S18.E21: Where Are They Now: It's Vow or Never

[TwirlyGirly]

Over a year has passed since Decision Day, and the Chicago cast reflects on how their lives have changed; one ex-husband seeks legal advice, while a former wife realizes it's time to make amends; everyone comes together for a special ceremony.

➡️Air date: 3/25/2025

[Retired at last]

There's also yet another follow up show where they will replay, yet again, the top 10 moments from this season. Enough already! We can't miss it if it never goes away!

But, I will say that I appreciate the show filming these follow-up shows a year after filming since they took so long to show them in the first place.

Edited Tuesday at 07:44 PM by Retired at last

[atomic]

No interest in David and Madison, they will forever just be gross to me. I also think Madison should stop acting so self-righteous about Michelle's behavior when she snuck around and lied to Allen their whole marriage.

Karla looked sooo cute when Michelle came over (loved her sweater!) and her apartment looks really nice too.

Thomas doesn't seem that fulfilled in his marriage from the way he was talking to his brother. Feeling a lot less hopeful for him and Camille after that conversation. 

[Elizzikra]

Why does Ikechi keep asking people for divorce advice. He was legally married for about a minute and he never liked his wife. He's making It sound like he needs deep emotional support, and he probably does, but it's not because he's heartbroken about his failed marriage. Maybe that was just to give him something to do on camera?

Also - Juancho's Ponchos? First - horrible idea. Second, the punctuation was incorrect in the logo. 

Also that commitment ceremony was just... weird. Emem put on a wedding dress but it looks like she didn't do anything with her hair or anything particularly interesting with her makeup. No flowers; no decoration... just not much going on there. Also I don't remember her having such poor posture; maybe I just didn't notice it before but her shoulders were all slumped over when she walked in the room and was standing with PC and Brandon. 

[Crashcourse]

I guess I sat through this whole boring episode because it'll be my last MAFS show.  I won't be watching on Peacock, so...

Buh Bye, MAFS! 

[seacliffsal]

This was really boring IMO.  I think something is really off with Emem and Brandon.  In one of her interviews she stated that she had her walls up when she went out with Brandon but he worked at making her feel vulnerable again.  How did he do that?  They were engaged on their second date.  He must be a magician.

I don't understand why we had to watch Ikechi go to a divorce lawyer-he tried to pull a fake divorce during the 8 weeks, why hasn't he sought a divorce lawyer earlier during the year that transpired before this episode?  Something seems really off with him-so maybe he and Emem were a better match than I originally thought.

Allen seems like he's running out the clock on his Married at First Sight contract-good for him.  I think we'll see less of him than some of the others in the future.

Michelle is sorry that she looked so bad on camera towards David.  And, it looked like she had some work done on her face/lips?  IMO she was very pretty and did not need any work, but if it makes her happy, then good for her.  I am glad that she finally apologized to David, but it seemed like she just can't get over David leaving her for Madison.

I hope they are all able to move forward, drop the issues they may have with each other, and be happy.

[Retired at last]

The number of responses pretty much says it all. Bye bye MAFS. I was really confused by the Ick-man and the divorce. I always thought that if the couples said they wanted a divorce on D-Day, the show helped with that process. Otherwise, why would people sign up if they knew the odds and then they would have to pay for it themselves? 

I did enjoy the Michelle/Karla conversation, even though it looked like neither of them were wearing pants. But, they both looked great. Michelle really did seem to acknowledge what a horrible bitch she was to David. And I LOVED how Karla realized that she could not be with a partner who is like her - I loved it when she said that, "Someone needs a plan and that sure wouldn't be me!" That is exactly what one of the issues with Juan was. Speaking of confusion - what is with their shared business and how does that lawsuit fit in???? Juancho's Ponchos???

