‘Married at First Sight’: Big Questions, Awkward Answers — and One Very Questionable Decision (RECAP)

Married at First Sight Season 12 Clara Ryan
Spoiler Alert
Lifetime

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Married at First Sight, Season 12, Episode 9, “Three Little Words.”]

Married at First Sight is no stranger to the ups and downs of newlyweds, but Season 12 seems to be taking things to an extreme.

In the latest episode, “Three Little Words,” some pairs are progressing to the next stages of their relationships, while others are still taking baby steps. Below, we break down all of the drama, including a moment almost impossible to believe. Beware of major spoilers ahead.

Adjusting at Different Paces

Married at First Sight Season 12 Haley

(Credit: Lifetime)

The episode picks up with the couples adjusting to married life, beginning with Haley. She meets two of her friends for a chat and, during the conversation, reveals that the positive direction she and Jacob had been heading in has come to a screeching halt after he asked whether she were attracted to him. In some home footage between the couple, we get a glimpse at the argument, which begins when Haley pauses before saying anything. Needless to say, it’s not a great response.

As for Ryan and Clara, they try their hands at pottery as she loves crafting, but there are concerns about whether or not he’s ready for marriage when he says Clara can put her crafting things in the garage instead of finding a space for them indoors.

Erik and Virginia go on a date to a local driving range, hitting golf balls with very little skill. The moment takes place following Erik’s first bout of having to leave Virginia for work as a pilot. Although it seems things are going well in that department, it’s clear that she’s unhappy as she wishes aloud for more time together.

An Odd Meeting

Married at First Sight Season 12 Paige

Lifetime

In a random turn of events, we see Paige meet up with Chris’s pastor, Dwight. He seems shocked to learn that Chris won’t be moving forward in the marriage with Paige and offers his support, mentioning that he doesn’t think Chris is stable in his relationships. He even reveals during the meeting that when he first met him, Chris was engaged to another woman besides the supposedly pregnant Mercedes.

Making Amends?

Married at First Sight Season 12 Jacob

Lifetime

Haley attempts to make amends with Jacob by bringing home bagfuls of new clothes to see how he’d do in new threads that aren’t entirely ’80s inspired. He’s not super into it, but it’s clear that he appreciates her effort, telling the camera so in a testimonial segment.

Question Time

Marrried at First Sight Season 12 Erik Virginia

Lifetime

While at home, all of the couples receive letters from the experts that include a list of questions that they’re asked to answer. Erik admits that he compares relationships to his past marriage and has yet to find anything on that level, and it puts Virginia on edge to hear this. Meanwhile, Briana tells Vincent that her idea of loving someone stems from accepting people’s faults. Things take a sweet turn when Briana says “I love you,” to which he returns those three little words.

Ryan admits to Clara that talking about love is tough for him, whereas she just wants to be heard through actions, as in having Ryan do nice things just for the sake of doing nice things. Things don’t go well for Haley and Jacob, who are already in an awkward place, but they hope to remedy that with…a pool party!

Pool Party

Married at First Sight Season 12

Lifetime

At Jacob’s house, he and Haley set up for a gathering with the other couples, and things go relatively well. Vincent is absent due to a commitment, but Briana shows up along with Erik, Virginia, Ryan, Clara, and Paige. Everyone also catches up on the drama of Paige meeting Mercedes, and she even reveals that Chris wants to see her again, but alone this time.

Couples Progress

Married at First Sight Season 12 Chris

Lifetime

Clara and Ryan go on a date to a doughnut shop since they’re her favorite, but things turn tense when he launches into a motivational talk that she wasn’t planning to sit through. Vincent comes up with a fun way to teach Briana Spanish and uses it as an opportunity to gift her a bicycle so they can ride together. Chris meets up with Paige and reveals he knows about her meeting with Pastor Dwight, with whom he’s now cut ties.

While it seems like a contentious meeting, the pair — and we still can not believe this — agree to start over again after he voices fears about making a mistake by walking away from marriage. Paige! Run!

Jacob and Haley have a nice lunch filled with some laughs, and Erik cooks a meal for Virginia at his condo where he reveals that he loves her. To say Virginia is thrilled would be an understatement. Sadly, the episode ends on a concerning note when a salsa class Briana surprises Vincent with backfires. Feeling embarrassed over his lack of skills, he begins to shut down and is clearly unhappy. Can happier times be salvaged? Stay tuned as Season 12 continues.

