Married at First Sight star Zack is apparently standing firm in his position that he believes Michaela's bad temper is a "character trait" and she may not be able to change how she reacts dramatically to disagreements.
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As shown on Married at First Sight's thirteenth season, Zack hoped to be matched with a woman who can handle conflict calmly and rationally and be able to talk things out since multiple relationships with hot-headed partners had ended badly for Zack in the past.
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Therefore, when Zack and Michaela had their first fight and Michaela reacted with anger by packing up her bags and leaving their apartment, Zack was hit with the realization his marriage may also not work out.
Michaela also made matters worse when she threatened to cancel the couple's housewarming party Zack had been looking forward to after their argument.
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During Wednesday night's episode of Married at First Sight: Unfiltered, Zack watched back a Season 13 clip of a sit-down conversation he had with Michaela and Married at First Sight expert Dr. Viviana Coles about the married couple's first explosive fight.
"These are not mess-ups to me," Zack says, referring to how Michaela had flipped out and arguably overreacted to Zack leaving the house one morning to run errands without touching base with her first.
"But it is wrong! It is wrong," Viviana says of Michaela's outburst in the clip.
"Thank you!" Michaela yells in reply. "He keeps trying to say, 'It's not wrong, it's not a mistake.'"
Viviana interjects, "I can tell you it's wrong!"
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"And I can say it's wrong because I apologized for it!" Michaela recalls emphatically and with urgency.
"I think it is a fundamental character trait," Zack explains of the real issue in his mind.
"You think it's fundamentally me!" Michaela says of how she handled conflict that one time. "You think it's me and that I can never learn from it!"
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As Michaela appeared frustrated, Viviana reasons with Zack, "You believe that she is the knee-jerk reaction."
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Unfiltered host Jamie Otis -- who starred on Season 1 of Married at First Sight and is still married to her match, Doug Hehner -- told Zack, "I feel like Michaela has a point there."
"Mhmm," Zack muttered.
When asked what it was like watching that footage back, Zack explained, "I hate saying this but we just met. If you do something constantly in a short amount of time, I'm going to assume this is how you act!"
Zack also pointed out the irony of Michaela claiming her overreaction is not indicative of who she is as person considering what her reputation was when the pair got married.
"It's funny because her family has brought up how they call her 'Hurricane Kay,' how she's had this personality since 16 years old!" Zack shared.
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"And now I'm being scolded because I'm saying, 'I think this is maybe who you are.' [Michaela] says, 'No it's not,' but then your family tells you this is who you are!"
Jamie pointed out how Michaela and Viviana seemed to be asking Zack to give Michaela a chance to change.
"And I feel like I am doing that because we're sitting down having a conversation," insisted Zack, who admitted on the show Michaela's actions in the past had "scarred" him.
"[But] I do think she can change -- if she wants to change."
Zack's Married at First Sight co-stars Jose and Ryan joined him on Unfiltered, and Ryan offered his perspective on the problems Zack and Michaela were having three weeks into their marriage.
"Thankfully, we still have a good portion of time left where [Zack] is going to see if that is absolutely how she handles all conflict or if that was just a blip," Ryan explained.
"If that is who she is, we'll see it!"
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Jamie proceeded to ask Zack how he thinks he could get past this hurdle in his relationship with Michaela.
"I think we can get past this if we have arguments that are civil, arguments that help us grow -- not arguments that tear us apart," Zack said.
"If we can have that, then I'm very hopefully for us. I really am. Because I really want this to work out, I really do."
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Jamie noted it's "amazing" Zack planned to give Michaela a chance to change since his wife seemed desperate for an opportunity to show she can be different and better.
Michaela has said on Married at First Sight's thirteenth season multiple times how Zack is a "phenomenal" man and so she wasn't going to be quick to give up on their marriage; however, Michaela needed to also build trust in Zack and feel secure he wouldn't leave her over a simple disagreement.
On the latest episode of Married at First Sight, Zack and Michaela bonded and strengthened their relationship by enjoying a romantic poolside outing Zack had planned for them.
But Zack was apparently still holding a grudge and Michaela could sense that.
"I miss the happy person you were. I hope you can get back to that person at 100 percent," Michaela shared with her husband.
Michaela admitted she wasn't sure if Zack really liked her, and he assured her, "I like you for you."
Zack, however, admitted to his wife, "I can't see our future. It is doubtful but I am holding out hope."
Michaela was therefore left in "a helpless state," not knowing how she could fix the situation and move forward.
Married at First Sight's thirteenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Ryan and Brett, Jose and Rachel, Johnny and Bao, and Myrla Feria and Gil Cuero.
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