Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Previously... And the Oscar goes to... (APPLAUDS)

..feedback week exposed even more cracks...

"Your extreme sense of masculine pride and fragile ego

"are difficult to deal with..."

..as Jacqui did not hold back in her honesty letter.

"I'm concerned that you financially contribute less than I will..."

I will never be a stay-at-home dad.

It's insulting that I would even consider that.

Paul's brutal confession...

..left Carina feeling blindsided.

You threw me under the bus with Awhina's sister.

I don't hate the girl.

JOHN: Oh! ALESSANDRA: The girl!

MEL AND ALESSANDRA: "I don't hate the girl."

NARRATOR: But it was Dave's coldness at the dinner party...

I feel like our entire relationship is a lie.

..that shocked the room...

MEL: This is not the Dave we know. JOHN: No.

AWHINA: Who is that man? That's not the Dave I've met.

NARRATOR: ..and left Jamie heartbroken.

JAMIE: He's hurt me so much!

Who have I been laying next to this whole experiment, Dave?

Tonight...

I feel inadequate sometimes. I feel like I don't measure up.

..vulnerabilities laid bare.

It's because maybe he's not attracted to me like I am to him.

It's the second-last commitment ceremony of the experiment.

I came here to find my forever person

and I wholeheartedly hope that it's Jeff.

ALESSANDRA: I love that. MEL: Yeah.

JOHN: Somebody over there is lying.

NARRATOR: The experts apply the pressure...

JOHN: You're lacking emotional intelligence.

There seems to be a sensitivity chip missing.

NARRATOR: ..as Paul faces the consequences

of his honesty letter.

I felt like I can't fully trust him right now.

Are you now questioning whether or not you and Paul

are truly compatible as a couple?

(EXHALES) I didn't expect that.

(GROANS)

And then...

JOHN: We spent five couch sessions with you

thinking everything is going well.

NARRATOR: ..Dave's moment of truth.

Do you have romantic feelings for Jamie, Dave?

Um...

(BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYS)

NARRATOR: The countdown is on

to the second-last commitment ceremony of the experiment.

But last night's explosive dinner party

has left lingering effects on most of our couples, except Rhi and Jeff.

Is this the most comfortable that you've ever been?

Oh, yeah, this is great.

This might be the new position where we chat on the couch.

What me and Rhi have is pretty special

and that's what relationships should be like.

(LAUGHS)

Sometimes I look around and other couples are fighting

and it's hard to see and I'm just like,

"Oh, I just wish you guys could be on the same page as us."

Last night's dinner party revealed

feedback week has exposed cracks in several relationships.

I think the biggest moment from last night was definitely Dave and Jamie.

No-one saw that coming.

It's clear as day Dave doesn't want to sleep with her, in my eyes

and more importantly, does he even like her?

ADRIAN: I would be more worried more about that than the sex.

I walked off confused. Yeah, that's what she...

And I can only imagine what she feels.

I know.

RYAN: It just goes to show,

you don't know what goes on internally

that was making her, like, dissatisfied...

JACQUI: Yeah. ..you know.

With Dave, like, I feel annoyed because...

Yeah. ..he wasn't reflecting early on...

and he wasn't being open and communicating with her.

JEFF: I'm still so not sure what's gonna happen there.

RHI: Yeah, I feel for Jamie, like, seeing her so upset.

Dave wasn't himself last night, that's for sure.

No, not at all. Just, yeah, super distant.

Yeah.

I just didn't realise that so many people

were in so much trouble, really.

But it's not just Jamie and Dave's relationship that's on shaky ground.

CARINA: I feel like feedback week had a negative impact

on Paul and my relationship.

I do feel a little bit let down by Paul.

I think how he wrote his letter, he didn't realise the consequences.

In his honestly letter,

Paul revealed a comment Carina had made privately

about Awhina's twin sister, who Paul had one dated.

She said, "Oh, I didn't know you would go for that kind of calibre."

Yeah. AWHINA: Wow.

"I feel like she is a bit of a snob sometimes

"and can come across as very judgy

"and I'll be honest with you, this is giving me the ick."

CARINA: Did you read that to Awhina? Yep.

At the dinner party, Awhina accepted Carina's heartfelt apology.

It was a rude comment, it was disrespectful and I judged you

and I'm sorry if that comment just hurt you so much.

But tensions arose between Carina and Paul.

You threw me under the bus, Paul.

You brought up the comment about Awhina's sister.

No-one had to know about that but you and me.

Last night's dinner party just had no resolution between Paul and I.

And I'm struggling to move past it.

The whole, like, feeling like you got thrown under the bus

or say that you have your walls up and everything is...

Yeah, I think I'm still struggling a little bit with just that part.

I'm a bit surprised, like, how you can't see where I'm coming from,

with, like, feeling a little bit hurt

and right now, I've just lost the trust.

I would never throw my partner under the bus like that.

If I had thrown that comment

at a dinner party in front of 15 people, I would understand,

but it was literally only between Awhina and I.

Yeah, but, like, the whole task was about me giving feedback,

so the fact that now it's completely being turned around

and it's all about you and how you feel, you know...

This task was meant to be between Awhina and I.

I was meant to be honest and open with her.

That's what I've done. That's what I did.

Now it gets thrown back in my face and now all of a sudden I just...

Carina doesn't trust me anymore.

While feedback week exposed cracks in Carina and Paul's relationship...

for Eliot,

Veronica's honesty letter shattered any hopes of a relationship at all.

I think this has kind of been bubbling under the surface.

There's kind of been this sort of thin veneer

covering Veronica's resentment that she had towards me

and since reading out our letters, that veneer has gone

and it's obvious that my wife hates me.

Obviously she mentioned Dave a lot in her letter, which is weird

when you're writing a letter about the concerns about our relationship.

"I don't have to prompt Dave to open up.

"When Dave and I converse, it's effortless

"and the communication flows easily.

"Dave makes me feel connected and seen

"but unfortunately I don't feel the same way with you."