Allen is a gentleman and will be fine. I agree that making David and Madison the success story of the century won't really work with most of the viewers. I still think David is way more in love than she is, but they seem happy. Now, Thomas and Camille. . . I wondered how happy he could be with her, and it looks like he is not truly. I hope he decides before they have kids. She just has an attitude that she is better than he is and is always so condescending and I think she is hard to please. Plus, as long as her personality is the type to enjoy making people suffer or worry so she can then just say, "Just kidding," I have no hope for them. That is a horrible characteristic and I think a serious flaw. (I had a manager like that and she came into my office one day, eyes blazing, telling me that the director of our division called her about me, so I thought I was going to be fired, just to tell me that he said I was a great addition to the team, etc. But, by that time, she had ruined any possible chance of pride I could feel, and I never forgot that.)

Why didn't Emem seek out a divorce? Is Brandon still married? They are both too strange and he just wants his TV stardom. She is strange and always has been. Ick looks better and better. Not good - just better.

I did not watch the follow-up show. We just saw the whole season replayed - why do another show about it?

[Rightside]

Well, that was a colossal waste of time!

 

[Crashcourse]

So, wait.  Emem and Brandon had a "commitment ceremony" so they aren't married.  When is she gonna get her huzzzbinnnn?  Seriously, she should be glad that they aren't married yet because I think she's in for some sad surprises.  

2 hours ago, Retired at last said:

Speaking of confusion - what is with their shared business and how does that lawsuit fit in???? Juancho's Ponchos???

I was confused about that too.  

[Elizzikra]

2 hours ago, Crashcourse said:

So, wait.  Emem and Brandon had a "commitment ceremony" so they aren't married.  When is she gonna get her huzzzbinnnn? 

She has to finalize the divorce from her first huzzzbinnnn…

[VioletNevermind]

This was easily the worst season of this show.  Still, I'll miss it (I am absolutely not paying for another streaming service just to watch this).  My final thoughts:

David will always be Basement David to me.  I do have to point out that I called him and his trashiness from day one.  Madison is forever the Chicag-heaux who treated one of the best guys this show ever had like garbage, from her laughable suggestions that Allen change his wardrobe and teeth, to her flat-out cheating on him.  If David remains faithful to her and they're still together within five years, I will happily eat my words.  As for Michelle, I never liked her, but I do have to respect her decision to formally apologize to David for her horrible behavior toward him in the beginning, even if it was deserved and even if the apology was for the cameras.  As much as I dislike her, we definitely agree on David.  It's a rare woman who would be okay with a guy in his mid-30s who lives in his parents' basement.

The things that Thomas said to his brother about his marriage were really depressing.  He's "still waiting" for that deep connection and that "can't live without you feeling" about Camille?  Yikes.  They need marital counseling to discuss their expectations of one another.  I will echo what others here have said about her condescending attitude toward him.  I rolled my eyes every time she talked about her desire for him to be more "urban."  Girl, please.  Grow up and learn to value the man in front of you, business suit and all.

Juan and Karla were never going to work out because he was only on the show for exposure and she's way too "out there" for him and many other men, too.  (Also, the poncho thing- dear Lord.  I'll leave it at that.)

As for Emem and Brandon, I wish her luck with him.  She never seemed particularly stable and he is all but dancing for the cameras.  Their "commitment ceremony" last night was pretty cringeworthy.  Ikechi isn't even worth the effort of typing.

And finally, Allen.  He deserves so much more than this farce of a show and certainly that "marriage."  He'll land on his feet and be better off without all of it.

Edited Wednesday at 09:51 PM by VioletNevermind

[Shauna]

Thomas and Camille seem like friends.  And not even close friends.  Kind of weird of Thomas to say he's waiting for the passion.  He's gonna be waiting a really long time.  I don't even know why either one of them said yes, especially Camille, she's so not into him.  

I thought David was way more into Madison than she into him, but after last night's show, I feel like she's super into him.   I find them both gross, though.  Her constant laughing is super annoying.  

 

I couldn't watch the second show with that blonde's scratchy voice.  Same voice she had on another show.  Is this her actual voice?  She really shouldn't have been on with it.  Get someone else.  

