Married at First Sight on Channel 9 – It’s the morning after that explosive Commitment Ceremony, and everyone is unpacking Jack blindsiding Tori.
Yep, that gasp-worthy moment the groom preemptively claimed he might “let [his wife] down” in their marriage. Bit of a red flag of you ask us.
“It sounds like he’s prepping her for a break-up,” Jono says of the whole situation.
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But loyal bride Tori is back on the defence, and claims it was simply a “poor choice of words” on Jack’s behalf.
The couple brush it off and conclude that Jack “just needs to work on his articulation.” After the “muzzle you woman” comment from days prior, that should definitely be at the top of his to do list.
Articulation might help Jack get out of hot water, but it’s certainly not going to help Stephen out of this next mess.
While everyone else is packing for the Couples Retreat, Michael and Stephen are suffering a huge blow to their relationship.
It turns out that while Stephen was getting his hair done for a publicity shoot, Michael witnessed something devastating.
“I can see my husband flirting with the hairdresser, and on the car ride home I see that Stephen was smiling and laughing at his phone,” he explains to cameras. “I asked, ‘Who are you texting?’
“He was talking to the hairdresser. Stephen told me that he felt a spark with this hairdresser that he’s never felt with me.”
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After spending some much needed time apart, Michael and Stephen finally come face-to-face to hash things out.
Stephen understands Michael’s hurt but says the whole ordeal has been “clarification” for him.
“I feel s–t, but feeling that instant attraction to someone made me realise what we’re missing,” he explains.
“I had a 30 second conversation with someone and felt it was so much easier to get flirty with them than I did with you in two and a half weeks,” Stephen says, rubbing salt in the wound.
“I know that that’s a s–t thing to hear and that’s why I feel so guilty.”
While Stephen has no intention of following through with the hairdresser, Michael is still “hurt, pissed off” and “betrayed” by what he claims to be “emotional cheating”.
“I am beside myself,” Michael says before taking his wedding ring off, slamming it on the table and storming out the door.
It seems like Michael and Stephen’s relationship is in ruin.
“I would be lying to you and everyone if I said I could go forward in this to build a sexual relationship with you,” Stephen later admits to his husband.
While Michael says, “After that I don’t know if I care to salvage it.”
WATCH:Â Michael erupts at Sara for defending Stephen after a text exchange derails his marriage
But after being reminded that there is a Couples’ Retreat at a 16-bedroom mansion in the Byron Bay Hinterland, Michael and Stephen put their differences behind them and attempt to give things another shot.
No judgement here, we agree there’s nothing quite like a luxury getaway to motivate you to work on your relationship.
Welcome Drinks
After everyone chooses their beds, Timothy pulls Sara aside for a very important debrief about Jack’s intentions with Tori.
“I don’t want to s–t on Tori’s parade but I smell a rat,” the groom says to Sara.
Sara smells a rat too, and Lauren smells drama so she weaves herself into Sara and Timothy’s conversation.
And her timing couldn’t be better because Timothy drops this bombshell: “If he’s so into Tori, why in week one would he be showing me pictures of his ex and how hot she is?”
The girls are “absolutely shocked,” and Sara thinks it’s time she tells the duo about two recent occasions she’s been thinking about.
Sara explains two instances that she says “could’ve been an accident”.
The first was when Sara and Tim were going to the spa. She says they ran into Jack, and he allegedly “lightly tapped” Sara’s butt.
The second incident was when Jack was apologising to Sara after a confrontation at the Dinner Party and he allegedly kissed Sara on the neck.Â
The unlikely trio decide to park everything for now and wait for a better time to fill Tori in on the allegations against Jack.
Sara and Lauren’s first opportunity to tell Tori comes the next day when everyone is chilling by the pool.
Tori is looking for some ‘R&R’ and “light chat” to take her mind off how intense things have been, but Sara and Lauren have other ideas.
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The girls test the waters with Tori by suggesting that she may be in a “love is blind” type relationship.
