A weekend retreat brought underlying tensions to the surface for Married at First Sight couple Jalyn and Josh. In a heartfelt conversation with her mother and fellow participant, Belynda, Jalyn opened up about feeling personally hurt by her husband’s opposing views on building a social life together.
A Revealing Retreat Conversation
The couples of Season 19 traveled to a weekend retreat, where they spent time bonding with each other and their partners. During the event, Jalyn had a deep conversation with her mother, Belynda, about a recurring issue with Josh. The conflict began with a morning chat where Josh talked about his desire for the two of them to join or create new social groups and communities together, something he was accustomed to doing as a single man.
Jalyn saw things differently. She told Josh that they were already on a journey with the people from their social experiment, suggesting they could find “their people” through the process that brought them together. While Josh agreed, he did not view these connections as a “community,” seeing them more as friends to hang out with. This difference in perspective left Jalyn feeling unsettled and led to her private confession.
“I just feel like there’s no possible way he doesn’t understand community. So the only thing I’m thinking is that he just really hasn’t seen that and I think that now I am taking it personally, and now I am offended because that’s all that I feel like I have shown him,” Jalyn shared.
Feeling Unseen and Unappreciated
When Jalyn confided in Belynda, she was visibly upset. She explained that her community, such as her cycling group, has been a significant part of her life, and she felt she had already shared that world with Josh. His continued search for community elsewhere made her feel that he did not appreciate what she had already offered.
Belynda offered a different perspective, suggesting that Josh might simply lack knowledge about how to connect with people outside of structured events like festivals and that his actions were not a sign of ingratitude. She told Jalyn not to feel devalued. However, Jalyn’s feelings were still strong.
“I think I’m just like, irritated. Because he doesโฆI feel like he didn’t appreciate me. That’s what I feel. I think that’s where I’m just like, like I want to feel like he knows who I am,” Jalyn told Belynda.
A Mother and Daughter’s Shared Journey
The dynamic between Jalyn and Belynda is a historic first for the U.S. version of Married at First Sight. The two are the first mother-daughter pair to simultaneously participate in the social experiment. Jalyn married Josh Black, a 31-year-old contractor, while Belynda married Chad, a 54-year-old real estate executive.
The surprising connection was revealed at the end of the season premiere after Jalyn’s wedding. Belynda invited her new son-in-law to her own ceremony the following day, stunning Josh when she clarified that she was also “getting Married at First Sight.” This unique situation has given Jalyn a built-in support system within the experiment.
Navigating Differences as a Couple
This is not the first time Josh and Jalyn have worked through their differences. In a previous episode, Josh surprised Jalyn with a skydiving date. While Jalyn found the idea “ridiculous” and admitted she was not excited, she also saw it as a positive trait in a partner.
“This is what I’ve wanted in a partner,” Jalyn shared. “Someone to push me into trying new things.”
Despite such green flags, the couple has faced other challenges. In a recent episode, they had a quarrel after Jalyn discovered Josh had not been truthful about unfollowing an ex-partner on social media, requiring further intervention from the show’s experts.
As the season progresses toward Decision Day on November 20, all five couples, including Josh and Jalyn and Belynda and Chad, are reportedly still together and working on their relationships. Viewers can follow their journey by streaming new episodes on Peacock.
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