The Married at First Sight Catch-Up Course

What’s it like to wed a complete stranger after years of frustrating singlehood? Thanks to A&E, you know now! Their televised social experiment, Married at First Sight (season 2 debuts March 17 at 9/8c) follows the powerful journeys of six individuals as they embark on impromptu marriages. Four specialists—a sexologist, a psychologist, a sociologist, and a spiritual advisor—scientifically pair these singles into three couples that only first meet at the altar. Over the course of several weeks—from their honeymoon, to moving in, to everyday life—the newlyweds work hard to nurture a stable marriage. But as we learned in season 1, budding relationships are nothing short of unpredictable. Check out our Catch-Up Course, below, to find out more about the series’ experts, learn what went down in season 1, and get a sneak preview of the upcoming season.

  • Doug & Jamie
  • Cortney & Jason
  • Monet & Vaughn
  • The Experts
  • Season 1 Recap
  • Season 2 Preview

TV Refresher Course

Doug & Jamie

Doug & Jamie

Doug and Jamie together

Though Jamie wasn’t immediately attracted to her new husband, their unstable marriage found a balance as the couple grew on each other. Today they live together in New Jersey, close to Doug’s family. And the touchy topic of having children has, for now, been replaced by the imperative to build a strong marriage.

Cortney & Jason

Cortney & Jason

Cortney and Jason kissing

Despite being greatly attracted to each other, reality—the death of Jason’s mom and the rigors of their jobs—put a strain on this marriage early on. But after committing to spending more time together and focusing on communication, their marriage is stronger than ever.

Monet & Vaughn

Monet & Vaughn

Monet and Vaughn together

Despite establishing a physical attraction early in their new relationship, the two never quite connected emotionally. Through the course of season 1, they learned just how much work goes into a marriage and realized the importance of couples being as much friends as they are lovers. Though currently divorcing, they remain amicable.

The Experts

The Experts

Show experts standing in a row

The Psychologist

A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Joseph Cilona is also one of Dr. Oz’s thought leaders in health on the Dr. Oz Blog. With advanced degrees in psychology and medicine, Cilona provides insight from two unique perspectives. He has worked as a clinical psychologist with the prestigious Isaac Ray Center, which has handled such high-profile cases as John Hinckley’s, after his attempted Ronald Reagan assassination.

Cilona has developed inventive psychotherapeutic techniques by integrating the messages of Kahlil Gibran’s classic book, The Prophet, into therapy. Most recently, he worked both as a program developer and clinician with the NYC Administration for Children’s Services and the New York City Mission Society to develop and implement a pilot program for high-risk inner-city teens and their families.

The Sociologist

A Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington, Dr. Pepper Schwartz has had a hand in writing 22 books about relationships, and penned more than 50 academic articles on intimate relationships, marriage, love, and sex.

She is presently the Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Ph.D. in sexuality studies at the Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco; is Chairperson of the Intimacy and Aging study group at Stanford University’s Center for the Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences; and is a senior fellow and board member of the Council on the Contemporary Family. Schwartz has earned accolades from the Washington State Women’s Forum and the American Sociological Association for Public Understanding of Sociology, and the Simon and Gagnon Award for Sexuality Studies.

The Spiritual Advisor

The Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University for the past 10 years, Greg Epstein is author of the New York Times best-selling book, Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe.

He’s likewise helped establish humanist communities at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and other universities—and is currently writing a book on the movement to build inspiring communities for the nonreligious. For that work, he received the Humanist Visionary Award from the Foundation Beyond Belief in 2013.

He has also served as technical advisor to the Inclusive America Project, an initiative of the Aspen Institute co-chaired by former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright.

The Sexologist

An internationally recognized expert on sexuality and relationships, Dr. Logan Levkoff makes it clear “sex” and “sexuality” are not dirty words. She empowers children, adolescents, and adults to embrace their sexuality and challenge the impractical, and often unhealthy, messages they are exposed to.

Levkoff has designed and implemented sexuality education programs in many schools, universities, and community organizations. She has also been a spokesperson for Trojan, Trojan Vibrations, Trojan Lubricants, and serves on the Trojan Sexual Health Advisory Council. She has also served as a spokesperson for The Art of Shaving, a joint project between Starbucks, Yahoo! Personals, Bertolli, Tupperware, and Sealy.

Season 1 Recap

Season 1 Recap

Episodes 1 & 2: Relationship experts match six singles that have failed to find love and have agreed to marry a total stranger. They meet for the first time at their weddings.

Episode 3: Within 24 hours of saying “I do,” the new spouses head off on their honeymoons.

Episode 4: The three newlywed couples must now decide on where to live.

Episode 5: The couples now face the challenges of living with their new spouse who they barely know. And, their busy schedules start causing conflict.

Episode 6: The couples open up to sexologist, Dr. Logan Levkoff. Jason and Cortney question if they share the same values. Jamie’s trust issues test Doug’s patience. Vaughn and Monet enjoy physical intimacy, but struggle with emotional closeness.

Episode 7: Dr. Pepper Schwartz visits the couples. Monet wants Vaughn to hang out with her friends. Doug invites his parents over, so his skeptical mom can get to know Jamie. Jason attends Cortney’s burlesque performance, and Cortney goes to his wrestling match.

Episode 8: Cortney confronts Jason about why he won’t introduce her to his ailing mom. Monet has surgery, and Vaughn’s mom visits. Jamie catches Doug in a lie. They all work through these issues with Dr. Joseph Cilona.

Episode 9: Spiritual advisor, Greg Epstein, helps the newlyweds do something romantic. Vaughn and Monet focus on reconnecting. Jason and Cortney exchange thoughtful gifts, but only one of them thinks they’re a good match. Jamie re-creates her wedding photos with Doug, though she still has her doubts about their future.

Episode 10: Monet cooks a dinner for Vaughn. Cortney prepares for heartbreak, as Jason continues to keep his guard up. Jamie must decide if she can forgive Doug for his lie. After five weeks of wedlock, the couples visit the experts to reveal if their marriages will survive.

Episode 11: Six months have passed since this social experiment started. Host Kevin Frasier and the four Married at First Sight experts catch up with the couples to learn who’s still together.

Season 2 Preview

Season 2 Preview

Here’s a sneak peek at season 2 of Married at First Sight. Catch the season premiere on March 17 at 9/8c.

The Married at First Sight Catch-Up Course