How far would you go to test the authenticity of your love? Netflix’s controversial reality TV series Deep Fake Love, pushing relationships to their absolute limit in unprecedented ways, is the farthest you could possibly go. Using Artificial Intelligence to recreate false scenarios that sow doubt within a couple’s pysche, the Spanish TV show forces its contestants to assess the legitimacy of their relationship under high-pressure circumstances.

Via @deepfakelovenetflix on Instagram

In its quest to determine whether or not the couples are built on true love, Deep Fake Love separates the partners for the entirety of the social experiment. One member of each couple is housed in an opulent house called Venus, whilst their counterpart is housed in an equally luxurious villa called Mars. Within the two segregated interstellar houses, Deep Fake Love begins its AI-based social experiment to tests the couples’ love in the most daring ways.

To that end, the show’s host Raquel Sánchez-Silva assembles each house’s members in a “white room” where they’re shown fake AI videos of their significant others breaking their trust. Labelled “the cruelest show on TV,” Deep Fake Love pushes its contestants to the point of tears, and more generally, to their absolute limit.

Via @deepfakelovenetflix on Instagram

Before delving into the show’s detrimental interpersonal effects, we’d like to introduce you to each of Deep Fake Love‘s couples prior to the AI experiment. We want you to get to know the contestants while they were in an optimistic state, at a time when they believed that their love would last forever.

Meet the Deep Fake Love couples before the AI experiment…

Manuel and Aida

“From just one look into her eyes,” expresses Manuel Delgado, “I know exactly what she’s thinking.” They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and it’s clear from this declaration of love that Manuel and Aida share a profound love. Manuel proclaims that from the moment he first laid eyes on Aida, he instinctively knew that she was the love of his life.

Aida Vila stated that the couple had achieved many milestones together and that they’re planning their wedding. They’ve been together for a year and a half, and Aida is so scared of losing Manuel on Deep Fake Love, to the point of tears. She composes herself and shares that she wants to make sure that she’s saying yes to the right person, and that the show is the perfect opportunity to do so.

When they had to say goodbye to one another, Aida broke down in tears and Manuel comforted her, telling her that they’d get through this together. Despite the fact that she knew they shared something special, Aida expressed that she was afraid Manuel would let her down.

Via @aidagvila on Instagram

Paula and Javi

This couple has been together for 9 years. At a certain point, Javi Ramon left his lover – and during their break, Paula Di Martino developed some trust issues due to his unfaithful actions. With tears in her eyes, Paula shared that she’d experienced great sadness in the past, and now that she’s happy, she’s afraid that her joy might be taken away from her.

Javi was also afraid to lose Paula on Deep Fake Love. He’s willing to prove that he’s a changed man in order for them to fulfill their dream of moving to Australia together. When it was time to say goodbye, Paula tearfully told Javi that she was going to miss him. Still, she confessed that she doesn’t trust fully trust her partner.

Via @javiramon14 on Instagram

Gabriela and Angel

This couple has been an item for 5 years and counting. Gabriela Fdez de Bobadilla described their love as pure and real, sharing that she knew he was the man for her upon first meeting him. Angel Santiago shared those loving feelings, stating that Gabriela was the most important person in his life.

When they were separated from one another, both Gabriela and Angel were calm. They shared that they had full trust in each other, and they were confident that their love is true.

Via @angelmsantiago on Instagram

Isabel and Ruben

Before meeting Ruben Correia, Isabel Bermejo shared that all of her past relationships were unhealthy and unsatisfying. It was only after she met Ruben that she realized what true love was. These intense feelings were fully reciprocated by Ruben who shared that it’s taken him far too long to find someone who loves and accepts him unconditionally.

After 8 months of being together, Ruben popped the question and Isa said yes. When they had to go to their respective houses, Isa was worried that her partner would flirt with other girls. Yet her trust in him remained strong, and vice versa.

Via @rbncorreia_13 and @issabelbc on Instagram

Stay tuned for future articles that’ll unpack *all the drama* that went down on Deep Fake Love.