselves the way you do,” he tells her.
Having only been paired up for one night, both Sophie and Dave go into their separate singles’ mixers totally open. With the other men on their best behavior, Dave has more than his fair share of fun, locking lips with Katherine, Kassy, and Bri. Meanwhile, Sophie also gets kisses from Danny, Nick, and Chris, whom she thinks may be able to support her — emotionally and, perhaps, financially. But when they finally reunite, Dave and Sophie admit the other connections don’t compare to theirs. “ None of the other men make me feel the way that Dave makes me feel,” Sophie says. “Love Is Blind actually taught me that materials aren’t everything.”
Their compatibility is unexpectedly further cemented during an intense exchange between Ally and Jimmy P, which sends Sophie into nervous giggles. Charmed by Sophie’s awkward reaction, Dave says, “This woman is hilarious, and we’re hilarious together. The way she makes me laugh, the way that she makes me feel. I feel like I’m enough, but I also want to be better.” After matching up once more, Sophie, too, confesses, “I feel safe and supported with Dave. I know I can be weird Sophie, and Dave’s just going to be a weirdo back.”
Having both previously led couples into temptation on Temptation Island, Yamen and Natalie enter the villa as close friends. They don’t initially use their seduction skills on one another. Natalie first pairs up with Nick, while Yamen matches with Alison — though he suspects he isn’t necessarily her first choice. The two rely on one another for moral support, but the vibes start to get romantic, and after some expert flirting back and forth, they couple up and share a kiss. “Yamen took me by surprise. We already have that base friendship level, because Yamen and I are very in tune with each other,” Natalie says after they officially match. “Yamen was standing in front of me the whole time. Kind of crazy.”
Though being so “in tune” makes Natalie and Yamen tough competition in the compatibility challenge, they’re never quite able to clinch a win. Still, their strong bond makes them a bit of a target, and other couples like Marissa and DeMari discuss sending in singles specifically to distract them. “Natalie and I are cooking. We’re cooking with grease. We’re making bacon. Let’s keep making bacon, baby,” Yamen says after they lock in as each other’s match again.
At the singles’ mixers, both are open to seeing what happens — although fellow Temptation Island alums aren’t necessarily excited by the prospect of breaking up their friends. Yamen strikes up some spicy banter with Bri while Natalie flirts with Weston, who also takes a body shot off her during a game of truth or dare. Back at the villa, the two debrief, swapping gossip from their day apart, and they realize that, despite not setting any boundaries, they both moved as if they were closed off, which Yamen calls a “green flag.” “This level of trust and level of comfortability is hard to find,” he says. “I really want someone to spend my life with, so I am loving just exploring what this could be.”
