Married At First Sight - Season 1 - General Discussion - **Spoilers**

Lovedaddio wrote:GuardianAngel, Norcalgal....thanks for the welcome. Too bad I can't stand the bachelor/ette. This seems like a really good forum with lots of intelligent and insightful folks.

ironcat wrote:

jlccaz wrote:The "lie."  The way Doug lied was super-lame and Arrested Adolescent (lives at home, anyone?), and would have raised red flags for me. I grew up (actually, about 20 miles down the road from Jamie's trailer park!!)  in the happiest of happy homes on this planet, and I would have viewed that sort of juvenile cover-up as a red-flag on maturity and yes, candor.  Doug has plenty of issues.  I think they are well-matched, and will try to make it work after the deadline passes, but Doug's ties to his own family are also a sign that he has some work to do before he is ready to stand on his own feet as a husband.  He is still leaning on that support system a lot.  

The Format.  Professional tic, I am curious about the role of TV-show finances and legalities on the marriage behaviors that may have influenced the "experiment."  Seems that the producers likely subsidized housing costs (thus the ability to move in together in a new short-term lease place?), and I would imagine also are agreeing to pick up the tab for a no-fault divorce, and there must have been a pre-nup of sorts, so that divorce would be utterly straightforward, stipulated outcome.  Divorce post-contract is obviously also readily available as a legal matter, but not for free, with lawyers and costs and fees all covered.  Maybe they signed pre-nups that would protect them?  The longer they stay together post-experiment, the more entangled their affairs, and the more hassle, etc.  So, ironically, the format itself promotes break-up, in the absence of emotional intimacy and trust.    

I was wondering with Jason/Cortney #1 fear if they worried how they would manage on their own, without free experts, without subsidized joint housing, etc etc.

I wish someone would tweet those questions to FYI and the experts.  (The cast would obviously be gagged.)   The experts are well chosen.  They seem to be to be giving not just excellent, but outstanding, support and guidance.  It's a component of the show formula that makes the show educational and also entertaining.

I couldn't agree with you more, jlccaz.  

I dislike the way that Jamie is being vilified and Doug put on a pedestal, when they are BOTH good people IMO, and neither is without "red flags" and neither has conducted themselves perfectly in this thing.  Whether Jamie signed up for the show because she has show biz ambitions or not, she certainly seems to be taking it seriously now.  Remember she wasn't at all physically attracted to the guy when they met, so although that's changing, I don't fault her for not wanting to have sex with him after 2-3 weeks (not a month) of knowing him.  The "experts" usually say that a woman shouldn't have sex until she has been dating the person at least 2 months, don't they?  And yes, they're already married, but we're not in the Old Country where the bride had no free will in the decision and pretty much became the property of her husband after marriage, so I don't think those same rules/customs apply here.  Doug is very patient because he is both physically attracted to Jamie and likes her personality/character etc; she's basically his dream woman, and I haven't heard him say anything about lessening his opinion of/interest in her after getting to know her better, so it's all good for Doug.  I wonder if he would be quite this patient if HE wasn't all that enthralled with who they had picked for him from the get go.

Our wedding song by @lonniepark and @jamienotis means so much more now. What a beautiful heart Jamie has! #MarriedAtFirstSight

— Doug Hehner (@DougHehner) August 20, 2014

theKeptGrits wrote:one of Jamie's hosting videos on thechefconnection.com

jlccaz wrote:.......cut ........Also regarding Doug and red flags ... my point is not that living at home is a red flag by itself.  My point is that the way he reacted when challenged about the cigarette was Arrested Adolescence at its best. And if you combine that reaction with living at home, and with how his parents seem very involved in his life, it paints a more complete picture of who he is.  The lie was not some terrible act of fraud.  How he handled being challenged was really telling for me ... the small thing that tells you a lot.   He's got a long way to go.  But people grow and mature during, not just before, marriage.  Still hopeful for them.