But Tori doesn’t want a bar of it, not even from her closest friends; she shuts the conversation down and goes on self-assigned “vocal strike” unless it’s a non-Jack related topic.
Couples’ Activities
While Tristan had fears that the Couples’ Retreat was just going to be like a Dinner Party “but on steroids” everyone is actually getting along swimmingly.
They’re playing card games, swapping stories and having some deep chats.
As a number of brides and grooms talk it out, someone asks Jayden what his “biggest fear” is, Jayden answers, “Losing [my] parents”.
The topic understandably strikes a chord with Timothy, who has lost his dad, mum and brother. He tries to brush it off, but the moment doesn’t go unnoticed by his wife Lucinda.
Later that day, Lucinda checks in with Timothy about how he’s feeling.
“I was feeling great but it seemed to turn to s–t so quickly when we were playing that game this afternoon” Timothy begins to open up.
As Lucinda gently pushes the boundaries, Timothy talks about losing his family and himself in the process – but as Lucinda scratches the surface it becomes overwhelming for Timothy.
“I actually can’t do this,” he says before leaving the room in tears.Â
Timothy wanders out for a walk and a much needed breath of fresh air.
Feeling rattled by hearing everybody at the retreat speak of their families, Timothy admits it brought up his grief again.
“I guess just hearing everybody, it brings it all to life and losing yourself – you just don’t know who you are anymore.
“I’m in uncharted territory for me. It just cut so deep. I feel so lost.”
But if there’s one place Timothy doesn’t feel so lost, it’s with Lucinda.
“I know Lucinda doesn’t think I’m weak because I show emotion. Lucinda’s a rock,” Timothy reflects.
Timothy returns to his wife and the two share the most beautiful embrace after what’s been a very emotional day.
“I’ve never seen that side of Tim. I just feel like so many walls came down,” Lucinda tells cameras, completely in awe of her husband showing his vulnerabilities.
Girls’ and Boys’ Night
The Girls’ and Boys’ Night is a great opportunity for the brides and grooms to let off some steam. It’s also a great opportunity for them to air out some dirty relationship laundry without having to worry their partner will hear anything.
Over with the girls, Lucinda is raising a glass to “miracles happening” as she retells of her and Timothy’s relationship-altering hug.
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Timothy also tells the guys about it even though he thinks “half them are d–kheads” and he admits he’s “really looking forward to catching up with Lucinda later”.
Even Timothy’s arch nemesis Jayden is applauding the progress of “Mr Slow Burn himself”.
“Mate, mountains melted today. They think global warming is fake, it’s real and it’s in Timothy’s heart,” Tristan says of Timothy’s progress.
While we’re loving the feelgood vibes that Lucinda and Timothy’s milestone are bringing to the night, Tori and Jack have some very different relationship updates that cause everyone’s ears to prick up.
When asked if Tori is Jack’s “physical type”, Jack says, “she’s enough for me” – as if that’s some kind of compliment.
The boys roll their eyes and follow up with another hard hitting question: “Do you see Tori being the mother of your children?”
In answer only a politician would give, Jack explains he would only have kids with someone he’s in love with and he’s not in love with Tori. It’s a very long-winded “no” from Jack.
It’s an interesting answer – especially for Jono, who asked Tori the same question days earlier and received a very eager “yes”.Â
Timothy reminds us all that the endless questions for Jack aren’t of out personal interest for the guy.
“I don’t think anybody gives a s–t about Jack, but nobody wants to see Tori get hurt,” he says.
That includes Sara and Lauren, who have reached the limit of their self-imposed vow of silence and decide now is the right time to come clean about the information they hold about Jack.
We’re all holding our breath to see how Tori will react, but it looks like we’ll have to wait until tomorrow night to watch Sara and Lauren break the news.
Married At First Sight continues Tuesday and Wednesday 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
You can read the full recap HERE which includes additional content and video
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