“The Ultimatum” just returned for its third season with a twist that even the producers didn’t see coming.
In the first episode, viewers were introduced to six couples who were ready to start the challenging experiment. For those who aren’t familiar with the show, the Netflix dating series follows couples at a crossroads: one person has issued the other an ultimatum to either marry them or break up.
Before each contestant makes a decision, they must split from their original partner and select another cast member to date during a three-week trial period. When those three weeks end, the original couples reunite before revealing in the finale if they want to get engaged or end their relationship.
During Seasons 1 and 2, some contestants quit early on in the experiment — one couple left to tackle their issues and another had a surprise proposal. In Season 3 of “The Ultimatum” — which released five episodes on Dec. 4 — the trend continued.
After the six couples met, selected different partners and moved in together, the show unexpectedly announced in Episode 4 that four contestants had left.
“Earlier in the day, Dave, Vanessa, Micah and Chanel secretly met off camera,” a title card informed viewers. “That evening, surveillance cameras captured them packing.”
Footage then showed Vanessa Hattaway and Dave Adams, who had been dating for three years prior to signing up for “The Ultimatum,” and Micah Hardeman and Chanel Watkins, who had been together for two-and-a-half years, gathering their belongings in their separate apartments.
“Dave, Vanessa, Micah and Chanel quickly departed, abruptly ending their experience,” the next title card said. The four contestants were not shown again.
While Chanel and Dave chose to re-couple with each other, Micah selected Mariah Zernik and Vanessa partnered with Nick Tramontin. Following Micah and Vanessa’s departures, Mariah and Nick had to continue the rest of their three-week trial alone.
Mariah told the cameras, “I had just come home from the mall, and Micah’s not here. His stuff was gone and the book he lent me was gone so I’m confused as to why he left and didn’t say a word.”
Nick shared a similar experience. “I came back to the apartment and I’m alone,” he said. “Vanessa packed up her things and left. There was no goodbye.”
After the episodes were released, Micah, Chanel, Vanessa and Dave cryptically addressed their time on the show and why they exited the experiment early on social media.
Dave uploaded an Instagram post that showed his cast photo on one slide and the same photo on a second slide engulfed in flames. “How it looked on @ultimatumnetflix vs. how it felt. Season 3 out now,” he captioned the snap and included a grimacing face emoji and flame.
When one social media user commented that Dave was wrong for leaving, he replied, “Beg to differ.”
Vanessa also shared her cast photo on Instagram and reacted to fans beneath the post. In response to one viewer who disagreed with Vanessa choosing to leave, she wrote, “Aw I know I just had to do what was best for my mental health.”
She added, “You’re only seeing 1%.”
The same user responded and said Vanessa owed Nick an apology for how she left. Vanessa commented, “You don’t know what happened behind scenes I have nothing to apologize for.”
Vanessa told multiple fans that she will possibly share more after the reunion airs.
Chanel and Micah uploaded a joint post to Instagram that featured a series of sweet snaps of them holding hands and posing together.
One fan commented and asked why the couple quit. “Whew! Long story you only seen 1% of it all there’s so much more to it but it’s not our story to tell…” Chanel answered.
Micah spoke about on the show on his Instagram story. He shared a photo of him staring at Chanel when she chose to re-couple with Dave.
“When you’re contemplating crashing out,” he captioned the snap and included two crying-laughing emoji. He also added Kendrick Lamar’s song “tv off” to the post.
“The Ultimatum” creator Chris Coelen, whose production company Kinetic Content is also behind “Love Is Blind,” addressed the surprising exits in an interview with Variety.
He said that after the contestants re-coupled and moved in together, showrunner Stephanie Boyriven called him and said Dave and Chanel told producers they were unsure they wanted to complete the experiment.
“Then they snuck around. As a group, they secretly met. And listen, they’re adults. We don’t put restrictions on what people do or don’t do,” Coelen said. “But the expectation from the other participants is, ‘We’re going to be in trial marriages. Let’s actually do that, and not go hang out with our original partner.’”
The creator shared, “The next call I got was that Micah was gone and didn’t have a conversation with anyone.”
Coelen then spoke to Dave, Vanessa and Chanel and informed them, “‘We support whatever you want to do,’” he said.
Coelen said it was apparent that the three did not want to stay.
“We’re committed to supporting the participants and to being very transparent with them about what the experience is and that it can be very challenging,” he continued. “And if they are wanting to really commit to it and lean into it, then we are there with them the entire way, and if they aren’t, we’re also there with them the entire way.”
He also explained why the show did not pair Nick and Mariah together.
“I don’t feel like that would have been legitimate. The whole point of the dating week is for them to really choose — themselves — someone that they think has the qualities of someone that they could potentially marry, and then be in a trial marriage,” Coelen said.
He confirmed that Dave and Vanessa participated in the reunion, which will stream Dec. 18, but revealed Chanel and Micah did attend.