Netflix has been your home forsome of the most daring dating experiments that have ever been tested.Whether they’re forcing singles to abstain from any intimacy, tempting couples with other options, searching for their perfect match, or finding “the one” before ever seeing them, Netflix has tried their hand at nearly every dating format possible. ConsiderThe Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, the hit series presented byNick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey.
Since 2022,the social experiment has forced couples to make the ultimate decision about marriage.With couples already on the verge of nuptials or a breakup, one person is locked in and ready to get hitched, while the other has concerns about their future. They will be tested in trial marriages where after, they will return to their original partner and decide if they will remain with their partner, move on to someone new, or split forever. In December 2024,The Ultimatumdebuted its third season, andmany fans are curious to see where the six couples are today.
‘The Ultimatum’ Season 3 Splits
Before the breakups and shakeups occurred, the six couples that entered the experiment wereZaina Sesay&J.R. Warren,Nick Tramontin&Sandy Gallagher,Mariah Zernik&Caleb Lefterys,Scotty Lewis&Aria De’Westbrooks,Chanel Watkins&Micah Hardeman, andVanessa Hattaway&Dave Adams.Thanks to Tudum, many of the couple’s updates have been revealed. At the end of the season, two couples ultimately decided to split for good: Zaina & J.R. and Sandy & Nick. After three years together, Zaina put the couple to the test, whereJ.R., who was paired up with Sandy, found a physical and emotional connection. Zaina , paired with Scotty, got on, but they were there to make their own relationships better.When Zania found out about J.R.’s smooch with Sandy, she was furious, and that was it. As much as they tried to make their relationship work on the outside,it was revealed that J.R. ghosted her, marking the official end.She has kept things platonic with Scotty since the end of the season. As for J.R., he has revealed he has gone through some therapy and has opted not to date, for now.Zaina has appeared onPop the Balloon Live.
Nick and Sandy had, perhaps, the most tumultuous journeys.Nick and Sandy did not make it out of the experiment together, and probably for the best. Though Vanessa secretly left with Dave during the trial marriage with Nick, it still didn’t help his original relationship, which had been active for two-and-a-half years. Following the show, Nick had revealed that he was dating someone, but opted to keep those details private. He used his time onThe Ultimatumto grow and heal, bringing in some things he learned along the way into his new relationship, which he says is based on “friendship and kindness.“Sandy had been further along in knowing a split was in their future,which prompted her to play the game in the manner she did. She knew that she could have been more mindful of Nick’s feelings, especially during her trial marriage with J.R., admitting regret for her actions. While she admits she genuinely cares about Nick,their relationship was far too dark and unhealthy to make work in the end.
There was so much hope and promise for Aria and Scotty, even though there wassome jealousy on Scotty’s part over Aria’s bond with Calebin the trial marriage. At the end ofThe UltimatumSeason 3, Aria and Scotty left engaged. But that has since changed. They tried to make it work, having moved in together, butAria called off her engagement with Scotty, noting that they were not in communication, aside from social media comments on occasion. While she did leave the experiment single, she shared with Tudum that she gained friendships with Sandy and Zaina thanks to their “crossovers” onThe Ultimatum. As for Scotty, now single, he has since been trying to learn and grow from the experience, hoping to become a better individual. His bond with Zaina in the trial marriage has allowed him to move on and find validation that can help him move forward in the future.
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‘The Ultimatum’ Season 3 Success Stories
Now, let’s celebrate some happier stories resulting fromThe UltimatumSeason 3.Mariah and Caleb were hopefulthat this experiment would lead to a lifetime of love for the couple. When Mariah ended up single during the trial marriages, there was some trepidation as to what would happen when she would reunite with Caleb. Caleb, who was paired with Aria, credited her with his willingness to get married and start a family. Because she was alone for so much of the process, Mariah’s feelings almost got in the way of their success. In the end,they decided to get engaged during the ultimatum decision, andthey are still together. As they told Tudum, they might be looking at Hawaii nuptials in 2026.
Micah and Chanel were quite eager to try out this experiment, believing it was what they needed to find ultimate resolution. Micah was with Mariah, while Chanel was paired with Dave. Micah immediately felt something different while with Mariah compared to being alongside Chanel. It was just one of the many reasons why Micah and Chanel met up in secret, deciding to leave the experiment together. While it was a detriment at the moment for Mariah, it didn’t quite affect Dave, because he too had a similar thought process of leaving with his original partner, Vanessa. Despite not attending the reunion, for Micah and Chanel,they have celebrated their love for all to seeon social media,even sharing on social media that they’ve been nothing but smiles.
Vanessa issued Dave the ultimatumwhen they entered the experiment. Despite Vanessa being paired with Nick, and Dave with Chanel, they were clearly focused on one another. They made each other their priority, hence their desire for their secret meeting. Since the show aired,Vanessa has revealed her side of the story as to why she left Nick to be with Dave. In the end,they chose themselves and their love. “I know I just had to do what was best for my mental health. You’re seeing 1%,” she responded to a social media comment. She had shared that living with Nick was not working, as he displayed “volatile, manipulative, and other concerning behavior.” Vanessa and Dave have since purchased a home together and have fallen deeper in love, oh,and they’re engaged. As the couple told Tudum,they left the experiment with clarity from having “frequent heavy and emotional” conversations.At the end of the day,The Ultimatum: Marry or Move Ontruly pushes contestants to their limits. While not every individual is willing to partake properly, it was truly a juicy season of the series.
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On
