‘Married at First Sight’: 6 Key Moments From ‘Retreat Ready’ (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Married at First Sight, Season 12, Episode 15, “Retreat Ready.”]
The remaining couples of Married at First Sight‘s 12th season are nearing the finish line as Decision Day looms on the horizon. But as they prepare for their next stage in marriage, they’re taking part in the traditional couples retreat.
Heading off to Hilton Head, South Carolina, these Atlantans are in for some major relationship breakthroughs. Whether they’re for the best or not remains to be seen. Below, we break down all of the retreat drama.
Arrivals
(Credit: Lifetime)
As the participating couples begin their journeys from Georgia to South Carolina, Haley and Jacob opt for driving separately, a decision he believed was best due to their continued tension. Meanwhile, Erik and Virginia and Vincent and Briana depart as couples in shared vehicles. Erik and Virginia’s ride is filled with passive-aggressive comments as the duo continues in their on-and-off pattern.
Jacob is the first to arrive and he doesn’t waste any time in serving himself some eggs, claiming to forget Haley was cooking dinner that night for the group. Her annoyance is clear upon arrival and he doesn’t assist her in the kitchen when she begins prepping the meal. The awkwardness continues through dinner with Erik, Virginia, Vincent, and Briana who can’t help but feel the separation between Haley and Jacob, especially when he calls their marriage a never-ending bad first date. After dinner, the couples play a game called “MAFS-ology” which tests their knowledge about each other. The tension begins to dissipate, especially when Haley and Jacob come out of the game victorious.
Beginning Day 2
(Credit: Lifetime)
Clara and Ryan join the couples the next morning — it’s unclear why they didn’t travel to Hilton Head the same day as everyone else, but nonetheless, it was a good start to the day as they arrived just in time for breakfast. The good mood turns for Clara though when Virginia pulls her aside to complain that she and Erik had a fight the night before, something viewers didn’t see on camera.
In the kitchen, the conversation continues as Clara asks the girls if they feel like they’re losing themselves in marriage, noting it’s a question she’s been asked. Virginia says she’s beginning to realize just how opposite her and Erik are.
Activities
(Credit: Lifetime)
While it’s fun to be together, the couples also enjoy some separate activities with each other alone. Haley and Jacob opt for crabbing in a more civil outing than the previous night’s dinner. Meanwhile, Virginia and Erik enjoy a beach picnic but bring up some heavy topics when she reveals how strongly she wants to fight for their marriage.
Ryan and Clara go paddle boarding and she has more success balance-wise as they maneuver through the waters. Vincent is scared during his excursion with Briana which includes horseback riding on the beach. At first he refuses to do it, but eventually, he’s convinced and they share a pleasant afternoon.
Expert Exercises
(Credit: Lifetime)
The experts advise some of the couples to write letters to each other complimenting qualities they admire in one another, and first up are Haley and Jacob. Taking a turn from their earlier tiffs, Haley and Jacob both admire how loyal they are to their families and admit they can see why they were matched in the first place. Clara and Ryan’s letters reveal how strongly they feel for one another, particularly how much Ryan cares, and it’s clear that Clara feels reassured by his words despite his inability to say “I love you” yet.
When the women convene following the exercises, Haley mentions that Jacob claimed her tone was negative during their outing, and it caused some more tension despite their letter breakthrough. As for Clara, she says she needs to feel the love from Ryan before she can say yes on Decision Day, but feels like they’re heading in the right direction.
Final Night
(Credit: Lifetime)
On the final night, the couples share loads of laughter while cooking the crabs Haley and Jacob caught on their excursion. Chatting over their meal, Briana and Vincent share some valid concerns about their next move post-Decision Day. She’s worried about space and leaving her apartment. Meanwhile, Erik and Virginia reveal they’ll be living separately because his apartment doesn’t allow animals and Virginia refuses to leave her fur babies behind. It appears they’ve reached a stalemate, unsure of how they’ll remedy the situation, and the conversation continues when they go to bed as Virginia won’t budge on keeping her pets nearby despite Erik reminding her that he’s allergic to her cats.
Goodbyes
(Credit: Lifetime)
Jacob makes an early exit, leaving the retreat house before anyone else is awake, leaving Haley searching for him and the others scratching their heads over his odd departure. The other pairs reflect on their experience, which seemed to be pretty successful overall, and it definitely feels that way in comparison to past couples retreats in recent seasons. Will the relative peace last or is it the calm before a Decision Day storm? Stay tuned.
Married at First Sight, Season 12, Wednesdays, 8/7c, Lifetime
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R
So glad Jacob left while he still had some sense of self worth left
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kiwi12
I wonder why Hayley wanted to do this. She would pick apart any man she was matched with. She said she has been alone for 7 years and can do whatever she wants. So go back to being alone and doing anything you want. I would have loved the bracelet Jacob bought and wore it.
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O
I don't think Haley shows the same personality when she is with the group and when she is alone with Jacob. She seems very cold when they are alone.
Virginia is so not ready for marriage. Just listen to her saying the cat will share their bed. Erik says he is allergic and having been married to a pilot, I know they can't use all allergy meds due to causing drowsiness. She is going to have to seriously grow up.
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B
Was it covid that gave the experts a small pool of viable applicants this season? That they matched up a man with animal allergies to a woman with multiple animals? Oh, and she drinks like a fish, but he's a pilot who has to not drink for a minimum of 12 hours before he drives hundreds of people through the air. Or maybe the lack of applicants shows in guy who has never said 'I love you' and is married to a woman who needs verbal affirmations of love? Or two people who are more like siblings who constantly snipe at each other? Or a guy who is such an a*hole that he knocks one woman up while he applies to get married to another. And we're led to believe they were matched because they're both religious??? When the guy is such a ___ that walking into a room you can see he's awful?
