In a Married at First Sight franchise first, there was a mystery runaway bride who left her hopeful groom, Michael Shiakallis, devastated. The premiere episode of Married at First Sight season 17 introduced viewers to nine participants in the marriage experiment: Brennan and Emily, Cameron and Clare, Austin and Rebecca, Orion and Lauren, and Michael. Michael was set to marry Chloe at the altar, sight unseen. The experiment is led by a trio of experts: Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Pastor Calvin Roberson, and Dr. Pia Holec. They were tasked with matching the couples based on their compatibility and wish lists.
Season 17 is taking place in Denver, Colorado. The experts had difficulty choosing a match for Michael and settled on returning to their pool of prospectives at the end of the “Matchmaking in Denver” episode. During the premiere episode of the season, viewers heard from each of the marriage hopefuls as they described their motivations and dating histories. One couple, Emily and Brannan, tied the knot. A clip from Michael’s wayward wedding was shown at the very beginning of the episode before the episode went back in time to introduce the cast.
The Married At First Sight Experts Failed Again
The last few seasons of Married at First Sight have not produced many long-lasting matches. In fact, the experts only had a 6% success rate in the previous three seasons. The experts have a lot of making up to do, and the participants deserve to be matched with the right people instead of mismatched for dramatic purposes. It’s already not a good sign they matched Michael with someone willing to give up. They were supposed to have come up with the right match; it’s why they took extra time in their search. It’s possible they rushed the process, and that’s why they ended up with a runaway bride.
Who Is The Married At First Sight Season 17 Runaway Bride?
The identity of Michael’s runaway bride remains a mystery. Outside of knowing he was matched with a woman named Chloe Brown, not much else is public knowledge yet. More information may come to light during the next episode, including the reason why she bailed. In any case, Married at First Sight fans now have an idea about her character since she was willing to crush Michael at the altar without explanation.
Does Michael Continue The Experience With Someone Else?
Michael is rumored to have continued the experiment following his wedding day upset. According to a Married at First Sight fan page, @mafsfan, Michael does get married this season, but it’s unclear if he gives Chloe another shot or if the experts find someone else for the 38-year-old Project Manager.
Married at First Sight airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST.
