Most producers believe a show can exist regardless of the transitional hosts or experts. When they released Dr. Viviana Coles from the MAFS expert panel, Kinetic Content producers never imagined there would be such a response. Married At First Sight is one of the most popular reality series on television and has been a prized possession for Lifetime for 18 seasons. Every season of the social experiment sees ten singles matched based on their answers to compatibility tests and conversations with a panel of experts, who use their professional expertise, intuition, wisdom, and experience as matchmakers to select their legal spouse. The newlyweds are filmed for six weeks for the viewers’ entertainment as they determine if they want to remain married to their stranger or if they choose to divorce. During this period, the experts who matched them meet with them periodically to help them navigate the obstacles of marriage. But since Dr. Viviana’s exit in season 14, there have been more trainwrecks and emotional breakdowns.
It wasn’t surprising that Dr. Viviana was a fan favorite. Her work as a speaker and clinician made her extremely relatable to the newlyweds. Dr. Pepper is older than most of the couples and has admitted that she and her husband choose to live in separate homes. With her unconventional marriage and generational disconnect, she wouldn’t be the best person to advise newly matched strangers on living together. Pastor Cal is a likable minister with a beautiful wife and an admirable marriage. However, not only is there an age gap, but Pastor Cal follows Christian beliefs, and often, the people he councils do not, giving them a drastically different worldview. At 39 years old, Dr. Pia fits the age demographic of most of the newlyweds, but she was initially reserved about giving feedback to the couples.
‘Married At First Sight’ Struggled After Dr. Viviana’s Departure
Dr. Pia was introduced in Married At First Sight Season 15, but audiences didn’t connect with her as her input was minimal. In Season 16, she was joined by superstar pastor and executive film producer Devon Franklin. Devon had just gone through a divorce from actress Megan Goode, so his presence as an expert dedicated to celebrating marriage felt awkward. Dr. Pia and Devon both did a few sessions with the couples that initial season, but, of course, Devon’s charisma was infectious even if fans were wondering how he qualified for the job. The following season, Devon mysteriously disappeared, and Dr. Pia settled in with Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal as the resident experts for the show.
Denver, Dr. Pia’s first solo season as a bonafide expert, was a complete disaster. All the couples had issues, and four of them refused to move in together. Not only was the cast incompatible, but several of the grooms were scheming behind their bride’s back. The season was completely disjointed and tested fans’ commitment to the series. Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal were ineffective in their conversations with the couples. As the newbie to the panel, Dr. Pia didn’t offer much of an opinion. One groom attempted to end his marriage during the couples’ retreat. When he wasn’t able to, he simply left. Obviously, the couple chose to go their separate ways on decision day, however, the bride showed up for the reunion with a new boyfriend and propositioned Pastor Cal to marry them right there. Instead of warning the bride that she may have been reacting her disappointment with her failed marriage, Pastor Cal agreed.
If Denver left a bad taste in viewers’ mouths, Chicago was the last straw. Until then, she’d been relatively quiet with her suggestions. When a groom and a bride from separate marriages decided their attraction to each other was too strong to deny, Dr. Pia lost her professionalism. She chastised the groom and told him she had lost all respect for him because of his actions. The couple ignored the shock and disappointment of all three experts and moved in together.
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The interest in the show is back!
‘Married At First Sight’ Still Needs Dr. Viviana
Since Dr. Viviana’s exit, the experts have failed to hold the couples accountable for their actions. Every season the newlyweds are less compatible. Although the experts come across as amicable people, they fail to help them effectively navigate their first weeks together. When couples refuse to move in together because of a lack of physical attraction, the experts fail to remind them that they signed up to be married at first sight. Dr. Viviana offered that simple common sense feedback in a professional manner while remaining relatable. There have been numerous complaints online with fans demanding the experts be switched out or changed completely. To maintain some form of continuity, it would be in the best interest of the production company to get Dr. Viviana back on the panel.
Married at First Sight is streaming on Hulu in the U.S.
- Release Date
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July 8, 2014
- Showrunner
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Sam Dean
- Directors
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Charlie Mysak, Michael Fitzpatrick Lawrence Jr., Nick Petrie
- Writers
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Lotte Offenberg Bergqvist, Razor Rizzotti
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