Some reality TV romances are built for the high seas but struggle to stay afloat on dry land. That's the question facing the couples from Hulu's splashy new dating competition, Love Overboard, after the cameras stopped rolling on its inaugural season.
Hosted by Traitors champion Gabby Windey, the series set singles adrift on a luxury yacht in Malta, where unsuccessful suitors were literally forced to 'walk the plank' into the Mediterranean. The season culminated with three finalist couples vying for a $100,000 global vacation prize: Gia Aldisert & Tim Demirjian, David Fuhrmann & Val Zuluaga, and James Barranca & Lexi Borges. Ultimately, Gia and Tim were voted the most compatible and sailed away as the winners.
But did their love survive the transition back to reality?
"Obviously, a lot happened on that boat that was incredible and amazing," Tim Demirjian told People in a recent interview, "and a lot of stuff has happened post-show, post-boat, real life that's been equally amazing."
The 30-year-old entrepreneur played coy about their current status, suggesting fans will have to "follow along with life after the boat" for answers. He did confirm they plan to take their prize trip together soon, noting, "We haven't actually taken the trip yet, but we plan on taking the trip very soon. From after filming until now, we had to keep a lot of things very much under wraps. [Now] we can plan the trip."
Gia echoed the ambiguity in a separate interview, calling the question of their relationship "loaded," while Tim added they live just minutes apart in Los Angeles.
For the other couples, the waters have been choppier.
David Fuhrmann & Val Zuluaga, whose on-board romance began controversially after David had initially paired with another contestant, have since parted ways. Val hinted at the split in a cryptic Instagram post, writing, "I'm asking for my privacy while I process things in my own time. I’ll share my story when I’m ready, and on my terms."
In a brighter update, Jake Rath & Christine Templeton, who voluntarily left the competition early citing their fledgling connection, appear to be going strong. The pair have shared affectionate social media posts since filming wrapped, suggesting their relationship has successfully docked in the real world.
As for the other finalists, James Barranca & Lexi Borges, their post-show status remains under wraps, leaving viewers to wonder which Love Overboard romances were built for the long voyage and which were merely a summer fling.