This article contains spoilers for the first 11 episodes of Love Is Blind season 9.
Another one bites the dust on Love Is Blind — actually, two couples have bitten the dust.
Season 9 of Netflix’s reality dating experiment seems to have more breakups than successful couples, since two more engagements ended in this week’s batch of episodes. Usually we see this kind of heartbreak at the altar. But both couples broke up one week early — and the people who ended the relationships may surprise you.
First, Annie’s constant claims that Nick didn’t love her as much as she loved him finally had Nick reaching his breaking point. After Annie got drunk and confronted Nick about her insecurities over his level of devotion to her, she wanted to just move on the next day and forget it ever happened. However, Nick told her that he couldn’t imagine getting married now. He abruptly broke up with her, and she didn’t accept it at first.
Annie and Nick on ‘Love Is Blind’.
Netflix
The next scene was tough to watch as Annie continuously begged Nick to not give up on their relationship. He didn’t give in, though, and told her that he wasn’t happy. He finally told her that she couldn’t force him to get married, and in a confessional, Annie hoped that their entire relationship wasn’t fake.
News of Annie and Nick’s breakup traveled quickly, as the remaining cast members discussed it at the wedding dress and tuxedo fittings in the next scene. But their drama was quickly superseded by an even more shocking development, as Joe essentially talked himself into a panic attack.
As he was trying on his tux, Joe had a total meltdown and ran out of the shop, muttering, “I can’t do this.” He didn’t even stop to talk with his friends — he just got into his car and dipped.
And this all happened pretty much immediately after Joe had promised Madison’s entire family that he wouldn’t blindside her before the wedding, so the producers cuing up Sabrina Carpenter‘s “Manchild” was an epic needle drop here.
But wait, there’s more. When Joe finally spoke to Madison, he gave her all the classic Love Is Blind lines we’ve seen before, including repeating that she was just not his “person.”
Madison, for her part, took the breakup about as kindly as someone could — which was more than Joe deserved — after first getting upset that he didn’t do anything to try and comfort her. She then thanked Joe for going on this journey with her, and told him that he’d always have a special place in her heart. Justice for Madison!
Joe and Madison on ‘Love Is Blind’.
Netflix
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
Heading into next week’s finale, only three couples are left standing: “Sparkle” Megan and Jordan, Ali and Anton, and Kalybriah and Edmond. Will all (or any?) of them say “I do” at the altar?
We’ll find out when Love Is Blind season 9 releases its finale on Wednesday, Oct. 22.