Well one of mine is Married at First Sight. What is this show you say? Well it is a show that started a few years ago as a social experiment - basically six singles - 3 women and 3 men - are matched based on scientific qualifications including a personality test, interviews with a chaplain, a sociologist, and now a relationship expert (this third position has evolved over four seasons as it started with a sexologist and a psychiatrist). Its an interesting concept thinking you can basically find a person's perfect match on paper, but then add in personality and life experiences and well see how things go for six weeks.
The marriages are binding and if at the end of the experiment the couples choose not to stay together they must file for divorce. They have a wedding, they have a honeymoon, they move in together...for six weeks and at the end either choose to stay married or get a divorce.
Season 1 was a success - two of the three couples remained together and are still together today. They're both quite happy and just doing life! Meet Jamie & Doug and Cortney & Jason
So then seasons 2 and 3 happened....well they didn't go so well and I was kind of starting to lose a little hope in the show. Did everyone decide this was "fun" and they'd just do it for the fame because everyone loved the Season 1 couples so much? What was happening?
Season 2 was a disaster - all three couples ended in divorce, one even ended up with an alleged restraining order.
Season 3 was even more difficult to watch - while she stuck it out, one of the girls clearly didn't feel the need to put in any effort; one didn't do so well at first which appeared to be out of fear but then it was too late by the time she warmed up, and the third stayed with her husband at the end of the six weeks, but at the six month reunion they had decided to end their relationship.
That's what the change in the position happened with the experts which one of the three that left the panel, I felt was needed, I didn't always feel like as a viewer he gave the best advice or didn't give the impression he was fully invested in the process. The other two, I was sad to see go but am really enjoying the two that replaced them. So on that note, lets talk a bit about the experts (from left to right in this photo):
*These are my perceptions of the experts as a viewer and are no one's opinions except my own*
Pastor Calvin Robertson - He is a firecracker, but I am enjoying him on the show! He tells it like it is, and doesn't put up with any BS. He doesn't beat around the bush. When one of the contestants on this season was trying really hard to push his wife away, Pastor Calvin stepped and told him that "marriage isn't for punks" and that it takes work and only men will put in that work, not punks. One the flip side of that coin, he can be so soft spoken and kind hearted when leading the couples down a better path to strengthen their marriage.
Dr. Pepper Swartz - the sociologist - she is so kind and sweet. She tries so hard to provide the couples both together and individually with sound advice. She is like the cool aunt we all wish we had to be our confidant, knowing she'd be honest, fair, and firm all while still being kind and loving you no matter what.
Rachel DeAlto - a communication and relationship expert - She again is a great fit for the show. She helped the couples think outside the box. Broke some barriers that I wouldn't have even thought may have needed broken. She pushed the couples to their limits, but in a very positive way and taught them both something about themselves as well as how to be better partners in their marriage
So on to the couples! My favorite part of the seasons! I do honestly pay attention to the advice the experts give each couple, because once in awhile there is something I feel like I can apply to my own relationship (insert a big smile across Dr. Pepper's face I hope)
Couple #1 - Tom & Lillian
Tom & Lillian are a super cute couple - they weren't able to take their hands off each other for the majority of the season. With that being said, they definitely have their differences. One is more Type A work-aholic and the other is a Type Z play at the beach all day type person :) Nothing wrong with either, but making them connect was a challenge but they did a pretty good job of finding a good balance between the two. They both have used their love for their families as a good foundation and really have built a solid relationship together.
Couple #2 - Derek & Heather
This couple - I couldn't even bring myself to include a picture here because I was so disappointed in this couple. I did try to include a link to their pictures, but my computer just wasn't havin' it.
Derek was so excited when he met his wife, and she seemed happy but more reserved which is perfectly okay when meeting and marrying a stranger....however as the honeymoon went on, she just found every single thing to complain about - at least what we were shown on TV he appeared to be trying, tried to make her comfortable, if she had an issue with something like his smoking - he stopped (she admitted he'd done this). But the fighting, the low blows, those were a bit much. Again based on the edited version I saw, I didn't feel like she even gave him a chance. He did one thing she wasn't so excited about and she immediately closed him off and made him feel bad. While the way he told her to get off her high horse wasn't the best, and he admitted to that as well, I don't think his context was out of line at all because she did appear to treat him like he was less than she was. They broke up 2 weeks into the experiment, which I don't even think you can call that effort. As soon as they got home she bailed and that was it.....so sad!
Couple #3 - Nick and Sonia or Team Sonic as they so cleverly were called by fans
They were so cute! Like puppy love - they really were both reserved but had high hopes for the process. They both wanted a partner in life, not just some short term fling. They both had their struggles though - she was craving a little touch and attention and he was terrified. He was so quite and reserved he forgot to tell the person who it mattered to the most how he felt - he told the cameras such nice positive things about his wife, but forgot to tell her. One night - I think he was pushed so hard by the production crew after a few drinks that he just exploded and said he wasn't attracted to his wife...well boy was there some backlash for that and she moved out. She still spent time with him and they made an effort. They met with the experts, worked through their differences, apologized, and then something clicked with Nick - he showed his wife he wanted her to come home, he appreciated her, he cared about her, and he really was eating up her best qualities and said at one point she was the type of person he wanted to be married to. I was concerned going into decision day if his efforts the last two - three weeks were enough (again with the editing), but luckily they both decided to be true to their marriage vows and stay together. They are still together as of the 6 month reunion which is awesome! They're so cute and so putting in the effort to be happily married which is so refreshing that someone isn't just throwing in the towel after one mistake.
I really felt this season the editing was a struggle - it made what was supposed to be more of a reality show, feel like a fake because you could tell it was all spliced together. So FYI - I recommend working on that next season - I realize it cannot be easy to squish six weeks of filming into 6-8 one hour shows, but come on at least keep the same days together and don't jump around (you can tell by outfits!).
I can't wait to see what season 5 in Chicago holds - I hope the fun and fame has worn off the show and now people really are joining the cast hoping to find life long love, but maybe that's just the hopeless romantic in me while watching my guilty tv show!
TTFN!
