Let’s Talk About the Married at First Sight Season 1 Finale
I fell in love with FYI’s Married at First Sight on first sight. By the end of episode 1, I was already hooked. After seeing 3 episodes of the social experiment, I was rooting for the couples, I figured out who would probably make it and I was invested in their relationships.
The couples had to get married, go on their honeymoons (for 4 days) and then move in together. In one week, they went from solo dolo to shacked up with a spouse.
Jason/Cortney — Monet/Vaughn — Jamie/Doug
Then they had 4 weeks to co-exist, get to know each other and then at the end of the 31 days, each person had to make a decision: stay with your spouse or get divorced. Going from strangers to wedded un-bliss was the challenge here and whoever could work through it and adjust would fare best. But in the process, they were also risking their hearts because what if someone wants to stay married and their partner was all “NAHH?” Ouchie.
Courtney and Jason
From the VERY START, Jason and Courtney hit it off. They were the couple who saw each other and the attraction seemed immediate. 5 minutes after they met when they were pronounced as husband and wife, they had their first kiss (on the mouth!). They looked so good together, too. Jason is a hunk with an amazing body and Courtney is really pretty too.
They’re both kinda laid back so that made them mesh well. On their honeymoon, they really bonded and made the secks. When they got back to New York, they found a new place and moved in together.
Challenges: He’s an EMT and she’s a burlesque dancer. They have opposing schedules and they’re both incredibly busy. He’s about to start at the Fire Academy to become a firefighter so his schedule is about to get even busier. Also, neither of them have their family’s support in this. His mother is terminally ill with cancer and her parents are in North Carolina, refusing to cheer her on for this experiment. Also, Jason is incredibly afraid of commitment and fears trusting anyone because he’s had a really tough life. He guards his heart and doesn’t let his new wife in all the way.
This was my favorite couple throughout because they really seemed to be right for each other. Jason even changed his schedule a bit so he could see Courtney more. SO SWEET!
Monet and Vaughn
At the wedding (aka their first meeting), Monet was basically shaking like a feather because of the magnitude of it all. Vaughn was the cool one who tried to put her at ease. Their first kiss was at the reception and they looked really cute together. They went back to their hotel room and made the sex. Seemed that this couple had a connection and they were both cute so they looked good together.
But at the honeymoon, they had their first fight because Vaughn wasn’t feeling that Monet was paying him enough attention. When they got back to NYC, he moved from his New Jersey apartment into her Harlem digs.
Challenges: Vaughn and Monet fought frequently. He felt she was too independent, didn’t cook enough and wasn’t returning what he thought were gestures of “like.” She felt that he was too immature, wasn’t really where he needed to be as a man and too needy. They definitely had communication problems. I felt like they had different love languages and were showing each other their own preferred one.
This couple had me worried the most since the beginning because there was no real “honeymoon” phase with them. They got together and BOOM arguments. I thought Vaughn was a bit of an insensitive douchenugget too so yeah.
Jamie and Doug
When Jamie was walking down the aisle and saw her husband, she started crying. But it wasn’t because she was moved, it was because she wasn’t attracted to him. She didn’t even let him touch her and hit a wall slide at the end of the ceremony. Their wedding photoshoot was painful to watch. That night, he slept on the couch in their room.
On the honeymoon, Doug slowly charmed Jamie and kinda won her over with his goofiness and they spooned on night 3. They ended up kissing for the first time right before they returned to NYC. They found a nice spot and moved in together to begin the experiment.
Challenges: Jamie had a really tough childhood, where she saw her mother be physically abused by her step-father, they were really poor and ended up in a trailer park and she had to raise her 4 siblings. People have always let her down so she cannot trust anyone easily and she puts up a giant wall to anyone who tries to get close. Doug is patient with her but the day she takes him to see where she grew up, he lied to her about smoking a cigarette. It flushes all that they’ve built down the toilet as she throws up the iron wall again. Will she learn to forgive and trust in time?
The couple that grew the most during the 5 weeks was definitely Jamie and Doug because going from her being almost repulsed by him to her opening up and being all about PDA with him was huge! Doug never pressured her to do anything she wanted, and when decision time came they still hadn’t had sex. They were the only couple that hadn’t consummated their marriage.
Decision Time
Each couple met with 2 of the experts and had to talk about their journey.
Vaughn and Monet have a breakthrough 2 days before the decision and she cooks for him, he’s playful with her. Their decision is tough. When they get to the experts, Vaughn speaks for both of them and says they’ve decided to go their separate ways. She says she doesn’t think he’s ready to be a husband and he says he doesn’t think they have chemistry. No surprise there. This is the couple I didn’t expect to make it.
Yesss to that lip color! I need her to tell me what that is.
Vaughn and Monet = Getting Divorced.
Doug knows what he wants and that is Jamie. Meanwhile, she isn’t quite sure because she still hasn’t forgiven him about lying to her and without trust, there’s nothing. In front of the experts, Doug gives his answer quickly: stay married. Jamie explains that she’s afraid of being let down again butttttt she wants to stay married. YES! Give love a try!
Doug and Jamie = Staying Married.
Courtney admits in her confessionals that she really feels connected to Jason and that she does not want a divorce. She thinks he’s her “person.” AAAAWWWWWW!!! Jason is not sure because the risk of being hurt in a relationship is so great and he fears what could happen.
Jason and Courtney BOTH decide to stay married. I may or may not have shed 2 tears here because I was REALLY rooting for them. This is the couple who would have broken MY heart if they did not stay together because they seem so right. They were the youngest couple but seemed to be the most mature.
Jason and Courtney = Staying Married.