 

 

[Elizzikra]

Quote

 I don't even know why either one of them said yes, especially Camille, she's so not into him.  

I think they are both done with dating and ready be married. I think they like each other enough and felt like they had enough of what they wanted to try to make a go of it. And honestly? There are worse reasons to get (stay) married...

[atomic]

I feel like by this point Camille might be more invested in Thomas than he is with her. I probably would not have read into this before last night's episode, but Thomas has no photos on his Instagram of Camille (and he has been actively posting), whereas she posted a bunch of photos of them together and wrote a sweet and sentimental caption about their relationship. Even in the reunion episode it seemed like she was gushing more about their relationship while he was kinda half smiling and nodding along. I know Thomas is 44 and feels pressure to have kids in the very near feature, but I hope he realizes it wouldn't be fair to Camille to move forward with a baby if he's still feeling so wishy washy and unsure about her.

[JenE4]

The Lifetime app has this episode locked for people who pay for access. But I suppose I should thank them for the opportunity not to watch. I was wondering whether the “special ceremony” was going to be Emem and Brandon’s wedding, or Karla saging the bad karma off of everyone in a cleansing ceremony.

[Hip-to-be-Square]

  How could Thomas build passion for Camille when she always wears baggy athleisure sets?  I yelled at my TV in horror when she showed up to Thomas's brother's house in that sexless baggy blue crew neck tee, duster sweater, and flared pant set.  She demands "swag" from Thomas and looks like she's on a couch waiting for Door Dash to come. She's not doing her body justice with those outfits. Thomas and Camille are phoning it in with each other.  Don't let a shitty reality TV show guilt you into staying in this marriage, Thomas and Camille! 

   This is it for me- I'm divorcing this show. I only watched it to read all of the great comments on here.  Let's regroup when they make a Lifetime Movie about Emem's marriage 😏😅. 

Edited Yest. at 12:18 AM by Hip-to-be-Square

[Alexander Pope]

I hope Emem and Brandon are happy.  But their counseling session wasn't convincing.  Isn't saying repeatedly that you love someone because you can't not have that feeling, which is all Brandon could say about why he loved Emem,  a lot like saying you're addicted to them?  It's romantic, but it does sound a lot like trauma bonding? anyway, I hope I am wrong and that this is the last time they grace my screen.

[princelina]

5 hours ago, VioletNevermind said:

This was easily the worst season of this show. 

Did you miss last season?  Here's a brief recap in case you forgot:

Emma (ugly crying): Please, please have sex with meeeeee!

Austin:  No ma'am, I don't do that with people I haven't known for at least a  year.  Let's go make erotic terrariums instead!

Emily:  How dare you say I'm not a positive fucking person?  Screw you! I'm the most positive person you'll ever meet, you asshole!!!

Brennan:  I respectfully disagree.  Hush.

Native American dude:  What's the worst slur you can think of for Native Americans?

Lauren: I don't think I've never heard one!

NA dude: Sure you have - redskin!  Telling you that was the most traumatic thing I've ever been through!  Repent!  Repent!  I'll be back in a week after I've processed the horror of what you did!!!!!

[Chatty Cake]

I started this episode last night but drifted off during Karla and Juan’s meet up about the ponchos.  Is it a business?  Did the Juan and Karla feud come up later?  
I’m not sure the conversation between Thomas and his brother wasn’t somewhat scripted. I noticed at the table the brother brought up the swag issue which they put to bed a long time ago. Haven’t you talked to your twin brother since all this played out a year ago?
Did they explain why Emem and Ikechi aren’t divorced yet? I always thought it was a fairly quick process. 
The commitment ceremony sounds like filler for the show. 
Karla and Michelle at her place was also fake. Karla saying that Nichelle really wanted a marriage was comical. She did get a marriage and  hated it! 
Madison didn’t like David being portrayed as a mamas boy living in his parents basement but all he’s done is go from their house to Madison’s 1 bedroom apartment. 

 

[VioletNevermind]

9 hours ago, princelina said:

Did you miss last season? 