Married at First Sight, Season 12, Wednesdays, 8/7c, Lifetime




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  1. O

    OrangeController

    It's time for Paige and Chris to leave the show. She needs to run to the other way and get some therapy.

    27

    1. G

      GoldCorn

      Love this Comment!!

      1

  2. R

    RedBulb

    Can't believe Paige is going to give it another try..

    Really I am done with both of them.

    Paige apparently needs therapy.

    23

  3. O

    OliveCactus

    Chris is a dysfunctional, mindless, ignorant, verbally abusive narcissist!

    He doesn’t understand basic relationship skills. He’s beyond damaged and very infantile!!!

    Paige is completely messed up and after Chris abuses her, she leaves it in God’s hands! What God is she praying to?! She is allowing herself to continue to get treated this way! She needs intense therapy to gain some dignity and self esteem. She’s a mess and keeps going back for more misery. At this point, she has no one to blame but herself!

    I can longer stomach watching the show anymore! I used to enjoy it, but this is beyond disturbing!

    I blame the producers and the people who pick these couples! Didn’t they know that Chris just broke it off with his girlfriend before being cast? Aren’t any background checks done?

    Whoever picked Chris Williams should be fired! You can see his true, fake and disgusting attitude in the first 15 minutes! Paige was set up for failure!

    No longer a fan of the show!

    21

  4. G

    GreenBowtie

    I don't understand why she keeps going back for more humiliation she need to get some self love and respect.

    20

  5. G

    GoldBug

    I don’t understand why the producers sent Paige back to the pit of doom (Chris). Paige told Chris she was done wasting time. Tells the producers and they send her back To him , producers only get paid when the film is rolling? They certainly don’t care that Paige is being emotionally, mentally abused. Doesn’t say much for the show or the experts.

    19

    1. B

      BlueProcessor

      Nothing about that meeting made sense. If the producers want to edit together a story, they should do a better job. First she's breaking it off forever, then she's getting back with him?? And he's willing to forgive her "rudeness"? Does he think he and Paige have an open marriage? What happened to Mercedes? Is she still in the picture? Why are we being tortured by this horrible relationship? If one of the experts doesn't swoop in and put an end to this, I have to re-think about watching the rest of this season.

      17

  6. B

    BlueGrapes

    Finally turned the TV off when Paige wanted to start over—I’m really done with both of them.

    13

  7. G

    GreenRocket

    Can no longer watch the show! With a person as sick and destructive as Chris Williams being allowed to stay on the show.....it’s too depressing and disappointing to know that whoever approved Williams for being on the show , should be fired! You can tell how disturbingly arrogant and narcissistic Chris Williams is in the first 15 minutes! He’s an idiot and so damaged! And so foul!!! It sickens me to see his face on the show!

    13 1

    1. G

      GoldCorn

      Amen To This!!

  8. R

    RedWrench

    A typical pattern of abused spouses is that they decide to leave but the abuser comes back on his knees begging forgiveness with incredible sincerity. The abused spose loves the abuser and so forgives him in the beginning, and is afraid of failure or questioning herself as to whether she tried hard enough. And then the abuse cycle continues, usually escalating into not just emotional abuse but also physical abuse, until the abused spouse is too afraid to leave due to threats and terror. Unfortunately the producers had a chance to remedy this awful cycle by stopping it in it's tracks. By encouraging Paige to stick it out for the duration of the show, instead of setting a courageous example for abused spouses everywhere, she and the producers have set things back for abused spouses who desperately want to leave but feel they can't.

    9

  9. B

    BlueProcessor

    I'm sure the few million of us who watch this show were all screaming, "Paige, WTF?!?!"

    This has to be part of an ongoing performance piece from the producers, Paige, and Chris. It doesn't make any sense. The people who love this show, do not want performances from our reality TV. If we want performances, we'll tune into Netflix where the writers and actors there are at the top of their game. What's here is unbelievable.

    Paige tells Chris, who is such a bad actor that he can't stop smiling or laughing in the wrong places, the same line he gave her: she doesn't want her time to be wasted or to waste his. She gets up and tells the producers not to set this up anymore. They tell her to tell him. She goes back. We think she's going to read him the riot act, but they decide to "reset". Reset? He's the same horrible person. She's the same doormat. What's different? Nothing. He's still a lying liar and Paige knows. I get wanting to have the extra paycheck and the 'fame' from these shows, but I'd prefer to see a realistic and clean break from each other. I don't want to see Chris anymore and now I don't want Paige to waste my time.

