FYI, channel just debuted a few weeks ago and one of the channel’s flagship series is called “Married at First Sight.” It’s  a rather interesting concept in which approximately 50 people go through a thorough vetting of questions and interviews with a panel of specialists. These specialists range anywhere from clinical psychologists to religious personnel to sex therapists. From these thorough searches, the specialists make optimal matches of individuals based off of their respective results. From here, the individuals sign agreements where they meet each other for the first time at the altar and get married.

The show is not over yet and I am still watching. Thus far the couples have moved in with one another, most have met the other’s family members, and it’s really sweet to see them evolve and enjoy one another’s company (even the L-word has started to come up in conversations). There are three couples: two Caucasian (Jamie and Doug and Courtney and Jason) and one African American (Monet and Vaughn). Between all of the couples, I see the most angst in the African American couple mainly because they are the oldest of the trio and the most settled in their ways. I honestly think this has dramatically effects the relationship and sharing time, space, and a life with someone else when they have been so used to being alone. The youngest couple, in my mind, has the most potential. Perhaps this is because they are open minded to being in this type of relationship or if they are really smitten with each other. The last couple is bit on the fence. Doug is such a great guy, very close with his family, good-natured, infatuated with Jamie and overall a keeper. Jamie is extremely pretty, has a good job, but has some issues stemming from past relationships and her childhood.

The network marketed this show as a social experiment, but as I got to thinking: is this really novel? The relationship aspect may be, but the idea of being thrown into a situation where you know no one is similar to starting at a new job, beginning tenure at a new school, or even other shows like Survivor, Big Brother, even Jersey Shore at the beginning. The only unique situation I could think of that is special for this show is intimacy between couples, and even then most shows capitalize on “sparks” seen between characters. Initially, I thought this was a ridiculous idea in which I would never participate. I mean: sharing your space with a stranger, sleeping in the same bed as a stranger, and sharing finances with a stranger. Um, no. But, I’m a rigid person and I am fairly pessimistic about anything and everything. At this point, I’m pretty addicted. I want to see what decisions these characters make. Do they stay together? Do they get divorced?

As I said before, this show is similar to that of many others, just introduces a new concept by marriage and the legality that ensues being married. The more I think about it however, I do think that many of us face these decisions daily. I may not be a full-time employee, but I do know what it’s like to start as a graduate student at a new school and make a decision to join a lab. In grad school, joining a lab is like being adopted into a family. There are those who get along, those who don’t, and everyone works really hard to publish and gain as much knowledge as possible. Similar to the show, you see each other every day, must share a communal space every day, and work together for the benefit of the entire group. All of these characteristics are shared with “Married at First Sight.” This analogy can be applicable to situations beyond grad school, I just use this experience because I’m currently living it. A sports team, a team at work who is spearheading  a project, or a cohort of doctors trying to cure a patient. Aspects such as these come into play every day in life, just in different circumstances and mediums.

So what can you learn from these shows or this one in particular? I would begin here by arguing what one seems like on paper is not a genuine reflection of their character or how they behave in situations. Take last night’s episode of “Married at First Sight.” Doug and Jamie had a stressful weekend where Jamie introduced Doug to where she grew up (a trailer park). It was stressful for both and Doug secretly had a cigarette Sunday night. When Jamie said to him that he smelled like smoke, he fervently denied it and shortly thereafter said that he did in fact have a cigarette. His lie is not a reflection of his devotion to his family or how he usually is a great guy, but how he handled the situation could never have been foreseen unless Jamie and him had a spat. This is one instance that just because you are compatible on paper may perhaps provide for a strong foundation, but it’s the tower (if you will) that’s built upon that foundation that may topple.

Moreover, you can’t test the waters unless you jump right in. And this goes with any situation. You will never know if a position at a firm is a good fit for you unless you take the opportunity and go. Regrets are hard, but would you rather regret not trying something or trying it and taking away some useful knowledge? These are applicable questions to many situations, and something to definitely think about. It’s fairly philosophical when you ponder these types of ideas, and funny that they stem from a social experimental show, but really it’s fairly interesting. The take home message in this diatribe would be: Watch the show and think about how you would handle a situation such as this.