As part of the most memorable love triangle in “Love is Blind: UK” Season One, Nicole Stevens, 29, and Benaiah Grunewald Brydie, 33, battled challenges on their way to the series' finale.
What seemed like an instant connection in the pods dwindled as Nicole felt like Benaiah could not give her the reassurance she needed.
“You telling me that you might not be potentially interested — I mean that’s not ideal, is it?” Nicole told Benaiah at one point.
Their relationship grew from there. Here's what to know about their relationship story, if they get married and what comes next — with more answers to come during the Aug. 26 finale.
What happened between Nicole and Benaiah (and Sam) in the pods?
While going on dates with Benaiah, Nicole was also exploring a connection with product designer Sam Klein, 31. Torn between both men, Nicole had to make a decision which was only made more difficult after Benaiah expressed concerns over Sam’s intentions.
“I believe he’s basically here for fame and not for love,” Benaiah told Nicole in the pods.
When Nicole confronted Sam about his intentions in the pods, he insisted that he was only on the show for love and proved it by proposing.
“No one’s ever loved me. I need someone to love me more than anyone as well, OK? I have to be real with you,” Sam said through tears.
“He said all the right things. I’m just gonna have to trust that,” Nicole said after accepting his proposal.
However, the couple’s reveal was extremely awkward, even for the show’s standards, and it was evident that the couple was not headed in the right direction.She took her putting her enagement ring on the wrong hand as a sign.
“I really really liked what I saw in the pods because that was really what I fell for, and not all of this,” Nicole said after seeing Sam for the first time.
At the honeymoon phase of the experiment, Sam and Nicole were nowhere to be seen.
What happened when Nicole and Benaiah reconnected?
At the end of Episode 4, Nicole said she wanted to reconnect with Benaiah.
“I need to follow my heart and there’s no one else I’d want to spend my life with than Benaiah,” Nicole said.
After a heartfelt conversation in which Nicole apologized and Benaiah gave reassurance of commitment, Benaiah asked Nicole to marry him.
“I’ve lost you once, I don’t want to lose you again. I came here today with the intention of addressing you wanting reassurance, you wanting commitment,” Benaiah said.
During a cast reunion, Benaiah’s frustration built after Nicole told him that she did not care about Sam’s true intentions and just wanted to put the situation behind her. However, Benaiah still could not let go of Nicole’s previous engagement to Sam.
“I think it’s an act. I have my own thoughts about him, and I severely dislike those values.When you’re coming back saying ‘Everything I had with him was real’? Are you forgetting?” Benaiah said.
“Whether it’s true or false, I don’t care. And if I’m telling you I’m at peace, I need to move on, and I don’t care about the guy — let’s move on,” Nicole responded.
Ignoring Nicole’s wishes, Benaiah confronted Sam.
“I think there’s an agenda behind why you’re part of this experiment. … And when it’s done at the cost of someone I deeply care about, it sits very uncomfortable with me,” Benaiah told Sam.
“I’m afraid, mate, that is the truth of the matter. We had an amazing connection in the pods and it didn’t quite work out in the real world, but you seem to be so hung up about that. Why? Tell me why?” Sam responds.
To heighten the drama, Sam revealed that Nicole expressed interest in being physical after their engagement.
“You’re aware when she stayed at mine that she wanted to sleep with me and I said no, yeah?” Sam asked Benaiah.
This information seemed to take Benaiah by surprise and promptly ended the conversation.
Although Nicole and Benaiah’s relationship seemed to flourish through episode 9, whether or not they were going to tie the knot was still up in the air.
Do Benaiah and Nicole get married in the finale?
After a tumultuous relationship that forced Benaiah and Nicole to grapple with a tricky love triangle, it seemed as though their past challenges were still on both their minds going into the wedding.
“The way it’s all played out, has been this roller coaster, and not the route we would have wanted, but it was the right route, and the challenges have made us stronger,” Benaiah said.
“I’m afraid,” Nicole admitted. “Will he throw in the towel if things get a bit hard? I just don’t know.”
In their vows, the couple spoke about how their life with each other had been and could continue to be an adventure .
“You accept me for who I am, flaws included, which shows me you have an unconditional love,” Benaiah said. “We’ve been constantly challenged throughout, but rough seas make for good sailors and in those moments of tough times, our relationship has blossomed.”
“From our first hello, I felt like you were my kindred spirit. You understand me and see me in ways that I’ve never quite felt seen before, and I feel with you, life could really be an adventure,” Nicole said.
When it came time to decide if love is truly blind, Benaiah was the first to make a decision.
“I do, of course I do,” Benaiah said. “Easy.”
Nicole’s answer?
“I do.”
With the two officially married, they walked down the aisle holding hands and grinning ear to ear.
“Feels brilliant. Feels so right,” Benaiah said standing next to Nicole who was nodding in agreement. “Everything’s at peace in my heart.”
Martina Zacker
Martina Zacker is an East Coast Page at NBCUniversal where she is currently completing her first rotation with the NBC News Audience Development team.
