'Married at First Sight' recap: Brennan "steps it up," Chloe struggles with attraction, and Becca breaks down

Married at First Sight featured an injured Emily and Brennan bonding in the hospital after her ATV accident, Chloe struggling with her physical attraction to Michael due to his feminine style, and Becca breaking down over feeling "disconnected" from Austin during the Season 17 episode that aired Wednesday night on Lifetime.


Married at First Sight's seventeenth season was filmed in Denver, CO, and stars Emily and Brennan, Clare and Cameron, Austin and Becca, and now Michael and Chloe.

RELATED: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS RE-MARRIED? (PHOTOS)

Orion and Lauren already chose to divorce, but they continue to appear on the season every now and then.

Married at First Sight features strangers meeting at the wedding altar, enjoying a honeymoon, and spending about two months moving in together and navigating the joys and struggles of daily life together.


And at the end of the experiment, Married at First Sight's Season 17 couples will reach "Decision Day" and have to decide whether to remain married or decide to end their marriages and divorce.

The couples were matched by Married at First Sight experts Dr. Pia, Pastor Calvin Roberson, and Dr. Pepper Schwartz.

The Married at First Sight broadcast began with Brennan by Emily's side in the hospital. Emily had not suffered a concussion from the ATV accident, but she had a large open wound across her forward and into her scalp that needed stitches.

A tree branch apparently went underneath Emily's helmet when she ran into a tree.

Brennan called his Married at First Sight co-stars at the couples' retreat to inform them of the gash in Emily's head and that she was hanging in there, and everyone was shocked about the news.


Emily and Brennan were shown holding hands and bonding in the hospital, and Brennan called his wife a "warrior." Brennan seemed impressed by his wife's positivity and how well she handled the pain.

"She got quite the gash. Her head is split open about four-and-a-half inches from her forehead all the way to her scalp. So she's ultimately going to need plastic surgery, but she's going to be okay, which is a huge sigh of relief for me," Brennan explained in a confessional.

"The fact that we were able to overcome it together shows the type of bond that we do have and who we are as people and why I think we're meant to be in each other's lives."

Meanwhile, Michael and Chloe were shown packing for the couples' retreat five days into their arranged marriage, and Chloe was a little taken aback -- and apparently turned off -- by the fact Michael was wearing a skirt.

"I'm hoping the more I get to know Michael for who he is, these fashion choices become less of a concern," Chloe told the Married at First Sight cameras.


At the couples' retreat, Becca was struggling with a stomach bug. Austin was shown taking care of her in bed, and he said the situation sucked because they had been hoping to put more effort into their physical connection that night.

"I hope we can grow our intimacy when she feels better," Austin noted.

Michael and Chloe then got to know Lauren, Orion, Austin, and Clare better at the couples' retreat when they got to chat over dinner prepared by a personal chef. Emily and Brennan obviously weren't there, and Becca couldn't participate in the fun due to feeling sick.

RELATED: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)

Orion shared with the group how he felt a lot of tension with Lauren and was hoping they could find some peace of mind or common ground. But Lauren claimed Orion was different off-camera in that he never reached out to her or gave her any indication that he'd like to have a conversation with her.


"It doesn't seem authentic. It doesn't seem real. It's just frustrating," Lauren vented to the Married at First Sight cameras.

Later that night, the cast made some silly confessions to each other, such as the fact Austin once open-mouth kissed a donkey and Chloe once attended a party thrown by 'NSYNC.

Orion also attempted to build a bridge with Lauren, in private, because he was "missing [their] connection."

Lauren explained how it wasn't fair of Orion to want to team up and be partners in their divorce when she didn't get that type of partnership in their marriage, or when Orion had solely decided that he wanted a divorce.

Lauren told Orion how he could've texted or called her off-camera, and that it seemed he only wanted to put her on the spot in front of the other Married at First Sight couples, which didn't feel like genuine outreach to her.


Orion apologized to Lauren for how he had treated her, but he explained how he was afraid to talk to her because sometimes things went "south" during their conversations.

"I'm at a point where it's a battle of heart vs. head. Head is, 'What am I getting out of this? Why do I need to do this? This is bullsh-t.' My heart is like, 'You still care. You still want to have some type of clarity. You still want to have progress.' I feel a state of confusion," Lauren shared.

Orion insisted that although his past actions didn't prove he wanted an amicable or friendly relationship with her, he really wanted to write a new narrative for their dynamic.

Lauren said she was going to do what felt right and best for her once the Married at First Sight cameras turned off.

Emily and Brennan then returned to the couples' retreat after Emily had about 15 stitches, and Emily was smiling and in good spirits. While their marriage had been "bumpy," Brennan said he cared about Emily a lot and her reaction to the injury spoke volumes about her character.

