Warning! The following contains spoilers for the 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way episode "Crikey!" Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription, and read at your own risk!
Almost all reality television shows are accused of being "scripted" or "fake," and 90 Day Fiancé is no exception. Over the years, fans have spotted cast members in the background of events they allegedly weren't present for, or even noticed continuity errors in arguments between couples. That said, there are moments when the show feels very real, like a recent scene with Luke Berry and Madelein Perez.
While the couple previously engaged in a weird scene with a mysterious hand in the backseat that felt suspicious, the latest episode featured a scene that surprisingly felt all too realistic. I guess that's to be expected, given that the couple was discussing having second thoughts about marriage while waiting for the results of a pregnancy test. Doesn't get much more serious than that.
Those Who Think 90 Day Fiancé Is Scripted Need To Watch Luke And Madelein's Pregnancy Scare
I don't think I've ever seen a more sobering moment for a 90 Day couple than Luke and Madelein sitting on a bed, waiting to read the results of her pregnancy test. Both had a 1,000-yard stare locked in place, presumably because of all the drama they'd endured thus far in their latest stint together. I noticed Luke's hair kept jumping between fixed and disheveled, possibly because he kept messing with it due to stress..
Ultimately, the test was negative, which seemed to be a relief to both. The two can't agree on how to spend money, so I wouldn't imagine they'd come to terms on how best to raise a child.
It felt like such a real moment, because in what world would either have wanted that pregnancy scare to air on television? They both looked terrified and upset, sitting on a bed, talking about a future together. At the same time, it was clear to me that they realized they might have made a terrible mistake. I'm not sure if Luke and Madelein will tie the knot, but based on this scene alone, I had the feeling the scare was a big wake-up call for at least one of them.
What 90 Day Fiancé Cast Members Have Said About The Show Being Scripted
While there are former cast members on 90 Day Fiancé who claim the show is fake, others have provided context. Tiffany Franco said the show isn't scripted, though producers guide couples on the topics they should discuss when they're on camera. This means talking about controversial or sensitive subjects, which can often lead to arguments.
Others, like Libby Castravet, have noted that 90 Day Fiancé is a reality show that is edited to give viewers the most entertainment possible. This is to say, the TLC series may edit scenes or reactions to fit an overall narrative, rather than represent the truth of everything that occurred. I see this happen in shows like Big Brother, where lots of events are occasionally streamlined to give viewers who don't watch the live feeds context within the hour-long episode. Similarly, it would be impossible for the TLC crew to catch every moment couples share and broadcast it.
All this to say, 90 Day Fiancé is a complicated franchise. There are times when I feel a couple's entire storyline is legitimate and as real as possible, and other times, I feel a couple cooked up some excuse to bring TLC's cameras out to film them. When the show is at its real, however, it's fantastic, and this scene was a great showcase of that.
90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way airs on TLC on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Skeptics should check it out to see what's next for Luke and Madelein, who I seriously doubt are going to make it down the aisle at this stage.
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