What is the current status of the "Love on the Spectrum" couple & cast?

Spoilers for "Love on the Spectrum" Last week, the 2019 Australian documentary "Love on the Spectrum" became available on Netflix. (Opens in new tab) While it's based on the premise of a reality dating show, this is no "The Bachelor" (opens in new tab) or "Too Hot to Handle":(Opens in new tab) The cast, some single, some couples, are all on the autism spectrum, and love They are trying to find and secure love. The show serves an educational role for them to learn how to date and fall in love, and for us to understand how few resources are available in our communities.

The program has been praised for being respectful rather than critical, exploitative, or negative, and Sarah Kurchak's article in TIME magazine (opens in new tab) provides excellent context and understanding of the potential pitfalls on this subject. For the most part, however, the program allows individuals to speak for themselves, seek professional relationship counseling, insist on what they need to do while dating, etc.

The question on everyone's mind now who has watched the series is this: where are the 11 young people (opens in new tab) from the five-part series now? Have they found love, or are they still searching?" We already know that there is a Season 2 (opens in new tab) of this show, which will cover a whole new set of people.

The 25-year-old said at the beginning of the series that his goal is to be the "best husband" he can be and that he is committed to finding love. After the show, he says he feels more confident in what he is looking for in a partner.

"I learned that you have to feel some kind of connection with the person you are dating," Michael told Refinery29 (open in new tab).

"I don't think you should continue to date someone if it's obvious they're not enjoying it."

Chloe, who is open to dating people of various genders, told Refinery29 that she thinks the show helped her to be more discerning. She said, "Before the show started, I went on dates with people because they asked me out. I thought it would be rude to say no. But now that I'm on the show, I know what I'm looking for, and I know it's okay to be choosy. I don't have to accept every invitation."

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Chloe went on two dates and says she is ready to pursue more romance." She says, "I'm still nervous about dating and meeting new people, but this show has taught me that it's okay to put myself out there.

Thomas and Ruth, one of two couples dating on the series, had been dating and engaged for four years before appearing on the show. Ruth actually has an Instagram (opens in new tab) where she shares aspects of her life. In a nice update, Ruth shared that she married Thomas:

Maddie, who is outgoing and loves pop culture, goes on several dates throughout the series. Her ideal man is apparently "tall, blonde, green-eyed, and well-built" (all attributes that sound amazing, to be honest). She also says she likes to date people on the spectrum because "similar personality traits are pretty good" (open in new tab).

Mark, a paleontology buff, has dated Maddie as well as a couple other girls and went through the program's dating boot camp. Mark told Refinery29, "I learned to ask a lot of questions and how to talk and act on dates."

"These skills really boosted my confidence and helped me take a new step into the wonderful and complex world of romance and relationships."

The second cutest couple on the show, Jimmy and Sharne, had just moved in together when the show was filmed. They had been together for three years. (Spoiler alert) They actually got engaged at the end of the series (open in new tab), and the two laughingly proposed a trip to Las Vegas that might include a wedding. In the midst of a pandemic, it can be difficult to travel.

Kelvin (open in new tab) is an artist who considers his autism a "special ability" and is working on his own cartoon series while living at home with his single father. Kelvin has an Instagram, where he updates about his travels and love of anime:

Andrew, who speed-dates in the series, loves teddy bears and jigsaw puzzles. Working in Newcastle, he laments in the series that it may be too late to find love (he was 27 at the time of the series).

Olivia, an actor in the theater company Options (opens in new tab), says her friends there are part of her family. In an interview (opens in new tab), she explained that she was excited to be in the show and said, "I didn't see many people with autism who had partners. The stereotype is like us weirdos living alone and single in our parents' basement until we're about 80 years old. So I just assumed that was my life."

Watch "Love on the Spectrum" on NETFLIX (opens in a new tab)

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