"I know I need to step up and be there for her, so I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she has a speedy and healthy recovery," Brennan told the Married at First Sight cameras.


With 13 days to go until Decision Day, Becca was still sick and she had asked Austin to sleep in a different bed.

When Chloe got some time alone with Lauren, Emily and Clare, she revealed, "When it comes to the sexual attraction, having that flare and fashion-forward personality has been hard for me."

Emily shared with the girls how Brennan had been "amazing" after her accident and she wouldn't have wanted anyone else there with her. And Brennan told the guys how he was trying to give his marriage the best shot he could while being understanding and empathetic.

RELATED: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS) 

That day, the Married at First Sight cast -- except for Emily and Becca, who were both still in recovery -- participated in a yoga session that would hopefully help with their communication and compassion in relationships.

After the yoga session, Lauren found herself in "a different headspace and a different heartspace," and she told Orion that she was open to being open to him.


Lauren explained how she has meaningful friendships in her life and she really value those friendships -- but she wasn't there with him yet. Lauren wondered where Orion had been for the past three weeks.

Lauren therefore suggested to Orion that she could take control and check in with him when -- or if -- she desired talking to him. Orion seemed happy with that solution, like he'd take whatever he could get from his estranged spouse.

Later on, the cast went to a place called Ninjanation, where they tested out their athletic skills and had fun with a few different obstacle courses.

Everyone struggled to complete the obstacles courses except for Michael, who certainly was crowned the Ninja of the day.

"Wow! My husband is crushing it. I am super turned on by Michael right now," Chloe gushed to the Married at First Sight cameras.

"I am loving watching my husband absolutely dominate this obstacle course. He is a man who definitely leans into his feminine side, but when watching him kick ass, it's a total turnon!"


After the fun outing, Brennan announced to the group how his relationship with Emily had gotten stronger, and Emily said she was excited to go home and have another full week with her husband now that their relationship was in a good place.

Austin also declared how he needed to "up [his] romance game," and Becca flashed a big smile in agreeance with her Married at First Sight husband.

That night, Michael took a bubble bath to relax his muscles, and Chloe came into the bathroom and talked to him while he soaked. Michael said he was surprised by some of the challenges the other couples were going through, and Chloe felt the same way.

Chloe said, compared to the other couples, she and Michael had excellent communication.

Meanwhile, Austin and Becca curled up with each other in front of a fire.

Becca recalled how their first night together at the couples' retreat was disappointing for her and had started off on a really poor note. With that being said, Becca started to cry in Austin's arms.


"It wasn't just couples' retreat. It was leading up to couples' retreat. I've just been waiting [to have sex] and there was a buildup to this weekend where I got really excited... and I just keep waiting," Becca lamented to her Married at First Sight husband.

"It doesn't feel good to have to beg to be wanted," she added.

Austin said he wanted to make things better but rehashing that conversation repeatedly didn't help matters.

Becca wished she had more clarity, and Austin noted how they had progressed a lot, in his mind.

"I think we've made out a lot," Becca shared.

"I don't think intimacy is just physical, but you're right, it should be going further and more often," Austin acknowledged.


"This is a conversation we have repeatedly, and it's always left with a promise of, 'I will do better. I promise I desire you.' And what happens is nothing," Becca explained.

"Do you think this is going well, this conversation?" Austin asked her Married at First Sight husband.

"I just want you to want me, and that hasn't really happened yet," Becca said.

"Well, I do, and I thought you believed me," Austin vented.

"I do WANT to believe you," Becca said.

"I was hoping tonight would end on a good note... but it's not happening," Austin concluded.


With 12 days to go until Decision Day, Becca said she was feeling "sad" and "disconnected" from Austin as they packed up their bags to leave the Married at First Sight couples' retreat.

Becca said it hurt her feelings that Austin didn't want to snuggle the previous night, and Austin explained how rehashing the same issue over and over again put him into a negative mindset.

"It keeps reopening a fresh wound, in my opinion," Austin shared.

Becca admitted she just felt "nervous" for their marriage, and Austin acknowledged how he didn't feel any type of way towards her. Austin hugged his wife, but she was clearly feeling insecure and wanted more from her husband.

Austin told the Married at First Sight cameras that he regretted his behavior on the first night of the couples' retreat but he hoped they could fix that and move forward.

Since the retreat didn't go well, Austin attempted to make up for his mistakes by taking Becca to a sanctuary where wolves were housed and bred. The couple had a nice time with the wolves, and Becca seemed to really enjoy herself.


Becca hoped to get out of her head because she wanted her marriage to last and to be with Austin forever.

RELATED: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS RE-MARRIED? (PHOTOS)

Interested in more Married at First Sight news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our Married at First Sight newspage!

And click here for more updates on former Married at First Sight cast members and info on where they are now!







About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski