Ah, romance. Candlelit dinners, walks on the beach, whispered sweet nothings through a plexiglass partition during visiting hours at the penitentiary. That’s the reality facing the starry-eyed singles featured in WE tv’s enduringly fascinating “Love During Lockup,” returning for its fifth season this Friday, December 20 at 8:00 PM ET.
Forget dating apps and awkward first encounters at dimly lit bars – these individuals are diving headfirst into relationships with incarcerated partners, sight unseen (or at least, not seen in person for quite some time). While their friends and families may question their choices (and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t?), these hopeful romantics are convinced they’ve found their soulmates behind bars. This season’s “Indecent Proposal” is only the second episode but already sets the stage for a potential trainwreck of emotions.
The allure of “Love During Lockup” isn’t just the inherent drama of prison romance. It’s the mix of genuine connection (or at least, the perceived promise of it), suspicion, and deep-dive investigations into the inmates’ pasts. Are these lovestruck individuals being played, or have they found a diamond in the rough amongst a population that, statistically speaking, might be inclined towards manipulation? The series thrives on this very ambiguity, forcing viewers to become amateur sleuths alongside the families, desperately trying to determine if these relationships are built on a foundation of love or lies.
“Love During Lockup” airs Fridays at 8:00 PM ET on WE tv.
