Netflix has a specific formula for "Love Is Blind." You know how it goes. There’s usually a love triangle that makes everyone uncomfortable, at least one person who isn't there for the "right reasons," and a lot of crying over gold goblets. But in Season 8, something weird happened. Kylie Schuelke and Brian Sumption actually found what the show promises—a real, lasting connection—and the producers basically pretended they didn't exist.
If you watched the Minneapolis season and felt like you missed something, you’re not crazy. While we spent hours watching drama that led nowhere, Kylie and Brian were falling in love in the pods. They got engaged. They walked out together. And then? Silence.
The Engagement Nobody Saw
It’s honestly wild when you think about it. Most people go on this show for the 15 minutes of fame, but Kylie and Brian got the ring without the airtime. Kylie, a 28-year-old medical student, and Brian, a 30-year-old who owns the Troubadour Wine Bar in Uptown Minneapolis, were part of the original "Pod Squad."
They didn't just casually date. They went through the whole process. Brian has talked about how their connection felt effortless from day one. They both grew up in rural South Dakota—farming families, middle-of-nowhere vibes—which gave them a shared language that most of the other contestants lacked.
Why did Netflix cut them?
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According to show creator Chris Coelen, they try to pick stories that "resonate" and feel "authentic." Translation: they usually pick the ones that provide the most chaotic TV. If a couple is too healthy or too stable, they often end up on the cutting room floor. It’s a bit of a slap in the face to the "is love truly blind?" premise, but that's reality TV for you.
Life After the Pods (Without the Cameras)
When the show decided not to follow them to Mexico, Kylie and Brian didn't just give up. In fact, they did something arguably much healthier than the other couples. They went to Mexico anyway.
On their own dime. No camera crews. No producers poking them to talk about their "fears" or "insecurities" every twenty minutes.
Kylie mentioned in an interview with People that it actually felt like a weight off their shoulders. Imagine getting engaged to a stranger and then being told you don't have to get married on national television in three weeks. Most people would call that a win. They used that time to FaceTime their families and share the news privately, which is a luxury most LIB couples don't get until months after filming.
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Are Kylie Schuelke and Brian Sumption Still Together?
Yes. And honestly, they seem to be doing better than almost everyone else from their season. While other couples were fighting at the reunion or breaking up via Instagram stories, Kylie and Brian were hosting watch parties at Brian's wine bar.
They did a "hard launch" on Instagram in February 2025, posing in the snow with those iconic gold cups. It was a bit of a "we’re still here" moment for the fans who noticed them in the background of the pod episodes.
- The Status: Engaged but not rushed.
- The Vibe: Moving at their own pace.
- The Location: Still holding it down in Minneapolis.
They’ve been very vocal about the fact that they aren't in a hurry to get to the altar. In the real world, "Love Is Blind" usually ends in a messy divorce or a wedding that feels forced. By being edited out, Kylie and Brian got to skip the "reality TV curse." They’re dating, they’re engaged, and they’re actually getting to know each other without the pressure of a Netflix contract.
What This Says About Reality TV in 2026
We’ve reached a point where "boring" is actually the goal for a real relationship, but it's the enemy of streaming algorithms. Fans were actually pretty furious about this edit. The comments on their joint Instagram post are filled with people asking why we had to watch a toxic love triangle for six episodes while a genuine South Dakota love story was happening in the next room.
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It’s a reminder that what we see on screen is maybe 5% of the actual experiment. There were other couples cut too—like Brittany Dodson and Mo Ndiaye—but Kylie and Brian seem to be the ones who really stuck it out.
Honestly, the fact that they survived the "experiment" without the help (or interference) of the production team is probably the best evidence that the pods actually work. They didn't need the "guidance" or the scheduled dates. They just needed each other and a flight to Mexico.
Lessons from the Unseen Couple
If you’re looking for the "happily ever after" from Season 8, you won’t find it by binge-watching the episodes. You have to look at the people who were too normal for TV.
Kylie is still grinding through med school. Brian is still running the Troubadour. They’re a real-world couple now, not just characters in a Netflix carousel.
If you want to keep up with them, the best move is to follow their socials directly. They’ve been much more open there than the show ever allowed them to be. It’s also a good lesson for anyone obsessed with reality TV: the most successful people are often the ones the cameras decided weren't "interesting" enough to follow.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're in the Twin Cities area, you can actually visit Brian's spot, the Troubadour Wine Bar. It's become a bit of a local landmark for LIB fans who want to support the couple that Netflix ignored. Keep an eye on Kylie's Instagram for updates on their wedding timeline, though they've made it clear they are doing things on their own terms, far away from the "I Do" or "I Don't" drama of the finale.