2 out of 3 ain’t bad. And next week is the reunion show, which comes 6 months after these decisions were made. I NEED Jason and Courtney to still be going strong. NEED! I’m nervous, man. Is Jamie all in love with Doug yet (because he seemed to be falling for her already)? Did Monet and Vaughn find other boos yet? I hope Monet did. EEEEE! We shall find out next week Tuesday (I’ll find out next Wednesday because I don’t have FYI but I have Hulu Plus).
FYI already renewed the show for season 2 and I will be watching that for sure. This show is IT! I wonder if they’ll have a same-sex couple next season. They should definitely think about it. Maybe a mixed-race couple too, instead of just the same color matches. It shall be interesting what they switch up for season 2. This wasn’t just a social experiment, but it was clearly an experiment for the channel too.
So what are your thoughts on the results? What couple was your fave? Let’s talk bout it!
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74 Comments
This show is my OBSESSION!! When I first heard about it, I wanted to PUKE. I thought this would be super exploitative, and really insincere and all played out for the cameras.
Instead, I think it was a fairly honest look at why some relationships work and some don’t.
I’ve been married now for almost 9 years, and I think I’m starting to figure out how to make marriage work.
Yes, chemistry is huge, but in the case of Vaughn and Monet, we see it isn’t everything. Many couples like them would slog it out because the sex was good or because on “paper,” they seemed to be with the right person. But as Monet said in the final therapy session, what she THOUGHT she wanted, she actually didn’t. So chemistry can only go so far.
In the case of Jamie and Doug, there was NO chemistry, which seems like a no-go. But what she craved the most in her life (whether she knew it or not) was stability and comfort, because she never had that. So as she let her guard down and as Doug worked to show her that he wasn’t out to get her, she grew attracted to him because he is safe and stable. The lie about did me IN though. I hope he NEVER does that shit again, because I think she will WALK.
Courtney and Jason are precious. I liked how completely open she was without seeming needy. She laid it on the table like “take it or leave it, but this is me.” I think a lot of people, women especially, are afraid to do that because you don’t want to scare someone off, but she was sincere and caring and I think Jason got it. He’s a doll baby and I hope they make it!
I loved this show. I hope the couples are happy — separate and together — and I hope they make it. There are about zero other reality shows that I feel this way about, so this really floored me. And if I was single and in NYC, hell, I’d sign up!! Why not?
I agree with everything you said! I hope Jamie and Doug (and C & J) get counseling to keep their marriages going. NO ONE is perfect and Jamie (and anyone who is married) is going to have to accept that and accept that when a person makes a mistake/effs up that it’s not necessarily the beginning of the end. Love this show!
You don’t have to be in NYC to sign up… i found a website where you can sign up to be on this show and a lot of others too… I’m terrified but seriously considering doing it!
Do it! Why not?
What is the website?
Whew! Jason had me scared in those final moments! I mean, I *knew* they’d start married (otherwise I’d be mad at the universe), but still.
And yes, Vaughn was kind of a douchenozzle. After hearing his mom talk about how men need to be tended to and fawned over, even if you don’t really mean it, explained a lot of his behavior.
So I was all in my feelings about “Vonet” not working out. *sigh* I mean… I went THERE with it…. I was rooting so hard for them because I felt like “mainstream” watching this show was looking at us like “See…I told you them Negros wasn’t gonna make it. All they were good for was the sexy time!”. *sigh* I felt like it was an indictment on the state of black marriage and these “experts” just saw two Negros and slapped them together. Being black wasn’t enough to hold them down.. I know I know…I shouldn’t get that deep about a show and folks I don’t know but I was so personally invested. Jason and Cortney were my fav……. I was so happy they worked out. He had a LOT to deal with…and a tough, kind Brooklyn guy like him needed a sweet, Southern belle who just wanted to fall in love. I am praying she met the mom before she passed (or if she passed…we wont know till the reunion). And speaking of reunion..SOON as I saw Vaughn and Monet yelling in the preview..I was yelling (ironically) at my TV like “DAMN SON! WHY WE GOTTA BE STEREOTYPICAL REALITY TV BLACK FOLKS!” all yelling and getting real “Love and Hip Hop” on each other *sigh*. I’m just saying…
I don’t think the experts matched them just because they were both black. If you watched the casting special there were other black people. I think they matched them based off what they said they wanted. The issue was once they got what they said they wanted, they realized it didn’t work for them. Monet said she wanted traditional gender roles but then got upset because he expected her to cook. Vaughn said he wanted somebody bubbly but her bubbly personality got on his nerves.
Yes to this Dominique! I know everyone hated Vaughn but I’m not gon lie I didn’t like Monet. She was TOO much for me. Monet kept making these comments about how he wasn’t grown up enough for her… and to myself (and maybe someone else can explain it) but other than a few off-color douchy jokes he made that she clearly didn’t get, I don’t see what wasn’t grown up about him. He had a job (2 of em!), his own place… I’m not sure what was missing? I think the real issue was definitely what they explained at the end… Monet asked for something that she thought she wanted. He was very traditional and she was too independent for such. The funny thing about the their relationship is it echoes to me so many of my acquaintances’ relationships. Women are smart, career oriented and independent and that doesn’t always mesh well with what you think you want. A very valuable lesson learned.
I do disagree w/ Luvvie about who we hope is on for next season. I don’t want the experts to do ANYTHING in casting that might mess with how they go about matching. I don’t want a homosexual couple just for the sake of viewers or an interracial couple for the sake of viewership either (and I’m all about the choco/vanilla swirl). I want them to make matches with their expert knowledge and whatever comes out… is what comes out. I loved that on the casting special they urged that they would not have 3 couples just for 3 couples sake. If only 1 or 2 matched, then they’d have only 1 or 2. That sense of being genuinely interested in the couples well being is I think what makes the show feel so sincere.
Ugh! I’m glad someone else said it. Monet got on my nerves. She was like incapable of seeing anything from his point of view. She asked for something and then couldn’t handle it when she got it. So did he. They were right to walk away.
