So, You’ve Fallen in Love with 90 Day Fiancé, The Best Show on Earth
So, you started watching 90 Day Fiancé? Welcome. I say welcome because you have now stepped into an entire universe. I am sure you have questions. I am sure you are confused. Like any universe, 90 Day Fiancé is a large and sprawling franchise that spans 5 full TV shows, one digital show and one spin-off. You see, 90 Day Fiancé is the best show ever made and it is by the grace of God that that slimy, lust-driven amoeba morphed into the world of 90 Day that we now get to experience. No matter where you started watching: the current season, the first season, a spin-off — you will want more.
You will want to know what happened to every single couple. You will want to see more couples. You will want to see them the other way and before the 90 days and you will even want to WATCH THEM watch 90 Day Fiancé. It’s confusing and overwhelming, but I’m here to help because I’ve been where you are. Maybe you’ve just started. Maybe you’re a few seasons in and you’ve followed your favorite couples on Instagram and you’re in 3 Facebook groups about the show and you don’t know what your life is anymore (full transparency: I have been kicked out of 2 90 Day Fiancé Facebook groups), wherever you are, I am here to help you navigate the terrifying, hilarious and incredibly vulnerable world that is 90 Day Fiancé.
Before we dive into the ultimate guide that will allow you to binge watch every single episode of 90 Day Fiancé in perfect order, you must first understand what brought you to 90 Day. Maybe it was a friend or, like me, a deep and unabiding depression. Maybe it was just a three day weekend. Most people don’t really know what 90 Day Fiancé is about before they jump in. Some people think it’s a game show where people date for 90 days and have to get married. But, no, the show follows real couples for years as they experience the ins and outs of the K1 visa process, which allows Americans to marry people from other countries. Some of the couples have been together for a long time. Some of them have never met and have only spoken online. Either way, they are all filled with insecurity, loneliness, desperation, hatred and sometimes even, true love.
You’ll meet a variety of couples and follow their journey not just for the season, but across the franchise. And you will watch the entire franchise because there’s something about it that pulls you in. Maybe it’s because it’s one of the shows that truly documents the ridiculousness of the human condition called “love”. You will scream as 55-year old women from Alabama try to convince themselves a 24-year old from Morocco is in love with them and will love living in their trailer park. You will smile when a father finally gets to hold his son who was born miles away for the first time. You will understand American poverty in new ways as men who can’t even afford a place to live brag about their “wealth” to foreign women they can’t provide for. You will cheer for women like Anfisa, who so blatantly are using men for money you can’t be mad at them. This show has everything, so don’t feel pressure to watch all of it. This guide is made for skipping around if you find some narratives in the show resonate with you more than others.
Personally, I love the trashy couples that barely even speak the same language. For this reason, I dive real deep into 90 Day. So, for example, if Paul and Karine are one of your favorite couples, this is the guide for you. If you’re more of a “Wow, I really just like the couples that are truly in love and provide an educational experience on a very difficult process” person, well, this guide will help you too.
“Ashley, just shut up and tell us how to watch this ridiculous show.”
Alright, fine. I just really love 90 Day Fiancé and after you read this you’re legally obligated to tell me about all your favorite couples and moments.
So let’s start with the basics, what are all the shows you have to watch?
- 90 Day Fiancé
- 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After
- 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days
- 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way
- 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk
- 90 Day Fiancé: What Now (Digital Only)
- The Family Chantel
Yeah. I know. That’s a lot. Don’t worry. Here we go. I will tell you what series AND what seasons to watch!!
Watch in this order:
- 90 Day Fiancé: The Original — Seasons 1–4
Obviously, you need to start with the original flavor. You’ll slowly see how the show morphs from a fairly legit show about couples dating in different countries to an absolute horror show documenting the depths of human manipulation. Mostly though, these four seasons will introduce you to the couples who will take you across the franchise: Russ&Paola, Danielle&Mohamed, Melanie&Devar, Jorge&Anfisa, Nicole&Azan, and Chantel&Pedro.
If you only watch these four seasons and nothing else, it will provide you with the 90 Day essentials you need. If you do not want to dive into this beautiful trash reality TV world of $200 engagement rings, you do not need to keep watching.
2. 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After — Seasons 1–3
If you want to know what happened to Danielle&Mohamed or Nicole&Azan or the couples you fell in love with in the original franchise, you have to jump ship to Happily Ever After for a bit. Don’t worry, Happily Ever After is still amazing. Russ&Paola have been holding it down the longest on this show, but this is also where we see Jorge and Anfisa’s story come to an end and even the boring, educational couples like Loren&Alexei are featured for the first two seasons.
If you’re not a walking pile of Postmates orders like me, this would be a healthy place to stop watching. You can feel satisfied knowing some of these couples were truly in love and some of them were dumb, beautiful idiots (Chantal y Pedro) you loved to watch. Go ahead and skip to step 6, if you want to hop off the train while you still can.
