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The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On season 3 debuted on Netflix on December 4, 2024, and continued the exploration of commitment, relationships, and difficult decisions. However, unlike the two previous seasons, the third season saw several unexpected twists, including the early departure of two couples.
The season became a talking point for all fans and viewers after the couples, Chanel Micah, and Dave and Vanessa left the experiment early. The creator of the show, Chris Coelen, reflected on the exits and said that there was "no way" the creators could have predicted the departure.
"There's no way to be able to tell that...That's life, things happen," Coelen said.
The unpredictable nature of The Ultimatum: Chris Coelen reflects on early exits in Season 3
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On season three is currently airing on Netflix and episode five saw two couples departing the experiment. Four episodes into the season, the couples left the show, surprising both viewers and producers as they had reportedly given no prior notice. The four people who left were Chanel, Micah, Dave, and Vanessa.
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According to the show's creator, Chris Coelen, the departure was rather unexpected, he told People Magazine on December 4, 2024.
"You never know what's going to happen, and that's certainly proved to be true this season," Chris added.
The couples' exit was documented with a title card that informed viewers of their secret meeting earlier in the day, followed by the sudden departure. The remaining participants, Nick and Mariah, expressed disappointment at the abrupt departures of their trial marriage partners. This led to a shift in the dynamic of the other contestants on The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On.
Coelen acknowledged that such exits may disrupt the storyline, but they also add to the authentic portrayal of real-life relationships, where things don't always ggo as planned.
Reactions and support for the participants
Despite the unexpected exits on The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, Coelen emphasized that the production team remained supportive of the participants' decisions.
"We are always supportive of people's choices. For me, it's just documenting what happens inside of the experience," Coelen stated.
He explained that the departure affected the remaining participants, especially Nick and Mariah, who were left without their original trial partners. However, he noted that the production team's role was to capture and follow the journey of the participants without interfering with their personal choices.
In response to whether the production team had attempted to convince the departing couples to stay, Coelen clarified that no such persuasion occurred. He reached out to all the participants but respected their decision to leave, acknowledging that their reasons for doing so were personal and not fully clear at the time.
"I did speak to Dave, Vanessa, and Chanel and just [asked], 'What are you thinking? What are you doing?' It was clear that they did not want to participate in the experience, and they wanted to leave," he explained.
The Aftermath: How the departures shaped the season
The exit of the two couples left a gap in The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, raising the question of whether their absence impacted the overall narrative and emotional journey of the season. Coelen refrained from speculating on how the season might have been different if they had stayed, emphasizing that such outcomes are impossible to predict.
"I think that it was what it was meant to be, and there's no telling what would have happened or whether things would have turned out differently if they had stayed," he said.
Coelen also noted the dynamics would have shifted for both the departing couples and those who stayed. He said that it would have been a different experience for the couples who left as well as for Nick and Mariah. He added that it would have also "affected Sandy in a way," as there would have been different dynamics at play.
Coelen's reflections suggest that the unpredictability of human decisions is an integral part of what makes The Ultimatum both captivating and relatable. The unpredictability extends beyond the participants’ choices, as the production team does not try to control outcomes. He added that as storytellers, they just "really commit[ed]" to following the stories, wherever they go.
The first five episodes of season 3 of The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On are currently available for streaming on Netflix. The next set of episodes will be released every Wednesday until December 18, 2024.