I didn’t hate either of them, but I thought they were both very strange. They had sex which is so intimate, but then would say such hurtful things. Vaughn telling Monet she is annoying was so rude. But when Monet told Vaughn he didn’t know who he was as a man and needed to figure himself out, that was cold blooded. I think Vaughn had a better idea of what he wanted than she did. He needs the barefoot and pregnant wife that meets him at the door with a kiss and a beer. Nothin’ wrong with that if you can get it. Monet admitted she was wrong about what she thought she wanted. Dead wrong! Haha!
I get that Vaugh was a mama’s boy, but Monet made me give her the side-eye. There was nothing tender about her and he actually moved to her space as a compromise. They did not have chemistry and should have waited like Doug and Jamie.
Oh I totally agree with you there…. I saw the casting episode too. Perhaps for what they both wanted they should have matched them outside of race. I really still feel like that was a tiny factor among those experts.
I actually don’t think that the experts could have matched anyone without the question “are you open to dating outside of your race?” and I think that was a question that they would not have aired. The question has nothing to do with being racist, but people are attracted to others for a whole myriad of reasons and race sometimes is a factor of attraction. I’m mixed and I have always been attracted to black or indian men and no part of me is indian! So saying that they should have matched them outside of race would not have worked if both had stated their attraction for their own race.
Can I just say that I loved this show? While I feared that this show will be used as an example of the “angry black woman” and why they are all still single…I think that Monet was pretty much the best “character” on the show.
For me, she represented many women. Women that want something, but don’t realize what that entails. She wanted a traditional marriage. He wanted a traditional marriage. She didn’t really know what that meant…and it was so powerful and educational.
Frankly, my least favorite couple was Doug and Jamie. I think Jamie needs more internal work before she can give and commit to a marriage. I feel that Doug has to be perfect and walk on eggshells and all Jamie needs is one reason and he is out the door.
Cortney and Jason were adorable. I am happy that they worked out. Jason needs a nurturer and he needs to learn to sit back and enjoy it. Good for them!
I have fears for next season, really I do. This reminds me of the subsequent seasons of the “Real World”. People that were chosen met an archetype. They stopped being real people and started being characters. I don’t want them to do that on this show.
I totally agree with this. I think Jamie needs to get personal therapy before trying to get with anyone. Doug is a nice guy and is really getting the short end of this stick. He is alwYs going to have to prove himself to her and the fact that she’s not naturally attracted to him doesnt help. She wants perfection and is almost looking for a reason to leave. I think he would do better on his own.
My thoughts exactly! Yes to everything you said. I also fear they will start to look for certain character types to fill a role…and I too made the Real World comparison. I remember the original Real World and it was good, but after a while it seemed like they looked for the rude white guy, the loud black girl, the black guy who was either quick to fight or was hyper-sexualized, a sweet white girl, a spicy Latina and then the damaged white girl who was still able to gain sympathy from the audience because she was “picked on” by the loud black girl and let us not forget about the clueless tragic bi-racial female who just doesn’t quite understand why the blacks are mad when the white guy or clueless white girl wants to hang a noose for Halloween decorations. **But I digress**
I think Jamie needs a lot of work and I feel bad for Doug. Maybe he’s the man for the job, but Jamie is the only person that can make herself whole.
I agree with everything you say. I want to be BFFs with Monet, seriously. And Jamie needs intensive therapy, but I hope she can make it work with Doug.
I also really liked Monet and thought Vaughn was looking for a mommy-wife. Maybe they can fix her up with someone like Doug, who is just a good guy who is just human. Jamie is a little crazy and Doug is a saint to put up with her. Overall, I think Doug and Monet might have been a good match because he deserves someone who doesn’t have all that emotional baggage.
I might be the only one on Vaughn’s side. Monet is the stereotypical independent black women that men talk about. Educated, great job, way too independent, doesn’t cook (and doesn’t see why this is a big thing), non catering to her man, argumentative, brings past relationship hurts and baggage into new relationships, condescending (as seen when they are in the car and she tells him he needs to be more established). Unbending (she was absolutely NOT going to move to jersey)and so used to being single they don’t know how to just be taken care of. The type of woman that makes a man say “well what do you need me for?” She will be single for a long time unless she changes. She is the type of woman that wants her man already “made”. And has unrealistic expectations of what a relationship is. She probably uses phrases and excuses like “I cant find a man because they are intimidated by me/my success” Vaughn is no angel but I think he was reacting to her I am woman hear me roar attitude.
Doug and Jame – I’m not coninced Jamie wants Doug. I think she likes the “idea” of him. When he kisses her she sees so not ino it. She is so usd to dysfunction she doesnt see this a “normal” and will most likely sabatoge it and leave. Unless she continues counseling for her insecurites I dont se them lasting
Yes. Yes. and some more Yes!
Yes! I couldn’t agree more! I have a funny feeling that Monet and Vaughn “hooked” up a few times after they said goodbye. Monet exhausted me a few times too, “hush chile!” Vaughn may have been a little wet behind the ears but at least he was up for the challenge and I believe he would have stayed married if she wanted to. I think a lot of his doughbagginess was to get a reaction out of her. I’ve been married for 8 years and I still have to tell my husband when to put his 10 yr old self away and just work with his 46 yr old self.
I agree about Monet. I feel like she was so caught up in what she wanted she never once gave a thought to who she was a a relationship partner. I found her very undesirable and I predict that Vaughn will be happily married within 5 years while she is still looking for someone who is “established enough”.
I was Monet, 10 years ago and I know that unless she starts to make some adjustments to her attitude she will be chasing her own tail for a very looooong time!
The first thing I said when I read this was “Luvvie agrees with my view on Vaughn and all is right with the world!” I had initially refused to watch this, I despise reality TV because it’s never real (Not since the Real World Season 1 with Heather B and Julie and Norman) so I’ain’t (it’s a word) care. But I was sitting home one Saturday and the first two came on and I realized quickly this was not script but real life!
