I would agree that the same combination on the array does not work every time. It isn't the type of game where I figure out an answer and then enter it either. An approach that may help, look at which mark is furthest from being in the green. 'Pull' any one of the levers. See if that spot gets closer. If it does not, put that lever back where it had just been and try a different lever. If the one you pulled, helped, see if moving it slightly more or less gets you any closer. Then leave that lever there; find which mark is 'now' the furthest out; start pulling levers again to see which one helps. Hopefully this helps you solve it in a more manageable time.
As for the comments about the third date being intentionally in there to demonstrate life's general bad dates... I'd say, that sort of thing should generally come first in a game. Frustration, puzzlement, confusion, and a healthy dose of 'well that sucks' is often expected in the early stages of figuring out what one is doing (be it life or a game). It seems very backwards to me have that struggle and finally succeed with the first two people and date scenarios. Then afterwards, once we are conditioned what to expect from this game, get disappointing endings (yes, some of them were entertaining enough, but you go out with someone fun to date, i.e. Ariane or Rachel, theoretically stop dating them, and then have a series of bad dates, The End. There is a reason the standard script is reversed. Bad dates, good dates, the end). Granted, we aren't forced to meet/date them in any particular order, but maybe we should.