If it’s any consolation to the American fans of the social experiment TV series, “Married at First Sight,” other couples in the show’s counterparts in Denmark and Australia are also not doing any better.
Because of what happened to the three couples during Season 2 of the top-rating social experiment TV series in the US, many are saying that it looks bleak that the show would be renewed for Season 3 next year.
Among the three couples, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone have recently stated they are already divorcing. Jessica Castro and Ryan De Nino, as well as Davina Kullar and Sean Varricchio, have also broken up, thus ending whatever good premise the show is anchored on.
One couple even got to the extreme point when Jessica and the other cast members had to file a temporary restraining order against Ryan De Nino because he threatened to kill her and her family after she found out that he has been cheating on her with a lesbian.
It turns out that “Married at First Sight” has a poor batting average in terms of couple success not only in the US but also in Denmark, where the show and its concept originated, and also in Australia where it also has its own TV series, details the Mirror of the UK.
The Danish version of the show “Married at First Sight” was a disaster with all four couples eventually filing for divorce.
Of the four couples in Australia, only one survived and remains strong to this day – the 29-year-old plumber Alex Garner and the 25-year-old marketing executive Zoe Hendrix. As a proof that their marriage is going strong, they would have a forthcoming baby soon if not for the recent miscarriage of Alex.
Of the three couples in Season 1 of “Married at First Sight” in the US, only one pair survived – 31-year-old Doug Hehner and 28-year-old Jamie Otis. Although their relationship started on the wrong foot, Dough and Jamie eventually found a way to make the marriage work and eventually fell in love. They are reportedly trying to take their marriage to the next level and are now working to have a baby soon.
In summary, of the six couples in America for Seasons 1 and 2, four in Denmark, and four in Australia, only two out of the 14 succeeded in the social experiment, accounting for a measly batting average of only 14.3%.
Many are saying that the showrunners should contemplate on ending the social experiment and the show for good if only to arrest its ever increasing contributions to failed marriages in the world.
Arranged marriage of the 21st century
The Guardian describes the plot of “Married at First Sight” as arranged marriage for the 21st century.
But unlike the arranged marriage of the past and also in current cultures, the ones at “Married at First Sight” do it in front of TV audience, which is obviously not fit for everyone.
The show practically turned marriage into science by a panel of experts who made and agreed to the matches themselves. The problem is that even if people are a great match on paper or in science, everything boils down to the personalities of people involved in the marriage that is why the failure rate is high.
Poor selection process
Many people have criticized the US TV series for having a poor selection process on the couples that they are marrying on first sight in the show. They believe that the criteria were not stringent enough thus ending the relationships in a sad note.
However Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content, which produces “Married at First Sight” says that the show has an advanced casting team that is deployed in several areas looking for willing and suitable candidates to take part in the social experiment.
I think you forgot Cortney and Jason (from season one USA)….last I heard they’re still together.
Yes. Courtney and Jason are still together, so the US batting average is 33%.