Initially I wanted Vaughn and Monet to work out because black couple, then I realized by episode 2 he was kinda douchy. Like he wanted Monet to fawn all over him but he wasn’t giving her much to work with other than a nice body, so she closed up. His show of support was kind of that for me, a show. Whereas the other two seemed genuine about their affections. When Jason left Cortney that bottle of wine with a note I lost it! LOVE. And Doug was so super awesome because he went way beyond the physical and just wanted her to trust him and his family. Walking her dog when he got up in the morning so that she could come home from work and sleep? Really? Dude sold!!!
Also I am not hating on Vaughn (yet), I just don’t think his view and his past relationships kind of skewed his views on what and how he thought Monet would react to him. He wants someone to cater to him and say I love you boo every five seconds and show their affection. That’s a different love language than Monet and he didn’t seem to catch on to how to get to her. Monet hit the nail on the head about herself as well though, she’s independent and more so than she thought. A traditional man wouldn’t work for her, she needs someone that can understand what she is asking for, do things for her and not expect reciprocity. I think that’s where it went wrong with them. He would do something for her and he wanted her to make a bigger gesture to acknowledge him, instead of doing it because he wanted her to be happy.
Cortney and Jason were my immediate favorite, I thought Jason was going to say no. I was almost in tears!!! When he said yes, I shouted so loud my puppy came running to see if I was being attacked. Clearly too attached to the show I am.
Also this is way longer of a comment that I needed to make but no one else I know watched the show and I’ve been holding it. lol Sorry. 🙂
No one I knew watched the show either! And I can barely keep up on the twitter so this is a great way to say what we all feel.
Definitely different love languages for Vonet (LOL). I kept trying to like him but he just kept saying douchey things! The 2 main people I was rooting for was Monet and Doug. I just felt they were trying so hard to be with the people they were matched with. Jamie finally came around but I’ma need to see next week to complete my thoughts on her.
Jason and Cortney were the cutest and I knew they were gonna make it although I had a few heart palpitations when he was splaining himself!!
we so agree on Vonet!! I just. I tried with him and then I couldn’t and I face planted. that was episode lol
Am I the only one that didn’t see this so called chemistry between Vaughn and Monet? I knew they definitely weren’t going to make it. Vaughn is definitely super needy and needs to grow up.What the fluck was that about a threesome? Where they do that at?
Jamie got on my nerves the most with her whiny attitude – she better hopes it works out with Doug because I don’t know too many men who can put up with that for the long term.
I don’t think Vaughn was needy. He was asking for what any man would, Food and acknowledgement/attention. I didnt get that he wanted this 24/7 but some type of attention outside the bedroom is what he wanted. Monet was just so independent and used to functioning alone, that I dont think she knows how to include a mate in her life and function with 2.
I honestly think that threesome comment was editing. He said it but I think they edited out a portion where he may have said he was just kidding. I think they did that for the storyline to paint him as a douche.
We’ll see at the reunion I guess – I hope they bring that up, but if someone I just met a few weeks ago is talking threesome, it would definitely be a wrap for me.
i’m gonna go ahead and assume you are a man TS and I’m a woman so I probably do side with Monet more. Monet tried to include him in her life and he was like nah I’m good! And from your previous comment THEY BOTH were argumentative and brought up things from the past. She said he was being ridiculous and he said she was name calling. It is so tough when you try so hard to figure out what someone wants and they keep resisting you. They tried to restart but I think the damage was already done. I really do think they were both all in but it just didn’t work out.
I would like to see what they say about how they were edited!!
You were nice. I was going to ask if TS was Vaughn. Just kidding…well kind of. Maybe.
LOL! Nope just a woman who has lived and learned. I never said Vaughn was an angel. But it angered me to see Monet acts like so many other black women that I see (and how I used to be). Same cycle. Always single and can’t figure out why. First, stop hanging around your other single friends so much. They offer no advice other than to tell you dont change a thing and that you all are fine and man bashing sessions. Start meeting married couples and other couples and see what makes them work or not work. Start making changes! I never said Vaughn was an angel but I dont think what he asked for was anything any other man wouldn’t. I just think he does not know how to ask for it. (has poor communication skills) and just expected the woman to already know these things. But she was not the right choice for him.
Nope I’m a woman! :). A woman that has been married and has learned from past mistakes in relationships. I used to be Monet. I did a total look within myself and have had a WONDERFUL relationship for some time. Monet is def stereotypical and will be a single black woman for a very long time if she doesnt change.
🙂 I get what you are saying. My husband and I watched it together and he commented that neither really knew what they wanted.
I agree–even though I generally liked Monet, sometimes she was a bit much. Like when she told Vaughn he needed to “establish himself as a man.” Okay, wow. Never mind he’d served in the military, was educated, employed & seemed to be supporting himself sufficiently.
And even though he got on my nerves a lot (well, they both did w/ all the bickering), I WAS Team Vaughn when he came home from active duty just wanting the two of them to spend some time reconnecting–and she was all like, “Naw, my girls are coming over and that’s that!” She couldn’t have postponed the girls’ night for just one more? I’m just saying. If you want your relationship to work there’s gotta be some balance–it can’t be ALL about your girlfriends or else…well, it WILL be just about them when he bounces!
sorry TS for assuming! We are all entitled to our opinion as well as our life experiences that shape it. I try not to be the stereotypical black woman but sometimes I know I fall right into that category. And I was rooting so hard for Monet!!!
