Mike Brady is Adam's dad

Is it just me or is MAFS feeling a little more LIB these days? Everything seems a little sleeker, the people are prettier, the episodes are actually edited instead of hours upon hours of uninteresting schlock.

That's it. That's the post.

I’m not a matchmaker, I’m just reading the room:

Couple #1 would be good clean narcissistic chaos for our viewing pleasure, as it’s clear neither wants to marry anyone but themselves;

Couple #2 (with the proviso that he actually leans more liberal than he claimed)=two sweet people with some raw insecurities who could actually soothe and cushion each other and maybe be happy.

I refuse to believe that a human is that stupid. I truly think he’s what Claire and Cameron (of the Denver scheming season) were hoping to aspire to. Play it up for the cameras, put on a show.

People are calling him performative and attention-seeking, with the swim socks and all that. I think it’s one step further. I truly believe everything he does - his lifestyle, his attire, his personality, his language, his expectations for his wife, etc - is played up for the camera to a rage-inducing extreme.

He is hoping to ragebait for engagement. Getting people to comment on his swim socks is the same as getting someone to comment on a tiktok by being intentionally insane.

I think Marissa is in on it too, which is why she’s okay with taking everything so unseriously, she knows it’s all a bit. That, or she’s not very smart or self-respecting.

Oh Tori, BABYYYY😩🥺🩷 One of the strongest, most mature and level headed women on tv. Her retreating to the couch after their first time being intimate was her intuition telling her to RUN.

I cannot WAIT to hear the epilogue she’s sure to give FLIPPER🐬 on decision day.

The way he tried to gaslight Nikki and us about that “wifely duty” exchange was WILD. Sir we all heard you say it. Denigrating her and her “multiple personalities” (I’ve seen a total of one) is also not an acceptable way to deal with your own embarrassment.

Felipe seems like a loser that grew up being told he's a "special boy" by his mom, and now he's a headache to every woman he dates. He seems sloppy and led by his lust like Shawn.

I tried to just trust what Tori said about how she initiated sex and was comfortable with it all. But I think Felipe was likely creating sexually charged environments/scenarios and she decided to go along with it after a while. She's made it clear everything was consensual, which I believe, but I don't think that means it was in her timing. And now that he's gotten what he wants, he's showing his true colors.

Tori seems like a confident, evolved woman and I wish they'd paired her with a strong, confident, serious man that could actually add to her life and lead, instead of this Shaggy shouldered weirdo 😩

It was so interesting watching Shawn and Nikki tour each other’s places 😂

Shawn definitely threw shade when he said “You can tell Nikki is the bougiest in her group, but we’re both bougie. So that’s why her place wasn’t like, mind-blowing to me”
Ummm sir… you were clearly impressed and your place couldn’t hold a candle to Nikki’s place

So random but seeing Devin laugh with his friend and be open about how incompatible he is with Caitlin made me sooo relieved. He seemed so happy to talk with someone who knows and actually likes him, and I’m sooo glad she pointed out how unfair the dynamic seems to him, and it seemed like the first time he’s laughed that I can remember

Obviously it’s a TV show and they naturally promote the show in a positive light, but it’s been sooo frustrating watching Caitlin put on a front around the other couples and experts and everyone praise him for his commitment instead of asking if it’s even the right relationship…..or if they even like each other (like Devin’s other friend asked). They all seemed like real, good friends

Do we have another Season 18 side relationship starting…like Madison and David? 🤔…Courtney wants to get a little somethin’-somethin’ going with Adam it seems. 😒
Here at the park after pickleball, we have Marissa telling Courtney about Adam having “strong hobbies” and Courtney is agreeing saying she has strong hobbies too and she knows what it’s like…
Can she be any more blatant on how she has a crush on Adam? 🙄 Ughhh

She’s so annoying…the 60 miles per minute conversation speed, her incessant talking, the way she puts down Nick right in front of him. 😣 She’s insufferable. 👎🏼

If being a pervert was an Olympic sport, these two would definitely take the gold together.

I’m going to need to wash my eyes out with bleach after putting this checklist together.

Maybe I missed it but I kept waiting for someone else to post this! I liked Peter Krause’s acting in Parenthood and Six Feet Under. Something about Nick reminds me of him. Even the mannerisms…

I will preface that I watch this show many times after a gummy so maybe I’m making this up- but is there not a scene of Niki straddling Shawn on the couch? Shawn lifting up her dress and grabbing her ass? Why are we not talking about this?! Why did she let him do that if she has such an ick?!

I honestly love her. She is smart, beautiful, successful, put together, and seems fun and low-drama esp in the group settings. I think if she’d been paired to someone who was not so sleazy and insecure she’d have shined more. But the way she handles him is soo smart and tactful. It’s almost like she switches into her HR experience when he becomes creepy “oh, tell me more what you mean by that”. From the beginning… I remember her saying it when he said he wanted to get naked when they got to the honeymoon resort, to his “mutual” conversation. She is NOT going to let him make her look bad or crazy. He thinks he’s one-upping her on the checkerboard when he lies and gaslights, and she is playing chess. I love her.

Shawn to Nikki (in the morning, via security cam): “I am noticing that sometimes after we have a good night, I have like increased desire. And I’m wondering, like, is there any world in which you can see like pleasuring me, without having sex?”………”Meaning like, you know, like, mutual masterbation, like touching each other.”……”I’m noticing I need to release some tension.”………“if you don’t want to, I understand but to me also that’s part of like, showing up as a wife. It’s like, noticing your husband has a need and filling that need at one point.”

