“Married at First Sight” Recap: Season 16 Alum Jasmine Secrest Reveals Which Couple Is Missing a 'Key Ingredient' for Success

Jasmine Secrest appeared on season 16 of Married at First Sight, which took place in Nashville in 2023. Jasmine and Airris Williams ended their marriage over not seeing eye to eye about sex. On Oct. 15, season 18 of Married at First Sight premiered on Lifetime, returning to Chicago to follow five couples as the reality of their newlywed lives together sets in. Here, Jasmine gives PEOPLE her recap of the Dec. 10 episode.

This episode had everything—emotions were running high, triggers were pulled, and my heart was in my throat more times than I can count. But amidst all the drama, one thing was clear: the dynamics of these couples hit way too close to home. Watching them navigate their ups and downs felt like re-living moments from my own time on the show. Let's dive in, shall we?

Related: Married at First Sight Recap: Season 1 Alum Cortney Hendrix Weighs in on Which Couples Give Her a 'Major Ick'

Ikechi & Emem: Stuck in Their Feelings

Ikechi and Emem's storyline? It's like watching two people really invested in each other, but missing the key ingredient: communication. Sure, emotions are intense, but there’s a whole lot of room for growth in how they talk to each other.

Take Emem's family, for example. They clearly care about her and want the best, but their concerns were delivered in a way that left a lot to be desired. They could’ve been more tactful, but let’s be honest, Ikechi’s pride isn't helping either. Instead of opening up, he goes into defensive mode, giving off a “take it or leave it” vibe. And when Emem’s cousin tried to speak some truth into him? Ikechi didn’t take that opportunity to explain himself—he just closed off. It’s like watching someone drown in their own pride.

At the core of it all, Ikechi is clearly uncertain about the marriage, but instead of owning that, he’s deflecting and playing the blame game. If he could just admit where he stands, the whole thing would probably take a turn for the better. But hey, we all struggle with facing tough truths sometimes, right?

Camille & Thomas: Communication Goals

Can we just say it? Camille and Thomas are couple goals. This pair is giving us a masterclass in communication. Everything they do—how they express themselves, how they listen—is a reminder that relationships require effort, but also tons of respect.

Sure, Camille’s a bit of a nitpicker (we’ve all been there), but she’s direct, honest, and thoughtful in how she shares her feelings. And Thomas? He doesn't shut down when Camille opens up; instead, he listens, absorbs, and reacts with maturity. Now, Thomas might not always have the right words when communicating (hey, we’ve all been there), but he always tries his best to make sure Camille feels heard and understood.

That effort? It speaks volumes.Their dynamic is great. It’s one thing to communicate, but it’s another to do it in a way that’s so warm and authentic. I can't help but root for these two. If they keep this up, I can see them going the distance—seriously, they’re setting the bar high.

Related: Married at First Sight Recap: Season 15 Alum Miguel Santiago Predicts Which Couples Will Sink or Swim

Juan & Carla: The Affection Gap

Now, let’s dive into Juan and Carla. I really feel for Carla here, especially when it comes to affection. I can totally relate to her. It wasn’t until I was on the show myself that I realized how much I crave affection from my partner—and when it’s not there, it really hits hard.

Carla’s love language is clearly affection, but Juan just doesn’t seem to be on the same page, especially when it comes to public displays of affection. I don’t fault Juan for this—everyone has their own comfort zones. But I do wish he would be more upfront with Carla about where he stands. Instead of letting the tension build; an open, honest conversation could really clear the air.

Juan is definitely trying to be there for Carla in other ways, but until they address this affection gap, I’m afraid the couple might stay stuck in a holding pattern. Sometimes it’s the hard conversations that make all the difference.

Michelle & David: Are They In or Out?

Okay, Michelle and David? I’m struggling here. I can’t tell if David is genuinely trying to make this marriage work or if he’s just doing it for the cameras. Sometimes he shows a little spark, but then I get this vibe that he’s more about playing the role of a husband than actually being one. It’s like he’s more concerned with his image than the relationship itself.

On the flip side, Michelle seems to have already checked out. You can see it in her eyes—she’s almost waiting for a reason to bail, and yet… there’s this moment when David mentions working out with Madison, and bam—she’s visibly bothered. Which makes me think: If you’ve already mentally checked out, why let that bother you?

There’s definitely some back-and-forth energy happening here, and honestly, it’s hard to tell where they’re headed. Both of them seem like they’re playing their own games, and I’m not sure what’s going to snap them out of it.

Madison & Allen: Forcing Something That Isn’t There

Lastly, Madison and Allen. Yikes. Honestly, I don’t think this is the right fit for either of them. They’re both nice people, but it feels like they’re trying to fit into a relationship mold that just doesn’t work for them. It’s like trying to force a puzzle piece into the wrong slot—it’s not working, no matter how much they try.

I feel for them both because they’re clearly trying, but you can see that something’s just off. And then there’s that group activity moment where Allen totally checked out—he didn’t participate in something Madison put a lot of effort into. That was a major red flag. If you’re not showing up for the small stuff, how can you show up for the bigger things? It’s a tough situation, but it’s clear they’re both struggling to find common ground.

In the end, this episode was a whirlwind. So many emotions, so many moments that made me think, “Whoa, I’ve been there.” Relationships are hard, y’all, but if there’s one thing we can all take away from these couples, it’s that communication is crucial.

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Married at First Sight (produced by Kinetic Content) airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

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