There are steps theMarried at First Sightexperts can take to save their reputations after they’ve been failing the season 18 couples.Married at First Sightseason 18is in full swing, as the couples recently had their one-month anniversary milestones. Thefive season 18 coupleswere matched byMAFS' panel of three experts,Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Cal Roberson, and Dr. Pia Holec. The experts were meant to take value systems, physical appearance preferences, cultural backgrounds, and participant goals in mind when making the matches.
It’s become clear thatthe experts have fallen shortas one couple has broken up, and the others are not connecting and growing like they should be at this stage in the experience.MAFSas a whole has had a terrible success rate, with only 12 of 64 couples staying together (not including season 18.) Within the historical failures and those failures and shortcomings of the experts in season 18, the experts' reputations are being damaged, but they can improve their perceptions by viewers.
The MAFS Experts Need To Intervene More
They Have Been Largely Absent In MAFS Season 18
It’s become apparent that theMAFSexperts have been more hands-off in season 18 than they have been in past seasons. Usually, the experts meet with a couple when they are in peril and at risk of calling it quits, but the pairs have largely had to figure things out on their own. What needs to happen, is the experts need to intervene more and give solid guidance and counseling, so the chances of the couples succeeding is higher.
If the experts can get through to the couples when there is turmoil and start deescalating situations, the matches will have a better chance and the experts won’t be perceived as bad. It seems like the experts are only meeting the couples once a week and sending gift baskets with prompts in the interim, which is not enough. To change their reception and the outcome of the marriages,the experts need to be more involved.
They Aren’t Doing Enough To Stop Toxicity
The other bad reflection on the experts is that they are not calling out bad behavior from the cast properly. Dr. Pia made Emem Obot apologize to her husband, Ikechi Ojoré, when he was the one with an attitude and throwing out slanderous accusations. Ikechi has been able to act and say things with impunity, and it’s not right forLifetime’s experts to let him behave like that.It is the experts' job to stop toxicity and put a cap on wayward cast actionsthat will have negative consequences or hurt their partners.
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Season 18 Should Be Dr. Pepper & Pastor Cal’s Last Season
They Don’t Know How To Counsel Modern Couples
Another huge way theMarried at First Sightexperts could save their reputations and help future couples is for Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal to bow out of the franchise finally.
Their advice is generations behind, and they don’t fully understand modern couples, so their feedback is often off base.
That, and they aren’t grasping the intricacies of the couples' problems, so their counseling is moot. In any case, there is still hope for the experts to redeem themselves in season 18; they just need to be more proactive and present.
Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 9 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.
