The Shocking Love Is Blind Season 8 Cast: Who Got Married, Who Split, And The Full Minneapolis Pod Squad Biography

The highly anticipated eighth season of Love Is Blind, filmed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, delivered on its promise of emotional highs and dramatic lows. As of today, December 18, 2025, the season has long concluded, having premiered on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025, and wrapping up its reunion special in March. For fans eager to know the full story and the ultimate fate of the 32 singles from the Twin Cities, the results were as surprising as they were heartbreaking, with only one couple successfully making it to the altar and staying married.

This deep-dive article provides the complete biography of the Minneapolis "Pod Squad," a detailed breakdown of the engagements, and the specific, often controversial, reasons why three of the four couples who made it out of the pods ultimately said "I don't." The season was a rollercoaster of Midwest charm meeting reality TV drama, forcing conversations around politics, commitment, and the true meaning of a blind connection.

The Full Love Is Blind: Minneapolis Cast Biography (32 Singles)

Season 8 saw 32 singles from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area enter the pods, ready to test the experiment. The diverse group featured a wide array of ages and careers, from oncology nurses to commercial real estate brokers. Here is a comprehensive list of the men and women who comprised the full "Pod Squad" for the Love Is Blind: Minneapolis season, providing the topical authority demanded by the show's dedicated fanbase.

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The Women of Season 8

• Amanda Burke, 43: District Retail Manager
• Ashley Suter, 32: Client Success Manager
• Brittany, 28: Partnership Executive
• Casandra "Cass," 30: Hairstylist
• Kylie, 26: Medical Student
• Lauren, 30: HR Manager
• Madison, 31: Marketing Manager
• Meg, 31: Oncology Nurse
• Molly, 30: Executive Assistant
• Monica Danús, 28: Marketing Consultant
• Sara Carton, 29: Oncology Nurse
• Tiera, 34: Marketing Strategist
• Virginia Miller, 27: Retail Manager
• Taylor Haag, 31: Teacher
• Devonna, 35: Financial Analyst
• Chloe, 29: Real Estate Agent

The Men of Season 8

• Adam Bevis, 34: Financial Advisor
• Alex Brown, 33: Commercial Real Estate Broker (also a former high school music teacher who plays multiple instruments)
• Andrew Cole, 36: Business Owner
• Ben Mezzenga, 32: Business Analyst
• Benji Smith, 30: Sales Executive
• Daniel Hastings, 32: Sales Manager
• David, 37: Consultant
• Devin Buckley, 31: Account Executive
• Joey Leveille, 35: Insurance Agent
• Michael, 38: Chiropractor
• Noah, 29: Software Engineer
• Ryan, 33: Project Manager
• Sam, 30: Civil Engineer
• Trent, 35: HR Director
• Victor, 32: Architect
• Zach, 34: Data Scientist

The "Pod Squad" was praised for its depth, though one contestant, Alex Brown, was quickly dubbed the season's "ultimate green flag" for his kind, empathetic, and honest approach, contrasting sharply with some of the more dramatic personalities.

The Shocking Final Outcome: Which Season 8 Couples Got Married?

Out of the 32 singles, four couples managed to forge a deep enough connection to get engaged and leave the pods for the post-pod retreat and the move to the Twin Cities. However, the season proved to be one of the least successful in Love Is Blind history, with a staggering 75% failure rate at the altar.

The Sole Success Story: Taylor and Daniel

The biggest surprise of the season was that only one couple, Taylor Haag (Teacher) and Daniel Hastings (Sales Manager), actually said "I do" and remained married a year after filming.

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Their journey was characterized by a steady, drama-free connection, which some viewers initially found less compelling than the other tumultuous relationships. However, their quiet commitment proved to be the foundation for lasting love, a testament to the experiment's purest intention. They navigated the transition to the outside world with maturity, making them the unexpected, yet celebrated, success story of the Minneapolis season.

The Heartbreaking Breakups and Altar Drama

The other three engaged couples provided the bulk of the season's drama, each failing to make it past the final commitment.

1. Joey Leveille and Monica Danús: The Mutual Split

Joey and Monica were the first couple to get engaged and were initially perceived as the strongest pair. Their connection was instant, but cracks began to show once they were outside the pods.

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In a surprising mutual decision, they decided not to marry. Monica later admitted she should have called off the engagement sooner, feeling Joey was not making a sufficient effort in their relationship. Joey, conversely, claimed he shut down after he felt a lack of acceptance from Monica’s sister, highlighting the challenges of integrating new family dynamics.

2. Ben Mezzenga and Sara Carton: The Altar Abandonment

Ben and Sara’s relationship was fraught with tension, culminating in one of the season’s most dramatic altar scenes. Sara, an oncology nurse, ultimately called off the wedding, citing a feeling of being "always a bridesmaid" and her own deep-seated commitment fears.

Following the show, Sara revealed that Ben "dropped her" immediately after the cameras stopped rolling. The breakup also had a political dimension, with Sara reportedly calling off the wedding due to his "conservative" views, a point that sparked significant debate among fans and media, underscoring the season's unexpected focus on political differences.

3. Devin Buckley and Virginia Miller: The Political Divide

Devin and Virginia seemed compatible, but their relationship crumbled over a lack of depth and an inability to discuss serious topics. Virginia said no at the altar, a decision she later explained was due to Devin's reluctance to engage in deeper conversations, particularly about politics.

Virginia noted that there were crucial "depths of our relationship that we didn't get to" because Devin would avoid sensitive subjects like political views. This controversy became a major talking point in the reunion and media coverage, emphasizing a "gender gap" in their communication styles and ultimately dooming what appeared to be a promising match.

Beyond the Altar: The Biggest Season 8 Drama and Controversies

The Minneapolis season was unique not only for its low success rate but also for the specific controversies that arose from its location and the cast's background. The Twin Cities setting itself became a point of discussion.

The "Small-Town Problem" and Political Divide

Critics and viewers pointed out that Minneapolis, while a major city, has a smaller, more interconnected social scene than previous filming locations like Dallas or Seattle. This led to speculation that the cast members were too close geographically, potentially undermining the "blind" aspect of the experiment.

Furthermore, the season was noted for centering on political discussions more than any previous installment. The differences in political views between couples like Ben and Sara, and Devin and Virginia, played a pivotal role in their breakups, suggesting that in modern dating, even a blind connection cannot overcome fundamental ideological divides.

The Unseen Connections and Pod Drama

As is common with Love Is Blind, not every connection made it to the screen. The 32-person cast meant many relationships were left on the cutting room floor. However, the season highlighted the intense emotional labor of the pods, especially for individuals like Alex Brown, who was widely praised for his emotional maturity and commitment to the process, even without finding an engagement. His presence served as a positive counterpoint to the more volatile relationships.

Ultimately, Love Is Blind: Minneapolis will be remembered for the success of Taylor and Daniel, who proved that the experiment can still work, and for the dramatic, politically charged breakups of the other couples. It was a season that tested the limits of love, showing that even when you fall for a voice, the realities of the outside world, from family acceptance to political compatibility, can be the ultimate dealbreaker.