I Binge-Watched 12 Seasons of ‘Married at First Sight’ in Record Time, and Here Are My Thoughts

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We all know this past year has been a tough one—not just for us, but for our social media circles as well. With kids having truncated school years, the usual flood of academic award pictures and trophy celebrations were noticeably absent from Facebook feeds. And let’s be real, who was posting selfies while sporting pandemic haircuts and wild eyebrows? Forget about those sunny vacation snaps; instead, we were all cozying up on our couches, letting our body hair grow, and dreaming of the day we could safely travel again.

Like many of you, my Facebook timeline became a series of memes featuring pets I didn’t even know. The classic “look how great my life is” posts seemed to vanish. But then, unexpectedly, everyone started shouting about a new activity we could all take part in during lockdown: reading. Suddenly, I was bombarded with posts about how many books Sarah read—45,361 to be exact—while I was only skimming the back of a yogurt container and re-reading “Hyperbole and a Half” for the umpteenth time. But while I may not have excelled in the literary world, I certainly became an aficionado of reality TV.

So, you can tout your reading achievements all you want; I’ll be right here, proudly embracing my obsession with “Married at First Sight,” or as us fans affectionately call it, MAFS.

As described by a writer on Reelrundown.com, MAFS is a Lifetime television series where couples are paired by experts to marry at first sight. It’s not just a reality show—it’s a social experiment. Couples meet, tie the knot, go on a honeymoon, and live together for eight weeks before deciding whether to stay married or part ways.

I’ve watched all 12 seasons of MAFS in the past few months, and each season generally has around 25 episodes, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes. That means I’ve invested approximately 22,500 minutes—around 15.6 days—of my life into the dramatic escapades of my new reality TV friends. And I did it all far quicker than it took you to list the books you’ve read—plus, let’s be honest, I didn’t have to exaggerate.

While you were likely engrossed in “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” I was glued to the screen watching Jamie Otis from Season 1 break down in tears after marrying the quirky Doug Hehner. I even witnessed their honeymoon, where her pre-wedding jitters melted away thanks to Doug’s charming personality. (I may or may not consider myself the unofficial godmother to their three children.)

As you flipped through the pages of “All the Light You Cannot See,” I was getting to know Ashley Petta and Anthony D’Amico from Season 5. I even attended their wedding! (Sorry, I couldn’t help it.) These two were head over heels from the start, with their only real drama being a spat over Ashley wanting to keep her last name.

You were probably getting lost in Toni Morrison’s prose, while I was breezing through MAFS seasons 3, 8, 6, 9, 12, and 7—one of the perks of binge-watching: you can choose your order. I witnessed Beth Bice from Season 9 comically roast her husband Jamie Thompson, and despite their bickering, they ultimately chose to stay together on Decision Day.

Of course, MAFS isn’t just about dreamy weddings and budding romances; it also showcases some truly cringeworthy moments. For example, Neil Bowlus from Season 3 donned a ridiculous onesie, only to be mocked by his bride, and Chris Williams from Season 12 made an appalling comment about his wife’s appearance.

While I could have chosen to dive into a profound novel or an insightful memoir, I found myself captivated by the drama of MAFS. At this point, I can admit that I began skipping to the juicy parts because let’s face it—reality TV feeds our guilty pleasure like nothing else.

In the end, if reality TV voyeurism were a sport, I would undoubtedly claim the title of champion. For more insights on related topics, check out this post on home insemination kits, or consider exploring fertility solutions at Make a Mom. Additionally, WebMD offers excellent resources on pregnancy and reproduction that you might find useful.

Summary:

The author reflects on their binge-watching of all 12 seasons of “Married at First Sight” during lockdown, comparing their reality TV obsession to the books others were reading. They share memorable moments from the show, highlighting the mix of romance and conflict, and embrace their role as a reality TV enthusiast, reveling in the drama and human interactions that unfold on screen.

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Reality TV, Married at First Sight, binge-watching, social experiment, relationship dynamics, reality TV enthusiasts, lockdown activities, entertainment.