I think my statement was probably colored by the fact that this is the last one on regular TV (and definitely my last).  It just landed with such a thud.

[Retired at last]

17 hours ago, JenE4 said:

I was wondering whether the “special ceremony” was going to be Emem and Brandon’s wedding, or Karla saging the bad karma off of everyone in a cleansing ceremony.

Actually, both. There was a fakey fake commitment ceremony presided by Pastor Cal. Em wore a wedding dress and amazing shoes. Brandon is and always will be an ass. I think, at this point, she deserves it. She is a mess. ETA - If that huge rock on her hand was real, I would bet anything that she bought and paid for it. Brandon is not going to have that kind of cash with his divorce and child payments.

And Karla did have a girls' party where they made their own candles and selected the scents that were meaningful. Then they named their candles and talked about what they picked. They were supposed to pick scents that helped them get rid of unpleasant thoughts. I don't think it worked. I do enjoy flaky Karla.

 

Edited Yest. at 05:06 PM by Retired at last

[atomic]

Good luck to Thomas finding another early 30s woman he can still have kids with and fills his heart up with all those butterflies that he's chasing. Better that he dumps Camille now rather than stringing her along only to end up cheating again. 

I don't get the sense that Emem is truly happy even though she got what she was supposedly looking for. She doesn't seem like the vibrant, lively woman she was at the beginning of the season to me. Cringing @ Brandon's goal of making Emem a mother. Translation: "My goal is to trap Emem so my gold-digging, clout chasing, 'retired' ass can secure this bag long-term." 💰

[Retired at last]

I think that Brandon just plays his game better than Ick. He is just as interested in TV "fame,"but knows the way to play Em is to sweet talk her to death with sentiments he cannot believe. I still can't forget when he called her his "Olivia Pope." I think that made it perfectly clear who he was looking for. And, all she wanted was to make Ick jealous, which he isn't. I don't think she is happy, either, @atomic.

[Elizzikra]

Quote

I started this episode last night but drifted off during Karla and Juan’s meet up about the ponchos.  Is it a business?  Did the Juan and Karla feud come up later?  

It is a business they were supposedly starting together but there was just the one mention of it. I don't know if it ever got off the ground or not. There was no mention of the supposed feud; at the end of the episode, they seemed to still be on the same good terms that they have been.

Quote

Did they explain why Emem and Ikechi aren’t divorced yet? I always thought it was a fairly quick process. 

No and I wondered about that. I am surprised Emem didn't make it happen asap when she met Brandon. I thought the show took care of it as well but I'm guessing they have to divorce fairly soon after filming ends (i.e. the show isn't going to pay for a divorce like a year after the couple is done with the show). For whatever reason, I suppose Brandon and Emem didn't do whatever the show's process would be for a divorce? Ikechi sounds and acts like he has so much healing to do from his traumatic "marriage" to Emem but I don't see why. Anyway...

[atomic]

There was no drama between Juan and Karla on this episode because it was filmed in November and their falling out did not occur until last month. Pretty sure the business is just Juan's solo venture now (I sure hope he didn't print any branding materials with the "Juancho's Poncho's" grammatical error 😬).

Nobody from the show is officially divorced yet. From what I understand they are contractually obligated to wait until the end of the season before they can file so the divorces won't be public record before decision day airs. I didn't know that before, but it recently came to light when Juan made a misleading claim about Karla not granting him the divorce (turns out she simply told him to wait for the greenlight from production, and that future communication about this should go through her lawyer).

[VAMom]

Was that a keffiyeh Ick was wearing?  I really hate that man.  I’m super done with everyone on this show except maybe with Allen.  I hope he finds love and happiness.  I basically fast forwarded through most of the episode.  I was happy that Michelle acknowledged the way she behaved.

[Elizzikra]

Quote

From what I understand they are contractually obligated to wait until the end of the season before they can file so the divorces won't be public record before decision day airs. I didn't know that before, 

That makes so much sense!

