Recap | Married at First Sight Season 12 Episode 40 – the latest episode recap on TV Central from Channel 9. Watch the show on 9Now.
It’s been a very quick turnaround after last night’s very explosive Reunion Dinner Party, but who needs rest when there’s so much drama to unpack?!
This is it, the grand finale of Season 12’s rollercoaster experiment.
The Reunion Commitment Ceremony, if you will!
Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now
Before the experts start their grilling, why not watch a nice, positive look back at the group’s beautiful wedding days?
From Rhi and Jeff marrying at not first sight, to Lauren’s chaotic sister Tamara, to… well, we all know exactly why we’re watching this again:
“That was worth than I thought,” Jamie yells, as the whole room erupts in laughter.
Now that everyone understands the true extent of Ryan dropping Jacqui, it’s time to delve even deeper.Play Video
The group react to Ryan dropping Jacqui during their first dance
Jamie and Dave
Jamie’s emotions were sky high last night as she told the group about having to break up with Dave.
That disappointment still lingers tonight.
They rewatch their journey, from the highs of the early days to the lows after Partner Swap.
EXCLUSIVE: Jamie reveals why she is no longer on speaking terms with ex husband Dave
Jamie is emotional as she watches her relationship implode after Dave admitted his feelings weren’t progressing.
Seeing their Final Vows, knowing they’d split again just weeks later, is tough.
Dave definitely has regrets.
“The way I handled myself when Jamie raised concerns – I’m ashamed of the way I handled that. This was something so special and it came to this abrupt halt and it was all my doing,” he says.
“And I’m so sorry that’s a part of our journey and it’s caused by me.”Play Video
Jamie holds back tears watching her journey with Dave
Jamie explains that after returning to Melbourne, she realised that Dave just wasn’t that into her.
Despite the sad end, she’s very proud of their journey.
Awhina and Adrian
The last time we saw these two, they were hurtling insults at each other across the table, so this is awkward.
Adrian recounts how Sierah’s bombshell that Awhina had insulted Adrian’s business and smarts to her made him completely check out.
Awhina adds context: she said those things after Adrian had left over being left out of a show promo and was questioning Adrian’s intensions in the experiment.
She also fills the experts in on Sierah’s texts to Adrian, insulting Awhina.Play Video
Awhina and Adrian unpack their relationship fallout with the experts
Sierah explains her side of the story, admitting after she left that she suggested to Adrian that a “wife swap” could’ve been good.
Awhina suggests Sierah should take accountability, rather than try and vilify her.
So, there’s a nice, relaxed mood before launching into watching Awhina and Adrian’s journey!
The footage catches Adrian out on a few things, including a producer grilling him about lying about never cheating and telling Sierah they should do the wife swap.
It’s also the first time Awhina hears Adrian label his second match Max “Awhina 2.0” during the Final Task.
Awhina sobs as she sees this moment, which also shocks the group.Play Video
Awhina cries as she watches back her time with Adrian
They left things in a grey area after Final Vows, but now Awhina is very black and white about how she feels.
“I just didn’t feel good about myself in the experiment. I don’t think from the beginning of the experiment that I was ever your person,” she says.
Adrian apologises for making for feel that way and knows that in time, Awhina will meet the person man for her.
Jacqui and Ryan
Mel says that last night, we learned some new information. I appreciate the pretense but come on, everyone knew.
Jacqui explains how compatible she and Clint are, before telling the experts their big bombshell news: “We’re really happy and so now I’m moving in with Clint”.Play Video
Ryan accuses Jacqui of ‘talking’ to Clint before Final Vows
Clint claims things are “very serious”, as Ryan jumps in to allege yet again that Jacqui and Clint were talking while she was still with him.
He feels strung along.
“My question is, with the mountain of evidence, actions, words, contradictions, the non-acceptance, did you ever really want to be in this relationship? Truly?” he asks.
She says she did, so what better time to watch it all back?
Unsurprisingly, the group are absolutely dying to watch the behind-of-scenes of their most chaotic cast mates.
“No talking!” Jamie instructs. 
It immediately begins with Ryan and his sword. An incredible start.
WATCH: Clint’s surprising response after watching footage of Jacqui and Ryan’s relationship
The video plays to a chorus of horrible gasps, uncomfortable laughs and many disbelieving “oh my gods” and “what the f–ks”.
