In the wake of what felt like forever, the much anticipated reunion for the show finally made it to Mzansi's screens on Sunday, with Thami Nyandeni and Zithobile Sibiya ending their marriage in dramatic fashion.
Some things remained the same while with others the change was hard to go unnoticed.
The show played on DSTV’s channel 161 and Showmax, with episodes airing every Sunday. For 13 episodes, viewers followed eight singles who came into an experiment in hopes of finding a husband/wife.
They put their trust in four relationship experts to pair them with who they hoped would be their forever person. The experts paired them working only with what they had, which was essentially their portfolios and the brief conversations they had with them prior to getting married.
In an unexpected turn of events since episode 12 - which was nine months apart, Nyandeni and Zithobile Sibiya parted ways, while Thabang Mvuyani and Makhumo Ngobeni have rekindled their relationship.
The reunion episode was filmed nine months after they wrapped up filming and the couples were left to continue their marriages outside of the experiment.
The reunion was hosted by Ntombi Ngcobo-Mzolo and she left no stone unturned with the couples. Representing the experts was clinical psychologist Anele Siswana and gynaecologist and sexologist Dr Mpume Zenda.
Ngcobo-Mzolo first went in with Khutso Mokoena and Litsoanelo Seturumane, who revealed that they are still together and are continuing to put effort into making their relationship work.
While Mokoena has met Seturumane’s son and the son’s father, Seturumane is yet to meet the mother of Mokoena’s daughter.
The second couple to give a life/marriage update was Nyandeni and Sibiya, who shared that they had broken up. While they were taking turns being questioned on how they reached that point, Sibiya could hardly contain her detestation towards Nyandeni.
There was a disconnect with their stories on how their relationship fell apart. Sibiya said the miscommunication and lack of attention is what confirmed it for her, while Nyandeni said he concluded it was over when he got kicked out of her home.
Nyandeni was severely injured in a car accident and was sent to the hospital where he was in a coma. After being released from the hospital Sibiya and her mother nursed him back to health. While he expressed how grateful he was to them for taking care of him, he did not understand why he was suddenly told it was time for him to leave.
The third couple, Boitshepo Mashetla and Sebenzile Ngwenya, many months after committing to each other at the altar are still together and they had moved to Cape Town, together. Not much has changed for this pair as all seemed and sounded to be well.
The only notable stumbling stone between them seemed to be Ngwenya’s statement about having feelings for an ex. It was interrogated in episode 12 and was brought again in the reunion episodes.
He admits that maybe his choice of words in that moment was not the best but there are no feelings that need to be resolved with a previous partner.
The last couple to have a go at it came with some news, sharing that they are back. After asking for divorce at the re-commitment ceremony, Ngobeni and Mvuyani did not in fact stay divorced. They revealed that they got back together shortly after filming.
They couple has since in the nine months continued to work on their relationship, have the difficult conversations about everything that happened and believe that they have a fighting chance if they continue to put in the work.
While this season comes to an end, three couples were successful in finding a partner but it was the end of the road for one.
IOL