jessica and ryan de nino
Jessica Castro and Ryan De Nino showed much improvement in “Married at First Sight” Season 2, episode 11. A&E

With five weeks of marriage under their belt, viewers might hope that the “Married at First Sight” couples know if they’ll stay together. However, it became clear in Season 2, episode 11, that no one knows what the future holds. As each couple received a visit from sociologist Dr. Pepper Schwartz, the newlyweds realized that they still had a lot of work to do and not much time to do it.

Ryan D. and Jessica

Jessica Castro and Ryan De Nino bought a mattress together and seemed to actually be getting along. This was their first purchase together for the apartment. “Days like this just reminds me why I signed up for this,” Ryan said.

When Dr. Pepper came to their apartment, she was a little afraid of what she might find. She’d previously had a video chat with them while they were fighting, and their relationship was in a bad place. She was pleased to see that things had improved for Ryan and Jessica.

She had them say compliments to each other. Previously, this had been their homework while they were fighting, and Ryan claimed he couldn’t think of anything. However, now he had plenty to tell her, including complimenting her on her efforts to get to know his mother.

Jessica was thrilled that they were at this place in their relationship, but she worried about the future. She was concerned that if they stayed together, Ryan might go back to the angry way he was a couple weeks ago. However, she shared this concern with the camera, not with Dr. Pepper or Ryan.

Afterward, Ryan’s friends came over for a night of fun, and Jessica tried to bond with them. Seeing him interact with his friends gave him more insight into Ryan’s personality and how he communicates. They weren’t surprised when Jess said that Ryan’s mouth often got him in trouble.

Later, the newlyweds took Dr. Pepper’s advice to do something fun together and went to a cooking class to learn how to make sushi. Ryan was happy that the bad times were behind them, and he thought they might be able to have a happy future.

Sean and Davina

This couple still hasn’t consummated their marriage, despite Sean Varricchio’s romantic night with Davina Kullar. When Dr. Pepper came to visit the newlyweds, she wasn’t thrilled with what she first saw. She found that their fridge was almost empty and their picture frames lacked photographs. It didn’t feel like a home.

She talked to them and gave them an assignment: a romantic weekend away. She worried that they let the romance get away, and they needed to bring that back into their relationship. They planned a weekend at a winery.

Sean and Davina explored the winery with the proprietors, Tom and Cynthia. The owners revealed that they had been married for 28 years. Although they knew each other when they got married, Tom and Cynthia got engaged after only nine weeks of dating. They revealed that they nearly got divorced, but they fought for their relationship. Seeing their relationship inspired Davina and Sean.

“I realized that I need to put the effort in to show that I’m actually here,” Sean said to the cameras. “That’s growth and that’s admitting—wow, ‘a-ha’ moment.”

Ryan R. and Jaclyn

Jaclyn Methuen made her first meal for her husband, which consisted of Hot Pockets and barbecue potato chips. After being single for so long, neither of them really knew how to cook, but at least they knew how to laugh together.

Dr. Pepper wasn’t impressed with their lack of domestication. Jaclyn’s clothing wasn’t even entirely unpacked, and their walls and shelves were empty. “It does look like a place you stop at rather than you live in,” she said.

When she sat down with them, she told them to hold hands. It made them a team, and Jaclyn realized that it was very comforting. Dr. Pepper wanted them to feel more like a couple. They needed to do things together and act like a married couple.

After her advice, they got a cooking teacher to come to their home. They had a lot of fun and a good meal, but Jaclyn worried it wouldn’t be enough. “I just hope that it’s not too late, and I hope that we have enough time to make our marriage work,” Jaclyn said.

She decided to visit Ryan’s niece Kayla and take her out for some bonding time. They went and got some ceramics to bring back to Ryan and paint together. Jaclyn revealed to the cameras that if they stay together, she’d be willing to relocate to Long Island for Ryan. It seemed his family would like that.

“I hope you guys stay together because I like you a lot,” Kayla told Jaclyn. Ryan and Jaclyn seemed to hope for the same thing.

“Married at First Sight” Season 2 airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on A&E and FYI. Do you think the couples should make more of an effort to make their apartments feel like home or is that not the most important part of their relationship? Sound off in the comments section below!