Married at First Sight fans have been left fuming following recent episodes as family week continued and saw the brides and grooms check in with their loved ones on how their marriages have been going so far.
It has marked the official halfway point of the experiment, and whilst some couples are flying high and falling more into their feelings, others are hitting rock bottom with some nasty true colours showing.
This season has been dramatic from the first episode, with cheating scandals and romance rumours galore, not to mention the continual 'gaslighting' and 'abusive behaviour' from many of this year's contestants.
But one couple they didn't expect to see enter troubled waters was dental hygenist Sandy, 36, and Dan, 42, who had been so far sailing along nicely as a model couple to their younger peers in the group.
It was at the third commitment ceremony digital business owner Dan shocked viewers of the Channel 4 reality show when he admitted he wasn't sexually attracted to his wife despite them often being affectionate in group settings which left Sandy and everyone else blindsided.
And things took yet another unexpected turn when Sandy admitted the couple had been intimate and slept together that same night after she got upset and "wanted a cuddle" and things heated up as they had sex for the first time.
"We slept together and then after that I was kinda treated like I don't exist," Sandy told producers.
It didn't take long for things to go sour as Dan got up the next day and was out of their shared apartment quick as a flash, with Sandy saying he often goes out for hours during the day. He left her all day to mull in her insecurities despite their friends and family arriving in just a few hours.
"It's morning and Dan has gone for a run, walk, gym not sure. He left at 5.30 this morning, I tried to lean into his back and he [sighs] he was like ‘ugh’ and I said sorry and it was awkward then, I tried but anyway, soon after that he got up and left.
"I'm sitting here now thinking what the hell is wrong with me... I don't know how to handle the situation."
Sandy went to fellow bride Claire Nomarhas for advice, with the nursery teacher having confided in Sandy previously over her own cheating scandal.
"You were not made for mediocracy in life nor in love and what Dan is giving you below par," Claire advised her friend.
"He slept with you and now he's running away from that. He needs to have a hard look how he's treating you someone who cares about you doesn't do this."
When they got the visit from their families, Sandy was left blindsided yet again when Dan flat out cut her off saying he would not be moving state for her, and that he has questions over their compatibility due to his love for the ocean, with Sandy being allergic.
Dan implied Sandy sits around all day on the couch and he doesn't find that fun, with Sandy pleading she only wants to spend time with her husband and do things together - but he is always out by himself.
Sandy said: "I am sick of feeling I'm not good enough and have to fit into some sort of mould, I'm not going to put up with someone who's going to treat me poorly, Ive done that all my life. I'm scared I've fallen for a version of Dan that doesn't exist."
In Wednesday's episode, things came to a head as Evelyn overheard a conversation between the grooms on a boy's night out at the pub when her husband Rupert accidentally "butt dialled" her which she says she "naturally listened in to," when Dan was allegedly heard bad-mouthing Sandy, saying he would never be attracted to her.
He had lied about needing space from Sandy as he was away visiting his daughter when he had actually been down the local with the other grooms.
Dan flaunted photos of his ex-girlfriends to the other grooms as he boasted of "how hot" they were compared to his dental hygenist wife as he spoke of them having lifestyle incompatibilities with him recognising he has "a type."
Sandy painfully added as she broke down: "He can't even respect me at the very least. Everything I had to face to be here and I'm with this person.
"I'm generally a strong person, I try and treat everyone with kindness or respect," she said before breaking down in tears and having to come off camera.
"Sorry," she continued: "I came here with such high hopes that I'd meet someone to respect and love me for who I am, I went against my parents.
"My dad's biggest concern was coming here and I'd be disrespected and that's exactly what's happened I just feel…. I'm just broken…. I'm upset because I've disappointed my parents but I'm angry I'm letting this happen to me."
Fans took to social media to slam the 42-year-old businessman over his treatment of Sandy, after she went against her parents wishes and religious norms to appear on the show to find love.
One person wrote: "So let me get this straight Dan doesn't want sandy because she's alergic to the ocean and that's the deal breaker here??but its OK for him to say I don't find her physically/sexually attractive but I'll still have sex with her????? I'm sorry, what?Mafs you have failed. #MAFSAU"
"Showing pictures of your exes to your mates and comparing them to your wife is SO classless. You’d think Dan was 16 not 42 with a daughter. #MAFSAU," said another fan.
Another added: "Yeah, compatibility’s always going to be an issue for you Dan as no one wants to go for a 6.5 hour run apart from you! What are you really doing in that time? #MAFSAU."
Married At First Sight Australia airs Monday - Thursday on E4 at 7:30pm.
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