'Married at First Sight' recap: Briana questions future with Vincent, Virginia is unsure of final decision, Clara fears Ryan will break her heart, and Jacob considers staying married

Married at First Sight featured Briana Myles questioning her future with Vincent Morales after he admitted he didn't want a bossy wife, Erik Lake revealing he definitely wanted to stay married to Virginia Coombs while she was unsure, Clara Berghaus worrying Ryan Oubre might break her heart, and Jacob Harder considering a long-term marriage to Haley Harris during the Season 12 episode that aired Wednesday night on Lifetime. 


At this point in Season 12, four of the five Married at First Sight couples had less than a week to go before "Decision Day."

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The four couples were Haley and Jacob, Erik and Virginia, Briana and Vincent, and Clara and Ryan.

Chris Williams and Paige Banks had decided to split shortly before their one-month anniversary, and so no footage was shown of the former couple in the latest episode.


All of the couples were matched for matrimony by the show's experts Pastor Calvin Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz, and Dr. Viviana Coles.

Married at First Sight  Season 12 Episode 16

Jacob left the retreat early in the morning without saying goodbye to Haley and so she had no idea what was going on. Jacob said he wanted to get back to their dogs because they would go 16 hours without going out, which Haley understood, but she wished he had communicated better with her.

Erik could feel Virginia holding back and wished they were in a better place, but Clara said she and Ryan seemed "meant to be" and she couldn't imagine making a marriage work with someone else.

Clara, however, was still waiting for Ryan to say, "I love you." Clara was even going to bed early and Ryan joked he was turning his wife into an old soul just like himself.

Vincent predicted Haley and Jacob might surprise them on Decision Day, but Briana said a couple should never force a connection.


Briana then brought up how Vincent is unorganized and that bothered her a little bit. Vincent disagreed and said he can't be "100 percent perfect" and had told the experts he didn't want to be matched with a person who is "assertive and direct."

Vincent admitted hearing Briana is bossy on their wedding day "really turned [him] off."

Briana said hearing that was "off-putting" and something a spouse never wants to hear.

With five days to go until "Decision Day," the couples turned to their family and friends for any last words of advice or support.

Ryan told his friend that Clara was great at expressing her feelings and emotions but he sometimes didn't want to have such deep conversation.


Ryan said he hoped they could work on goal-setting together and aligning their future plans. Ryan was apparently still wondering what pushes and inspires Clara.

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Briana spoke to her mother Nedra and confessed she was nervous and no longer totally sure of herself and her marriage. Briana revealed how Vincent had taken offense to her saying he's unorganized and easily got embarrassed.

Briana explained Vincent tended to take things out of context, and Nedra worried about Vincent may not be a good communicator.

Briana admitted "what ifs" were popping in her mind because she couldn't -- and wasn't willing -- to change herself for anybody, including how she's a strong woman with opinions and leadership skills.


Clara told her friend Vicky that her marriage was a 10 out of 10 and she had no complaints, but she had yet to have sex with Ryan and hear him express love. Clara was sure Ryan would want to stay married to her, and she seemingly had no desire to leave the relationship.

Haley shared how her marriage had been an emotional roller coaster filled with fun times and arguments that made her want to run.

Haley acknowledged she was "confused" and there were red flags with Jacob -- including him being a single 38 year old and the fact she didn't understand his humor.

But Haley pointed out Jacob is a good, loyal guy and dog dad. She said they just didn't understand each other.

Haley thought there was still time to pull Jacob out of his shell and for things to change for the better.


With four days remaining until "Decision Day," Erik gushed to his friend Jim how he felt super lucky to be with Virginia and he could see themselves being together for the long haul.

But Erik noted about they had issues to work through and resolve. Erik intended to remain patient with Virginia and admitted his passion in conversation sometimes didn't come out politely or correctly.

"I want to continue this. It's what I want to do and I can see that with her. It's just I'm not her No. 1 person right now. I'm pretty sure I'm not even her best friend right now," Erik lamented, adding that he didn't want to get blindsided at the end of the experiment.

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The following day, Vincent gushed about how he and Briana joked around all day and had fun together. Vincent said he and Briana hit bumps along the way and he always clashed with bossy people.

Virginia then invited her brother-like friend Aaron over her apartment for a chat. Virginia said she was struggling with personal space and both she and Erik are emotional people.


"It's hard for me to keep seeing the light," Virginia told her friend, explaining that she and Erik were in a circle of fighting and making up.

Virginia also admitted she didn’t want to move into Erik's "bachelor pad."