OK.

I don't know what to say.

Like, it sucks that you feel that way.

I tried to connect with your letter and I tried...

Do you think that that's appropriate that you're patronising me, Eliot?

When you do that...

Do you think that that's appropriate that you're patronising me?

So, it turns out we still can't be in the same room together.

You have no respect

and I'm not interested in pursuing anything with you.

You're beneath me.

And the Oscar goes to... (APPLAUDS) Veronica!

Her letter I think just took things over the top.

I feel like I've really pushed myself outside my comfort zone,

trying to make it work

but there's no real way that I could reconcile with Veronica now.

This isn't something that we can overcome as a couple.

NARRATOR: The commitment ceremony is just hours away,

where our couples will face the experts

and decide whether to stay in the experiment...

or leave their marriages.

But one bride is yet to decide if she'll attend at all.

DAVE: Hey, how are you? (JAMIE LAUGHS)

How you going? I'm Jamie.

I'm Dave, your big friendly giant soon-to-be husband.

I vow to be open and honest with my feelings,

I vow to make you feel seen and heard.

(LAUGHS) What? It's OK. You're safe.

Don't worry. (LAUGHS)

OK. You guys gotta go. (LAUGHS)

See you, guys. You haven't even said goodbye.

Pack her up, boys! (LAUGHS)

JAMIE: Now I'm really thinking future

and I felt my feelings just went... (IMITATES EXPLOSION)

They did. Massively.

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and excited

thinking about the future.

(LAUGHS) (DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JAMIE: I genuinely believed we were in a really good place.

So, right now, I don't feel confident in my relationship.

I don't know who I've been married to.

At the dinner party, Jamie and the rest of the group

struggled to deal with an uncharacteristically cold Dave.

MEL: Gosh, Dave's so different.

JOHN: He's got a wall up. He's detached.

He's checked out.

JAMIE: Who have I been laying next to this whole experiment, Dave?

I'm not at the level of love that you have.

It's not "Tell me you love me"! It's how far in we are!

You have not showed up for me! (CRIES)

JEFF: Do you want this relationship?

Of course I want this to work.

I am sorry that I made you feel that way. I really am.

Like, you are so special to me.

I am sorry.

JAMIE: Yesterday was a hard day

and I 100% still question Dave's feelings.

That's why Dave needs to prove himself.

Like, knock on my door with flowers, Post-It notes,

write a poem, everything.

(KNOCKS)

Prove that what he's saying is genuine.

Prove that, like, yeah, I haven't just fallen in love with someone

who doesn't exist.

That's what I'm hoping for today. This is day one of him proving it.

How are you feeling? Fantastic.

Oh. Good.

Um...

Yeah, I guess I just want to say... last night, there was...

I don't know, you did speak to me,

like, probably the worst you've spoke to me

throughout this experiment.

You said some things to me that hurt me last night as well.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Dave, seriously, that's what you're gonna get hung up on?

Well, it seems like this whole...

As well as, like, the intimacy and stuff throughout,

you've really talked about, you know, how good it was

and then now it's, like... it's not at all.

And you know what, coming at me the way you did,

it took me back 'cause I just didn't that we had that...

I need you to just stop what you're doing right now.

Don't defend yourself, don't plead your case, don't save face,

whatever the hell it is you're doing

and realise how badly you've let me down and just own it.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

I'm not feeling the way that she wants me to feel,

or, like, demanding for me to feel, so...

Just because you're jumping to demands,

doesn't mean I'm gonna do it.

You came in last night wanting to keep me...

Yeah... ..wanting to fight for me.

Fight for me, homeboy. Fight for me.

Well, it just seems like it's not happening.

Like, I'm... I'm...

You haven't even tried one day, Dave!

But this is a conversation...

You just don't understand where I'm coming from.

Stop with this bullshit.

I don't feel the way you feel, Jamie.

It's hard for me to express that. How many times...

I'm not asking you to!

But when you tell me last night that you're going to prove it to me

and then you come in and cast problems onto me,

like, what are we doing here?

Why did you give me some bullshit excuse last night

that you're gonna... I do care about you, Jamie.

Oh, you care... I do.

You telling the table you care and you want to fight for us.

What was that? Just to look like a hero for a minute?

Stop (BLEEP) with me, 'cause my feelings are real and it's not fair.

OK.

But if this is day one of trying to prove yourself, excellent.

This is it?

I guess so.

Alright. Jesus Christ.

I knew it. I knew he was lying to me last night. I knew it.

Don't pull me aside and tell me you're gonna show up for me

if you can't even get through the first morning.

Up until a couple of days ago, I had a husband

and a positive outlook on the future

with a man who doesn't like me enough

to compliment me or initiate affection.

He (BLEEP) it up. He did.

And the fact he can even come in and even cast any problems onto me

is (BLEEP) laughable.

My bedroom.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

He should be ashamed of himself.

I'm not (BLEEP) writing 'stay' tonight.

There is no chance.

He's an absolute (BLEEP) liar.

We are now a team of three. Understood?

We don't need that (BLEEP) psycho.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JOHN: Greetings, gents. MAN: Hello, guys.

MEL: Hello, guys. Hello. How you going?

Grab a seat.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Oh, greetings, ladies.

Come and join us. MEL: Hi, ladies.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(RHI LAUGHS)

Welcome, everybody,

to the second-last commitment ceremony of this experiment.

You've come off a huge week, feedback week,

where we created new pairings

so that you could get a different perspective on your relationship

from people that had watched you and got to know you.

And this is a very important part of the experiment

because it allows you to widen your perspective...

and certainly, it has landed for some couples.

Now, what became clear to us last night

while we were watching the dinner party

is that a number of you have not been open and honest with us

at previous commitment ceremonies.

So, what we ask of you tonight is open up and let us in.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

MEL: Our first couple up on the couch is...

Awhina and Adrian.

(BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYS) (APPLAUSE)

Hello, you two. ADRIAN: Hey. How you going?

