Married at First Sight’s Saddest Episode Just Delivered an Unexpected Twist of Satisfaction

Season 18 of Lifetime’s Married at First Sight just presented an incredibly painful episode with Episode 18, “Cheat and Retreat,” where, as the title suggests, the cheating scandal found its way to the couple’s retreat. This episode of Married At First Sight saw confessions of all kinds, with Madison Myers and David Trimble confessing their attraction and breaking the news to their partners, Michelle Tomblin and Allen Slovick. What makes “Cheat and Retreat” so sad is how clear it is that Allen is heartbroken, but ultimately, Michelle and Allen finally getting the truth is satisfying. Even though this episode is heartbreaking, it is also what everyone has been waiting for.

Married at First Sight Season 18 has been one of the messiest seasons yet. Not every couple was a failure, like Thomas McDonald and Camille Parsons, who have been very successful. However, many of the relationships have crashed and burned, like Ikechi Ojore and Emem Obot, with Ikechi symbolically serving Emem divorce papers during the couples retreat. However, the two couples with the most strife have been Michelle and David, who never got along, and Madison and Allen, who struggled with Madison not being attracted to her husband.

There Were Hints of Madison and David Cheating

Despite Married at First Sight being a reality show, David and Madison have been lying daily. Although in “Cheat and Retreat,” David and Madison make it seem like nothing happened before the episode’s events, there were hints of their compatibility throughout the entire season. Madison and David worked out together, which became one reason Michelle suspected them of cheating in the first place. They had a lot in common and their marriages were falling apart. Michelle never trusted David, but the experts wore Michelle down and everyone manipulated her into thinking their failing marriage was her fault. Madison had also been suspicious, staying out late and coming home without any explanation. However, this was just the beginning of Madison and David’s drama.

Michelle already knew David was unfaithful from prior episodes and accused her husband David of cheating with Madison, Allen’s wife. Michelle goes to Allen with her suspicions first, and watching him slowly put the pieces together is excruciating and heartbreaking. As the night continues, it only gets worse. With Michelle on the warpath to the truth, Madison and David finally talk about their relationship. And, just like we all expected, the pair do have feelings for each other. Not only that, but Michelle was right all along! The text was for Madison. So David, not Madison, breaks the news to Allen in the worst way, breaking Allen’s heart. Everything about the reveal and discovery is painful, and it is clear that this is the saddest episode in Season 18 of Married at First Sight.

This Is a Fitting Conclusion to Their Marriages

Although watching Allen have a mental breakdown is painful, and it is so clear that he is heartbroken, this episode is also incredibly satisfying to watch. All season, Michelle and David have been struggling, but Michelle was always the problem and was seen as crazy for spiraling about Madison and David, so seeing her vindicated is fantastic. Besides Michelle finally getting the resolution she needed, Allen finally lets go. Allen and Madison also had problems, but Allen was incredibly patient and caring with Madison. For Allen to finally snap at David, as he deserved, let go of the pain Madison was causing him, and tell the whole truth about his feelings will only benefit him moving forward. After a season of the cheating scandal being teased and the failing relationships being dragged out, this episode saw a satisfying release for Michelle and Allen.

Season 18 of Married At First Sight started with drama, and the cheating scandal proves it will also end with trouble. Allen and Michelle finally have found a release from the tumultuous relationships with Madison and David, but the end of the relationship is hard to stomach. Allen did not deserve to have his heart broken, and Michelle did not deserve to be treated like she was crazy, but it is a relief that the truth is finally revealed. Married at First Sight airs on Lifetime and is available to watch anytime on Hulu.