Married At First Sight expert Alessandra Rampolla has delivered a blunt reality check as Intimacy Week plays out on screen.
Speaking from her home in Puerto Rico, where she watches episodes sent to her in advance, Alessandra, 51, said this year's Intimacy Week has been one of the most complex in recent memory.
'I think it's one of the most interesting intimacy weeks we've had in a little while,' she said.
'Intimacy Week hits different couples in different ways, and we have a number of couples in different stages in their relationships and how intimacy can be impacted in them. I'm excited about this week.'
But she admitted unresolved tension among the brides heading into the week could have serious consequences.
'If your focus is not in your relationship, then of course your relationship is going to suffer the consequence of that,' she explained.
It's always interesting when the social dynamics really start interfering with the relationships, which is the reason the participants are there to begin with.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They’ve built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.
Her comments come after a dramatic episode saw Steven Danyluk pull away from Rachel Gilmore during what should have been a pivotal bonding moment.
Alessandra described the situation as 'a really interesting' turning point.
'Both of them have been so courageous and really showing up in their ability and being quite honest and open with one another,' she said.
'They've built what we have observed as being a really strong connection. But these are grown adults who have been living together, sleeping in the same apartment in the same bed for a couple of weeks now. To suggest just a kiss is not really the most extravagant suggestion you could have as a couple attempting a marital relationship.'
She added that when there is 'a vibe' but one partner fails to lean in, it becomes 'something to look at' - especially during a week designed to test closeness.
Meanwhile, Alessandra weighed in on Julia Voghl and Grayson McIvor’s tense dynamic, after Grayson admitted he felt their relationship was centred on Julia’s needs.
'The dynamic developed with one another was one where Julia was very much setting the pace,' she recalled.'