Call me crazy but I was rooting for Vonet, lawd I was looking at that breakthrough (when she cooked for him) like okay yes Progress! I think they will be friends though seems like because of what they went through together. I shed tears when Jamie said she wanted to stay married, I was sitting there like YES JESUS! THE GIRL IS PUTTING HER HEART OUT THERE FINALLY! Doug seemed so loving towards Jamie and all around good guy, with the exception of the lie ( I was pissed at him but I understood why, it was embarrassment). I knew Cortney and Jason were staying together and how cute are there babies going to be. They truly had the spark from the start, I mean they had the best wedding pictures! Overall I’ll tune in next season. I really enjoyed the show.
I. Can. Not. Stand. Monet! I understand completely why things didn’t work out with her and Vaughn. Maybe she was different off camera, but on camera Monet came off as cold and unyielding. The only “bubbliness” I saw in her was in her mimosas at brunch.
Vaughn compromised by moving into her apartment, even though that affected his commute to his TWO jobs versus her one. Yes, he made ill timed douchey jokes, but overall he seemed like a decent enough guy who would have done the work if his partner was reciprocal. Did she honestly not understand why he would be irritated to come home to a coven meeting after being on duty all weekend? Did it not occur to her to prepare a nice meal for him to return to?! That simple gesture could have made all the difference.
Not to place all the blame on her, but I saw several instances where Monet had opportunities to right the ship, but was absolutely oblivious. All she had to do was see beyond herself and meet the man halfway. I feel that he knew he was less than perfect, but was willing to put in the work if she’d extended herself a bit more. That final dinner was too little, too late.
Oh well, bring on season two. I just PRAY they don’t tweak the formula and sensationalize the show. The formula is a good one. Stick with it!
I’ll join you here and no I’m not a man. I was scared that last effort dinner would push them to try again but for me it was too little too late. I see so many friends that are just like Monet defending her to death. Their blinders are on and the lack of self awareness is scary. If you don’t cook don’t look for a traditional man. I’m not judging you for not cooking (ok I am) but don’t get mad that HE wants someone that does.
Thank you! Whenever I hear my girlfriends complain that they don’t have a man because they are too independent and intimidate men, I want to scream! You do not intimidate men, you repel them! Catch a clue and you might catch a boo! Lol. Sorry, rant over.
Chelle! Loved your comments! Made me laugh too! I forgot about the night she had the “coven” over. That was so bad! I liked Monet, but she was a bit self absorbed. That was a really insensitive move on her part. She pretty much forced her entire life down his throat. Her house, her friends, her brunches. She is going to have a hard time finding a guy willing to sit back and wait for her to make time for him. I’m guess the past boyfriends found solace elsewhere.
I didn’t want to like this show, but in watching I fell in love with the possibility of finding a partner without all the preamble that most relationships go through. Yes Jamie was a bit cray-cray about Doug’s lie, but knowing what she grew up seeing it was a little more understandable. Vaughn and Monet had way too many fights to ever really take a moment to learn about each other. No Vaughn wasn’t ready for a marriage, neither was Monet. He wanted a mother and she wanted to be married, but not be a wife like most people think of. Cooking and nurturing are things everyone men and women think of as things to expect. I’m not saying she should have cooked everyday, but Damn! more than what she was willing to do. Now Courtney and Jason seemed like they will do whatever it takes to make it work. When Jason is able to let go of the thought that he has to take care of everyone and not himself or expect anyone to be there for him their lives may flow pretty well. IJS, so ready for next season.
Luvvie — I am so happy that you and your readers have loved Married at First Sight. We set out to create some different — thoughtful, authentic, dialogue provoking television. I am thrilled that you have found it to be all of those things.
Fondly, Logan Levkoff
Props to you for accomplishing what you set out to do. What made the show great was the lack of “set ups”. It was so real. Hope the network let’s you keep it that way.
Thank you so much — you know, I feel like one of the highlights of this experience for me has been watching (online) the conversations about relationships evolve. It’s extraordinary. Thank you for coming along on this journey with all of us!
I, too, am obsessed with this show. The finale had me on pins and needles and I’m relatively happy with the results of all 3 couples.
Vaugh and Monet were doomed from the start. They should have never slept together the first night. I found Vaughn to be harsh and self-centered and Monet was way too emotionally detached and independent.
Jamie and Doug – I didn’t like Jamie from the start, I think she was rude and bratty and handled the wedding day immaturely (is that a word?). Although he lied about smoking the cig, I think he deserves someone a lot better than Jamie. She’s a serial reality tv, 15 minutes of fame, type chick and I don’t think she’s really serious about her marriage to Doug. Not to mention she’s got a lot of past baggage I think she should deal with and get past before tackling a relationship. It’s not fair to her spouse.
Courtney and Jason – Very happy they stayed together and I’m hoping they still are when the reunion airs. Loved her from the start, he had to grow on me because I thought he was a tad immature. I’m still on the fence about her family and how they’ll treat him since they didn’t bother supporting her decision on doing the experiment. Also, his reluctance to introduce her to his mom irritated me.
Overall, this show is my new obsession and I can’t wait for Season 2!
Props to Luvvie! Love her and her blog to pieces! She’s my little sister in my head. 🙂
I really liked this show. I felt the people were authentic and there were no pre-conditioned roles for people to play. I do hope the show continues this for the next season.
My hubby and I watched this together. We both thought Courtney and Jason would stay married. We weren’t too sure about Jamie and Doug, but my hubby thought that Jamie would come around, but it would be Doug that would leave due to her behavior.
Vaughn and Monet gave us quite a bit to talk about. I didn’t think they would make it and I wasn’t sure that I wanted them to make it. I know that sounds horrible, but after the first few days there really seemed as though there was nothing for them to talk about or discover. He seemed uninterested and after a while she was over trying.
I agree with you Rae. I felt V & M needed to part. They had a connection, but not on an emotional level. Never once saw them give each other a “loving” embrace that you saw with the other couples.
“after the first few days there really seemed as though there was nothing for them to talk about or discover.”
