Love Is Blind: Brazil season 5 launched on Netflix with a fresh twist - contestants over 50 searching for lasting love. The reality show's latest season premiered on September 10, 2025, featuring five episodes that follow singles through an emotional dating experiment. Participants communicate through pods without seeing each other, building connections based purely on personality and conversation. The goal remains the same: find a life partner and get engaged before meeting face-to-face.
Among the Love is Blind: Brazil contestants, 50-year-old Luciana formed a deep bond with 67-year-old Mario S. Their connection seemed promising until a dramatic turn in episode 3, titled It Takes a Long Time to Become Young. Luciana took charge and proposed to Mario, who accepted her offer. However, their fairy-tale romance crumbled when they finally met in person.
Mario rejected Luciana after seeing her, choosing to walk away rather than continue their engagement. The shocking moment left viewers and Luciana questioning what went wrong in their seemingly perfect pod connection.
Mario and Luciana’s journey on Love is Blind: Brazil explored
Mario found himself torn between two women during his pod experience. Both Luciana and Ustinelli caught his attention, creating a difficult decision. Luciana's outgoing and vibrant personality appealed to him, while Ustinelli's quieter nature also drew his interest.
"I'm confused. It's complicated," Mario admitted when discussing his feelings for both women.
The situation became clearer when Ustinelli learned about Mario's intimate conversations with Luciana. She decided to end their connection, leaving Mario with only Luciana as his potential match. With Mario struggling to make decisions, Luciana decided to step forward in episode 3. She approached the wall separating their pods and delivered a heartfelt confession.
"Of all the crazy, wild and amazing things I imagined we would ever get to experience in this life, not in a million years would I have dreamt of this," she told Mario.
Luciana compared meeting him to winning the lottery, which would be a once-in-a-lifetime event she never expected. She emphasized that seeing his face wasn't necessary to know he was her perfect match. The moment culminated on Love is Blind: Brazil when Luciana asked Mario to marry her. His response was positive:
"I do."
He expressed excitement about meeting her and building a future together. Their first in-person meeting started promisingly. Mario and Luciana shared hugs and kisses, seemingly confirming their pod connection. Luciana then handed Mario the engagement ring, expecting him to propose properly.
Instead, Mario hesitated. He held the ring but couldn't bring himself to get down on one knee. After asking if she would be okay, he simply left.
"He turned and walked away. He could've been a little more of a gentleman, walked me to the door," Luciana said afterward.
Mario explains himself before leaving
Speaking to cameras later, Mario revealed his reasoning. The spark he felt during pod conversations had disappeared upon meeting Luciana. He found her "interesting" but couldn't ignore that their connection had "faded."
For Mario, physical compatibility alone wasn't sufficient for marriage. The emotional bond they shared in the pods didn't translate to real-world chemistry. Luciana's bold move to propose demonstrated her commitment to finding love at any age. However, Mario's rejection on Love is Blind: Brazil highlighted the show's central challenge, which questions whether emotional connections can survive physical meetings. Their story serves as a reminder that Love Is Blind's experiment doesn't guarantee success, even with the strongest pod relationships.
You can watch Love is Blind: Brazil streaming now on Netflix.