Married At First Sightseason 18 couple Emem Obot and Ikechi Ojoré have been struggling in their relationship, andI’m convinced that if it wasn’t forMAFS,the couple could’ve worked in the real world. ThroughoutMarried At First Sightseason 18, Ikechi and Emem have been one of more confusing couples to work through the experiment. Ikechi, who has applied to be a part ofMAFStwice before his successful attempt this season, has been seeming more like a clout chaser than anyone else on the cast, while Emem has been trying to build a genuine connection with him.

Though the majority oftheMarried At First Sightseason 18 casthave had difficult times in their relationships throughout the season, Emem and Ikechi have been struggling in different ways. While the couple appears to connect in an emotional sense, there have been red flags concerning their physical relationship and the just how genuine their emotional connection is. While watching Ikechi has been concerning for me, I’ve been wondering what this couple would be like without the presence of cameras. Though I’m interested in theirMAFSconnection,I believe Emem and Ikechi would have connected better without the cameras.

montage of Ikechi wearing blue from Married At First Sight Season 18 with a red background

Emem & Ikechi Are A Good Match On Paper

The Couple Appear To Be A Good Match

AsMarried At First Sightseason 18 began, it appeared that Ikechi could be a clout chaser to viewers who had been looking into the cast. Many already knew that he’d applied to be part ofMAFSseason 9 andMAFSseason 12 in the past, and by the time Ikechi was finally presented on screen, there were pre-concieved notions about him. Throughout Emem and Ikechi’s initial screentime ontheMAFSseason 18 matchmaking special, they were shown to have similar values. While Ikechi was more reserved than Emem,both were ambitious and looking for someone who could understand them.

Ikechi’s Clout Chasing Is Too Overwhelming For Emem

Her Family Has Been Calling Him Out

Despite appearing like a pair who could work out,Ikechi quickly came off likehe was looking for attention during his wedding to Emem, and that raised red flags for viewers along with theMAFSbride’s family. Emem’s cousin, who was very protective of her throughout their wedding, chatted with Ikechi about the future he saw for himself and how Emem factored in. WhileIkechi was clear that he was happy to be part ofMarried At First Sight,he wasn’t entirely certain about how his marriage would factor into his life, and his answers were troubling for Emem’s cousin.

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Throughout the season, Ikechi’s behavior has been more to get him some kind of edit on the show rather than actually being genuine with hisMAFSbride. While Emem has been trying to build a foundation for her relationship with Ikechi,he’s been trying to make a name for himself.Whether that comes at Emem’s expenseor makes it seem like he’s not actually interested in her, Ikechi doesn’t seem to care that he’s causing harm to his relationship with his attention-seeking actions. Instead of following through with the experiment, Ikechi is trying to leverage it for his next steps.

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The Couple’s Dynamics Are Different On Screen Than Off

Ikechi Is Problematic When Talking About Private Moments

ThroughoutMAFSseason 18,Emem and Ikechi have been sharing moreabout their off-camera time together with the experts, painting a confusing picture for everyone. While both seem to enjoy spending time together, Ikechi has repeatedly tried to make Emem look sexually aggressive, then backtracked on his retellings of events. While Ikechi likely should be upfront if something is going on that he isn’t comfortable with, the retellings of his intimate moments with Emem only to be taken back moments laterhas instilled a sense of distrust for Ikechi among viewers. Problematic in nature, Ikechi appears to be seeking attention.

I Believe Emem & Ikechi’s Relationship Has Been Ruined By MAFS Producers

The Couple Would Do Better Without Cameras Following

Although I’m not entirely sure if Ikechi would behave in the same way outside ofMAFSI think thatif he and Emem had met organically, their relationship may have worked out a lot better. Emem and Ikechi’s consistent difficulties in facing challenges together, sharing a similar sense of what’s been happing in their relationship, and handling each other’s emotions have been difficult to watch. It’s seemed like Emem is frequently the more grounded of the two, leaving her to share what’s going on while Ikechi is making things seem far more dramatic than they actually are.

Despite the fact thatEmem and Ikechi have some major differencesin the way they live their lives, the pair don’t appear to be all that different outside of their need for outside validation. That being said, if Emem and Ikechi met in an environment without cameras, Ikechi wouldn’t be looking for attention from theMAFSproduction team. If Ikechi was able to ground himself more and ignore the presence of theMarried At First Sightcrew, it would be more realistic to see them go far as a couple. As it stands, the pair doesn’t seem like they’ll last.

montage of Ikechi and Emem from married at first sight season 18 looking upset

Married At First Sightairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.

Married At First Sight

Cast

Based on the Danish version of the series, Married at First Sight is a reality show/social experiment that gives singles a chance to find a lifelong partnership with one particular caveat: they must agree to marry a stranger arranged the moment they meet. Experts provide counseling and guidance as they help couples navigate their new marriage with their unknown partner and highlight the journey of the newlyweds from wedding to honeymoon to beginning their new lives together. At the end of eight weeks, couples will decide to stay married or divorce.

Married at First Sight Season 17 poster