ThroughoutMarried At First Sighthistory there have been incidents where the experts have struggled to do their jobs successfully, butthe current season of the show has shown the experts making mistakes at a whole new level. ThroughoutMarried At First Sightseason 18, the expert panel has done their best to create couples who can make their relationships work throughout the experiment. While some of the couples have been trying more than others to make things work and build a foundation for their future, other couples have struggled to keep their relationships alive in the simplest of circumstances.
TheMarried At First Sightexperts have struggled to create couples who are able to make their relationships work throughout the duration of the experiment for seasons at a time,failing to create more than two successful couples in the last six seasons. Dr. Pepper Schwartz,MAFS’longest-running expert, has been working with Pastor Cal Roberson for nearly the duration of her time on the show. WhileDr. Pepper and Pastor Calhave been part of the series for nearly a decade, Dr. Pia Holec has only been part of the panel for a few seasons, but hasn’t been successful.
While the experts have been saying they’ve worked hard to ensure that theMAFSparticipants are functioning in their marriages,they’ve barely been present this seasonand have rarely offered helpful advice to the cast. Though the couples have been shown in multiple counseling sessions with theMAFSexperts, they haven’t been doing well with the minimal advice they’ve gotten from the expert panel, nor have they been able to figure out how to navigate the issues they’ve been facing. TheMarried At First Sightexperts haven’t been present, and need to fix their mistakes moving forward.
8The MAFS Experts Should Not Have Cast Michelle
She’s Not Actively Participating In The Experiment
Although Michelle Tomblin has become one of the mostdifficultMarried At First Sightcastmembers in franchise history, the experts had a hand in bringing her to the series and setting her up with herMAFShusband David Trimble. Throughout the early episodes ofMarried At First Sightseason 18, the experts were tasked with justifying their choices for the cast members, as well as the couples they were putting together with the singles of the season. During theMAFSseason 18 matchmaking special,the experts explained why they chose to put David & Michelle together.
While Michelle has been a major part of the season, her casting on the show was something that the experts should’ve thought more thoroughly on. ThroughoutMAFSseason 18, it’s been clear thatMichelle wasn’t ready for the kind of mature relationship she said she was looking for.Michelle’s attitude has been pushing viewers awayand negatively impacting her relationship with herMAFSspouse David throughout the season.
7The MAFS Experts Ignored David’s Red Flag Living Situation
He’s Still Living With His Parents
AlthoughMichelle’s issues have been a major partofMarried At First Sightseason 18, there have been some serious red flags throughout the season surrounding herMAFSspouse David. David’s time on the show has been interesting, as many have found issues with his behavior, while others have defended him valiantly.David’s decision not to tell hisMAFSwife Michelle upfront that he lived with his parents was strange, and when she found out, it became clear that she had major issues with his lack of independence.
David, who works in the public sector as a social worker, shared with theMAFSexperts that he was living outside of his parent’s house before, but chose to move back in with them in recent years. He revealed to Michelle that he lived with his family, but decided not to explain that he was doing so because he wanted to save up money to buy a house with his future partner.TheMAFSexperts have ignored David’s lack of independence, and the fact that Michelle was clear she was looking for someone deeply independent as a partner.
She Didn’t Call Him Out
AlthoughtheMarried At First Sightexpertsworked hard to move through the matchmaking process, the couples they’ve put together have a range of connections. While Michelle and David aren’t connecting, most of the couples this season have had some sort of foundation to build their relationships on, like Ikechi Ojoré and Emem Obot. WhileIkechi and Emem seemed like they would likely be a good fitas they moved through the early phases of the matchmaking process, things changed quickly when they met and got married.
Ikechi, who has been part of theMAFScommunity for years after applying to be on the show twice before the current season, has had some major red flags throughout the duration of the season. While he’s been showing his true colors in his relationship with Emem, he’s also been struggling with a poor attitude throughout his time in counseling sessions. Ikechi’s bad attitude reared its ugly head in a session with Dr. Pia, but when viewers and Emem looked to the professional to let him know it wasn’t okay,she let his behavior slide and didn’t comment on it.
