In a year that has been a rollercoaster ride for everyone, including my Facebook friends, I found solace in the dramatic world of reality TV. With our kids experiencing a truncated school year, the usual flood of academic accolades and trophy pictures was nowhere to be found. Selfies? Forget it. Who was brave enough to share a filtered photo during a time when pandemic haircuts and wild eyebrows were the norm? Instead of vacation snapshots, we were all cozied up in our recliners, letting our personal grooming slide and daydreaming about the days we could safely travel again.
Like many of you, my social media feed transformed into a collection of amusing pet memes, signaling the end of the “bragging post” era. However, a new trend emerged: book challenges. Suddenly, everyone was showcasing their literary achievements, with Sarah finishing her 45,361st book and you trailing closely at 45,359. As for me, I didn’t quite keep pace in the reading department, having only skimmed the back of my lime-flavored yogurt and revisiting “Hyperbole and a Half” for the umpteenth time. But I excelled in my own way—I dove headfirst into the captivating chaos of “Married at First Sight” (or MAFS, as its fans affectionately call it).
Margaret Minnicks from Reelrundown.com summarizes MAFS perfectly: it’s a Lifetime series where couples are matched by experts and marry upon first meeting at the altar. Although it’s labeled a reality show, it’s touted as a social experiment. Couples meet, wed, honeymoon, and live together for eight weeks before deciding whether to stay married or split. With 12 seasons to binge and each comprising around 25 episodes—each lasting about 60-90 minutes—I devoted approximately 22,500 minutes (or 15.625 days) of my pandemic life to my newfound reality star friends.
While you were curled up with a classic novel, I was riveted by Jamie, who broke down outside the chapel after marrying the quirky Doug. I witnessed their honeymoon, where Doug’s charming personality and impressive abs eased Jamie’s post-wedding jitters. By the time you finally made it through the first few chapters of “All the Light You Cannot See,” I was already best friends with Ashley and Anthony from season 5. I even attended their wedding (sorry, not sorry!). The couple was utterly smitten, with their only disagreements revolving around her last name and a parking spot!
As you were getting lost in Toni Morrison’s prose, I was binge-watching MAFS seasons in a haphazard order. I was there when Beth hilariously roasted her husband about his lackluster bedroom skills, and I witnessed couples navigating the spectrum from enchanting weddings to downright cringe-worthy moments. Neil in his ridiculous onesie and the jaw-dropping remarks made by contestants like Molly and Luke had me questioning my own reality.
While I could have immersed myself in a literary masterpiece, I instead found myself glued to the screen, fast-forwarding through the sweet moments to get to the juicy drama. It’s clear that MAFS feeds my guilty pleasure cravings in a way that books simply can’t. I’ve transitioned from a passive observer of a social experiment to a dedicated voyeur, and I proudly embrace my title as the champion of reality TV obsession.
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In summary, while the literary world was buzzing with book challenges and reading accomplishments, I found my escape in the binge-worthy drama of “Married at First Sight.” Each season provided an array of emotions and moments that kept me entertained through the ups and downs of the year.