AWHINA: Hello.

Well, we're more interested in how you're going.

Do you want to start? No, you can start.

I'll start. We're going good.

Last week, we discussed that honesty letter and essentially...

Mm-hm. ..our letters were exactly the same.

They just looked a little bit different.

..for me, that was a pivotal moment in our relationship.

We recognised that we stopped asking questions,

so now it's asking questions and meaning it

and we're both being curious about each other again.

I did like that we'd both written similar things in our letters.

It sounds like this letter writing

helped you both arrive at the same point,

this acknowledgement that there's been a bit of a disconnection.

Yeah.

It wasn't just the task that we had.

After our time apart, I did realise that, you know,

I do care for Awhina and, yeah, I feel like we're progressing.

So, how do you now keep the walls down?

Well, we're going to couples' massage tomorrow.

That'll be a fun time. Great. (LAUGHS)

Go away, Adrian, you dirty hog.

Well, sounds like you've reached a bit of a turning point.

Yeah, I think the most important thing is it feels easy again.

It feels like we're actually enjoying each other's company.

I think we're gonna go to a decision.

It's an easy one.

Stay. Brilliant.

(APPLAUSE)

And Awhina?

Yeah, I think everyone knows it was an easy one this week.

MAN: Well done. WOMAN: Yay!

(APPLAUSE)

MEL: Well done, guys. ADRIAN: Thank you.

We are so delighted that you've reached this point.

Now, stay curious, ask those questions...

and allow each other to keep getting closer.

100%. Yeah, and get sweaty tomorrow.

Do it. (LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE) Thank you.

BETH: Good job, guys.

(LAUGHTER)

Our next couple up on the couch...

(TENSE MUSIC)

Veronica and Eliot.

(APPLAUSE) (DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Hello. ELIOT: How we doing?

VERONICA: Hello. ALESSANDRA: Hi.

Well, where to start with you two?

(TENSE MUSIC)

Eliot, why don't we start with you?

We just seem to have this pattern with how we communicate,

where we don't see eye to eye at all.

It's pretty combative

and it just follows the same trajectory, no matter what,

where we disagree.

It seems to escalate and then she leaves

and then that's where it's left.

Hmm.

Veronica, how would you describe the way you guys communicate?

I feel like when I...

When we talk, he sort of will take jabs at me, he's kind of baiting me.

He'll make comments to me like,

"Oh, you think you're pretty smart, don't you?"

I'm just shut down almost immediately.

You know, I'll say, "You said that the thing was red, but it's blue,"

like, for example

and then, instead of talking about the fact that the thing is blue,

we go on this whole tangent about how my emotions are out of control

and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah and we talk about literally nothing

and I'm, like, by the end of it, I've literally lost my mind.

I'm, like, "I don't (BLEEP) know what's going on here!" Like...

I'm, like, "Goodbye. I'm leaving the room."

And I've just got to go.

Like, I've gotta go

because no matter how many times I say "How do we resolve it,

"what do you need from me, what can I do," it doesn't end well for me.

And I feel completely blindsided

by this, like, whole amazing, beautiful persona

you're putting on with the whole group.

I'm, like, "Look at this man. Who is this?"

Eliot, as I'm watching you listen... ELIOT: Mmm.

..to Veronica's story here, you're pulling a lot of faces.

Story's a good way to put it.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Do you believe that you have been baiting her,

have been insulting her?

There's just so many things just now that she said

that are just blatant lies.

Like, I've categorically... (SIGHS) Oh, god.

..never said to you "You think you're pretty smart."

(SCOFFS) Like, for you to say that...

Like, this is what I'm talking about. It's on camera.

Yeah, I know. It's on camera.

That's why I'm confident to say that I didn't say it.

(LAUGHS) Oh, my god! This is so wild!

(LAUGHS)

For you just say that, "Oh, you think you're pretty smart,"

to me is wild.

Like, I know exactly what I say.

So, for you to say that I bait you, it's just like...

You're clearly the one that's doing the baiting.

What?

Why would I lie about that?

There's a lot of things that make me ask that question.

Is it surprising to you that when we talk in public

that people do tend to see my side of things?

I'm not asking for anyone else's opinion on our relationship...

Well, sometimes it's worth it if we're disagreeing on something

to get some sort of objective truth,

because you say one thing, I say another.

People see the whole story.

Well, what do people see?

You were this cool chick

and everyone I think can validate that as well.

But then you come here, you sit at the dinner party,

you sit in that chair and you're, like, a totally different person.

And you say things and you're, like...

"What are you saying?"

It's not making sense to us and I'm sure it's not making sense to Eliot.

So it's like we actually don't know you.

This is why no-one can believe a word you're saying.

JOHN: Rhi, you were with Eliot this week.

What was your experience like with him?

RHI: Yeah, look, Eliot and I,

well, we actually hadn't said more than "Hi, how are you," I think,

so I felt like I was getting to know Eliot from scratch.

In saying that,

Veronica and I have been friends throughout this entire experiment,

so obviously I know Veronica's views on everything.

But, yeah, look, I had a great time with Eliot.

He bought me fruit because he knows I'm into health and fitness,

he taught me a card game which I was very bad at for quite some time

and finally got good at it.

She beat me in the end.

I did, the third round. (LAUGHS)

We listened to music, we got to know each other.

It was an easy three days. And I enjoyed them.

VERONICA: Sounds good, those three days.

He's never taught me any card games. (LAUGHS)

I've offered to play cards with you multiple times.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Like, you know that I'm into games and stuff.

You have never asked me if I want to play card games.

(AWHINA SIGHS)

OK. That's weird that I've suddenly started liking card games...

when Rhi came around.

I don't... We've never had this conversation

about you liking card games.

The whole retreat, I was playing chess and...

Connect Four.

..Connect Four, playing with everybody.

ADRIAN: That's why it's hard to believe you, V.

Why wouldn't you offer to play with me in the house?

Well, I have. I'm saying that I have.

You've not done that in the house!

