There are signs of Married at first sight specialists will change in future seasons, which would improve the value of the franchise. Dr. Pepper Schwartz has been a specialist since MAFS season 1 in 2014. She earned her Ph.D. in 1974 at Yale University, and is an author, former sex columnist, and accomplished sociologist. Pastor Cal Roberson, who joined MAFS in Season 4, he is the senior pastor of his Atlanta ministry, a published author, and a public speaker. Pia Holec, 39 years old, is the newest specialist, having joined MAFS season 15 in San Diego.
Pia is a psychotherapist and sex therapist with a doctorate. in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School. Each season, the Married at first sight the experts are given the responsibility of matching the couples. The goal is to pair participants based on non-negotiables, cultural backgrounds, value systems and personalities. Once matches are formed and couples say I do, the experts’ roles shift to guidance and counseling to hopefully ensure that the matches can overcome any relationship obstacles that come their way. However, they consistently dropped the ball.
Pepper and Pastor Cal have major flaws as therapists
They’ve been on MAFS for a long time
LifeDr. Pepper and Pastor Cal have been the faces of Married at first sight many years ago and have flaws that have become obvious over the years. Dr. Pepper tends to take responsibility for the negative situations it creates. For example, in MAFS In Season 17, she helped pair Michael Shiakallis with his runaway bride, but placed the onus of the situation on the bride rather than her and the other experts when she approached Michael for a rematch.
Dr. Pepper often remains indifferent to the core issues of each couple’s marriage, which is why so many couples stray from the path. Furthermore, she has demonstrated that she is clueless about the needs and pitfalls of couples, as evidenced by Season 15 Krysten Collins’ reaction to Dr. Pepper’s advice regarding Krysten’s perception of her husband. Dr. Pepper’s advice is also missing when she approaches couples, because she is not sufficiently in tune with how couples function. She makes generalizations and doesn’t understand each couple’s shortcomings.
Pastor Cal proves to be the most valuable of the experts because he strives to have a deeper understanding of couples and to be more present and relatable. THE MAFS couples seem to open up more to Pastor Cal, which makes him more helpful. However, where it falls short is with your inability to properly match the couples in the first placeleading to the program’s low success rate. Pastor Cal’s advice has also been misguided and sometimes overly harsh. Like in season 15 when he told Justin Hall he wasn’t being masculine enough for his partner Alexis Williams.
Dr. Pepper and Pastor Cal were at Married at first sight for too long, and this is highlighted by its ineffectiveness.
Dr. Pepper would have already tried to change her therapy and matchmaking approach if it were possible, and it has become obvious that participants and viewers have seen all they can from her, and her effort is lacking. Pastor Cal, other than Dr. Pepper, couldn’t find the right people and therein lies the problem. MAFS has a success rate of just 18.75%or 12 couples, over the show’s 17 full seasons.
Dr. Pia is not professional
She is biased and offensive
Pia proved to be a detriment to the show, as she took on the main role of “expert” on MAFS season 16 in Nashville. However, his lack of professionalism, offensiveness and prejudices became clearer in seasons 17 and 18. Instead of fostering an environment where attendees feel comfortable speaking up, Dr. Pia demonstrated animosity and was combative toward attendees. With Season 17’s Brennan Shoyket, she interrupted him, made displeased faces at him, and seemed uncomfortable with whatever he was trying to say.
When Orion Martzloff was filing for divorce from Lauren Goodger, she also displayed her negative emotions towards Orion on her face, and it was obvious that she did not intend to advise him in the best way possible. Furthermore, she offended Michael and his second brideChloe Brown, when she told them she felt they were being inauthentic. In season 18, Dr. Pia was much more excited about the season’s more ethnic pairings, and that’s when her excitement took over the other couples.
MAFS Experts Need an Overhaul
Current experts have proven that they are incapable
It’s been several seasons now that it’s obvious the experts need an overhaul. They have proven their inability to form compatible and lasting couples, and that is what Married at first sightthe premise is about. With season after season recording low success rates and upsetting fans, it’s clear that something needs to change, and it must 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 new panel of experts will only help MAFS
This will increase the entertainment value
With @mafslifetime As season 18 begins, viewers are having to face the same experts with the same shortcomings, and that doesn’t bode well for the season’s reception or the potential for producing solid couples. Having a new panel of experts after season 18 will certainly increase the entertainment value of the show and bring the franchise to life. 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 may take a few seasons to get good specialists
There will be trial and error
Receiving Married at first sight Getting back on track with constructive and productive experts may not happen overnight, but a new panel is necessary at this time.
It may take several seasons to find the right fit regarding the expert role, but this will give viewers more considerations when judging the show rather than dealing with the same experts with the same shortcomings.
Married at first sight has a huge fan base, and starting a new chapter in the franchise by finding better experts is what the show needs to move forward.
Married at first sight airs Tuesdays at 8pm EDT on Lifetime.
Source: Life/YouTube, @mafslifetime/Instagram