Married at First Sight star Derek Sherman admits it was frustrating Katie Conrad seemed unwilling to support his dreams while they were filming Season 10.
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During the March 25 episode of Married at First Sight: Unfiltered, a Season 10 clip aired of Derek and Katie arguing over his "unrealistic" dreams -- which included composing a Christmas song, building giant tree houses that connect, and going on eight backpacking trips across different countries and continents.
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"I feel your dreams to you are more than this marriage," Katie shouted in the clip. "You clearly don't have any f-cking idea what you want, so I'm done having this conversation."
When asked what it felt like to watch that clip back, Derek replied on Unfiltered, "It's definitely frustrating to say the least."
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"I just don't want her to say 'no' before it even happens, before I even attempt to do these things," Derek continued. "And it's just that unwillingness to even be supportive of it is the thing that's hardest for me."
Derek, however, didn't place all the blame on Katie for their explosive fight that night.
"I think the biggest thing I failed to do on my part was stress the fact that family is the No. 1 priority for me. These are all things I'd like to do if I have extra time," Derek said.
Married at First Sight expert Dr. Viviana Coles and Season 10 bride Taylor Dunklin joined Derek on the Unfiltered broadcast and offered their perspectives on Derek's dreams and Katie's issue with them.
"I don't think that there's anything wrong with you having aspirations," Taylor noted.
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"I just think that she's concerned about stability and being real, and you are a dreamer and you have these things. I just don't think you guys are on the same level at that point. You guys are two different thinkers."
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But Viviana admitted she believes Katie was "rational for having those concerns."
"She wants you to match her priority list," Viviana reasoned of Katie, "but she's coming down so hard on him that it puts him on the defensive. Like, she's making it seem like he has to pick one or the other."
Derek agreed with Viviana and felt Katie could have addressed the problem in a different, less-confrontational manner.
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"I understand the message Katie is trying to get across, but it does feel like she's kind of giving me this ultimatum. I don't want to be in this position where I feel like it's either one or the other," Derek explained.
On "Recommitment Day," Katie and Derek chose to stay together and work on their marriage.
Viviana advised Katie to "fake it until you make it" and at least pretend to support Derek's wild dreams because spouses should be each other's No. 1 fan. And Pastor Calvin Roberson asked Derek to embrace the great things he already had in his life and prove to Katie that she's his first priority.
Viviana told Katie she should want a fun relationship and she and Derek could have an excellent balance in their marriage given Katie is more of a grounded individual.
When the pair reunited, Katie apologized for shutting down on Derek and explained she was just worried a life with her wouldn't be enough for him.
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"I'll always be chasing an adventure, but to me, the greatest adventure is what we're doing," Derek told his wife. "And that adventure doesn't end."
Katie promised to be more encouraging going forward and added, "I won't make fun of your Christmas song. I'll do the cowbell."
In the latest episode, Derek and Katie's repaired relationship hit more turbulence when Katie discovered an intense and meaningful love poem Derek had written for a girl in high school as well as a momento from a special date Derek had once planned for a girl.
Katie found out Derek had once snuck a girl into a circus to pet elephants, and Katie became jealous and insecure. She wanted Derek to feel such lust, passion and love for her, and she was upset he wasn't planning her such exciting dates.
Derek acknowledged it was an awkward position for him to be in, but he still had hope he'd grow in love with Katie.
Married at First Sight, which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Taylor's husband Brandon Reid, Mindy Shiben, Zach Justice, Austin Hurd, Jessica Studer, Meka Jones, and Michael Watson.
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