I'm Certain Married At First Sight Season 19's Dynamic Cast Age Range Proves The Show Can Redeem Itself (These Unprecedented Changes Are Shocking Me In A Good Way)

It's official that Married at First Sight season 19 will have a more dynamic age range between the couples, and it's making me believe the show can redeem itself. Married at First Sight premiered in 2014, and has been producing one to two seasons a year ever since. MAFS season 18 wrapped up last month, and that has me looking ahead to season 19 and the positive changes it can bring to a franchise I see as struggling to stay true to its intention of matching long-lasting, healthy couples. The show's success rate is only at 19% in 18 seasons.

The show has changed its format several times over the years, and I don't think what it's become has been turning out successful partnerships. In the earlier seasons, only three couples' marrying a stranger journeys were followed, and now, five couples are showcased. Moreover, the couples didn't use to interact on the honeymoons or comingle as a group as they do now. However, I am shocked and excited to see so much change coming in MAFS season 19 with the cast, as it means there is hope to see the outcomes be different than they have been.

The Last Few MAFS Seasons Left Me Disheartened With The Show

Failures, Scandals, & Clout Chasing

For me over the years, Married at First Sight has had one disappointing season after another. I am always so hopeful watching the matchmaking specials and the weddings, as most of the cast tend to seem ready and eager for marriage. However, I've been disheartened, and apparently disillusioned, by the goings on on camera. I say disillusioned because it's come to light that MAFS season 18's Juan Franco met and started dating someone right before getting married on TV, as did season 18's Allen Slovick.

In season 17, Clare Kerr also reportedly had a boyfriend, and that's why she didn't work out with Cameron Frazer. These incidents, along with the season 18 cheating scandal and couples swap between Madison Myers and David Trimble, have exhausted me. Not to mention, I was deceived by the attempted group dupe in season 17 when the couples coordinated to present themselves positively on camera to get good edits, which means they tried to hoodwink myself and other viewers.

The other problem with MAFS that has left a bad taste in my mouth for the show has been the casting quality. Several cast members, including season 18's Ikechi Ojoré and Juan Franco, season 16's Gina Micheletti and Airris Williams, and season 10's Taylor Dunklin and Zach Justice, have demonstrated that they were on the show to gain notoriety and a larger social media following. These clout chasers have diminished the show's quality for me, as their ulterior motives for participating have been obvious.

I was disheartened by the failure rate, scandals, and casting choices, but season 19's casting decisions are making me reevaluate my disdain.

I want to see good people on the show without shady backgrounds or motives, and it seems production may have taken heed of my complaint, which is shared among other viewers, and made some casting changes. I am shocked to see some impactful casting evolutions, but I'm shocked in a good way.

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MAFS Season 19 Will Have Two Older Couples

An Exciting First

According to MAFS spoiler and fan account @mafsfan, there will be two older couples who will be getting Married at First Sight in season 19. One couple, Belynda and Chad, are in their late forties/early fifties, and the other couple, Rhonda and Patric, are in their late fifties/early sixties. Up until now, I've seen the oldest cast member, season 18's Thomas McDonals, 42, get married, and he and Camille Parsons are still together, which in and of itself is a positive sign to cast older.

The introduction of older couples is an exciting first in MAFS history. Production marked season 18's cast as being the most "mature" cast to join the show yet, but that measure is being exceeded in season 19. While having older pairings doesn't necessarily mean that less drama or more emotional intelligence will be involved than a younger cast, I think it's a huge step forward to showcase people who could be more ready to take a leap of faith in their older years.

I know Married at First Sight has needed to make big changes to deter from the pitfalls of the season's past, and it seems production is listening. Having a more dynamic cast means I can understand couples or participants that are in different places in their lives than I've seen up until now, and I find that idea wholly riveting.

The emergence of a wider age range in MAFS means the franchise is headed in a new direction, as I think they've finally figured out what they're doing isn't working effectively towards the intention of the show.

I Think The MAFS Age Range Changes Are Necessary

There's Been So Many Immature Cast Members

Incorporating a new set of age ranges (via @mafsfan) opens the Married at First Sight franchise up to bigger casting opportunities. Less ageism is also a trend in reality TV today, as ABC's The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette and Netflix's The Later Daters have proven. I've grown increasingly bored watching the same unsure or immature age range of MAFS cast members end in breakups or scandal.

Season 18's Madison Myers was not out of her party girl era, as her husband, Allen, pointed out. She ended up cheating with no remorse and underscored her partying ways. In season 16, Dominynique Kloss, then 25, assured the experts and fans that she was an "old soul," only to end her marriage directly after the honeymoon while giving minimal effort and no valid reasoning. I'm thrilled about the Married at First Sight age expansion and inclusion, and I think it will have a positive effect on the entertainment value and potential outcomes of the marriages.

Source: @mafsfan/Instagram, @mafsfan/Instagram