On this week’s episode of Married At First Sight , the experts arrange a couple’s retreat. This will give the group a chance to reflect on their marriages and open up about their issues. With only one week until decision day, it’s extremely important that they put everything out on the table. Given most of the couples are train wrecks; this should be an interesting finale. I don’t know if the cast is just desperate to be married or they are blinded by love. Either way, I want several of these people to find their self-respect and a good therapist. Let’s get straight to crazy and recap this episode!
Greg Okotie and Deonna McNeill decide to go out for a fun night of ax throwing with her sister and her boyfriend. Before Deonna arrives, Greg tries to find out the secret to getting his wife to let her guard down. He doesn’t get much information, but her sister says she can see her walls slowly coming down. I can see that Deonna is trying as well. I just hope that she can continue on the right path. Amber Bowles goes out to dinner with her friend, Raven and discusses her marriage. If this guy is straight, Amber you have a better chance of getting this guy to stick around than Matt Gwynne. Even Raven can see that Matt is a lost cause. He flat out tells her that she deserves better. I agree, no one should have to beg someone to want to be with them. Amber breaks down crying as Raven encourages her to see her true value. Amber, this guy is way cuter than lanky vagabond Matt. What are you doing with your life?
Jamie Thompson and Elizabeth Bice meet up for ice cream after not seeing one another for the past four nights. Immediately Jamie says he has been more peaceful without his wife. He also states that Elizabeth has a lack of remorse as Elizabeth sucks her shake loudly through her straw. Finally they seem to reach a resolution. Jamie decides to take sex off the table to see if they can connect on just an emotional level.
All the couples head to the woods for a couple’s retreat. This experience will allow everyone to bond and relate to one another. Greg and Deonna were lucky enough to arrive first to be able to get dibs on a good room. Then crazy walks in the door, when Jamie and Elizabeth arrive. Things are never dull when these two are around. They decide to cook dinner as an olive branch for ruining the NASCAR event. Jamie spots a bear just walking around their driveway and everyone freaks out, but him. He actually begins knocking on the window to draw attention to the house. Between the bear and the huge spiders lurking around this cabin, they truly are far from civilization. This is when I would have been packing my bags. It’s already enough having to deal with cray and crazier, now they have to deal with bears too! Hell, no!!! This may be a sign about how this trip is going to go.
Keith Manley and Iris Caldwell arrive at the house late, followed by Amber and Matt. Things get really awkward when Matt says he would shoot the bear. Animal and nature lover Elizabeth is not pleased when she hears that. The next morning, everyone decides to take a shot before breakfast. Iris makes a big deal about the shot and how she won’t be peer pressured. It’s nothing wrong with denying a drink, but Iris has to always be so extra with the good girl act. Just say, no thank you!
The group works on an assignment to share their experiences with the other couples. Deonna shares that she finally figured out that people come to their own conclusions when you don’t open up and communicate your feelings. This resonates with several of the women about their partners. Matt admits that marriage is more work than he expected. He goes on to say that it can be worth it when you care about someone, but he does need space. I guess coming home and answering someone’s calls is classified as hard work. Frankly, he probably has done the LEAST amount of work out of everyone. Amber, are you listening. If this man thinks what he is doing is hard, how would sustain a real marriage where the people spend the whole week together.
Amber vents to Iris on a walk about her disappointments in her marriage. She does feel like he has made some positive changes but still has a LONG way to go. He still isn’t coming home at a reasonable time but Amber is trying to have faith. Somehow Iris uses this opportunity to reaffirm why she is a virgin and has made the right decision in life. Ugh… Girllllll! Didn’t Dr. Viviana Coles tell you to stop hiding behind your virginity? How does all the crap that Amber has put up with have anything to do with YOU being a virgin? SMH…
The experts have encouraged each of the couples to do an activity alone while on a retreat. Greg and Deonna go foraging and even eat a wild mushroom. Just when Greg thinks he really went out of his comfort zone, the guide breaks out dried bugs for them to taste. Deonna of course tries several and pressures Greg to do the same. She would have to be a complete open book emotionally and physically to get me that far out of my comfort zone. I am not eating any bugs for anyone! Elizabeth and Jamie go to a salt cave and have sound therapy to cleanse their energy. This is right up Elizabeth’s alley. I have never seen anyone who does all of these Zen rituals, but is extremely explosive. Is she a peaceful person and Jamie brings out the worst in her, or does nothing she believes in work?
The guys and girls break into separate groups to talk about their relationships. Elizabeth and Amber both relate on how their husbands have left their home for several days. Iris is shocked they would allow that behavior. Hopefully she realizes things could be a lot worse and she is lucky she was paired with Keith. I don’t think any of the other men picked would have been able to be as patient about her virginity. Amber is at her wits end about Matt’s commitment issues. She reveals all of the issues she has been going through in her marriage.
The guys talk about their marriages and Jamie admits that he connects with Elizabeth, but he still has his doubts about his marriage. Umm… we all do. Most of the men feel that eight weeks isn’t enough time to make a good decision about whether they should stay together. Keith and Matt both feel that they don’t know if their partners just want to be married or they truly want to married to them. Matt is such a liar. He goes on and on about how much ”work” he has done to make his wife happy and he hasn’t really considered if he is happy. WTH!!! He must think leaving for most of the week makes Amber happy, otherwise I don’t know what the heck he is talking about.
At this point, the only couple I actually want to stay together is Deonna and Greg. I’m not even rooting for Keith and Iris anymore. I think Keith is such a nice guy and probably needs someone who isn’t on training wheels. I don’t say that because she is a virgin, she just seems to lack maturity on a lot of different levels for her age. Matt is definitely going to run away as soon as the cameras wrap. Even if Jamie and Elizabeth decide to stay together, they will only break up a week later. I can’t wait until the finale to see how things finally end. Hopefully these people take my advice and save themselves a lot issues later.
TELL US- WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE COUPLE’S RETREAT? DO YOU THINK IT HELPED ANY OF THE COUPLES? WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR DECISION DAY?
[Photo Credit: LIFETIME]
