There are more mums, siblings and pals to meet tonight as MAFS’ Family and Friends Week continues – and they come with advice, words of support and a growing Adelaide scandal.
It’s not even 6am at the apartments, but Scott is awake, fidgeting and dramatically rubbing his face in his hands after Gia walked out the night before.
After time on his own, he’s really changed his tune about the photos of his ex on his phone.
He’s now deleted them. All 547.
Yes, five hundred and forty-seven.
Family and Friends Week
Stella and Filip catch up with their friends, and Filip is relieved to know Stella’s protective bridesmaid Leila is not looking for round two.
As long as he doesn’t mention his YouTube channel over lunch.
Their friends are so obsessed with their connection they’re practically chanting “SAY IT, SAY IT, SAY IT” across the table as Stella and Filip dance around why they haven’t yet shared “I love yous”.
Rachel‘s hoping her and Steven’s family and friends can give Stevo a wee kick up the butt in regards to intimacy.
Ask and you shall receive!
Steven’s brother Dylan notices how touchy-feely Rach is and reckons Steven needs to stop overthinking things and return the favour.
It’s a big eye-opener for Steven, who pledges to stop holding back.
This, and the fact that she and Steven’s mum are new best friends, makes Rachel veryyy happy.
Two lovely family and friends meet-ups in a row … thank god Gia is back for a little scandal.
She explains how she came across a memory of Scott and his ex on his phone, and it definitely wasn’t just 547 cute date night selfies.
Luckily, there’s no need to book their tattoo removal appointments just yet as they successfully talk it out.
Alissa and David are the last to catch up with their besties Adriana, Jasmine and Melissa.
Adriana has hopped on a plane from South Australia with a big ol’ piece of gossip: Bec’s been hitting up mutual friends trying to dig up dirt on Alissa.
“It’s just reaffirmed that I cannot keep this girl close to me; she has to stay away,” Alissa reacts.
Crash Course Week
Juliette has not been able to look at Joel since she saw a video of him playing drums with things a little different to your usual sticks.
Not a great time for them to take on the eye-gazing intimacy tasks.
She immediately decides not to do it, and to make sure she doesn’t even catch a glimpse of her husband, decides to speak to him only through a door.
She yells that he purposely says things to upset her.
Unlike her, who only says nice things such as “devil eyes” and “don’t come near me anymore”.
To prove he’s putting in more of an effort, Tyson’s taking Stephanie out for a date.
“I’m all for doing nice things with my partner. Even with my ex-wife, every Friday night we went out for dinner and it kept that spark there,” he explains.
“Well, I guess it didn’t; we got divorced a year later.”
High hopes, then!
To be fair, he is making progress. This time he only makes a comment about the size of Steph’s meal in a voxy, rather than to her face.
Unfortunately, it’s not long until he says something much worse: he’s still in contact with an ex and admits he’s “not fully” out of love with her.
Steph is obviously upset – which he is confused about until some prodding from producers.
Then we practically see the lightbulb go off above his head.
“F—, I’ve opened up a can of worms there,” he realises.
He apologises and tells Steph he will not keep in contact with the ex while in the experiment, which she appreciates.
She wants to move on … until they’re tasked with watching each other’s audition tapes.
While Tyson lights up at Steph praising Trump and talking about traditional relationships, there’s a part in his tape she cannot get onboard with.
No, it’s not his passion for MAGA hats. It’s that he’s bothered by same-sex couples being “pushed in his face all the time”.
She confronts him, but he thinks she just wants to start drama.
After refusing to stare into Joel’s “devil eyes” earlier, Juliette has decided she is happy to rank him among the other grooms.
She places him fourth because she’s usually attracted to someone “more her age”.
Then she places David, who is the exact same age as Joel, in the top spot.
Joel doesn’t let it get under his skin and instead gets payback, placing Juliette third.
“It’s like he’s trying to antagonise me,” she reacts.
Later, Joel confronts her over her attitude.
She says his “performative side” has made her retreat, which he sees as laying all the blame with him.
“You don’t understand me; you don’t see the star in me,” Joel says.
“Literally, because it’s a performance!” she yells, banging her fists on the table.
Joel tries to teach her about metaphors, but it’s too late.
“He was like ‘well, I’m the star’!” she tells cameras.
Oh – um, that’s not what he said…
Juliette dramatically packs her things as they continue arguing over her “crash out”.
“It was psychotic,” he reacts. “I haven’t come this far to be with a woman who doesn’t value me.”
And with that, it’s just him and his bowl.
Tomorrow night, Juliette takes her disdain for Joel to the group.
From teddy shoutouts to the experts with their jaws on the floor, we’re set for another unmissable Dinner Party.