Gworl, that’s because he’d already discovered that booty! lol
But something else I wanted to touch on and I’m surprised no one else mentioned it. Did you catch that on the day of the wedding Vaughn and his buddies were diggin’ Monet like “Yeahhhh, she’s hot!”? And Ms. Monet was lookin’ cute…BUT, she catfished errrbody! Haha It looks like she dropped a few pounds for the wedding and not to mention her MUA beat her face for the gawds. Then, on the honeymoon and after, she was lookin’ a bit on the pudgy/frumpy side. #Catfish #Where’sNev
I stumbled upon this show and had pretty much the same reaction as you did. This morning I watched their segment on GMA (west coast) at end of segment Robin Roberts made a smug “okie Dokie” after couples gave their answer on whether they did this for attention or love. The rest if GMA cast joined in on Robin’s above it all attitude by bursting into laughter. Funny coming from a network that runs Bachelor pad etc.. I find the whole thing an amazing successful experiment that showed first hand how sometimes we don’t always know what’s best for us. As with Jamie who would have never picked Doug on her own, fell madly in love with the man inside. Monet thought she wanted a dominate man in traditional role. She found out she is too independent for that. It was extremely interesting and frankly a great education. The fact that it was fun to watch was a just a great bonus.
Am I the only one who was SO over Jamie going on & on w/ the “woe-is-me-I-had-a-hard-life-growing-up-in-the-trailer-park” thing? I mean, dang, chick–you had a hard-knock life, we get it…can we move on? Personally, if I were one of her relatives I would have been offended by the way she visited the park with Doug, acting all ashamed & like she was afraid of catching something, lol. She could have instead wore her roots with pride as a testament to how far she’s come–but then again, Jaime strikes me as a “glass half-empty” kind of gal.
We’ll see how it goes, but even though she warmed up a little towards Doug, she still comes off like she thinks she’s doing him a favor by staying with him–so just like her mama, I’m still giving her the side-eye. (Homegirl wall-slid over her son, can you blame her???)
Always in my head everytime Jaime’s on-camera: “Heffa, you ain’t all THAT, though!” LOL
I feel what you are saying about Jamie. I was kinda sick of her whining, but I felt for her. She is seriously damaged goods. To the point that I felt she shouldn’t be part of this. But lucky for her, they matched her with someone she needed to find. I hope the doctors give her some free therapy. She needs it
Hated Vaughn on first sight. Only got worse over time. There IS NO woman good enough for him.
Luvvie, you just opened a BIG OLE can of worms cause I did not know this was on hulu! Aww shucks!!!!
I agree that I so judged this show at first without even watching, and I quickly fell in love with it when I saw that it was serious and not gimmecky at all.
I still think Jamie is fake (dating reality show #3 or something for her, right?) and she is not here for Doug. At all.
I think Vaughn is getting a worse rap than he deserves because while some of the stuff he says sounds terrible, I think a part of it is it’s probably taken out of context and cut and edited a certain way. (i.e., when he asked about menage’s, he could have been being facetious, but it wasn’t edited to appear that way.) And at the end of the day, he said from jump that he wanted a “traditional wife” and whether anyone agrees with his views on that, that’s what he wanted. Just turns out that Monet isn’t necessarily interested in being the “traditional wife.”
i feel in love with the show at first sight (pun intended lol)
i thought that Jamie should be in therapy vs trying to get married. She’s has TONS of issues. No one should be subjected to her drama/issues like Doug is. I almost jumped on the TV when she turned her nose up at him! REALLY! are you kidding me! with your TRAIN CARS of baggage! I wanted to scream at her YOU WONT GET BETTER THAN HIM!!! UGH!!! He bent over like a tree in a hurricane for her and she seemed (to me) to pull an industrial fan out for more wind! Poor Doug smoked that cigarette because after dealing with her and her meltdown at the trailer park, i would have had to smoke too! He grew up in a very loving, warm, supportive family with parents who adore each other. He had no frame of reference for a extremely dysfunctional, abusive, substance abusive family life. I would have needed a cigarette and drink after what he saw when they went to her hometown. If she reviews the episodes, she might be extremely embarrassed on how she was ‘portrayed’. I really hope she’s in therapy. Doug deserves so much better than her. He’s a saint for being with her and her mess.
Monet and Vaughn, where do i begin….??? I think that he was much more ‘ready’ for marriage than her. What more did he need to be ‘where he needed to be’ for her? my jaw dropped when she went there. I mean seriously, you don’t drive, don’t cook, “Ms. independent”, “i aint moving to jersey,” brunch with friends, etc, so how pray tell are YOU marriage-ready?? um, no sista you ain’t. Not that Vaughn is perfect but this man really tried to work with you. He has to commute, but you, oh no. He has little space in your tiny apt and you acting as if you ‘changed’ your life for him? um, WTH???
Now Vaughn isn’t off scot-free in my book. He had communicate issues. I think once he perceived her as ‘distant’ on the honeymoon, he was pretty shut down with her. Personally, i think the 3-some reference was a joke. her reaction was a bit much. Personally, i would have laughed and pointed to the biggest woman in the room and said “what about her” From the previews, they are going to argue at the reunion show.
Jason & Courtney: the youngest ones and the only ones who at least made an attempt (both of them) to make this work! Even with Jason’s commitment phobia he put forth big efforts. I can’t be mad at him. They both put in the work. i hope they stay together forever! they are so cute! i heart them!
sorry this was soo long!, its Luvie’s fault! ROFL!!!
As much as I liked the show, I’m glad it’s over. Much of it was a bit too drawn out for no reason.
