There are signs the Married at First Sight experts will change in future seasons, which would improve the value of the franchise. Dr. Pepper Schwartz has been an expert since MAFS season 1 in 2014. She got her Ph.D. in 1974 at the University of Yale, and is an author, former sex columnist, and an established sociologist. Pastor Cal Roberson, who joined MAFS in season 4, is the Senior Pastor of his ministry in Atlanta, a published author, and a public speaker. 39-year-old Dr. Pia Holec is the newest expert, having joined in MAFS season 15 in San Diego.
Dr. Pia is a psychotherapist and sex therapist with her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School. Each season, the Married at First Sight experts are given the responsibility of matching the couples. They aim to pair the participants based on their non-negotiables, cultural backgrounds, value systems, and personalities. Once the matches are formed and the couples say I do, the experts' roles change to ones of guidance and counseling to, hopefully, ensure the pairs can overcome any relationship obstacles that come their way. However, they've consistently dropped the ball.
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Dr. Pepper & Pastor Cal Have Major Flaws As Therapists
They've Been On MAFS Too Long
Lifetime's Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal have been the faces of Married at First Sight for many years now, and they have flaws that have become obvious over the years. Dr. Pepper tends to hold herself unaccountable in negative situations she's created. For example, in MAFS season 17, she had a hand in pairing Michael Shiakallis with his runaway bride, but put the onus of the situation on the bride instead of herself and the other experts when she approached Michael to be rematched.
Dr. Pepper often remains aloof to the core issues in each couples' marriage, and that's why so many couples get off track. Moreover, she has demonstrated that she does not have a pulse on the needs and pitfalls of the couples, as evidenced by season 15's Krysten Collins' reaction to Dr. Pepper's advice pertaining to Krysten's perception by her husband. Dr. Pepper's advice is also lacking when she approaches the couples, because she is not in tune enough with how the couples are functioning. She makes generalizations and does not understand each individual couple's shortcomings.
Pastor Cal proves himself to be the most valuable of the experts, because he does endeavor to have a deeper understanding of the couples, and to be more present and relatable. The MAFS couples seem to open up to Pastor Cal more, which makes him more helpful. However, where he falls short is with his inability to properly match the couples in the first place, leading to the show's poor success rate. Pastor Cal's advice has also been off-base and overly harsh at times. Like in season 15 when he told Justin Hall that he wasn't being masculine enough for his partner Alexis Williams.
Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal have been on Married at First Sight for too long, and that is underscored by their ineffectiveness.
Dr. Pepper would have tried to change her therapy and matchmaking approach by now if it was possible, and it's become obvious that the participants and viewers have seen all that they can from her, and her effort is lacking. Pastor Cal, in addition to Dr. Pepper, hasn't been able to match the right people, and therein lies the problem. MAFS has a success rate of only 18.75%, or 12 couples, over the 17 complete seasons of the show.
Dr. Pia Is Unprofessional
She's Biased & Offensive
Dr. Pia has proven to be a detriment to the show since she took a primary "expert" role in MAFS season 16 in Nashville. However, her unprofessionalism, offensiveness, and biases have been more clear in seasons 17 and 18. Instead of fostering an environment where the participants feel comfortable to speak, Dr. Pia has demonstrated animosity and been combative with the participants. With season 17's Brennan Shoyket, she cut him off, made disgruntled faces at him, and seemed bothered by anything he was trying to say.
When Orion Martzloff was asking for a divorce from Lauren Goodger, she also wore her negative emotions towards Orion on her face, and it was obvious she did not intend on counseling him to the best of her ability. Moreover, she offended Michael and his second bride, Chloe Brown, when she told them she thought they weren't being authentic. In season 18, Dr. Pia was much more excited about the more ethnic pairings of the season, and that's where her excitement laid over the other couples.
The MAFS Experts Need An Overhaul
The Current Experts Proved They're Incapable
It's been obvious for several seasons now that the experts need an overhaul. They have proven their inability to match compatible and long-lasting couples, which is what Married at First Sight's premise is about. With season upon season seeing low success rates and upset fans, it's clear that something needs to change, and it should be the experts first and foremost.
MAFS viewers know what to expect from Dr. Pepper, Pastor Cal, and Dr. Pia, and their poor track record coupled with their ineffectiveness speaks for itself that they should lose their jobs on the show.
A Fresh Panel Of Experts Will Only Help MAFS
It Will Add To The Entertainment Value
With @mafslifetime season 18 getting going, viewers are having to endure the same experts with the same shortcomings, and it does not bode well for the season's reception or potential for producing solid couples. Having a fresh panel of experts after season 18 will certainly boost the show's entertainment value and breathe life back into the franchise. New experts would make the show more interesting because new therapists/matchmakers would offer different perspectives, new skill sets, and give fans new cast members to get to know.
It Could Take A Few Seasons To Get Good Experts
There Will Be Trial & Error
Custom Image By César García Getting Married at First Sight back on track with experts that are constructive and productive might not happen overnight, but it is necessary to have a new panel at this point.
It could take several seasons to find the right fit regarding the expert role, but it will give viewers more to consider when judging the show instead of dealing with the same experts with the same deficiencies.
Married at First Sight has a huge fan base, and beginning a new chapter in the franchise by finding better experts is what the show needs going forward.
Married At First Sight airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on Lifetime.
Source: Lifetime/YouTube, @mafslifetime/Instagram
Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.
Cast Pepper Schwartz , Calvin Roberson , Viviana Coles , Jessica Griffin , John Aiken , Mel Schilling , Alessandra Rampolla , Logan Levkoff , Joseph Cilona , Greg Epstein , Rachel DeAlto , DeVon Franklin , Pia Holec
Release Date July 8, 2014
Seasons 17
Writers Lotte Offenberg Bergqvist , Razor Rizzotti
Directors Charlie Mysak , Michael Fitzpatrick Lawrence Jr. , Nick Petrie
Showrunner Sam Dean
English (US) ·