Married at First Sight on Channel 9 – It’s the morning after the Final Commitment Ceremony and there’s only one thing that everyone can talk about – yep, you guessed it. Lauren and Jono.
“Plot twist, Jono is a cheater,” Jayden quips.
Well, the phrase “cheater” is certainly debatable but things aren’t looking good after Tori outed Jonathan for texting former bride Ellie behind his wife Lauren’s back.
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Tori is pretty pleased with herself for exposing him and is looking forward to doing so even more at tonight’s Final Dinner Party.
She’s looking forward to it so much that she’s even got a special shade of red lipstick picked out. Jonathan’s blood, perhaps?
While Tori is dolling herself up for the occasion, Lauren is going through the text messages that Jonathan and Ellie have exchanged noting she “needs to make an assessment for [herself]”.
Lauren gets scrolling and she doesn’t like what she sees. “These aren’t just relaying information that has happened the night before… this is more than that and my stomach kind of dropped,” the bride admits.
EPISODE 33 RECAP: Lauren in tears as Jonathan is outed for texting another bride and one couple says goodbye
Lauren deems Jono and Ellie’s relationship as “inappropriate” and things are feeling pretty frosty between the couple.
“Was he texting her while I was in hospital getting surgery? Probably, that’s just such a slap in the face,” Lauren huffs.
Heading into the Dinner Party, solo Lauren and Jonathan are both ready for battle.
“I know that what I did was innocent, I apologised if it offended her, she found a way to weaponise the innocent text messages and if she wants to continue then bring it on,” Jono warns.
And Lauren has a caution of her own: “If he tries to dance around things and gaslight me I will lose my god damn s–t!”
Oh boy, this is going to be a big one.
Cocktail Hour
Thank god it’s cocktail hour, because everyone is in desperate need of a drink.
But everyone soon proceeds to spit out those drinks when Lauren reveals that Jono and Ellie have exchanged 100 messages. 100 MESSAGES!!
“Over 100 messages to another female in the experiment, behind your wife’s back. There’s a lot going on,” Jayden unpacks the scandal.
Everyone is waiting on the edge of their seat as Jono enters the Dinner Party.
Will he and Lauren give each other a hug hello? A more formal handshake perhaps? Or even a subtle head nod.
The answer is none of the above.
Neither of them acknowledge each other’s presence in the room and it really sets the tone for the evening.
With the table (and the tone) set, it’s time to have dinner but something tells us we’ll be too busy talking to even get a bite in.
Dinner Party
Lauren and Jono are forced to sit next to one another as Jayden begins to make a toast to the experiment.
Jayden requests some spicy toasts from his fellow brides and grooms.
“To the friendship,” Tim grins. No Tim, we need spicier!
“To Jack’s big mouth,” Ridge cheers. Better, but we’re looking for something a little spicier.
“To Jono texting Ellie,” Sara raises her glass. BINGO! Leave it to Lauren’s bestie to commence Jonathan’s grilling.
And it seems Jonathan wants to contribute to his own punishment by fessing to the group that it was him who texted Ellie first NOT the other way around like he previously said.
Jonathan offers his justification up to the group saying he messages plenty of other people who have left the experiment – Ellie just happens to be one of them.
“Jono wasn’t really owning it, he was kind of half-arse apologising and justifying and making excuses as to why he did it,” Jayden says of Jonathan’s handling of the situation.
But Jono is gonna have to make a whole lot more excuses in three, two, one…
“Jack brought me some info that you were like, ‘Yeah, I would’ve loved to be with Ellie’,” Tori drops a bombshell.
Jono’s sporadic onset of amnesia conveniently resurfaces and he says he can’t recall ever saying such a thing.
And then right on time, the Honesty Boxes arrive – a little black box containing tailor-made questions to rub salt in the wound of every couple’s sore spots. How delightful.
Sara and Tim
No surprises here, the questions for Sara and Tim mainly revolve around trust especially after that incident that saw Sara meet up with her ex behind Tim’s back.
Sara admits that is her biggest regret in the experiment and ultimately she regrets hurting Tim.
Then comes a doozy, Sara asks Tim: “Do you believe I’m over my ex?” Dun dun duuun.
Tim chooses his words carefully. “You guys have your history but I’m gonna go with yes.”
It’s all smiles from the comeback kids who escape the Honesty Box unscathed.