Vonet~I don’t like either of them and I knew they wouldn’t stay together. It was obvious to me that Vaughn wasn’t really attracted to Monet and he was definitely over her once he GTD (Got The Drawls). BUT, because he wanted to be married, he was willing to stick it out. He seems to like the *idea* of marriage and he wants somewhat of a Stepford Wife. And I agree w/Monet that he’s too immature to be married. His communication skills suck and he seems to say all the right things for the cameras and the “experts”, but he doesn’t put it into practice. In other words, he’s full of shit. Just because he looks good on paper, doesn’t mean that translates well to real life. Monet wants to be married for the wrong reasons. I think she feels like she’s at a place in her life where being married was the next logical step. It’s also obvious to me that she’s probably never had any long-term relationships. Her “love language” is sex…she doesn’t know how to effectively communicate outside of the bedroom and she seems to always be on the defensive…chill out boo. Learn how to be soft sometimes. IMO, neither of them should be married just because they want to be. This match was a MISmatch.
Doug+Jamie~I love Doug to death, but he needs to grow a pair. He thinks Jamie is the best he can do because he thinks she’s so beautiful. And he’s willing to be her doormat because of that. Jamie thinks she’s doing Doug a favor because she thinks she’s more attractive than he is. She also thinks that by marrying into “the perfect family” that will somehow erase her trailer park past. She wants to avoid doing the work she needs to do on herself by “riding the coattails” of someone else’s perceived “perfection”. She shallow and disingenuous. When she was on the Bachelor shows, she was all over both those guys and they both rejected her. She didn’t need all that “time and patience” then. If Doug looked like her “ideal”, she would’ve been all over him. She’s the type of chick that constantly chooses assholes for relationships and friend-zones guys like Doug to soak up their doting and attention. I don’t think she’s “fallen madly in love” with Doug…I think she has an agenda. She probably wants a spin-off show or something. She wants reality show fame. She needs intensive therapy though.
Courtney+Jason~I think they’re adorbs and I knew they’d stay together. Even though they’re the youngest couple, they seemed really committed to making it work. I just hope Jason will be more willing to opening up and that they aren’t codependent on each other. Him because of his mom and her because of lack of familial support.
Overall, I thought this was a good show. I just hope it doesn’t jump the shark and go all Hollywood and unnecessary on us.
Lola you took my exact thoughts and wrote it out.
Team Vonet is not ready for marriage. I hope they both watch the show and use it to better themselves. I also hope Vaughn doesn’t use the exuse of “editing” to justify his actions. Maybe Vaughn was only doing the show for exposure. He has a link to his modeling profile on his twitter page.
Jamie, sigh…. She has website in which it states she is a host, model, tv personality & RN. I still question her authenticity. Doug is a good guy and doesn’t deserve someone that only did the show for 15 more minutes of fame.
Oh Ms. Luvlee, I saw Vaughn’s model page during the airing of the first show. I did my Googles! lol Even though I did shoot him a quick side-eye after seeing it, I do believe he really did want to be married.
You hit on good point about Vaughn. Something tells me the “editing” excuse will be used. He’s just that type.
Yes, Doug does seem like a genuinely good guy. He can do sooooo much better than Jamie the famewhore. I ain’t eem down with #TeamSwirl, but I’d marry the shit outta Doug AND give him a lil booty sometimes. Did you see dat bawdy?! LOL
BTW: The NY post has an article on the couples post-show. Is it just me or is Courtney looking a lil um…”fluffy”? Methinks there’s a baby in there.
I guess since I mentioned the article, I could at least post it. Duuuuh…SMH@me.
http://nypost.com/2014/09/10/which-married-at-first-sight-couples-found-wedded-bliss/
Definitely not team Monet but I was hoping that a miracle would happen and they would figure it out. It was interesting that Monet talked about wanting to be in a traditional gender role but her actions indicated otherwise. I don’t understand why she never cooked. He did move from Jersey so she could be closer to work (and presumably her friends) so as the one who didn’t have to commute it would have just been the nice thing to do to show appreciation for the compromise he made by cooking dinner on his long days. Especially since it was obvious that the action of cooking was something he’d fine meaningful. Vaughn was a major jerk a lot of the time and most of the time it was for no reason, but I thought her comments about him not being ready for marriage or knowing who he was as a man were harsh. I do think Vaughn had an immature perspective on marriage and relationships and this was driven home on the episode when he talked about his parents marriage and losing his dad. The reality is his dad died when he was a very young child and he saw their marriage through the eyes of a 0-9 year old. To be running around as an adult basing choices and decisions on what your 9 year old eyes THINK they saw is ridiculous. Even his mom sort of told him he romanticized his parents relationships and in real life the marriage was not easy. Because of this, I think he’s going to have a hard time at finding a woman to be with and grow into marriage with. In that regard he has some maturing to do for sure!
I loved the show and have these same feelings you have about these couples. Vaughn was a tripppp. I’ma need him to take 5 seats stage left. He annoyed me.
I thought this was a very interesting experiment considering the fact that all the testing was done to match these couples. Can’t wait to see what comes in season 2. Thanks for the recap!
I just binged watched the last 7 episodes. I LOVE this concept and would totally try it…not on TV though.
I was rooting for Moet and Vaughn (actually I was rooting for all of them). Monet got on my nerves! Vaughn was honest. He asked for a thteesome….that’s a valid question! What if she said yes? She was sensitive.
Yes Vaughn was douchey but boy did I get a great laugh out of it. I actually spit out my water when he told Monet, “I’m annoyed by you personally” (lowkey so was I…inside voice dear). I’m really hoping Jason and Courtney are still together, they were such a natural fit and I was rooting for them from the start. Maybe a little too much…I’m pretty sure I held back tears when Jason made his decision…
I REALLY enjoyed this show and the seriousness with which the producers, experts and participants approached it.
I was totally rooting for all of the couples and honestly believe that with a lot of work and willingness to grow and compromise they could all make it. Arranged marriages have worked for centuries in different cultures.
