The controversialMarried at First Sightseason 17 Denver cast reminds me of season 18’s Chicago cast, but one of the two casts stands out as more dysfunctional.Married at First Sightseason 17ran from October 2023 to late April 2024, making it one of the longest seasons in the show’s history.MAFSseason 18began in October 2024, and will be ending in mid-March 2025. Both seasons had the same panel of experts, meant to match the couples and guide them through the eight-week-long experience.
Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Cal Roberson, and Dr. Pia Holec have been working alongside each other sinceMAFSseason 15. They have not had the best track record with their matchmaking abilities, as only just under19% of the 69 couples matched have stayed together.I’ve noticedMAFSseason 17 and 18 have defined the show, as it seems to be heading in a new direction with higher drama and less matching success. In any case, the dysfunction of one of those season’s cast members stands out more to me as more problematic.
The Season 17 Cast Hoodwinked The Show
MAFSseason certainly shocked me after it was revealed thatthe cast had conspired together to control their narratives and on-camera interactions.This meant that the cast were being inauthentic not only with their partners but also with viewers and the experts. This led to mass resentment among the participants in each marriage and between the group as a whole. The women of season 27 felt slighted by their husbands, but didn’t take accountability for their part in the scandal. Salacious accusations were thrown towards each other, causing mayhem and screaming matches at the reunion.
What shook me even more, was that theMAFSexperts did not detect the deception in the slightest. Were they to have noticed that all the couples were experiencing downfalls due to their hoodwinking attempts, they could have saved the season by putting a kabosh on the dubiousness.“Optics"was the trigger word of the season, and I thought the season 17 cast ruined the season for viewers and diminished any hope of successful outcomes. The season 17 cast couldn’t get out of their own way because they wanted to save face and get positive edits.
One Couple Stayed Together In Season 18
When it comes to the success rate betweenMAFSseasons 17 and 18,season 17 had the worst outcome. Orion Martzloff asked for a divorce from Lauren Goodger upon returning from the honeymoon after Lauren made a hurtful, insensitive racial “joke” about Orion’s Native American heritage. Cameron Frazer and Clare Kerr split on their one-month anniversary, sighting religious differences, when in actuality, they were unmasked post-decision day as having split because Clare allegedly had a boyfriend during filming.
Brennan Shoyket and Emily Balch split days before decision day, after Brennan finally admitted that he lost attraction for Emily due to her mean girl attitude. Becca Haley and Austin Reed said yes on decision day only to split the very next day after it was revealed Austin lied to Becca about hanging out with a female producer the evening of decision day. Michael Shiakallis hadMAFS’first runaway bride situation, and he was rematched with Chloe Brown, only to say no on decision day because he wasn’t ready.
None of theMAFSseason 17 couples stayed together, but one couple stayed together from season 18. Camille Parsons and Thomas McDonald said yes to staying married, and they seem like they are going to make it.
To me, the success rates of the seasons don’t matter as much as the actions of the cast in being scandalous. And I am certain season 18’s cast takes the cake on that one.
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now
Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.
MAFS Season 18’s Cheating Scandal Is Unmatched
It Surpassed MAFS Season 17’s Drama
I believeMarried at First Sightseason 18’s cast has the most dysfunction, as Michelle Tomblin’s husband, David Trimble, and Allen Slovick’s wife, Madison Myers,were carrying on an affair they consistently lied about.When forced to come clean, David and Madison opted to start an official relationship, which tookMarried at First Sightscandal to a whole new level. While season 17’s cast acted shady by attempting to control their narrative, I feel the season 18 cast totally crashed and burned as a result of the cheating and couples swap.
Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.
