Men behaving badly has become the standard this season on Married at First Sight. While in previous years we’ve had boys’ nights gone badly as well as some serious anger management issues, this year’s crop have plumbed new depths with sordid affairs, back-peddling lies, proudly misogynistic behaviour and emotional manipulation.
But then something weird happened last night. As 50-year-old personal trainer, Nasser Sultan continued his spiral from hero to villain, Australia’s most hated man, Dean Wells, managed a stunning comeback, repositioning himself as a relationship guru.
Not only did the serial denier finally accept some responsibility for his deplorable actions, which saw the 39-year-old advertising exec cheat on his “wife” with Instagram model Davina Rankin, but he suddenly started spouting entirely reasonable advice to the other men around the dining table.
Even the show’s experts were stunned as Dean turned relationship guru, giving 41-year-old Justin Fisher some sound tips on how to turn his relationship with Carly Bowyer around.
“It’s actually really valuable advice,” said astounded MAFS relationship expert Mel Schilling.
“Hopefully Justin listens to him and opens up to Carly,” added fellow expert Trisha Strafford.
As Nasser spilled his guts on how “awful” his marriage to the truly delightful Gabrielle Bartlett and show hero Telv Williams managed to foot in mouth slightly by offering up way too much detail on his sex life with wife Sarah Roza, Dean remained the most reasonable man in the room, staying out of conflict and finally owning up to his actions.
Pulling Telv aside to admit he’d been in the wrong in his actions, Dean managed to keep an even temper, even as an angry Telv called him every name under the sun.
And while the night may have ended with an awkward rap battle between Dean and his wife “Cyclone Tracey” Jewel, he stayed head and shoulders above new series villain Nasser who looks set to break his “wife” Gabrielle’s heart in the upcoming commitment ceremony on Sunday.
And that’s something none of us – including the trio of experts – saw coming.
This article originally appeared on WHO.