TEEJAY: Jeez.

This is what... Like, it just takes me completely by surprise.

AWHINA: Have you wanted to play with him?

ADRIAN: Yeah, have you given him the chance?

Have you been there long enough?

Oh, where's the truth?

JOHN: I've just spent the last several minutes

hearing all sorts of back-and-forth.

Frankly, I've got no idea what the hell is going on.

But what I do know

is that somebody over there

is lying.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

JOHN: What I do know

is that somebody over there

is lying.

Someone is not telling the truth.

It's like the two of you are living in different realities...

ELIOT: Mmm.

..because one person says it's black and the other one says it's white.

Yeah.

And I'm sure the group finds this the same as well.

That is essentially the only consistent thing

about the two of you, that you disagree a lot.

What I've noticed with you two is that, particularly Veronica,

when you're addressing Eliot,

there seems to be a disdain in your voice, like the respect is gone.

In life, I just say it how it is and I'm blunt.

I just gotta say, like, ever since that first dinner party,

it's felt like she hates my guts...

with little moments where... of kindness in between.

Hates your guts? Hates my guts.

That's a very strong thing to say. Yeah.

Is it the tone or...

The tone, the content of what she says.

Everything aligns perfectly

to be something that someone that wouldn't like me would say.

I mean, I've got to ask you, Veronica, do you hate his guts?

No.

No-one else talks to me like that.

People that literally screamed at me across the table

at the first dinner party, I'm, like, mates with.

I can extend the longest olive branch and it's not enough.

It's impossible to try to reconcile with you.

It's... It's exhausting.

Um, I don't hate you...

despite what you might think.

And I really did try,

so I'm sorry that you feel that way.

Um... Yeah, that...

That felt like you did hate me, with the way you said that.

(SIGHS)

Yeah.

Alright, let's go to the decision. Stay or leave?

And we're gonna go with you first, Eliot.

We tried to make it work and I feel like it really didn't,

so I've written leave.

But I feel like I can leave

knowing that I really did give it my best shot.

Veronica, for you?

I can't believe that it's taken this point for us

to come up with something that we actually agree on.

Mmm. (LAUGHS)

Yeah, look, we're very different people

and I don't think that there was really hope for this

eventuating into anything more, so, yeah, I've written leave.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

Well, when two people say leave,

obviously that means it's pretty much done and dusted.

We've loved having you in this experiment. It was different.

And, look, one thing that I wanted to say to you, Eliot,

was that, you know, when we first met,

it didn't work out with Lauren and... Mmm.

..you and I had a sit-down... Yeah.

It was pretty tense, pretty combative...

It was not too bad. ..but it needed to happen.

Yeah, yeah.

And when we invited you back, we had our concerns.

Is this a guy that could learn? Could he pivot?

Could he break patterns? We weren't sure.

But I want to commend you for coming in a second time,

facing the music,

because they were not in your corner.

Now, the fact that you didn't work out with Veronica,

that's relationships.

But what we wanted to see was a different Eliot

and we are thrilled at the progress and the self-development.

Thank you. Those are really kind words.

Just finally, what do you take away from this experiment?

You can never judge a book by its cover.

Like, it takes time to really see all sides of a person

and so you can't have too many preferences.

My goodness. I never thought I'd ever hear you say that, Eliot.

(LAUGHS) That is a breakthrough.

It is. Yep.

And for you too,

you've got a chance to do it differently in the future,

so good luck with that.

Thank you. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE) You can go back to the group.

Alright, our next couple up on the couch...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

..Jacqui and Ryan.

RYAN: Hey. (APPLAUSE)

Here they come. ALESSANDRA: Hello, guys.

MEL: Hello. How are we?

Yeah, good. Sit down. JACQUI: Thank you.

Oooh.

Hi.

Well, I think we're gonna get straight into this.

Feedback week, Ryan, how did it land for you

and did it change your view of the relationship

or did you learn anything new?

The feedback letter that Jacqui wrote for me,

there's definitely aspects of that letter that I need to take on board

and I'm willing to do so.

So, on the other side of that,

it was a bit of a character assassination.

I actually felt kind of on trial for being myself.

I did feel quite attacked by her.

She brought up a lot of things like masculinity,

about ego, about gender roles.

Sometimes I feel like we're in a bit of a university debate.

Like, she came back in after the task and said,

"Ryan, how do you feel about being a stay-at-home dad?"

And...

His response was... (GASPS)

"I am offended that you would even ask that question."

No, no.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

You were offended I asked the question.

I know how you feel about it.

I'm sorry, but I just don't... I don't want that

because I've got so many other important things

that I want to do with my life.

I feel like because Ryan is closed off

on certain issues like parenting...

I do need to be more open.

..and his goals and dreams and ambitions...

there's no room for me

because I need equal opportunity in my relationship.

If I get an opportunity

where I can go to New York for six months and work,

I want to be able to take that opportunity.

If I'm in a coma...

I need to know that my husband's gonna step up to the plate.

His way of thinking is, like, "It's my way."

And on every single thing, we have an iss...

Like, everything. It started with the temperature, the couch...

Oh... ..what we are eating for dinner.

Jacqui! (LAUGHTER)

..and now it's become, like, parenting.

It's, like, his way and then I have to fight for my needs...

That's not true. ..to be considered.

That is not true at all. It is, though.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I'm talking from the heart and things that are important to me

and I feel like I'm trapped and I've got no way out

and I just feel like you're not hearing me.

Pressure on me do something that you don't want to...

No, you don't have to do anything.

You just have to be open to considering

being a stay-at-home dad.

I cannot be with someone who won't support me.

It's a non-negotiable.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

This is an absolute deal breaker for me.

Pressure on me to do something that I don't want to do...

No, you don't have to do anything.

You just have to be open to considering

being a stay-at-home dad.

I cannot be with someone who won't support me.

It's a non-negotiable.

This is an absolute deal breaker for me.