3. 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days — ALL OF IT
Look. If 90 Day Fiancé is the best franchise on this planet, then Before the 90 Days is a sun-drenched beach in Mallorca. It is the Northern Lights. It is Mt. Everest. It is, perhaps, the wildest show I have ever seen on TV. You see, the producers of 90 Day weren’t happy with these legit couples who’d been talking for years. They decided they needed to shove their cameras into the drama while these fools were still chatting on PhilippinoCupid and haven’t even met yet. Most of these couples don’t even speak the same language and rely on translator apps.
This is also where the show starts to feel pretty fake. Yes, it’s pretty obvious Courtney isn’t truly in love with Antonio, but it’s still funny to watch incredibly spoiled Americans lose their shit in other countries. This is also where you meet my favorite couple: Paul and Karine. I will not spoil a second of their truly brilliant narrative, but it does deserve to EGOT. It also features Abby, 90 Day Fiancé’s black heroine who scammed the hell out of two rich white man. We love her. We stan.
4. 90 Day Fiancé: What Now — Digital Only Series
Ok, wow. Are you still with me? Incredible. We’re almost done, I promise. So…after Before the 90 Days, you’re probably like, “Holy shit, this amazing show has gone OFF THE RAILS! Whatever happened to South African girls marrying into nice Mormon families and the minor craziness of Danielle and Mohamed?” Well, What Now is a digital series TLC made because we are all addicted to this show like crack. It finishes off the stories of some of the original couples and is…well, honestly, pretty depressing.
If you like the boring couples, it’s great to watch. Most of them have kids and are happy. It also tries to milk whatever it can from the remains of Danielle and Mohamed, but it’s a must watch if you want to be thorough.
5. 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way — ALL OF IT
If you’ve made it this far, you are a 90 Day aficionado now. You understand references like “His name is Chris.” and “PhilippinoCupid” and “I’m in Chris’ apartment right now.” You stay up at night wondering if that Guatemalan pop star ever got his career off the ground (he didn’t, but he’s very nice). You would honestly consider going on a 90 Day Fiancé cruise where you pay $300 to drink with the cast (that seems like a fair deal to me!?). So, you are ready for 90 Day: The Other Way. This version of the show features Americans who have decided to move to another country to be with the people they love (get it? The other way?). Mostly, it is about Americans who did not realize it is hard to move to another country, especially if you haven’t learned the language, you do not have a job and your primary motivation is “love.”
Again, the trashiness cannot be denied. Unlike the original show, The Learning Channel doesn’t even try to make this seem educational. It is just dumbass Americans going to live in Qatar and then they’re like “wait, I can’t drink alcohol here and the 26-year old I married isn’t the answer to my problems?” and then you watch a grown woman try to make wine in her apartment. It is still thrilling television and it’s only had one season, so you may as well watch. Also: It features Paul and Karine, the couple you fell in love with on Before the 90 Days and you absolutely want to see how Karine’s glare develops as she buries her hatred for Paul deeper and deeper down!
6. 90 Day Fiancé: The Original — Seasons 5 and 6 (finish it)
Ok. Now you’re ready to hop back over to the original series and meet some new couples. If you’re not really into the trash and you’re a well adjusted adult, you probably skipped steps 3–5 and you’ve rejoined us here. Good for you, you healthy asshole. I’m glad you still have your brain cells. This is where you’ll meet some new franchise couples like Ashley&Jay and Elizabeth&Andrei. Honestly, once you get into the craziness of The Other Way and Before the 90 Days, this feels like a nice anchor in reality. You can also start watching season 7 which just premiered on Nov. 3rd, 2019. Look at you, all caught up with the rest of us crazies.
7. 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After — Season 4 (finish it)
Well, obviously you need to know if Jay cheated on Ashley when he came to America. Or if Nicole and Azan actually got married. These episodes will tide you over while you wait for new episodes of season 7 to drop each week. Russ and Paola will continue to be boring, but at least his hair is easier to look at:
Okay, you got through the main guide, now these shows are ABSOLUTELY OPTIONAL. Honestly, I feel like I should tell you not to watch them for your own health. Don’t do it! Go outside! Watch Love After Lockup! Go do something else!
- The Family Chantel — This show is boring and Chantel’s family is awful, but if you want to know what happened after you last saw Pedro y Chantel in Happily Ever After, you really only need to watch the first 2 episodes of this. The rest is bad. Honestly, I think Chantel asked TLC to make this show so she could embarrass her sister on reality TV.
- 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk — Watching this show is like scraping all the resin off your roommate’s pipe because you’re so goddamn desperate for that sweet sweet 90 Day high. It is literally a show where you watch couples from the franchise watch the current season. Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s a warm embrace from the cold, solitary life I live. Haha, yes Annie, please pass the popcorn while we make fun of couples that are only slightly worse off than you are.
Lmao ok, seriously. That’s it. Yes, I have watched all of it.