"I do love him and I think he's an amazing guy but it's been a lot... My anxiety is at an all-time high because it's been a lot more than I expected," Virginia said.

About 48 hours before "Decision Day," each couple went on a date.

Clara told Ryan she felt like they were two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly together, and Ryan said they were uniquely bound in this shared experience and would have a connection "no matter what happens."

Clara got emotional and asked Ryan if they could talk about "Decision Day" in a more positive light.


While out for dinner, Briana acknowledged she and Vincent were no longer protecting each other's feelings.

Briana said she noticed Vincent's demeanor had changed when she brought up being unorganized, ad Vincent admitted that when he's overwhelmed, he can shut down and cop an attitude and become a little nasty.

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Vincent explained he didn't like feeling judged and it's hard for him to ask others for help.

Briana told Vincent that she wanted him to come to her with anything and not hold back. Briana also shared how it bothered her when Vincent called a "bossy" woman "a turnoff."

"It made me sad because I never want to be a turnoff to you," Briana explained.


"That was the toughest moment for me throughout this entire process, just knowing one of my characteristics -- that's really hard to change, and I honestly don't see it changing -- and I don't think that bossy is bad."

Vincent clarified how relationships with bossy women in the past didn't work out for him but he could tell that Briana was working on it.

Briana told the cameras she'll always say things that are on her mind that she means.

"He needs to accept me for who I am, because otherwise, it's not going to work out in the end," Briana said in a confessional.

"I think our decision to stay together means a lot more than the decision to come together... I just hope I make the right decision for myself."

Meanwhile, Haley and Jacob were shown going out for their last dinner before "Decision Day."


Haley said the process had been intense, and Jacob couldn't really grasp how he was feeling in the moment.

Jacob said he had no idea what was going to happen and nobody wants to get divorced. Jacob said he was nervous about "Decision Day" and would make his decision based on a gut feeling.

Erik told the cameras he definitely wanted to continue his marriage and working on it, but he wasn't convinced they were on the same page.

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Erik broke down during a dinner with Virginia because he gushed about her being wonderful and not wanting to lose her. Erik complimented her bright smile and how she makes him feel great, but Virginia still worried about the pair not finding common ground on certain topics.

"There are these issues that keep coming up, so there's a lot to think about in the next couple of days," Virginia said.


Erik explained that he just didn't want to be disrespected and hoped Virginia could be honest with him. Virginia said they should probably sit down and specify what respect actually means to each spouse, but Erik explained it's all about caring for the person you love and his or her feelings.

"I've never loved someone so quickly in my life, and I wouldn't have wanted anyone else than you," Erik shared, adding that he believed Virginia is his soul mate.

Virginia, however, noted she believes in "fate" and not soul mates and wasn't sure people only have one soul mate.

The couples then spent their last night together before "Decision Day," and Ryan was trying to think through the scenario as objectively as possible although he liked many qualities about his wife, including that she's bold, supportive, caring and nonjudgmental.

Before bed, Vincent surprised Briana by cutting off one of her braids. He thought Briana was ready to take her hair down, but she said that was too early and she wasn't ready. Vincent realized that was a pretty dumb move.

As for Haley and Jacob, it seemed Jacob was considering staying with Haley long-term.


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"I wanted somebody who was independent and strong-willed, so she is all of those things," Jacob shared in a confessional.

"I think she's a good person and I think she went into this for the right reasons, so maybe we need to give things more time and we could potentially develop something good from here."

Erik also told the cameras that Virginia brought "color and life" to his life and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. On the move-in situation, Erik asked her to stay at his place after her lease while he looks for a new home for the both of them.

Erik said it might take a little time but he planned to do what she wanted and start fresh in a new place together.

Virginia said Erik did a great job of telling her how he felt but she still didn't know how "Decision Day" was going to go. Virginia apparently felt more anxiety and stress than ever and was still contemplating what she wanted to do with Erik.


The day before "Decision Day," the couples had to part ways and spend some time alone. Briana knew she had to put herself first even though she didn't want to hurt Vincent's feelings, and when Vincent left their apartment, he said, "It was nice knowing you!"

"Okay? Thank you for that? I don't really know where to go from here," Briana lamented.

Clara revealed she was 100 percent certain about her decision because Ryan is everything she was looking for in a husband and life partner. She said best case scenario, they'd grow together, start a family and live happily ever after.

Clara admitted she was scared to get her heart broken and hoped Ryan reciprocated her strong feelings.

And Jacob told the cameras a divorce would be "daunting" and so he'd prefer to just work things out with Haley. Haley recognized her final decision was a huge decision that would probably change her life.

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski