Summary
Married At First Sighthas had a run of seasons that have viewers questioning whether or not they want to continue watching the show, butI thinkMarried At First Sightseason 18may be the worst of them all. Throughout the last few years,MAFShas been one of the least successful dating shows on reality TV. With only one couple having stayed together successfully in the last five seasons, the metrics ofMarried At First Sightmarriages succeeding have been inordinately low. The drama of the show, alternately, has been at an all-time high throughout the recent seasons.
While thedrama fromMarried At First Sightseason 17has been some of the most interesting that the franchise has ever seen, it’s diminished the trust the audience has in the show. After showing that it’s possible to manipulate the producers from the inside,the sense of trust betweenMarried At First Sightviewers and the production team behind the series is at an all-time low. While I’ve seen many lamenting online that they’re ready for a new season ofMarried At First Sightfor ages, I fear that the upcoming season may be even worse than the last.
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Married At First Sight Season 17 Was A Disaster
The Drama Wasn’t Planned Or Expected
ThroughoutMarried At First Sightseason 17, viewers could tell there was something off about what was happening on screen. The cast members were barely functioning in their marriages, and though that’s not new for the series, there wasa lack of genuine shock about the failure of each relationship. Couples likeCameron Frazer & Clare Kerrand Lauren Goodger & Orion Martzloff called it quits early on in the season, but neither seemed genuinely hurt about the end of their relationship, they were merely ready for the experiment to be over. Meanwhile, the other couples stuck it out with similar ennui.
It seemed someMAFScouples were expecting their relationships to fail, and those who weren’t, like Michael Shiakallis & Chloe Brown, appeared to be fighting twice as hard for their marriages to work. When it unraveled that four of the fivecouples onMarried At First Sightseason 17had worked together to create stories they felt would play on camera to make them look good to the general public, it was finally clear that the season had been a sham from the start.I don’t believe production was in on the cast’s plan, which made the season a complete disaster.
The Trailer For Married At First Sight Season 18 Looks Similar To Its Predecessor
There’s A Potential Runaway Bride
As the drama fromMAFSseason 17 finally died down, the series switched gears and gave viewers asneak peek at the upcomingMAFSseason 18. The trailer, shown during the season 17 reunion, was a quick look at the upcoming participants before and after their weddings. While not much was revealed, I was shocked to see thatthe trailer was incredibly similar in tone to what was shared aboutMarried At First Sightseason 17in the beginning. The participants, this time living in Chicago, had issues to unpack before their weddings, but were ready to make a commitment.
Thetrailer forMarried At First Sightseason 18doesn’t give much away, but one of the main focal points of the sneak peek surrounds a bride who is struggling in her decision to participate in the experiment. AsMAFSviewers know, the previous season had a historic moment during the weddings when Michael’s original bride left him at the altar, remaining nameless and faceless to the audience. TheMarried At First Sightrunaway bride was a big deal during season 17, butto repeat the same drama onMAFSseason 18 would be an odd choice for the series.
MAFS Season 18 Was Filmed Before The Season 17 Drama Came Out
There Was No Time To Process
While we’ve been asking forMarried At First Sightseason 17 to finally end since midway through the season, knowing thatMarried At First Sightseason 18 could repeat eerily similar drama is disheartening. TheMAFSproducers and the experts themselves, includingthe criticized Dr. Pia Holec, have shared that they don’t believe there will be a repeat ofMarried At First Sightseason 17. Unfortunately,they have no control over what theMarried At First Sightseason 18 cast could do, seeing as the drama from the previous season hadn’t been revealed while the new season was being filmed.
It’s probably cynical of me to think that another cast could repeat the same behavior that theMAFSseason 17 cast displayed in the future, or maybe at least unrealistic. Regardless, the point stands that the series has had a problem with its casting for years, one that led to this issue in the first place. For seasons, theMarried At First Sightparticipants have struggled with the way they feel they’re going to be perceivedby the public.
SeeingMAFScast members called out on social media is something new cast members are wary of, and they often try to mitigate the problem by being quiet about their more difficult feelings on camera. Even without knowing what happened duringMarried At First Sightseason 17,the new cast could easily pull the same cards when it comes to their time on screen. Though it’s probably not the case, I’m wary of another casthaving filmedMarried At First Sightwithout knowing about the backlash that came from the season 17 cast orchestrating their own drama for the cameras.
MAFS Needs To Overhaul Everything About The Show
It Needs To Be Revamped Entirely
AlthoughMarried At First Sightseason 18could be one of the best the show’s ever seen, I’m feeling cautious about the idea of another season coming so quickly after the wreckage ofMAFSseason 17. WhileMAFShas been a staple for reality TV dating connoisseurs since its debut in 2014, the show hasn’t changed much with the times, and before putting participants through the experiment again, I think it could use a revamp. Participants ofMAFSare asked to deal with the fallout of the show after the fact, and I think that needs to change.
In the past,Married At First Sighthas put the onus on its participants to keep themselves private throughout the show, but once they’re able to share more about the process and their experience,it’s clear that what we see on screen isn’t always true to life. I believe that with an overhaul inthe wayMAFStreats its contestantsand stories, the show could become even better than it’s been in the past. ThoughMarried At First Sightseason 18 may not be the season we’re hoping for, it could usher in a new era ofMAFS.
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.
