‘Married at First Sight’ Finale: Who’s Staying Married? Who’s Divorcing? (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Married at First Sight Season 10, Episode 16, “Until Decision Day Do We Part.”]
Married at First Sight‘s long-awaited Decision Day finally arrived this week as the 10th season of the Lifetime series wrapped its run ahead of the reunion special.
Looking back at the good and bad times, the couples at the center of the season reflected and came to a decision about whether they wanted to continue or end their marriages after experiencing them for eight weeks. While there were some obvious outcomes, others may surprise you. Below, we’re breaking down all of the major moments of the night, but beware of spoilers ahead.
Getting Ready
(Credit: Lifetime)
Ahead of each sit-down with the experts, the couples got ready for Decision Day on their own after having spent a night apart to think about the choices they’re making.
Jessica & Austin
(Credit: Lifetime)
It was Jessica and Austin’s turn to decide their fate first and after the way they left things between them, there was definitely nerves on both sides of the fence before they convened to meet with experts Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Calvin Roberson and Dr. Vivana Coles. While they felt good about each other, and Jessica says she’d say yes in a heartbeat, there’s definite apprehension after Austin wouldn’t say “I love you” back to her. After discussing the challenges they face as a couple with Austin’s work schedule that includes a lot of traveling, the experts reassure that the hurdle is small and manageable. When the experts question why he won’t say “I love you” to Jessica, he can’t come up with a better reason than that he’s overthinking things, and so when the couple decides to stay married, he finally says those three words to his wife.
Brandon & Taylor
(Credit: Lifetime)
Despite arriving to the Decision Day talk with the experts alone, Taylor’s fears that Brandon wouldn’t show up were proven wrong when he arrives late. After Taylor tells the experts that she’s unsure about their relationship before he gets there, revealing she’d been seeing him when cameras weren’t around, she was silenced when he begins his side of the discussion and claims he stopped agreeing to filming when production made him “late” for work. The experts call out this claim, saying Brandon is acting smug and that they don’t believe he’s being honest. In the middle of their talk Brandon gets up and goes to the bathroom and the experts are appalled by his rude behavior as they continue their talk with Taylor in his absence. Wondering why Taylor would keep trying, the experts seem to help Taylor decide in time for when Brandon sits back on the couch. When it’s time to reveal a decision, Taylor says she wants a divorce and Brandon shoots up from his seat and bolts, saying “I’m over this.”
Michael & Meka
(Credit: Lifetime)
Both stressed before arriving to Decision Day, Michael and Meka are unsure of what they’ll decide when it’s time to give the experts an answer. Sitting down with the docs, they reflect collectively on Michael’s many lies and he admits that he lied and sees faults in habits he’s formed over the years that don’t fit into a marriage. When the experts ask Meka if she’s felt married, she admits the last few days they were together were good, but there’s been too much deception for her to fully commit, revealing she wants a divorce. Michael’s reaction is drastic as he shares that he doesn’t see divorce as an option and appears to shut down a bit upon learning Meka doesn’t want to continue their union … talk about awkward.
Katie & Derek
(Credit: Lifetime)
Katie and Derek headed into Decision Day with differing views as he worried about his wife’s choice and she wondered if there was enough spark between them to make things last. When they sit down with the experts, he reveals he never wanted a divorce after watching his parents go through it and that he has fun with Katie even if they’re not always compatible. Katie admits she sees potential with Derek but says she’s not sure there’s an emotional connection and that her heart’s not entirely in it. The experts argue that the friendship base they’ve created is the best thing they could’ve done as it fosters stronger bonds later on. After going back and forth over their uncertainty, Katie and Derek decide to stay married with her saying, “I’m not ready to give up.”
Mindy & Zach
(Credit: Lifetime)
Even though the pair decided to part ways before the experiment was over, Mindy and Zach discussed what went wrong when it came to their union, mainly his lack of apparent interest in the institution of marriage. Mindy admits she has negative emotions about being around Zach again due to the way things went. When she tells him he was a bad husband, Zach wishes he’d taken a different approach “knowing what I have to offer women…” The remark doesn’t get much acknowledgement, as the discussion continued. Ultimately, the meeting with the experts fizzled out and they all parted ways.
Group Dinner
(Credit: Lifetime)
After Decision Day’s decisions were made, the Season 10 participants convened for one last get together revealing which pairs stayed together and who didn’t. Ultimately everyone shows up except for Brandon as Taylor and Meka arrived together. Jessica and Austin were the first to arrive though with Katie and Derek following soon after. Mindy joined solo, while Michael and Zach came to the dinner together. Apart from learning the marriage fates, Katie and Derek revealed that they’d signed a lease on a new place before they all toasted to “friendship at first sight.”
Moving On
(Credit: Lifetime)
Finally the show saw the couples moving on from their old places as they took their next steps. Jessica’s twin sister, brother-in-law and niece came to visit on the happy newlyweds, pleased that Jessica and Austin stayed together. Meanwhile, Katie and Derek’s move to their new place was teased as her parents helped move Katie’s things out of her old house. Will the new beginnings last? Find out when the reunion arrives on Lifetime.
Married at First Sight, Wednesdays, 8/7c, Lifetime
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O
Love Married at First Sight but hated the comments the other couples were making on decision night! To much talking, wanted to hear more from the couples making the decisions and from the professionals! Did not enjoy at all!!
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O
Of all the people the experts could have chosen, you would have thought they could find people with better integrity (a habitual liar, another one with enormous emotional issues, some who didn't even try). I wish there was a better way of telling WHO people actually are before letting them actually get picked for marriage like that. NO WONDER they are not married and and past relationships never worked out. We must do better.
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P
Totally agree with you!!!! But, I’m sure that they choose people who will bring some drama to the show, too. However, I’m not sure it would take more than one or two conversations with some of them to know they weren’t genuine and were basically jerky people- think Katie, Michael, Brandon and Zach. All narcissists with no substance. Katie, a very unattractive person both inside and out should have been much nicer to Derek. He was adorable and I thought, very sweet to her. I’m not sure why she has such a high opinion of herself! Being jealous of Taylor was ridiculous but I’m guessing she was very insecure as Taylor was very pretty and fun. Zack- well, let’s just say ‘yuck’. His personality makes him ugly- there are too many good looking, nice men out there for this guy to get any air time. And, MAFS needs to do a much better job of choosing men of color that are quality, morally grounded men and can represent much better than these men! Meka deserved much better and even though Taylor had her issues, Brandon was so incredibly disrespectful. I agree- they need to do better!
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G
Derek is going to be a great husband when he find the right woman, Katie would have made his life a living hell. Mindy handle her situation with such grace, Katie is so fake, she didn't give the marriage a chance, she a joke with all her excuses. Jessica and Austin are just great together, Zach???????, Meka may have come off a little harsh to some, but in the moments when Michael was doing all of the lying, and she could never get the truth, that had to be difficult and frustrating. Taylor really got a raw deal, on the honeymoon there were too many red flags and it was hard to come back from.
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