I’m always going to be a fan ofMarried At First Sight,but after watching the Australian version of the experimental series,I’ve found myself deeply invested in the wayMarried At First Sight Australiaworks, especially because it functions in a way the American version doesn’t.Married At First Sightseason 18has been a struggle for me, as the couples didn’t connect in an organic way, but the drama felt overwrought and difficult to keep tabs on. Looking for a change of pace, I took a suggestion from a friend and tried outMAFS Australiafor a change.
ThroughoutMarried At First Sightseason 18, I found myself looking for a different style of reality TV drama that the show used to be comfortable delivering. WhileMAFShas been on for years and changed according to the times, it’s typically maintained a certain level of drama that feels catastrophic, whether it is or not. In the last few years, I thinkMAFShas lost that sense of catastropheand urgency each season. Thankfully, I went ahead and found that feeling onMarried At First Sight Australia,which is one of the most bonkers shows I’ve watched in ages.
Any adversity or drama couples have been facing comes out in the wash [on MAFS AU], and I loved every melodramatic second of it.
MAFS AU Has A Much Larger Cast
There Are Typically 10 Or More Couples
AlthoughMAFSfans who are used to watching the US version of the series are very used to the casting format of five couples in the experiment,Married At First Sight Australia’scastis typically a lot larger and a lot more chaotic. With theMAFS AUexperts pairing up at least ten couples per season, the weddings don’t all happen around the same time. Typically, weddings are shown two at a time for a series of episodes, but the experts continue to match people throughout the season, sometimes bringing couples in later on.
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While there are a lot more storylines to keep track of, the larger cast felt like a bit of a relief to me.Watching the five couples onMAFStypically allows me to focus on all the details of their relationship, which I’m beginning to think is the wrong way to consume the show. Instead of focusing on the small details,I enjoyed watching the bigger picture of each marriage, and liked getting to know new people throughout the seasonrather than seeing the same faces with each passing episode.
MAFS AU’s Casting Process Is Shown On Screen
They Reveal The Behind-The-Scenes Processes
WhileMAFSviewers often get the ability to hear the experts' decision-making process early in the season, one of the things Iloved aboutMarried At First Sight Australiawas that the casting process was shown on screen in some seasons. Rather than seeing the experts' curated view of who they want to feature, viewers get the opportunity to see casting calls, interviews, and other pieces of the casting process.MAFSused to do this a bit, butMAFS AUshows more of the process in an organic way, recognizing that it’s an abnormal experience to apply for reality TV.
MAFS AU’s Dinner Parties Are Intense & Incredible
They Bring The Drama To Another Level
TheMarried At First Sight Australiadinner parties are some of the most intense moments of reality TV I’ve ever experienced. The couples come together at long, elegant tables to talk through their issues together and with others, and though it’s often very tense and overwhelming, it’s incredible to watch. Typically,any adversity or drama couples have been facing comes out in the wash, and I loved every melodramatic second of it. WhileMAFSdoes something similar with their dinners and retreats,MAFS AUalmost over-does the drama, which makes it far more fun and campy.
They Make It Clear The Participants Are Doing Something Daring
As a concept,Married At First Sightcarries some general similaritiesall over the world, and I enjoyed that familiarity. However, the concept is where a lot of the similarities stop. WhileMAFSoften asks its viewers to suspend disbelief and accept the experiment as a normal occurrence,MAFS AUdoesn’t attempt to normalize how strange the experience is for their participants. The show makes it clear that it’s absurd, dramatic, and overwhelming, andI appreciated the fact that the show felt like a candid at a strange experience.Married At First Sightshould take notes from its Australian counterpart.
Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on Lifetime.