MEL: Ryan, again, having an openness

to where your life, you know, could potentially take you

is, I think, what Jacqui's asking for here...

not for you to say "Right now, I'm gonna give up my career

"and be the stay-at-home dad."

But I think she just needs to hear

that you have some flexibility in thought

and some openness to maybe do things a little differently.

OK. Yep. I fully understand what you mean.

Yes, I will...I will definitely give it more consideration

because I want you to... Yeah.

..I want you to feel as if that I am taking this seriously.

Yeah. Thank you. Thank you.

I raised these things 'cause I want us to work out,

I want to give us the opportunity to work through these issues

because another lot of them are really important to me

or they're gonna be deal-breakers.

Feedback's a gift.

I so wholeheartedly believe that.

And my letter was full of, like, you know...

Can I be... ..it was, like, you know...

Can I be honest about something?

Every line, I had the solution under it.

Things that you bring up sometimes I feel are judgemental.

With the letter, I did feel like it was reducing my character.

That was the energy I got from it.

Sometimes I do feel on trial for being myself.

You know, you came into this saying you have huge expectations,

you've got very high standards.

I feel inadequate sometimes.

I feel like I don't measure up.

(SIGHS)

Yeah.

Like, sometimes my mannerisms,

sometimes my ways of thinking just don't...

(SIGHS) It's OK.

It's OK.

It's OK. JAMIE: Aw.

It's OK.

JOHN: I do like this side of Ryan...

and tonight, he's actually being quite vulnerable with his feelings

in a way which probably we haven't quite heard before.

Yeah. Mmm.

I guess what I wanted to say to you, Jacqui, is that, you know,

if your man is saying at times "I feel like I don't measure up,"

it's very important to hear that.

Actually, you know what, she did make a good point in her letter.

She said there's strength in vulnerability.

Oh.

That's one thing that rang true for me as well,

'cause I do struggle with that, you know.

Yeah.

I've had to be the self-serving, really tough exterior...

just manage everything on my own, from the finances and the career,

believe it or not, all the way to, like, adopting a dog

and just building my own life.

Yeah, like, I do struggle with that. I do.

I am very aware I do have very high standards.

Like, I said that right from the beginning.

And literally I feel like this man

who is a completely different man today

than the man who I married on day one...

like, he is Mr Bachelor right now.

He's cooking me eggs now because he heard Jeff cooked me eggs.

Like... (LAUGHTER)

My gosh. TEEJAY: For god's sakes, Jeff!

RYAN: I've gotta take a page where it's due. You know, like...

The point is, I am...

I'm learning how to show up more and, like, I'm taking feedback.

Alright, we're gonna go to the decision.

Let's start with you, Jacqui.

I've said stay 'cause I do think that Ryan will show up for me.

And I'll be showing up for him as well.

So, stay. Good.

Yeah. Good, good, good.

Ryan, for you, stay or leave?

That letter just kind of knocked me for six. It did.

And then I was wondering, like,

"Why would I want to be with someone

"who has those distorted views of me?"

But we were able to process things,

so let's see if that continues.

Good. Good, good, good, good. (APPLAUSE)

I like it. I like the vulnerability.

I like you having what are very important conversations.

Mmm.

Good stuff, guys. Off you go. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much. Thanks, guys.

MEL: Well done, guys. (APPLAUSE)

Our next couple up on the couch...

Beth and Teejay.

(APPLAUSE)

JOHN: Hey, you two. TEEJAY: How you going?

MEL: Well, we're doing well,

but we're very curious about how you guys are going.

BETH: Um...

Um, yeah, we obviously did the partner swap

and we did the letter.

Since that letter, I shared that I felt the reason

maybe me and Teejay aren't intimate yet

is because maybe he's not attracted to me like I am to him.

It's not something I'd shared with him yet

'cause I felt too embarrassed to ask that question...

in case I didn't like the answer.

I think I told myself from the get-go

that maybe I wouldn't be good enough for Teejay...

and then, because the intimacy is lacking,

I instantly blame myself

and think maybe it's because I'm not attractive enough

that he doesn't want to do those things.

Can I just check that I'm on the right track here?

Yeah.

So, you were in a sexual relationship and then that's now off the table?

Labelling it as a "sexual relationship"

probably isn't the right terminology for it.

We were intimate once and then...

So you had sex... COUPLE: Yep.

..and you haven't had it since. TEEJAY: Correct. Yeah.

Right.

ALESSANDRA: Why would you say, Teejay,

that sexual intimacy and, like, physical intimacy

hasn't progressed for you two?

I genuinely believe it's an emotional connection thing.

Didn't want this relationship to feel like

it was just a sexual-based relationship.

In the past, I probably have rushed intimate connections

and neglected the emotional and that's probably why

I haven't had a successful relationship in the past.

That's really what I want to focus on, is building that connection.

I really want to have, like, our souls intertwining

before moving back into the intimate side of things.

Beth, I wonder, do you feel that you need your souls intertwine

in order to have sex with one another?

For me, no.

To have an actual lasting relationship, absolutely.

I did not come here just to sleep with someone.

I came here for a relationship. I want the deeper connection.

Because intimacy does feel so much better with someone

when you have those feelings.

MEL: Teejay, where are your feelings at at the moment towards Beth?

I thoroughly enjoy my time with Beth.

We get along so well and it's awesome.

Like, I feel so light when I'm around her.

We're always laughing, always smiling.

And I thought that Beth and I were on the same page

about where we were at,

but when she mentioned that she didn't think

that I was still physically attracted to her,

I feel like maybe we weren't on the same page.

Well, are you?

Am I physically attracted to Beth? Absolutely.

Mmm. Absolutely.

ALESSANDRA: Did you do anything during the week, Teejay,

to show her that you desired her?

Probably not from, like, I didn't try initiate anything in bed

or anything like that.

Doesn't have to be in bed. Yep.

But for her to feel desired, it's not just "Here's a nice cup of coffee."

Are you making out?

I wouldn't say we're making out. We kiss.

I'm not often sticking my tongue down her throat...