    6

  10. R

    RedToast

    Does anyone think Virginia has a drinking problem?

    5

    1. G

      GoldCorn

      YEZZZzzzzzzzzZ

    2. G

      GreenPalmtree

      Oh yes. Unfortunately her husband Erick doesn’t want to see it and thinks it is an ageism thing. It isn’t. She drinks unhealthy amounts of liquid courage and thinks that this will help with her feelings. This will hurt their marriage in the future. Virginia needs a 12 step program now before Erick commits.

  11. R

    RedBee

    RUN PAIGE

    5

  12. P

    PurpleMustache

    I think the ex fiance told Chris to get lost. Hope someone comes in to save Paige. She deserves so much better. He gets uglier every week.

    5

  13. G

    GreenFlask

    I believe there is no one in the world that could be as stupid as Paige. It makes the show look fake. I'm done with it.

    4

  14. G

    GreenQuill

    Haley did the right thing. The clothing she picked looked so good on him. He really needs to chill out on the 80's thing. I don't believe she expects him to totally ditch his like for the 80's but back off a little.

    4

    1. B

      BlueProcessor

      It's hard for me to warm to Haley. She's a cold fish and she doesn't realize by not responding honestly to Jakob, she is lying. She thinks she's being considerate, but she is not telling the truth. That said, you can tell she doesn't feel anything for the man. When she said she doesn't get his sense of humor, I thought that's the end of the relationship. If you can't laugh with each other, your marriage will not work. If she doesn't feel it, she doesn't feel it. It's sad that the experts really messed this one up.

      6 1

      1. O

        OrangeBike

        Haley is so shut down and cold. Not very compassionate either!

        2

  15. C

    CyanMagnet

    I don’t think God is sending Paige

    back to Chris. She just want to be married. God would never lead anyone in that type of situation. I really feel sorry for her. I know she can find a man that could love her unconditionally and respect her. He is making a fool out of her. Please Paige walk away. He’s not worth it

    2

    1. G

      GoldCorn

      100 x Amen!!

      1

  16. O

    OrangeBasketball

    Very sad that experts/ producers even allowed Chris on show. Then pair her with someone with low esteem whos trying to catch a 'Hot' guy. Paige where are your 'girls' to knock some sense into you? Oh they are trying...and you lower yourself down to Chris' level. Even stating you'd be Ok with sharing Chris w his baby mama. Really looks bad for women, to put yourself in that place. Pray for strength to end this hedonistic relationship! God does not want you being used in this way. 🙏 for You, Paige. You are meant for much better.

    2

  17. G

    GoldCorn

    I am so pissed off with the Paige and Chris match. The Matchmakers did her an injustice in picking this man for her & how could production allow this to continue. He playing games, using her making her look like the fool when he's the fool & oh my God she thinks this a friendship are you kidding me. This saddens me to know this show condones this type of behavior towards a loving & admirable persons as she. Move on Girl!! & Wait & Let the God you serve bless you with the man fit just for you. Be blessed & keep this lifted up in prayer.

    1

  18. G

    GreenPalmtree

    I totally agree. They should have encouraged Paige to protect herself and leave the show. She should never have engaged with him after he said he was not attracted to her after they had sex. He is just setting the path for her to feel like she should take the abuse he is giving out. He is really a terrible person for exploiting her and her inability to set up boundaries.

    Mic drop!

  19. O

    OliveDice

    I think some of these people are their to be seen an should be kick in their

    you know what

  20. B

    BlueHelmet

    Fool me once?--Shame on you! Fool me twice?--Shame on me! Shame on you Paige!!! Not feeling sorry for you anymore. The writers are being nice by calling your extremely stupid decision "questionable"......

  21. G

    GoldCorn

    Erik needs to run from Briana!! She doesn't want to let go of the " High Life." It will very much surprise me if they make it.

    1

  22. G

    GoldBottleOpener

    Paige is respecting the process of marrying a stranger chosen by experts. She will give it her all, honor her marriage vows, and after the 8 weeks, will go on with her life without him. This is not a dating show.

    1 4