Married at First Sightseason 18 will premiere soon, and there are indications that it will be a positive season for the franchise’s credibility and surpass expectations.Married at First Sightseason 17ended in April 2024, leaving fans with an almost six-month hiatus in between installments. Historically, theMAFSfranchise has left long hiatuses in between seasons, although this one was one of the longest. The hit Lifetime reality show debuted in 2014 and, given that it has 17 complete seasons behind it, there have been roughly two seasons in a year in the past.
A lot has changed with the show’s format over the years, including the decision to increase the number of couples featured from 3 to 4, and then up to five starting in season 10. Also, the couples did not usually co-mingle during the honeymoon or after, and the couples used to choose their living space together after the honeymoon, whereas now, the duos live in a neutral living space in the same building as the other couples. Despite the changes over time and the recent hiatus,Married at First Sightseason 18is poised to be well-received.
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MAFS Fans Are Coming Off A Poor Season 17
& Are Looking Ahead
Married at First Sightseason 17 had many problematic elements to it that were detrimental to the show’s credibilityand perception by the audience. Season 17 started with cast memberMichael Shiakallisencountering a runaway bride at the altar, the first in the show’s history. That caused the experts to decide to rematch Michael, who began hisMarried at First Sightjourney with Chloe Brown while the other couples were already halfway through.
Because of the abnormality in the structure of the show, there were more episodes, and those episodes highlighted the four other couples after Decision Day, even though all four had broken up. This caused a lot of filler scenes and detracted away from the point of the show, which is to see successful pairings made by professional matchmakers. What’s more, theLifetimeshow was marred because of an attempted group dupe that took place.
The originalseason 17 couples coordinated together to endeavor to portray themselves positively on cameraso that they wouldn’t get bad edits. This caused the participants to be inauthentic in their marriages, which only caused resentment and false narratives which not only marred the show’s credibility but also created animosity between the wives and the men of the season. This made season 17’s cast the most contentious in the show’s history. So while there was no shortage of drama, it was not the dramaMAFSfans wanted to see.
Coming off a disastrous season 17 and off of years of seasons with low success rates, poor casting choices, and lackluster drama, fans are very hopeful and keeping good thoughts that season 18 will be entertaining.
Based on the trailer and what is known about upcoming season 18, fans should be getting excited. There is every indication that season 18 won’t disappoint and will exceed what fans are hoping for.
MAFS Season 18 Is Poised To Bring Quality Drama
It Will Be Worth Watching
This week, new details about what viewers will be watching in season 18 were released.Season 18 will be taking place in Chicago, Illinois, for the second time.Season 5 was also in Chicago. In the two unofficial trailers released, emotions were high among the marriage hopefuls, with one bride debating getting cold feet. A cast member questioning longevity with her partner and an ornery cast member escalating tension with their bride were also shown. While the official trailer hasn’t been dropped yet, the cast members and their backgrounds have.
MAFSseason 18’scast looks like a solid and mature range of participants.In seasons past, many of the cast found themselves not ready for marriage or had obvious immaturity issues that caused their marriages to end early. Also, season 18 promises the show’s first couple swap as well as a cheating scandal. While those two situations are not ideal, it’s unclear how things will come together once the season starts. In any case, those situations and the cast members involved will be entertaining, and it’s likely fans will get hooked into the details of the season and its cast.
The MAFS Experts' Jobs Are At Stake
They Need To Pair Successful Couples
Another point toMarried at First Sightseason 18 that gives it the potential to be better received by fans than in seasons past, isthe desperation of the experts to prove themselves and keep their jobs.Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Cal Roberson, and Dr. Pia Holec will all be returning in their relationship expert and therapist capacities. All three have been criticized as a whole and individually for their many failures at producing successful couples.
Dr. Pepper has been accused of being aloof and unaccountable, while viewers think Pastor Cal is not effective with his views and advice for the couple, and Dr. Pia has demonstrated biases and visible disdain for the participants and has not fostered a supportive environment for therapy.
However, their jobs are at stake in season 18, and they will have to not only be more thoughtful and methodic in their matchmaking but also come correct with their guidance. With the fire lit under them, the experts should prevail and prove viewers wrong in season 18.
The Last Chicago Season Was Successful
Will The MAFS Franchise Take Note This Time?
Married at First Sightfans who watched season 5 in Chicago remember it fondly as it produced long-lasting couple Ashley Petta and Anthony D’Amico. While the other two couples didn’t work out,Ashley and Anthony showed fans how well the process can workand the entertainment value they could get from a positive well-matched couple. In season 18, fans are ready to watch another Ashley and Anthony in the making. Given the need for season 18 to be a quality one and what is currently known about the season, season 18 can surpass fans' expectations and save the franchise’s credibility.
Married at First Sightseason 18 premieres Tuesday, August 22, 2025, at 8 pm, EST.
Married At First Sight
Cast
Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.