5The MAFS Experts Did Not Help David & Michelle On Their Honeymoon
The Couple Could’ve Been Couseled Earlier
Although theMarried At First Sightexperts are meant to be a part of the show that helps the participants move through their relationships with some sense of ease,there are many moments during the early stretch of the season when they’re not available.MAFSstars are meant to be able to confide in the experts throughout the season, but they don’t often find themselves able to simply talk to the experts without it being filmed or scheduled. While they’re supposed to have the experts at their disposal, it’s dictated completely by the schedule of the show rather than the needs of the participants.
TheMarried At First Sightexperts weren’t available to the participants throughout the early moments of the season, especially during the honeymoon portion of the show. While David and Michelle’s relationship wasn’t working throughout the early episodes of the season,the couple wasn’t given access to any help from the expertsor information about how to work through their problems. Instead,theMarried At First Sightcouplewere left to their own devices, which caused them to spiral into further problems.
4Dr. Pepper & Pastor Cal Are Too Aloof About The Couples' Problems
They’re Not Specific In Their Sessions
Throughout their time asMarried As First Sightexperts,Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal have been consistent in the way they offer adviceto couples and counsel them through. Despite knowing that their behavior can be a model for how the participants behave as they move through the experiment, Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal tend to be difficult to read. While Dr. Pia tends to be a bit more in-depth, Pastor Cal and Dr. Pepper are often more aloof about the issues couples are facing.
Throughout theirtime onMarried At First Sightseason 18, Pastor Cal specifically has been someone that viewers are struggling to stand behind in the way he advises couples. He’s been clear in the fact that he isn’t thinking about the specific issues couples are facing, and instead is dealing in the more general topics that relationship counselors cover. BothDr. Pepper and Pastor Cal are set in their ways, which aren’t working for their matches.
3The MAFS Experts Let Camille Put Down Thomas
They Didn’t Account For Camille’s Behavior
Although theMAFSexperts aren’t around for every situation, they often have to deal with situations that have happened while they aren’t around, counseling the couples through past conversations and actions.With Camille and Thomas, who appear to be one of the couples that may work out onMarried At First Sightseason 18,the experts have struggled in their sessions as they feel there’s not much to work onfor the pair.
Camille, who has been clear with herMarried At First Sighthusband Thomas about what she’s looking for in their relationship, has been open about what she wants to work on with her husband. Despite the fact that Camille has been upfront about what she wants to change in herMAFShusband,the experts haven’t chosen to speak to her about putting Thomas down. Instead, they’ve taken her behavior into consideration as something they need to help shift, but haven’t called her out for it.
2The MAFS Experts Are Not Being Hard Enough On Karla
She’s Acting Immaturely With Juan
TheMarried At First Sightexperts have been open about the fact that they aren’t policing the actions of their participants, and while that’s sometimes a good thing, it’s sometimes a negative. This season, there have been several instances of participants struggling in their behavior, especially in the way they’re treating their relationships. Karla Juarez,who’s married to Juan Franco onMAFSseason 18, has been open about the fact that she feels she can be high maintenance at times.
Despite knowing that she wants more out of herMAFSrelationship,Karla’s actions throughout the season have been immatureand dramatic at times. She’s been provoking arguments and pushing drama throughout their time on screen, and her relationship with Juan has suffered from it. Even thoughKarla has been bringing up her less-than-mature behavioronMarried At First Sightseason 18, the experts haven’t called her out for it or tried to help her move past it in a concrete way.
1The MAFS Experts Didn’t Recognize Ikechi Is A Clout Chaser
They Didn’t Practice Precaution Around His Appearance
AlthoughMarried At First Sightseason 18 finally brought Ikechi into the show,it wasn’t the first time he’s tried to be part of the series.Ikechi has tried out forMAFSthree times, auditioning for two past seasons of the series and getting rejected. While he was insistent on wanting to be part ofMarried At First Sightat some point, it was clear that Ikechi didn’t work for the seasons he auditioned for in the past.
With theMAFSChicago season pushing Ikechi into the spotlight,it quickly became clear that he was more of a clout chaserthan an actual participant. While he may claim that he’s looking for a lasting love with Emem, Ikechi appears to be trying to promote himself over finding a genuine relationship. TheMarried At First Sightexperts should’ve been able to spot Ikechi’s clout chasing behavior and kept him off the show, but instead, they allowed him onto the series.
Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.
Married At First Sight
Cast
Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.
