8 Ways Married At First Sight Season 17 Changed The Show Forever (In A Bad Way)

Married at First Sight season 17 changed the show in several ways for the worse. Experts Pastor Cal Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz, and Dr. Pia Holec were in charge of matching the Denver hopefuls and guiding them in the eight-week-long Married at First Sight process. Unfortunately, season 17 got off to a rough start after Michael Shiakallis was matched with someone who wasn’t ready to get married to a stranger and pulled a runaway bride situation. The ditched-at-the-altar incident was a first in Married at First Sight history and left a bad taste regarding the rest of the season.

Moving on from Michael’s situation, the next ugly escalation happened during the couple’s honeymoon in Mexico between Lauren Goodger and Orion Martzloff. Lauren made an insensitive racial “joke” and it ruined any spark she had with Orion. Furthermore, Orion was off-put by Lauren’s recent sexual history and asked for a divorce upon returning to Denver. Next to separate were Clare Kerr and Cameron Frazer, allegedly over their lack of attraction and fundamental differences on religion. Emily Balch and Brennan Shoykhet stayed together almost until Decision Day despite Brennan losing attraction for Emily on the honeymoon.

Becca Haley and Austin Reed seemed like the front-running couple of the season, but their deep divides over sexual paces, religion, and Married at First Sight viewer optics ruined whatever chance they had. They said yes to each other on Decision Day only to break up the next day. Michael was rematched and got married to Chloe Brown. The pair had a relatively smooth eight weeks together but Michael said no to Chloe after she said yes on Decision Day, citing that he could not give her what she deserved and that he wasn’t ready for marriage. Married at First Sight season 17 was a total failure, and many unfortunate circumstances arose that contributed to it being detrimental to the show’s impression in general.

8. The Season 17 Cast Cheated The Process

It was revealed during Part 1 of the Married at First Sight season 17 Reunion that the entire cast, except for Michael and Chloe who started the process late, teamed up behind the scenes to endeavor to control their narrative. With Cameron allegedly being the ring leader of the attempt to fool editors, the audience, and the process, the couples crafted ways they could make themselves look better on camera. All the couples admitted to the deception, and many of them expressed regret in going along with trying to outsmart the show.

Since the cast members got away with cheating the process, it diminished the quality and integrity of the show. Not only that, it served to destroy many of the couples’ dynamics in the process. Much of the cast did not act authentically, and therefore created problems in their marriages, most often around what each was allowed to say. The decision created tension and only hurt the show and showed viewers that there is room for inauthenticity.

7. The MAFS Experts Couldn’t Detect Fakeness

Another point that made the show really look bad, was that the panel of experts never detected the deception, or took responsibility for their blatant miss. It was the experts’ responsibility to help the couples succeed and to choose people who were right for the experiment. By perhaps not asking the right questions, or being unable to see through inaccuracies or the larger elements at play between the couples, the therapists dropped the ball. Since the experts were so aloof as to the mechanisms going on behind the scenes to present fake narratives, the show suffered greatly. The experts looked like they weren’t good at their jobs and none of the cast felt they could go to any of the experts to complain about what was really going on.

6. There Was An Intense Level Of Hatred Among Season 17 Cast

There was a level of tension and hatred among the Married at First Sight season 17 cast never seen before in the show’s history. Perhaps because of all the silencing and particular narrative pushing that was going on off-camera, the hostility among the cast grew. By the end of the season, it became clear that the season 17 women had major vendettas against the season 17 men (via Lifetime.) Moreover, the women felt their husbands were not fully committed to the process and wanted to gain clout from the show, not a wife.

The disdain the cast had for each other at the spicy reunion was uncomfortable and a pity to watch.

5. MAFS Matchmaking Credibility Was Lost

Given the 100% failure rate of the Married at First Sight season 17 matches, it’s clear the experts did not do their job at matching. The experts weren’t able to see past the deception the cast members who just wanted to be on TV were dishing out. By not catching the fake motivations, the panel of experts lost their credibility regarding their matchmaking capabilities. Since there has only been one successful match in the last five seasons, the experts need an overhaul.

4. The Reunion & AfterParty Hosts Were Verbally Abused

Married at First Sight season 17 also set a precedent in another bad way because both the Afterparty host, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and the Reunion and Journey So Far Host Kevin Frazier were verbally abused while just trying to do their jobs. The perpetrator both times was Emily. Emily thought it was okay to talk down to the hosts and question their motives and abilities in interviewing her, which was wholly disrespectful. The level of hostility and incivility Emily unleashed on the hosts was uncalled for and will hopefully be something the hosts don’t have to endure in seasons to come.

3. The Season 17 Women Banded Together

The season 17 women wanted to stand strong and connected together and in defiance of their husbands. They all thought they were wronged by the men of the season and actively felt some type of way about it. They built each other up to tear down the men, while not taking accountability for their part in the demise of their marriages. During the final group after Decision Day gathering, the contempt the women had for the men was palpable (via Lifetime) and it came off as inappropriate and mean girl-ish.

The Married at First Sight season 17 women tried to push the narrative that they were being silenced and finally standing up for themselves, but it did not come off that way. It came off like the women were bitter and had a chip on their shoulders. Instead of trying to be a support system for one another to foster change and progress, they only tore down the process and the men of the season.

Future season women should not take a page from season 17’s book because it only served a negative purpose.

2. The Lack Of Accountability By Some Cast Members Was Appalling

The blame game was abhorrent in Married at First Sight season 17, and there was an extreme lack of accountability taken among most of the cast. Brennan and Orion seemed to recognize their role in the end of their marriages and that they could have done things better or differently. However, the women would not acknowledge their part or own up to the acts they put on to make the optics look better. Austin also seemed beaten down by the negative rhetoric of his ex-wife and the other women and didn’t take responsibility one way or the other. Cameron threw a lot of shade at Clare but did ultimately say he was “ashamed” of his behavior and trying to control the optics.

Michael took accountability for not trying hard enough with Chloe, which was refreshing, especially considering they tried to stay out of the drama. In any case, all the couples showed a lack of maturity or respect for the Married at First Sight process.

No future couples should want to act like the season 17 couples did if they want successful marriages with good optics on TV.

1. Season 17 Was Detrimental To MAFS’ Entertainment Value

Married at First Sight season 17 was detrimental to the show’s entertainment value because it presented widespread inauthenticity. Furthermore, the season started in mid-October and didn’t end until mid-April, making it the longest and most drawn-out season to date. Not only have viewers been annoyed by being duped, but they also need a break from the longevity of the season. Fortunately, fans can look forward to Married at First Sight season 18, which takes place in Chicago for the second time in the show’s history. Married at First Sight should not repeat any of the catastrophic circumstances that took place in season 17. However, because of all the wayward drama, the show is changed forever and has a lot to come back from.