This is a review for the second season of "Married at First Sight". There is another page for the first season.
"Married" is a self-described social experiment, as are most reality shows. You put some people in an unusual situation and you see how they react.
In this case, a team of relationship experts collected tons of data on 7,000 candidates, then picked three men and three women who they determined to be suited for marriage--to each other. The six "winners" of this process then were told they would be getting married in ten days. To someone they would first meet at the altar. Pretty bold of the candidates, but they felt unsuccessful in their prior efforts to find "the one" and decided to let social science take its best shot.
The process requires the couples to marry, go on a one-week honeymoon, and make arrangements for cohabitation. At the end of six weeks, they are given the option of staying married or getting divorced.
The budding relationships are under stress, of course, but some start out better than others. But for all three couples, its a roller-coaster of emotions.
People sometimes make fun of "The Bachelor" because the participants expect to find a mate after just weeks of interaction. The fact that those weeks in no way resemble reality, because they are wined, dined and swept away to exotic destinations for once-in-a-lifetime dates, makes that show seem even more unrealistic. The differences with "Married" are that a) scientific matching is done up front and b) you don't get weeks to learn about someone before marrying. There is no proposal.
The series produces some touching moments and some that are tough to watch. There are surprises. See if you can figure out which couple will be the first to kiss. Or who will first say "I love you." Or who will consummate the marriage first.