Tori and Jack
Everyone is waiting to catch Jack out but truthfully he and Tori travel through the Honesty Box questions pretty well.
Tori believes that had Jack “exercised a certain amount of thought before he speaks”, they would be in a very different position than they are now.
And while Tori has her concerns about making long distance work, there is no doubt in her mind that she is on her way to falling in love with that bun-sporting man we call Jack.
Jack kind of returns the favour and says he’s “feeling proud” of Tori. “Ugh did he really just say that?” expert John Aiken shudders from the viewing room.
Jack also adds that he “could be falling” in love with Tori. Whether or not there’s emphasis on the ‘could’, we’ll leave that to you to decide.
They wrap up their questionnaire with an unusual kiss. “Kiss me, just fake it,” Tori summons. A little bit lacking on the romance, but to each their own.
Jade and Ridge
Jade is in the middle of a heartfelt speech about how Ridge has swept her off her feet.
“You’ve done things for me that no one else…” At this point Ridge begins beating his chest and chanting like he’s in a football locker room.
“STOP DOING THAT! I’m not going to say nice things if you keep doing that!” Jade loses her cool.
It’s a bit of a hiccup for the pair but Ridge miraculously transforms from frat boy to husband as he tells Jade just how deep his feelings are for her.
“You’re going to be it for me, I’m done, there’s no one else it’s just going to be you for the rest of my life,” Ridge declares.
Jade is seriously struggling to stay mad at Ridge and we understand why.
There are no ifs, buts or maybes anymore. Ridge has set a date in three months for him to move to Queensland to be with Jade and there is “no hesitation” from Ridge to take on the role of step-father to Jade’s seven-year-old daughter.
“I’m filling the car up with 98 and we are going to the Gold Coast!” Ridge cheers.
Lauren and Jonathan
“LET’S GET READY TO RUMBBLLEEEE!” Thank you Tim for announcing the fight of the night.
In the red corner we have Lauren and in the blue corner we have Jonathan.
And just as you’d expect their Honesty Box is an “absolute trainwreck”.
Jonathan admits that if Lauren hadn’t found out he wouldn’t have stopped texting Ellie. “Well, I didn’t expect that,” Jayden scoffs.
Things only get worse as Jonathan “essentially blames Lauren for his behaviour”.
Everyone is trying to signal to Jonathan to just “say I’m sorry” rather than to deflect but that doesn’t happen.
Lauren continues on a “war path” as she answers Jono’s Honesty Box questions.
“I think you’re a snake,” she unleashes. “I absolutely do not trust you.”
WATCH: Dom and Ella’s fiery reactions as Jono’s ‘inappropriate’ texts to another bride are exposed
Even though it’s Jonathan’s question time, Lauren has a question of her own: “On Homestays when you initiated sex with me, what is the difference between then and now?”
Jono’s not interested in answering that question. He knows if he starts answering that there’s no weaseling his way out, instead he chooses momentary silence.
He breaks that silence to say that he would’ve had an “easier” time in the experiment if he’d been matched with any other bride including Ellie rather than Lauren.
The experts are shocked by the Jono they see tonight. “He’s so cold tonight and dismissive and unfeeling about what’s going on. There’s not a sense that he’s embarrassed or sheepish,” John says.
Lauren has the final say at the dinner table: “You are the fakest person I’ve ever met in my life!”
While Jono tells cameras he “has no plans to see Ellie outside the experiment”. Just thought we might need that one in writing.
Eden and Jayden
Eden opens with question number one for Jayden: “How do you feel about me right now, describe your feelings?”
Jayden’s answer: “I love you.”
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! AN L-BOMB. A REAL ONE.
“At last some love, thank you Jayden!” expert Mel Schilling praises the heavens.
Eden returns the favour with an, “I love you too.”
The whole table erupts with cheer and they raise a toast to Eden and Jayden’s love.
“I was not expecting that. That took my breath away,” Eden tells cameras.
One question in, and Eden and Jayden have already passed the test with flying colours and so they throw the rest of the cards away!
Although they might need to fish them out of the bin so they can use those cards to write their Final Vows on.
Married At First Sight Final Vows begin Sunday at 7:00pm and continue Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Catch up on every episode of MAFS for free on 9Now.
Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now.
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Recap is courtesy of Lauren Attard at Channel 9
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