Truly, watching everyone else watch is almost as entertaining as the footage itself!
Ryan doesn’t understand how they made it to the end of the experiment if Jacqui was so, immediately, dissatisfied with him.
He felt their good times were genuine, but Jacqui says it was only possible because she “didn’t have a voice”.Play Video
Jacqui and Ryan watch back their tumultuous relationship
John has had enough of their bickering and wants to gossip about something new.
So, he asks Clint what he thought of seeing Jacqui and Ryan’s journey.
He asserts that Ryan’s behaviour was terrible. But did it throw up any alarm bells about Jacqui, Billy wonders?
”I’ve actually fallen more for her since I’ve just watched that,” Clint replies.Play Video
Clint has an unexpected response after watching Jacqui’s relationship with Ryan
And with that, the experiment’s longest, most loop-de-loop pairing ever comes to an end.
It’s been… truly something, hasn’t it?
Carina and Paul
Paul says Carina’s rejection, after he broke her trust by going on a date with someone else, “just didn’t sit well” with him.
Now, he doesn’t think they’re compatible at all because he reckons Carina only dumped him because she was worried about the public perception if she didn’t.
Oh, and she’s a judgement snob, of course.
Alessandra pulls him up on this, but he continues to try and get his point across.
“I would appreciate it Paul, if you did not speak over me!” she says.
EXCLUSIVE: MAFS’ Carina and Paul reveal where their relationship stands now following Reunion
From the cheap seats, gossip king Jeff tells him if that were the case, Carina probably wouldn’t have forgiven him for his multiple early screw ups.
Speaking of, why don’t we watch those now?
Both Carina and Paul watch on in horror as their many lows play out on screen.Play Video
Carina and Paul get emotional as they relive their MAFS journey
Carina is emotional as she sees Paul’s Final Task date and the fallout, which ultimately led to the demise of their entire relationship.
It’s an uncomfortable watch but for her, it reaffirms that she made the right choice.
In Pictures
Leave or stay? All the biggest Commitment Ceremony bombshells on MAFS 2025
John grills groom over behaviour that makes him ‘sick in the stomach’.
As, presumably, does Paul’s reaction – to immediately deflect and claim Carina made some mistakes as well.
John cuts him off to deliver a brutal reality check.
“Rolling your eyes, shrugging saying she’s not compatible because of these reasons. Frankly, it just made me sick in the stomach,” he seethes.
“This must be a wake-up call to you.”Play Video
Expert John Aiken tells Paul to ‘stop playing the victim’
Paul finds it hard to hear but acknowledges that he needs to improve how he operates going forward.
As for Carina, she’s learned to trust her gut more. Whoever she dates next is not going to get a chance to hurt her three separate times.
Rhi and Jeff
After all that chaos, a very smiley Rhi and Jeff are exactly what we need.
Their relationship has been nice and easy to translate into the real world, after what was a fairytale journey through the entire experiment.
Unlike the other couples, their highlights reel is literally just a highlights reel.
EXCLUSIVE: Rhi and Jeff on dropping relationship bombshell as they reveal future plans
They mention falling in love multiple times throughout the experiment and in their Final Vows, which piques Mel’s curiosity.
Have they officially fallen?
“We actually haven’t said that,” Jeff admits.
But there’s no time like the present, in front of three eager experts, more than a dozen fellow participants and all of us watching along at home, right?!
”Don’t leave us hanging,” John says.
Okay we’re really heaping on the pressure here!Play Video
Rhi and Jeff say ‘I love you’
Luckily, Jeff is happy to oblige.
“I do love you, Rhi,” he says, to applause.
“I love you too,” she responds.
As for what’s next, they’re looking forward to travelling and getting to enjoy their relationship even more in the ‘real world’.
They’re still shocked that after previously casually dating, they were able to rekindle the romance and exit the friendzone thanks to the experiment.
“Married At Second Sight,” Mel concludes. Hey, there’s a concept there! 
And just like that, three months of love, heartbreak and bad decisions comes to an end. What an experiment it has been!
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CREDIT: By Chelsea McLaughlin at Nine Entertainment
Please note: This recap first appeared on 9Now located HERE
Please note: This recap was written by Chelsea McLaughlin and made available on TV Central with permission by Nine
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Recap | Married at First Sight Season 12 Episode 40
