What We Can Learn From Married at First Sight: Relationship TV Takeaways

My most recent guilty pleasure is binge watching Married at First Sight. Though I’m not a big fan of reality TV, I find myself invested in the concept of two people who have never met joining together in marriage. I’m sure much of the drama is fabricated, yet some of the challenges the couples must overcome are relatable. After watching a few seasons of the show, I feel there are a few takeaways that we can learn from.

• Don’t make a snap judgement about someone.

Several of the couples on the show made it down the aisle and realized that they were not attracted to the person they were marrying. What a frightening moment! However, many of these same couples ended up falling in love with their spouse. Attraction can grow. Making a snap judgement about someone may hinder your dating life.

• Relationships take work.

A team of experts match the couples based on compatibility factors, yet there has not been a single couple that has had a completely smooth transition into married life. Relationships take work. They are an investment. Oftentimes, the couples who put in the work decided to remain in those relationships.

• Compromise is necessary.

No two people will see eye to eye on every issue. There is a certain amount of give-and-take that is necessary in relationships. An equal amount of compromise is essential. If one partner is compromising more than the other or compromises are made about major factors in a relationship, re-evaluating the relationship may be necessary.

• Sometimes you have to walk away.

There are variables we don’t account for when we get into a relationship. Some relationships end up emotionally or physically abusive. Others have one partner more committed than the other. Whatever it may be, there is a time to walk away. Being able to recognize this is important.

Though Married at First Sight is a dramatic and intense social experiment that I wouldn’t recommend the majority of people to try, I do think we can learn from the show. We may not have a panel of experts helping us navigate our relationship, but with some hard work and dedication, it is possible to create a healthy and happy relationship…with someone you’ve known for more than five minutes.

Kaitlynn Toay is a senior

English major from

Edgeley, N.D.