[Chatty Cake]

12 hours ago, atomic said:

There was no drama between Juan and Karla on this episode because it was filmed in November and their falling out did not occur until last month. Pretty sure the business is just Juan's solo venture now (I sure hope he didn't print any branding materials with the "Juancho's Poncho's" grammatical error 😬).

Nobody from the show is officially divorced yet. From what I understand they are contractually obligated to wait until the end of the season before they can file so the divorces won't be public record before decision day airs. I didn't know that before, but it recently came to light when Juan made a misleading claim about Karla not granting him the divorce (turns out she simply told him to wait for the greenlight from production, and that future communication about this should go through her lawyer).

Thanks for the explanation, it makes sense. It makes the scene with Ikechi going to the attorney rather pointless. 
I wasn’t impressed by the whole vow ceremony either. I get that it’s scripted filler but couldn’t one of the ladies have gone dress shopping with Emem instead of Brandon? 
An engagement party would have made more sense than the ceremony.  
Allen did a drive by for the guys night and I don’t blame him. Juans furniture is so unappealing. 
Did Madison really tell her dad about David moving in with her for the first time on camera ? David should not look so pleased with himself. I know switching apartments isn’t always easy but it would have looked better for David if he had secured them a nicer place and then moved into it together. The comments his parents made about him moving stuff out and his dad saying his food was safe makes him sound like a man child. Exactly what Madison doesn’t like people calling him. 
When Karla asked for everyone’s intentions, my first thought was that my intention should be to quit watching these follow up shows.

 

[Jeanne222]

I think Michelle is seeing David through new eyes!  No longer basement Dave and crazy about Madison.  He has a new swag about himself.

Michelle sees David doing to Madison what he wrote in the famous text and wishes it were 'me'.

Madison recreated David.  He really does treat her like his queen.

Michelle can't believe the NEW David!

[Jeanne222]

Allen is always going to be Nerdy Allen.  He could never attract a woman like Madison in real life!

Why wait for a MAFS wife to remake you.

He seems to have a good job and some money.  Why didn't he get his teeth fixed?  Why the under shorts shouting NERD be his choice of attire on his wedding night.

This match between Madison and Allen was a real reach!

[Chatty Cake]

1 hour ago, Jeanne222 said:

I think Michelle is seeing David through new eyes!  No longer basement Dave and crazy about Madison.  He has a new swag about himself.

Michelle sees David doing to Madison what he wrote in the famous text and wishes it were 'me'.

Madison recreated David.  He really does treat her like his queen.

Michelle can't believe the NEW David!

I thought it was good that Michelle finally apologized but  I don’t think she is seeing him differently.  Hopefully Madison is good for David but I see a dude that went from living off his parents to living off his girlfriend. I’m curious to see if they last. 
 

 

54 minutes ago, Jeanne222 said:

Allen is always going to be Nerdy Allen.  He could never attract a woman like Madison in real life!

Why wait for a MAFS wife to remake you.

He seems to have a good job and some money.  Why didn't he get his teeth fixed?  Why the under shorts shouting NERD be his choice of attire on his wedding night.

This match between Madison and Allen was a real reach!

A nerd that has his own place, a good job, has a dog and loves to cook. Yes please!

[Giddyup]

2 hours ago, Jeanne222 said:

I think Michelle is seeing David through new eyes!  No longer basement Dave and crazy about Madison.  He has a new swag about himself.

Michelle sees David doing to Madison what he wrote in the famous text and wishes it were 'me'.

Madison recreated David.  He really does treat her like his queen.

Michelle can't believe the NEW David!

Madison loves that hunk of a man!

[Retired at last]

I am glad that Michelle recognized that her behavior and attitude were horrible. But, that doesn't change the fact that she never was or will be attracted to him. He is different now - he is HAPPY. Michelle would never make him happy. 

Madison telling her father for the first time about David moving in was as real as her telling David that she had feelings for him for the first time on camera. It doesn't work that way and both conversations were staged.