I love Doug. He handled Jamie so amazingly well while still retaining his sweetness, confidence and swag. I am concerned that Jamie is waiting for him to mess up and he’s not going to be perfect (just like she isn’t in many ways). I understood her reaction at the wedding in being disappointed that he did not match the image in her head, but Doug is a nice guy with a great body and a personality that makes him even more attractive after getting to know him. Their first kiss was the best moment on the show for me. I completely support Jamie’s decision to abstain from sex until she knows him better and am glad that Doug does too. I do think Jamie needs a lot of therapy to work through her childhood trauma. Doug’s lie, especially swearing on his Mama’s life, was a low moment, but I understood his embarrassment and desire to be perfect for Jamie. I just don’t want him to not hold her feet to the fire too. She’s not the superstar in the relationship. He is a great catch. I loved her idea to do the photo shoot. The photos were revealing. They are growing, they are trying and I hope they make it.
Cortney and Jason were great. The things they did for one another with notes, schedule changes, support was wonderful to see. I just did not understand Jason not introducing her to his mother within the 30 days and I do have concerns about their lack of family support.
I recognized Monet and Vaughn’s communication issues. I’ve been there as the strong, independent woman who does not seem like she needs a man being married to the strong, high-maintenance man who thought he wanted what an independent woman was bringing to the table, but really wanted more rigid gender roles. Cooking meals was a huge deal for my ex husband as well. Monet should have tried harder there. Learning how to communicate without being purposefully hurtful and dealing with the constant power struggle were also issues. The funny thing is that these two had the potential to be a power couple if they united their gifts. S/N: I wish the President and First Lady (or my parents) would write a book about how they do what they do. “Vonet” talked a good game and were doing the intellectual work to examine their problems, but could not seem to put fixes in action in time. It looked exhausting and showed again that marriage truly is work. They had a hard time naturally doing for the other person because they just wanted to bless the other, not because it would get them something in return. All this “reciprocation” talk, Lawd. That would have come naturally with unselfish behavior. Sometimes you have to invest in doing what you should even if you don’t get “props” for it right then. But you also want to like the person you are doing it for.
Vaughn looked nice when I first saw him and steadily became more unattractive as the show went on with his doucheness. Monet’s girl’s night after his return from drill was very ill timed and a bad idea. I wish they had waited to have sex until they built a friendship and had mutual respect.
I live in the UK so I’ve never seen this show but really enjoyed reading Luvvie’s review and all your comments. The way each of you described the characters and the dynamics of each couple, I just know I would be hooked to this show too!
“He felt she was too independent, didn’t cook enough and wasn’t returning what he thought were gestures of “like” when I read this I got a headache. It’s 2014, why are men still using cooking as a measurement of proof of affection? Why is independence the enemy? If a man is mature and secure he’s not going to be turned off by strength. Ugh, ok I’m done.
Independence isn’t the enemy.
However, don’t advertise yourself as June Cleaver when you’re really Samantha Jones.
Wow…no greater polar opposites. 😉
I was born in 1967, and I can remember when you only really saw Black folks on TV a couple of times a week – During Good Times, That’s My Mama, the Jacksons Variety Hour, The Jeffersons, and of course on Saturday mornings during Soul Train, with all those bonus Ultra Sheen/Afro Sheen/Fashion Fair/Classy Curl/Colt 45 commercials played up until 1pm. Hence, whenever Blacks escaped the colored TV ghetto and ended up in the Promised Land of “mainstream” TV as contestants on the Ms. America Pageant/The Price is Right/the Newlywed Game…Let me tell you, we were Team BlackFolks! We rooted for them like our lives depended on it, and mourned when and if they lost. This is why, in spite of the fact that I KNEW they were doomed from the time that Miss “Traditional Gender Roles” didn’t want to cook and Vaughn was “joking” about threesomes, I was rooting for Vaughn and Monet. Even when Vaughn told Monet she was “annoying”, and Monet felt the most supported by Vaughn when he was helping her pee between cars (!!!), I was rocking back and forth, fanning myself, muttering “Ain’t nothin’ to big for my God…”. Oh, well…I almost wished Jaime and Doug hadn’t worked out, because I feel like Doug deserves SO much better! I don’t think your hard-life (and she definitely had one) entitles you to treat people poorly forever…She needs to get her baggage together and not inflict it on the next person. I wonder if Doug’s parents realized that Jaime didn’t even want Doug to TOUCH her (“Why are you trying to hold my hand?!”) for most of the honeymoon? If she was my daughter-in-law, she would be getting MAJOR side-eye from me for a long, long time…I never doubted that Barbie and Ken would make it. I was more forgiving of his issues than I was of Jaime’s, because even if he kept her at arms-length a little bit, he didn’t use it as an excuse to treat his wife badly. Good show overall, I will definitely be watching next season!
Did no one care about the enormous debt Courtney has and that she has no career goals? She us a 2nd rate burlesque performer. I feel sorry for her husband as he is now going to incur part of her financial debt. He should have run before it’s too late. Maybe her family knows she is financially unstable and wanted their daughter to marry someone more financially established. He’s a nice guy but he’s struggling with the support for his mother. Vaughn-momma’s boy Monet-looking for a relationship but not wanting to work at it. They were doomed from the freaky sexy start. Jamie and Doug will work as long as he stays starry eyed trying to please her every whim. When he expects more from her it may get rocky. Happy to have somewhere to say all this as no one I know watched!
I didn’t watch the first season, but plenty of folks seem to like this show. I may watch the recap. No one I know who watches thought very highly of the black guy…which made me a bit uncomfortable.
I’ll watch the recap. I don’t like watching “reality” TV because it seems to go LEFT once folks start to watch it loses all “reality”.
monet came across as an angry black women whats wrong with taking care of your man? cooking him a meal no big deal she just wasnt soft her voice was grating to me TBH!
I would like to be on your cast one day:)