Were there so few people available to select?
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B
I love this show but felt very bad for Jacob through out this season! The mockery of his clothes, style , conversations, letters ect... and Hayley’s cold fish affection towards him was heartbreaking to watch ! The phone call with her mom over his bracelet gift was disgusting ! I hope they pick kinder , less full of themselves women for MAFS in the future! Hayley Harris was a very poor choice!
I like Eric and Virginia but she needs to decide if she wants to act like a married woman or a college student drinking and sleeping on guy friends couches. Also , if Eric is allergic to cats shut your bedroom door and buy some fabulous cat beds they can sleep on ! Grow up!
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O
You know the experts really got it wrong this year. Hayley should remain single, she has the wrong attitude to be married. I refuse to call the cheater with baby drama by name, to hurt that young lady. Virginia needs rehab and Erik need to stop trying to drink with her, he is a pilot. She too has not idea about marriage...stay at male friends house, NOT!!!! So she wants and drunkin open marriage. he deserves better. Get on the horse already big baby man up. Tell Clara the truth all this not just check a box.. she wants to check the box..I am hard pressed to see any of these couples going the distance, they are right for right now.
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R
Haley has a really bad attitude and does not deserve Jacob.
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O
I think Jacob is hot. Hayley will have trouble finding someone. Virginia needs to grow up. I like Eric. The rest are good
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R
I think that the "experts" are terrible. While the show participants sign "hold harmless" agreement not to sue the show and the experts, in real life these "experts" would have been sued for negligence and malpractice. All of these experts need to be fired and replaced with one matchmaker with common sense, she would have gotten much better results. These "experts" matched Eric, who is allergic to cats to a cat-lady who sleeps with 3 cats, no less. Eric is a mature, educated pilot, a homeowner, who wants to have children in the near future. Clue-less experts matched him with Virginia, an immature 26 y.o., who is into drinking and partying and sleeping on male-friends' couches. A woman has no concept of social norms of behavior. These "experts" have to be complete morons to match these two people. In the previous season they matched Brett and Olivia. Brett was an established man, a homeowner, frugal, who wanted children soon. Olivia was not into children at all, spent money on expensive trips and sport tickets and was in a lot of debt. These idiot experts are causing emotional distress to the show participants, as the matches in most cases are totally insane, with total lack of common sense. I hope viewers and participants would write to the producers of the show and to the network and advocate replacement of these terrible "experts".
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G
I totally agree!
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P
Ryan and Clara came a day later because I believe they said that Clara had to work.
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B
I think the "experts" really missed the boat this year. The first night you could tell they matched an immature party girl with a guy who wants to settle down and have kids. Also why match a girl who knows she has health problems and might not be able to have children with a guy who really wants to start a family? Why in the world would they have even considered the baby daddy to be a part of this??? And Haley and Jacob are so not obviously on different planets. How inconsiderate of her not to wear the necklace or at least ask mom to send it to her after back from the honeymoon. I don't remember Jacob asking for the necklace back, just that he was upset that she showed no interest in it. I would have been hurt too.
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I totally agree!!
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G
First off, Hayley is not ready for marriage. She is too self centered and thinks everything should go her way. Jacob seemed to be the only one that was putting forth in to making the relationship work.
Virginia seems to be on drugs and liquor everyday. Watch her movements and you shall see. She is most definitely not ready for marriage. She needs to go back to High School. Since thats what she acts like. Erik is a sweetheart and will do anything to take care of his wife.
I feel Ryan wants to married, but he is still trying to find himself. He could be gay and just don't know it yet. Clara is losing herself from waiting on Ryan.
Vincent have serious anger issues and mainly because he's not confident in his self. Breanna lets him blame her for his anger problem.
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Every season we say the same thing "the experts missed the mark" I am starting to believe this is more for show than to really match people that are desperate to find love... and did i missed something about Erik's condo not allowing animals..? i thought he has a dog..? Virginia, she looks like a dirty drunkard... she needs to grow up...
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I agree! I’m starting to really believe it’s all show for the network. Watching over the years it’s like the pick people who have nothing in common. Eric nice guy gets stuck with an immature drunk. He didn’t deserve that. There are a lot of women who would love a man like him. Jacob was really treated like crap by Haley. She didn’t deserve him. She should have been with Vincent!
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R
Virginia is an idiot. First she puts her friends before eric, then the cat.
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G
Did the show end earlier tonight?
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G
Clara does not appreciate a true gentleman. She should be happy that he wants to connect with her as a person. This drama around intimacy is so stupid.
Virginia is in the wrong show, she should be on an AA show or drunker something. I feel sorry for Eric, such a nice guy with the wrong match. I do not even know why they would match them. Its obviously they are not a match.
Haley annoyed me for criticizing Jacob all the time. She got upset for losing a "putt on golf match" who cares? Just enjoy the fun. She played the nice girl but she was the most evil one.
I think Page was acting the entire time and she got what she deserved. Chris was wrong for many reasons but I do think Page was playing. She was not in the show for marriage. I think she is a different kind of person off camera.
I like Briana and Vincent and they made me laugh multiple times.
I agree with the review that says that the "experts" should be replaced. They for sure cannot match anyone. I cannot stand any of the three. They suck!!!
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O
Haley never tried. I can see why she’s been single so long. Jacob is a nice guy and she was a witch to him.
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