Holly HY / 05 April 2025 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, TV Show

Addicted To Married At First Sight Australia

How a TV format can literally change you and society

I am in complete shock as to my very quick (in say five or six years) turnaround opinion on the super successful TV format now in it’s 12th season in Australia the show format has spun off a successful UK version now too in its 9th season.

I remember hearing about the show a lot before reluctantly tuning in about 5 years ago to the UK version.

It was definitely a water cooler show. Everywhere I went people were talking about the cast of characters, and how the jeopardy initially was actually telling people your family and friends you were actually going to do it, marry a stranger on TV as part of a social experiment.

The absolute shock horror of that concept has become normal over time and now everyone is doing it. Over 10,000 people across Australia applied to be matched up by the experts, relationship expert John Aiken, dating coach Mel Schilling, and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla live on TV. They committed to spend 8 weeks getting to know a stranger in isolation on camera, exposing themselves, warts and all in the hope of finding “LOVE” and a partner for life in this the 12th season.

In the shows history two couples matched in season 6 have endured, Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant are one couple who are still together from MAFS Australia. And yet we keep watching.

I know even our common sense can’t get a look in when it comes to the absolute brainwashing about this thing called marriage we have all been conditioned to believe in, an elusive path to happiness which must be navigated, the Elysian Field.

I am more interested in my complete 180 degree turnabout on this show format. I’ve gone from saying it’s the most stupid thing I’ve ever watched to 8 episodes into season 12 married at first sight and watching the first commitment ceremony where in the closing moments we saw the blow up between Tim and Katie.

The cast of characters is well selected this year with comedienne Jamie and her partner gentle giant Dave producing compulsive viewing for me.

And Awhina and Adrian there’s an explosive dynamic and a lie in there somewhere which has got us all questioning.

We know it’s not real and yet we cannot stop watching. What is that? We know every moment caught on camera is set up by producers and yet we keep watching.

I am even looking forward to finding out what happens next and will certainly be binge watching this weekend.

I do think it’s very telling two of the couple cast this years from 10,000 applicants have already dated before. One Carina and her Frenchman met up online; went on a hike and then he ghosted her. But embarrassing when he had to face the music, apologise and then get on with the experiment.

The other couple Jeff and Rhi had a hot affair for a couple of months that fizzled out leaving Rhi reluctant to jump back into bed with Jeff (whilst most of the other couples are having sex already) because the reality of what has already happened between them looms large.

I wanted to review the show to understand a bit more about why I am actually so compelled to watch when I know it’s actually a load of rubbish. I know it’s a TV production company exploiting this desire for something elusive that actually doesn’t exist. The funny thing for me is you can actually see why the women can’t get the men to do what they want and the men either get laid Adrian but you know something bad’s going to happen or Ryan and super high achiever high value female whose name escapes me who are like two sliding doors that just won’t close, everytime they try they don’t connect.

It’s frustrating understanding the darker side of our nature and I guess that’s why producers of Married at First Sight Australia have us all hooked even when we know it’s not real and not the truth.

That’s Entertainment though I guess.