MAFS 2025 Episode 8 Recap: Ashleigh is horrified as Jake shares the most shocking Photo Ranking ever and Adrian is caught in a lie
We're halfway through Confessions Week and for some, this relationship crash course is doing wonders.
Seriously, we have seen so many Carina and Paul kisses you'd think we were already at Final Vows!
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But for others... well, it's been tough. Mostly because they've still not learned the trick to the Photo Ranking Challenge is just to rank your partner first, no matter what.
Maybe next year?
This year also brings a new task, the Ex Files, where the participants have to dish all about their past relationships.
Jamie and Dave breeze through, but Awhina and Adrian... do not.
"Have you ever cheated on a past partner?" one of the questions asks.
Awhina admits to kissing a stranger in a bar in her early 20s. She says she told her ex straight away and they moved past it.
Adrian says there's no excuse for cheating and thinks her explaining the situation is her trying not to take accountability for her actions.
Of course, he then insists he's never cheated on anyone. But then a producer comes with receipts.
"What if I say I've seen your application?" she asks him.
Oops. Nine
EXCLUSIVE: The MAFS 2025 stars spill their honest views on cheating: 'It depends'
You see, he hasn't cheated on anyone. He's just maybe hooked up with someone else while "somewhat" still also seeing an ex. Semantics!
Down the hall, Rhi is ready to take a risk with her Confessions Letter.
She admits to Jeff that when she realised on their wedding day that she knew him, she felt "robbed" of the true MAFS experience.
But after spending so much time together, she can see them having a future.
"P.S, you need to make the first move," she laughs.
She's ready to take off their platonic friendship pants, both physically and metaphorically.
Confessions Week has been a game of tit for tat between Jacqui and Ryan so far, but maybe their letters can help them get back on the same team?
EXCLUSIVE: Ryan admits he was 'insensitive' after Photo Ranking task leaves wife Jacqui 'bawling her eyes out'
.....OK, maybe not. Jacqui's 'confession' is that she's rates herself really highly and I don't think there is a person in the country who does not already know that.
"When I'm dating, I usually go for very intelligent, highly-educated men, investment bankers, software developers, and I'm a huge asset to someone like that," she brags.
"I need my partner to equally be an asset to my goals in life," she says, adding that she has a business that makes her money while she sleeps.
But she also won't rest until she's made $500 million.
So, is she sleeping enough or not? I'm confused.
I think Ryan is also confused. Nine
Regardless, Ryan hates it.
"I was really curious to hear more about you as a woman... you gave me a resume," he says.
But does he also want to make $500m in his sleep or not?! Nine
She says his communication is toxic and he is VERY offended by this.
"Jacqui, you're not making any sense," he replies, leaving the room before we even get to hear what kind of wise warrior musings he's written in his letter.
Tony is struggling with the opposite problem as he and Morena take on the Ex Files.
As he explains the most romantic thing his ex did for him, Morena steamrolls the conversation a little. Okay, a lot.
"I don't know how that feels like Tony, but I will, I'm in the queue," she says.
"Morena's not listening to me at all," he complains.
Awhina and Adrian's final task is the Confessions Letter, which Awhina has put a lot of thought into.
But when it comes time to exchange them, Adrian reveals he didn't write one.
"The moments I feel like changed me, I don't want to share with anyone," he defends.
She's offended that he isn't willing to be open with her and suspicious of why. And now he doesn't get to hear her vulnerability either.
The next morning, Jacqui has decided to offer an olive branch to Ryan in the form of a self-help book on couple's finance.
"I do like fantasy novels," he replies.
That went well, then.
He loooooves it. Nine
OK, now it's time to get back to business... and by that, I mean it's Photo Ranking time, baby! Who is going to royally strew up the rather simple task today?
Sierah passes with flying colours, but is worried that watching Billy rank the brides will bring out some old insecurities about her appearance.
Then, like a silly accented hero, he says he's not going to rank them. Sierah is "number one and number one for a reason".
EXCLUSIVE: Watch Evelyn and Duncan's explosive reactions to the first Dinner Party
It's wholesome, just like Ashleigh and Jake's relationship has been so far.
But now the Photo Ranking is here to crush that wholesomeness like a bug.
"I'll just try to be as honest and truthful as possible here," Jake says, which we have come to learn is never a good sign in this task.
"I'm not vibing Jacqui, maybe [it's] the crazy eyes, I don't know," he says, as he lays Jacqui's photo second to the bottom.
Oh no. Nine
At this point, there is a metaphorical shovel in Jake's hand and he is digging furiously.
"Sierah... kind of like an intimidating look that she has to her, like her face screams 'I could stab you in your sleep'," he continues.
YUP.
HE'S DIGGING A VERY, VERY BIG HOLE.
The AUDACITY. Nine
His comments continue to horrify not only his wife, but every single viewer.
In a completely shocking moment, he says of Awhina: "Not gonna sound like... not racist or nothing, but I do like Caucasian people mainly, mostly."
He then claims one bride "might have a lazy eye" and places Carina, who is "conventionally pretty" top of his list, "but she knows it, let's be real".
HE JUST WON'T STOP TALKING. Nine
At this point, he's dug right through the earth's crust and is about to be swallowed by molten rock.
Ashleigh is absolutely disgusted.
"How dare you say these unhinged things about these gorgeous women?" she reacts. "It can be honest without being hurtful and nasty."
After all that, he still needs to place Ashleigh. Where will she fall amongst 'crazy eyes' and 'stabby stabby'?
Ah, right in-between Awhina and Sierah.
When she calls him out on his comments, Jake insists it was all "just a joke".
"That really pissed me off. I'm not a naturally vicious person and you're making it out to me like I am. I don't need that s--t," he says.
He storms out of the room, declaring he's "done".
While their relationship implodes, Jamie and Dave's has hit an exciting milestone.
Firstly, Dave came out completely unscathed as they watched Jamie list all 7000 items on her red flag list during her audition tape.
Secondly, Dave is too shy to open up about it, but Jamie makes things clear: "It is what they say, you are the same height laying down."
Gotcha!
She is waking up feeling like "dopamine is shooting out of [her] arse," which is quite a statement.
Elsewhere, Ashleigh is waking up with a sliiiightly different feeling.
Last night, she had a few drinks and went knocking on other Sierah and Billy's door, where she then off-loaded about Jake's degrading Photo Ranking Challenge comments.
This is what you see when you look up hangxiety in the dictionary. Nine
Sierah tells Billy about Jake's derogatory comments, including that she has a face that screams "I could stab you in your sleep".
"How are you going to be saying that? How? You look like Jeffrey Dahmer, mate," Billy reacts.
He vows to confront Jake over his comments at Sunday's Commitment Ceremony.
Oh boy.
Tune in then, where the couples will sit down in the front of the experts for the first time.
For some, it's bound to be a lovefest and for others... well, that's going to be one hell of a hot seat.
You're not going to want to miss this!
Married At First Sight continues Monday through Wednesday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now
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