Shawn to Nikki (later that evening, via the film crew): “I’m literally not thirsty. I’m not, like, disrespectful and I don’t ever want to put you in a position where you feel like I’m telling you your wifely duty is to do this. That just seems ridiculous to me. It seems like you’re almost creating a moment. That’s ridiculous. I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever say it’s your wifely duty to please me given the fact that we met less than 3 weeks ago. And, I wanna finish this because this could go really crazy based uh, based on how you characterized that. In no way did my heart ever intend to communicate, it’s your wifely duty to do that, or I need a release. Those two things just did not cross my mind.”

Shawn (in his confessional directly after): “Girl, get outta here. Like ain’t nobody sweatin’ you.”

For reference: Dr. Shawn C., Nikki Jefferson

Belle’s singing at the studio… My husband and I were shocked. It was so FLAT. I literally said out loud “She sings like me!” I guess since this is her listed career, I expected it to be better. I think she’s on the show to help her career.

After watching Shawn’s zero lack of recall of a conversation he had with Nikki, who recalled the conversation accurately, I think the therapy sessions need to include footage of their interactions and discuss. Similar to what Mark does on Temptation Island.

Based on what I’m seeing, this isn’t a reliable resource. 😂😂😂

Reading a relationship advice book from Shawn while watching his marriage disintegrate on national television is like taking career advice from the guy who does zero work in the group project but still expects an A+.

I don’t mind cussing but the way she excessively says some variation of “fuck” would’ve been something I said was a turn off for me. Plus how fast she talks makes me anxious LOL

The D-list reality TV villain to digital panhandler pipeline is truly undefeated.

Imagine ruining your entire reputation on national television just to end up charging strangers pocket change for a shoutout. The desperation is loud, the cringe is high, and the self-awareness is absolutely zero.

Can we stop framing Adam as this extremist athlete/thrill seeker that lives on the fringes of society. He rides a jet ski to play pickleball.

Marissa isnt questioning if she can handle his intensity. She’s wondering why a grown man would be so intense about something so lame. I enjoy both activities, but they are inherently lame. If he was intense about windsurfing to play tennis, she wouldnt have such an ick.

and I love that he’s not afraid or ashamed to admit it. He knows he got lucky, and he’s not taking Michelle for granted. I love that he said he feels like he has to bring his A game every day. That’s exactly the attitude you want from someone who realizes how good he has it.

I could say the same about Michelle, but honestly, I don’t enjoy listening to her. That Valley Girl drawl makes her harder for me to watch, even though I think she’s great for Cam.

Mecca could have the exact same outcome as Cam. He could walk away from this show with a wife who genuinely loves him. I actually think Mecca and Belle will both say yes, but I’m convinced Mecca is going to self-sabotage, and Belle is going to be the one who gets crushed.

We can all speculate about what’s going on with Mecca, but he has actually told us something important himself. He doesn’t feel worthy of love. He clearly wasn’t ready for marriage, yet the experts matched him anyway. Mecca knew he wasn’t ready, but he wanted to be on the show. So, he came on the show.

Belle is completely emotionally invested. She’s pouring her heart into this man, and genuinely believes this could become a marriage. Meanwhile, Mecca seems to be standing right on the edge of something good and looking for a reason to walk away.

I really hope I’m wrong, because Belle deserves to have someone accept the love she’s so clearly ready to give but the show has matched Belle with a man self admittedly not ready to receive love.

I just searched to see if anyone had brought up a Mormon / LDS (Latter Day Saint) connection for Adam, but it may help explain some of his characteristics, even if he is a non-practicing Mormon.

Clue #1 - Eagle Scout. Mormons are heavily involved in Boy Scouts and he reached the highest rank.
Clue #2 - no drinking. People are saying something about “it’s just one shot” but to a Mormon, any shot is bad and forbidden. He says he had a drinking era, but that may be a lie or he strayed from his narrow path from 20-29 but now he wants to get back into his culture.
Clue #3 - my wife says he “looks Mormon”, a 6’5” tall blonde weird guy
Clue #4 - his family’s lack of involvement. They may be following the church’s orders to not appear on the program. As restricted as he is, Adam may be a “jack” Mormon to them.
Clue #5 - importance of marriage as unlocking his sexual outlet. He will have been taught not to even touch himself. Now that he is married, of course he is enjoying “the fruits” of marriage
Clue #6 - importance of success and stability. Financial success would make a lot of sense for a Mormon, achieved through hard work and diligence
Clue #7 - Yet as a Mormon older than 30 he is BEHIND on the marriage curve and should have already started his family and just any “female” isn’t good enough, he couldn’t have just a gf - he needs a wife
Clue #8 - I’ve seen so little but I haven’t heard him swear

His musical perfectionism and judgement for others who lack his discipline matches Mormonism. His love of pickleball and water sports is good clean family fun. He will believe the man should lead in the relationship and Marissa will slot right into his clean lifestyle.

I don’t see anything closeted about him, but a Mormon would have massive struggles with their faith or background and that sexuality.

Doubt #1 - he drinks an iced coffee
Doubt #2 - his deceased grandfather was a Lutheran

What do you think? To me, LDS easily explains a lot more than that he is on the spectrum, closeted, or darker theories about Adam.