Well, maybe make out! It's very high school, no?

Yeah. It's not even.

I mean... Yeah.

I'm not talking about necessarily going all out

with the whips and chains... Of course.

..but something where she feels, "Oh, he, like, likes me."

Yep.

MEL: Alright, well, we're gonna go to a decision, you guys.

We're gonna start with you, Beth.

I'm not done yet, so I'm staying.

Excellent. (APPLAUSE)

And to you, Teejay.

I do want to keep learning more about you

and I want to keep learning more about us and where we can go,

so I wrote the same word - stay.

Brilliant. Good stuff. (APPLAUSE)

Thank you so much. Thanks, guys.

Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thanks.

(APPLAUSE)

BETH: I feel good after that couch session.

He said he's attracted to me and I know it sounds stupid

but I guess it was just the validation that I needed.

I've been beating myself up about it and feeling really bad.

And at the end of the day, this is new for me.

I've never had a boyfriend before, ever.

This is all new and I need to give myself a break.

NARRATOR: Next...

There seems to be a sensitivity chip missing.

..Paul crosses the line.

JOHN: Paul, you're really missing the point

and you're lacking emotional intelligence.

And later...

JAMIE: I feel like the person I've fallen in love with,

like, doesn't exist.

..is it the end of the road for Jamie and Dave?

I need to know how the hell you're going to convince me

that this hasn't been a fake relationship.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Our next couple up on the couch...

Rhi and Jeff.

(BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYS) (APPLAUSE)

JEFF: Hey, guys. ALESSANDRA: Hello.

MEL: Hello. JOHN: Rhi and Jeff.

(RHI LAUGHS)

How are you guys after feedback week?

Not too bad. The partner swap was OK.

I feel like Eliot and I had a great time.

But it just made me realise, like, how great we do have it.

Yeah. I agree with that. Like, I had a good time with Jacqui.

Had some awkward moments, but it was good. It was a challenge.

(LAUGHTER)

Yeah, it made me realise how much I missed Rhi

and I couldn't wait to see her again.

(LAUGHTER)

Yeah. Like, by day three, I was really, really ready to go home.

(LAUGHS) Yeah.

So you missed him? You missed Jeff? I really did, yeah.

It just made me really grateful for our relationship.

It was, like, I definitely am all in.

And I did say in my letter,

like, I came here to find my forever person

and I wholeheartedly hope that it's Jeff.

MEL: Wow.

That's big. Yeah.

ALESSANDRA: That's so great to hear. Yeah.

Is it hot in here? (LAUGHTER)

Jeff, do you think about life outside of the experiment with Rhi

and what that's gonna look like?

Oh, definitely, yeah.

I'm actually not worried about life outside the experiment

at all, really.

Our relationship's growing stronger every single day

and it is becoming really special for me

and, yeah, keen to see what the future holds.

ALESSANDRA: I love that. MEL: Yeah.

ALESSANDRA: We're gonna go to the decision, you guys.

Perfect. Sure.

I don't think we're gonna be too surprised.

(LAUGHTER) JOHN: What are they gonna do?

ALESSANDRA: Suspense! We'll start with you, Jeff.

(LAUGHTER)

Yeah, I'm gonna stay. MEL: Oh, lovely.

ALESSANDRA: Miss Rhi? Yep.

Short and sweet.

I'm happy and I would like to stay as well.

Yay. (APPLAUSE)

ALESSANDRA: Excellent. MEL: Very nice.

Well done. Thanks for your time.

Well done, you guys. Thank you.

Thank you. (LAUGHS)

MAN: Jeffrey. OTHERS: Jeffrey.

Our next couple up on the couch...

(TENSE MUSIC)

..Carina and Paul.

PAUL: Eh! (APPLAUSE)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

OK. So, Paul, tell me...

Yes. ..what's going on?

Feedback week probably didn't go as expected.

The honesty letter that I had to write

raised a whole bunch of concerns.

What was in your letter that brought concerns?

So, I spoke about, you know, sort of...

I said that sometimes she come across as...

I feel like she comes across as a bit of a snob.

I know I should have probably not used that word.

Is your thought that Carina is a snob?

Well, see, that's the thing,

because I feel like sometimes she comes across as being very judgy.

She judges people very quickly.

For what?

Help us understand what kind of comment was made.

(TENSE MUSIC)

So, OK...

So, when I told Carina, "Oh, look, I know Awhina..."

because I used to basically date her twin sister...

so, Carina felt a bit weird about the partner swap, which is fine.

Like, which is fair enough.

But then she made that comment saying,

"Oh, like, I didn't think you would go for that kind of calibre."

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

So, obviously, that comment sort of triggered me a little bit.

You know, like, I personally would never judge someone

for where they're from, for where they live, how they look,

which is why I decided to raise it into the letter.

Carina, how do you feel about all this?

Obviously I'm not proud of the comment that I made.

The comment was not cool.

I was very uncomfortable partner-swapping.

I did it in insecurities, defence mechanism.

That comment wasn't to be out there to the universe

and that's what's happened now.

Awhina was incredible and she fully accepted my apology.

But I feel a bit blindsided.

I thought, like, "He's my husband, it's a safe space to open up"

and it's...

I mean, hearing all these things from his letter

was the last thing I was expecting from him.

I felt like I just had, like, a punch to the heart.

Now I'm.. definitely got my guard up.

I feel like I can't fully trust him right now.

Paul, why did you feel it was important for you

to tell Awhina

that Carina at some point had made a comment about Awhina's sister?

Again, she was being very judgy of situations or people,

so I just wanted to have Awhina's, you know, point of view

because I guess that was the whole point of the task,

to have someone else's...

Well, yes, but if you had a bunch of different examples

over the last couple of months,

why choose that one?

I just got caught up in the task.

The task was saying well, just raise concerns.

I just wrote stuff...

Did you consider Awhina's feelings about that,

how she might feel?

Well, no, because they were concerns, so I just wanted to...

