Reality TV
Is ‘Love on the Spectrum’ Scripted? Former Cast Member Reveals If Show Is Real or Fake
Over the last few years, fans have fallen in love with the endearing cast members of Love on the Spectrum— but many have been left wondering how much of the show is real.
In Touch reveals what the cast and creators have said about the making of Love on the Spectrum and if it is scripted.
What Is ‘Love on the Spectrum’?
Love on the Spectrum is an Emmy Award-winning docuseries that explores the ups and downs of dating and relationships for individuals on the autism spectrum.
It was created by Cian O’Clery and Karina Holden and got its start as a show in Australia in 2019. They later made a U.S. version of the series, which premiered on Netflix in 2022. Its third season included fan-favorite cast members such as David Isaacman and Abbey Romeo, Tanner Smith, Dani Bowman, Connor Tomlinson and more.
“The show itself has actually become the template for people to then think, ‘That’s what love can look like in my life, and I can be like that character who doesn’t necessarily fit the typical stereotype,’” cocreator Karina told Tudum by Netflix. “The uniqueness of individuals within Love on the Spectrum has allowed people to be confident to pursue their version of relationships and friendships and love.”
Is ‘Love on the Spectrum’ Scripted?
No, Love on the Spectrum is a documentary reality series and is not a fully scripted television show. While Cian has shared in interviews that some of the speed dating events on the show were arranged with the help of production, that was only to provide opportunities for the cast members to meet new people as they continued their search for love.
When asked how much of the show was “scripted,” former cast member Kaelynn Partlow – who appeared in season 1 of the series – implied that she wasn’t heavily directed at all.
“The only time I remember being directed was if they missed a shot and they’d ask me to repeat what I just did, like, over again,” she explained in an April 2025 Instagram reel. “So, for example, if I walked down the stairs, but the camera wasn’t sitting at the exact right angle, I’d have to walk back up and come back down.”
What Inspired ‘Love on the Spectrum’?
Prior to his work with Love on the Spectrum, Cian made other documentaries with Karina about people with disabilities who were searching for jobs.
“During that process, we met lots and lots of people on the spectrum. Not only did we get to know the people we were filming really well, but we also spoke to hundreds and hundreds of people on the spectrum about their lives and what was important to them,” he said in an April 2025 interview with Tudum by Netflix. “The story of people wanting to find love and wanting to date just kept coming up. To us, that was something that wasn’t right. There was obviously a lack of support, and it just felt like a really interesting area to shine a light on.”
