"I feel confident" — The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On star Mariah on giving Caleb an ultimatum

The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On premiered its third season on December 4, 2024, featuring six couples at a crossroads in their relationships. United by a desire to escape relationship uncertainty, they must decide whether to commit to marriage or part ways.

To help them through this difficult decision, each participant would temporarily separate from their partner and enter a trial marriage with a new person. The six participating couples are Zaina and J.R., Nick and Sandy, Mariah and Caleb, Scotty and Aria, Chanel and Micah, and Vanessa and Dave.

In episode 1 of The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, host Vanessa Lachey sat down with one of the contestants, Mariah, who has given her partner Caleb an ultimatum. Mariah, 24, asserted that despite her youth, she had world experiences and knew what she wanted.

With her career thriving and emotional and mental well-being in check, Mariah believed she had clarity on her desires. She confessed that she wanted marriage and kids in the near future. Caleb expressed understanding of Mariah's desire for marriage, but admitted to feeling rushed, citing their age difference and encouraging Mariah to enjoy life.

Mariah responded that after two years together, Caleb's lingering hesitancy made her feel like she was wasting her time. When asked if she was willing to end the relationship if they couldn't align on the topic of marriage, Mariah confidently affirmed that she was prepared to make that decision, prioritizing her own needs and desires.

"I love Caleb, but at the end of this, if I have to make that decision, I feel confident I'm making the right decision," stated Mariah.

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How did Mariah and Caleb's journey panned out in the first five episodes of The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On?

Caleb formed a strong bond with Aria, drawn to her self-sufficiency and impressive career ambitions. Their heartfelt conversation about shared insecurities, including financial concerns and commitment issues, revealed a deep compatibility between them. Aria's calm and composed nature seemingly made her an ideal choice as Caleb's trial wife.

Meanwhile, Mariah struggled to navigate the dating process, becoming emotional when she saw Caleb connecting with other women. However, Micah's empathetic nature helped soothe her, and she opened up about her challenging upbringing by a single mother. Mariah ultimately chose Micah as her trial husband, believing they could learn valuable lessons from each other.

Mariah's trial marriage with Micah came to an abrupt end when he ghosted her just three days in, even taking back a book he had lent her on The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On. Mariah was left feeling disappointed, citing Micah's lack of effort in their partnership.

“It didn’t feel like there was really any effort to apply himself,” stated Mariah.

Without a partner, Mariah continued alone on The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, although she found some support in Nick, who was also navigating the experience alone. Meanwhile, Caleb sympathized with Mariah's situation but pressed on with his connection with Aria.

As they deepened their emotional bond, their initially platonic feelings evolved into something more. After initiating physical contact, Caleb and Aria's connection became more intense. Furthermore, Caleb found himself torn, having developed unexpected feelings for Aria.

Aria's emotions were tested when she saw her ex with Zaina, but she was soon torn between her physical attraction to J.R. and her deepening emotional connection with Caleb on The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.

Initially, Aria and Caleb's trial marriage was a platonic experiment as they wanted to discover themselves. However, Aria revealed that she felt drawn to Caleb's intellect, personality, and values, and felt an unprecedented level of comfort with him despite their short time together by the end of episode 5.

“I am definitely attracted to Caleb’s mind, soul, and spirit. I have never felt so comfortable before with someone within such a short amount of time,” revealed Aria.

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The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On episodes will be released in three batches with the first five episodes currently available to stream on Netflix.