Why did you tell Awhina that at all?

You passed on an insult to Awhina about her sister.

So there seems to be a sensitivity chip missing.

'Cause, number one, it was in confidence.

It's not considering the repercussions

between Awhina and Carina,

yet also, it is something that you clearly had been holding onto

for quite a while and had not brought up yourself.

(SIGHS)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Do you realise the gravity of that choice?

(SIGHS)

I just... I just... I'm just feeling, yeah, a bit hurt

because like, I just...I thought that task was to raise concerns

and I just feel like not a single one of them

were even taken seriously or even slightly validated...

JOHN: Paul, I've got to jump in and support Alessandra here

because essentially you're really missing the point

and you're lacking emotional intelligence.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

You're not reading the room.

Paul, I've got to jump in and support Alessandra here

because you're really missing the point

and you're lacking emotional intelligence.

You're not reading the room.

For you to go to Awhina without telling Carina about this

just smacks of essentially thinking about yourself and nobody else.

You say things like that, you throw grenades out there,

it's gonna blow you up, it's gonna blow your relationship up.

ALESSANDRA: The whole thing could've been avoided

if you simply had spoken to your wife

about what was bothering you about her comment...

but instead of taking accountability,

you're acting like you're shocked

that Carina feels blindsided and upset.

I know.

What is concerning is the examples that you give

break confidence and break trust,

so the way you go about it ends up skewing the focus

from where you wanted to be.

Yeah.

(SIGHS) Sorry.

I didn't mean to.

Carina, how has this made you feel about your relationship with Paul?

Yeah, well, the number one thing that I want

is a family with my partner

and to feel comfortable in going to that person in a safe haven...

to open up and talk about things

that you wouldn't maybe say to other people.

I feel like I can't fully trust him right now.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Are you now questioning

whether or not you and Paul are truly compatible as a couple?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

A little bit. Yeah.

(PAUL SIGHS)

I didn't expect that. (EXHALES)

Sorry, it's a bit of a hard pill to swallow.

To say that now she's questioning if we are compatible or not...

it hurts to hear that.

Well, trust is a big one, though.

Yep.

Sorry.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

I think we need to go to the decision.

We'll start with you, Paul.

I know it looks like we're probably not in the best place right now.

I... I have made a mistake.

I understand, like, there's obviously a lot

that I need to learn about myself

but like I said, I really do like Carina.

I like the way she is.

She has shown me all those vulnerable...

and that sensitivity that she can have and so, yeah, I want to stay.

Excellent. Very nice.

Carina?

I mean, obviously hearing everything

and going through what we've been going through,

we are trying to still understand one another

and we still care for one another, really like one another,

really, really like one another, so, yeah, I want to stay as well...

Yay! Yeah.

Excellent. (APPLAUSE)

..and figure this out, work on it.

I do know that you guys have a strong relationship

and really like each other.

It's been evident throughout.

It's a shame to think that you've been harbouring these thoughts

and these concerns and not feel safe enough to share.

Communication is so important in relationships

because we want to be able to have the deep, difficult conversations...

and the one thing that has to be in any love relationship

for it to succeed

is the trust that you can tell your partner your secrets

and they will not be used against you.

Well, good luck, you guys, this week.

I hope you have a really good week. Thank you so much.

COUPLE: Thank you. Go back to the couch.

(APPLAUSE) MEL: Well done, you guys.

JOHN: Alright.

Our final couple up on the couch...

Jamie and Dave.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC) (APPLAUSE)

MAN: Good luck, guys.

(JAMIE EXHALES)

Well, I know for a fact that we've got plenty to talk about.

We saw a very different couple at the dinner party last night.

Frankly, we're even seeing it right now.

Yep.

I mean, you two were going very well together.

So, what happened?

I feel like our relationship, you've seen, obviously,

we've had a really good partnership and the union is very evident,

but there is an issue within intimacy.

The intimacy itself, when it's happening, great, no complaints.

Dave just doesn't initiate any intimacy.

I feel like I'm constantly pursuing my husband.

Right.

I've voiced this many times.

He seems to understand and wants to make changes, but he doesn't.

So, I put this into the letter about intimacy.

Adrian did give some feedback.

He was, like, "Look, this might not be the case,

"but from a male perspective,

"it could be, like, an attraction thing."

Did Dave then reassure you when you brought this up?

No.

There was no sense of reassurance or validation

or even, like, emotion.

You weren't, like, "Jamie, of course.

"I can't believe you think that,"

or, like, "I think you're gorgeous. I'm so sorry I haven't shown that."

And that was so alarming.

I left that conversation not really knowing where his feelings are,

still thinking I don't think he's attracted to me

and I feel so confused.

Dave, what's your take on all of this?

(SIGHS)

Yeah, I think, like...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Yeah, I think I was trying to protect myself.

My walls went up 'cause I was, like...it sounded like

nothing I've done in the past matters right now but this.

I sort of got really upset at Jamie

because, I don't know, not only does she say that she loves me,

she shows me it all the time.

We know.

But I'm not there yet and it's scary for me.

And when it's brought up like that, like, I do...

I don't know, I felt like I wasn't good enough

and I was, like, "I'm putting my walls up

"because I'm gonna get hurt..."

Do you see how it's back to you're not feeling good enough?

But, like, in the moment, your wife is thinking...

Yeah, I know. ..she's not attractive enough...

That's what I struggle with.

That's when I needed you to show up for me and you didn't.

Even this morning, I was waiting for you to come in to hug me,

to kiss me, to be, like, "I'm so sorry."

You came in this morning and you said

"I had a problem with how you spoke to me last night."

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

What?

Well, there was some things last night that hurt me.

I was waiting for you to come in, to hug me, to kiss me,

to be, like, "I'm so sorry."

You came in this morning and you said,

"I had a problem with how you spoke to me last night."

What?

Well, there was some things last night that hurt me.

MEL: Dave, I've gotta be honest with you,

we were watching you guys really closely last night

and we were quite surprised

because, Dave, you've sat here with us on this couch five times now

and talked about the way this relationship has been developing.

