Married At First Sight: I've Changed My Mind, I Think Emem Obot Needed Ikechi Ojoré (Her Shocking Post-Show Success Turned The Tables)

I now believe that Married at First Sight season 18's Emem Obot needed her problematic husband, Ikechi Ojoré, as her shocking post-show success speaks volumes. Married at First Sight season 18 is getting down to the wire, as the remaining couples have less than one week before decision day. The five couples all said yes to their stranger spouses at the altar, and embarked on the eight-week-long journey that includes a honeymoon, a living together portion, and a couples retreat. Season 18, which is taking place in Chicago for the second time, has had some unprecedented situations.

I consider myself a Married at First Sight specialist, as I am well-versed in all the on and off-screen drama among the cast and experts throughout the seasons. That said, MAFS season 18 has been rocked by a cheating scandal that has finally broken, and it's been highly entertaining as well as appalling. The other stand-out circumstance of the season for me has been Emem and Ikechi's turbulent journey. While it's been hard to watch, I'm getting a lot of reality TV value out of it. What's more, it's been nice to see Emem's growth and brand-new life post-show.

I Thought Ikechi Was Bad For Emem

Ikechi Displayed Concerning Behavior

I originally thought that 41-year-old Ikechi was suspect from. I didn't think he should have been cast at all. It was clear to me that Ikechi was chasing clout, as he had already applied for the show once before, and he was an author and musician. His dating history was also cause for my concern, as he had not had a serious relationship in 12 years, and the relationships he did have didn't last past seven or eight months. The MAFS experts knew this when they picked him, and I feel like it should have triggered alarm bells.

Ikechi then proved my ill-feelings about him right and proved my view that he was a toxic person during all his interactions, and silence, in regard to his marriage with 34-year-old Emem. While Ikechi and Emem seemed to have a great time during the honeymoon, all that changed when they moved in together. Ikechi thought Emem's direct questioning style was "aggressive," and it caused him to label her as "aggressive,"a term which Emem took offense to. Ikechi wanted Emem to get to know him more organically, and did not tolerate her approach.

Ikechi took things a step further when he deemed Emem sexually aggressive, after he claimed she made unwanted advances towards him. Emem said she got mixed signals from Ikechi, as he was the initiator of sexual contact during the honeymoon. Things spiraled from there as Ikechi stopped communicating with Emem, only to join a date with her and call her an "a*****e" on their one-month anniversary. Then, Ikechi showed up hot to the group anniversary dinner, where he called Emem out of her name.

"I have no peace in my home."

"My wife makes me feel like s**t."

Ikechi turned up to the couples retreat only to serve Emem one page of a divorce document. After the retreat, Emem and Ikechi got to say their piece to one another in front of the experts, and Emem blasted Ikechi's behavior and treatment of her. Throughout Ikechi and Emem's short marriage, I thought Ikechi was concerning and not an appropriate person for the show, but I had a change of heart when Emem stood up for herself during their final meeting.

Emem Rose Above Ikechi's Toxicity

Emem Was Tactful

I watched Emem gain a voice as her and Ikechi's marriage was coming to an end. Towards the beginning and middle of their problems, I thought Emem was being overly forgiving and lowering her standards to make the marriage work, but I enjoyed seeing that she put her foot down when she had enough. Ikechi's verbal attacks and unsavory behavior were wholly concerning, and I was afraid Emem wouldn't see the light and keep trying. However, I was pleasantly surprised when she embarrassed him upon receiving the one-page divorce document.

I was further proud of Emem when I could see that she rose above Ikechi's toxicity, and pushed for him to be accountable. I think Emem displayed the appropriate level of anger and hostility during the expert sit-down with Ikechi. Emem showed tact while serving realness, and it made me think there was a point to their matching. Emem wanted a husband she could pour herself into, and that did not fit with Ikechi's ulterior motives and blatantly problematic and selfish personality.

While I haven't liked Ikechi all along, I think he helped Emem elevate into her next chapter.

Emem Is A Wife Again

Emem Found Love After MAFS Season 18

Married at First Sight Emem Obot's Instagram

On the other side of Emem's growth and hardship in Married at First Sight season 18, she has found her forever person. While the details of how Emem met this new man are unclear now, Emem is a wife again. In her Instagram bio, Emem touts that she is married. I'm certain all the turmoil Emem faced with Ikechi led her to her new husband, and to me, that means she needed the experience with Ikechi. Without the experiment and everything Emem took away from it, I believe she was wouldn't have found her soulmate.

Did The MAFS Experts Anticipate Growth Through Trouble?

The Experts Had Another Choice For Emem

What strikes me as odd, is that the MAFS experts had another choice for Emem, but they chose Ikechi. Since Married at First Sight seems to be headed towards the format of higher drama and less successful couples, I think the experts anticipated friction. However, I don't think they could have anticipated the level it got to. In any case, Emem overcame the pitfalls of her marriage, and it led her to the happiness she has now. More will be revealed about Emem's shocking new life as a wife during the reunion and "Where Are They Now?" special.

Married At First Sight airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.