The question local reality dating show lovers are asking themselves this Valentine’s Day is, will the Minnesotan cast members of this season’s “Love Is Blind” find love — and will they visit my hometown? (But with a lot more exclamation marks and a lot fewer question marks.)

For those of you not in the know, “Love Is Blind” is a Netflix reality dating show and “social experiment,” according to Netflix, starring single men and women looking to find the love of their lives without ever having seen them.

Over 10 days, this season’s Minnesotan contestants will date one another in small 12-by-12 foot hexagon-shaped rooms, specially designed for them to listen to each other’s voices during their one-on-one dates.

The 32 contestants each have a chance to chat and get to know one another on day one. Afterward, a mutual matching system determines who goes on a second date, according to Netflix.Contestants go on a lot of blind dates, at least 20, according to Netflix, in hopes of finding their perfect match.

Oh yes, and it must be mentioned, that once singles find their match, sight unseen, the two will be engaged and, eventually, stand at the altar and decide whether they’ll continue their relationship in the outside world.

Does it sound like a wild ride? Well, it is, and when the show goes live on Friday, Minnesotans will be on the edge of their couches, popcorn in hand, excited to follow the journeys of cast members — some possibly friends or family.

What it’s like

Vanessa Boreland, 31, an Apple Valley High School graduate, said she signed up for “Love Is Blind” with a little push from her mom and best friend.

“My mom had even started the application for me at one point,” Boreland said with laughter.

Before the show, Boreland had come out of a long-term relationship, she said.

“I took me time to heal and start dating again but I just wasn’t finding connections with the right people, so I decided, let’s try something new,” Boreland said.

Once she went through the application process she became excited at the prospect of being on the show and attempting the unique dating experience.

Kylie Schuelke, 28, from Dawson, Minn., said she hadn’t seen the show before going on.

“I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into,” Schuelke said. “The whole idea of finding love behind a wall and then potentially getting married within four weeks sounded like something that I totally would be for.”

As a medical student, Schuelke said it was difficult to find the time to date prior to the show.

“I am super busy so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to find a husband in about four weeks and fit in with my schedule,” Schuelke said. “I was like ‘Why not,’” Schuelke said.

Scenes of the cast dating in the pods were shot in Los Angeles, Boreland said, and the experience was both positive and challenging.

“It was definitely a very different experience because you can’t see the person you’re talking to and forming a connection with,” Boreland said. “At the same time, it also feels a little easier.”

It’s kind of like texting or messaging someone behind a computer screen, Boreland said. Sometimes when you can’t see the reactions of who you’re speaking to, it makes it easier to be vulnerable and share honestly, she said.

“It is a little funky to be having those conversations and having zero idea of what the person looks like,” Boreland said.

Deep conversations

Schuelke said she enjoyed her time dating in the pods because it allowed her to focus on each individual. She said it was a bit weird at the start, not being able to see people’s reactions and instead hearing an awkward pause followed by, “I’m smiling right now.”

“It becomes more that it really doesn’t matter what this person looks like. The experiment is great because it really does focus on what’s on the inside,” Schuelke said.

Because of the show’s premise, participants ask questions about having kids, religious beliefs, political ideologies and other in-depth topics during first dates, Boreland said.

“You only have a short period of time to decide if you’re going to marry this person, so you have to have these conversations right away,” Boreland said.

Deep conversations weren’t an issue for Boreland. She said she actually appreciated the straightforward approach to dating, as it allowed for transparency.

“One of the best things was being able to have those important and vulnerable conversations pretty early on in a relationship,” Boreland said. “Things you would definitely not talk about until you’ve dated somebody consistently for a few months at least.”

What to expect

People should expect quality romance to come from this season, Boreland said, along with a bit of drama.

“I think there are some really genuine relationships that are going to be playing out and I think there are some twists and classic love triangles, or quadruples or whatever, that people come to expect from dating shows,” Boreland said.

For those who haven’t seen the show, Schuelke said she recommends they tune in this season as they may know someone in the cast and will eventually recognize familiar Minnesota locations and landscapes.

“All of the things Minnesotan that you’d kind of expect I’m hoping will come across this season,” Schuelke said.

Including “Minnesota nice” personalities, Schuelke said.

Boreland also encourages first-timers to tune in.

“I think people might be a little surprised by Minnesota this season,” Boreland said.

Season eight of Love Is Blind episodes one through six will drop at 2 a.m. Central Time on Friday, according to Kinetic Content communications. Episodes seven through nine will be released 2 a.m. the following Friday, Feb. 21.

For trailers and more information, visit Netflix.com/LoveIsBlind.