You know, you've practically danced to the couch...

Yeah. ..you've been so happy.

Yet last night, watching you and seeing the pain that Jamie was in,

you were detached, you were cold, you didn't validate her at all...

Yeah.

..when you could see that she was clearly struggling.

It appeared as though Jamie was out on her own, on a limb,

and you were just allowing that.

It was this completely different side of you that we'd never seen before.

Yeah.

So, when you're behaving like that, can you now understand why

Jamie is starting to question whether you have feelings for her?

Yeah, totally.

It hurt me because I'm someone who constantly compliments Dave

because I want my partner to feel desired,

I want them to feel amazing,

I want them to feel like the best-looking thing out.

I buy you nice gifts, I build you up, I initiate sex,

but the one thing I've asked is to feel pursued by him.

And he hasn't done those things.

ALESSANDRA: Dave, why have you not pursued?

I think that's the question that Jamie has for you

and that's really the one that I have also.

Yeah. I'm trying to understand what's going on.

I care about Jamie a lot. She does pursue me.

I really like it when she does.

It's not like I don't like having sex with her.

It's not that at all.

I like it when she does that. Yay.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Why have you not pursued?

Yeah, I just... I don't know. I feel like it's...

Jamie's sort of taken charge since the start of this relationship

and maybe I've slipped into a pattern.

And to be honest, I don't believe he has those romantic feelings for me

because he hasn't shown up in that aspect at all.

I show up in those ways all the time.

Do you have romantic feelings for Jamie, Dave?

Yeah, I think I do. It's just...

You think you do? Well, I have.

You think? You're guessing?

(SIGHS) It's...

You think you do or you know you do?

I do, and that's what...

I think this is something that I really need to work on.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

I don't know what to say.

Right now, I'm thinking, like, "Has my whole relationship been,

"like, a figment of my imagination?"

I feel like the person I've fallen in love with, like, doesn't exist.

I question genuineness. I really do.

I really do. You're not showing me anything that proves me otherwise.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Dave, I need to know how the hell you're going to convince me

that this hasn't been a fake relationship.

So...

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

That was a good start.

(SIGHS)

JOHN: Hey, Dave, do you understand the way you're behaving to this woman

who has given you everything over the past two months?

Do you have any idea what she's feeling?

When a guy that she thinks is 100% committed to her

suddenly turns up and is disconnected, detached and uncaring,

what do you think that does to her?

Destroys her. Give me more.

How does she feel? Heartbroken.

Give me more.

We spent five couch sessions with you thinking everything is going well.

In three days, it looks like you're on your way out.

What happened?

You've got some explaining to do.

And I don't understand it, neither does she

and neither does the whole group.

Um...

(SIGHS)

(TENSE MUSIC)

Dave, you've got some explaining to do.

Um... (SIGHS)

Mate, I just... I want to be completely honest.

Like, this is...

This one of the most uncomfortable spots

in a relationship for me.

When Jamie said that she loved me, I got scared

'cause I was worried that I'm not gonna get there and, you know,

letting her down, letting this down,

so I shut down and I handled it wrong.

That's not who I am and I don't like that person,

when I've been putting my walls up

and I'm not the caring person I should be towards you.

But I'm still here and I do care about her.

Because this is real and, yes, the romantic side, I struggle...

I struggle showing you that.

And, yes, there's things that I should've worked harder on.

And I'm sorry.

But she does make me feel special and wanted and needed and seen.

She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met

and that's intimidating to lose.

I have to figure out how to get out of my own head at the moment

and start thinking more about Jamie.

How fast do you think you need to do that?

By the time I get off this couch.

Because it's gonna fall on your shoulders.

(TENSE MUSIC)

We're gonna go to the decision. Stay or leave?

And we're gonna go with you first, Dave.

Um...

Yeah, I do apologise for how I've acted

and the lack of awareness around what was actually happening

and to your feelings.

Um... But I want to stay and work on them.

I like that. (APPLAUSE)

Jamie?

(EXHALES) Stay or leave?

This whole last couple of days has thrown me for a loop

and I'm so sick to death of crying and feeling so...just shit.

That's all I can say, just shit.

I don't believe you right now at all.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

But because I have put my absolute back into this relationship,

before I throw everything away,

I will continue to see how he's going to show up

and humour him with another week.

(APPLAUSE) (SIGHS)

Alright, so you've both decided to stay. Good.

That's the first hurdle.

Dave, you're at a crossroads.

This is all about showing up and stepping up.

We can talk about fear or your walls going up.

That's fine, but frankly, it bores me.

What we need to hear is how you're gonna do it different.

Get specific. What are you gonna do this week?

(TENSE MUSIC)

Woo her.

Which suggests romance. Mmm.

Have you got that in you? I sure do, somewhere in there.

I'll get it.

Alright. Go back to the couch.

(APPLAUSE)

Still a little bit unsure if Dave does have those romantic feelings.

All I can ask is now he proves it.

Show up.

Romance me, homeboy. Do it.

NARRATOR: Tomorrow night... CARINA: Welcome to my humble abode!

..it's homestays week...

Welcome. Thank you.

BETH: I'm home! (CHEERING)

Over two big nights, our couples get a taste

of what their married lives might look like outside the experiment.

And for Paul, it's a religious experience.

They're married, but not in the eyes of the church.

When they come into the family home, they need to be separated.

Then...

JACQUI: Your shoes are not allowed on my bed.

..it's Jacqui's house, Jacqui's rules.

Jacqui is the most difficult person.

Jacqui asks the big question.

To beard or not to beard?

It's a beard, Jacqui!

So, are you falling in love with Jamie?

Protective sisters demand answers.

That's grim.

Adrian once again faces off with Awhina's twin sister.

I don't have a very good opinion of Adrian or his family or his friends.

Why don't you go inside so me and Adrian can have a chat?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Captioned by AI-Media ai-media.tv