Couples’ therapy officially concluded for the stars of 90 Day: The Last Resort on the season 1 finale.
The inaugural season of the TLC series brought five legacy pairings together in hopes of reconnecting — and recommitting — to each other after past betrayals. While therapist intervention was helpful for some of the individuals, others crumbled under the pressure of denial about their relationship.
Monday’s episode showed one last group therapy session, which addressed the group’s ultra-dramatic boat ride and Jovi Dufren ‘s issues with strippers.
Eventually, a heart-to-heart chat between Jovi and his wife Yara Zaya led him to realize his behaviors had been harming Yara’s self esteem. “I realize the best thing I can do for my wife is not put her in a position where she can feel shameful,” he said.
Yara explained her shame came from her upbringing in Ukraine, where public image was a top priority in her household. This explained why Jovi’s love of strip clubs triggered Yara’s insecurities about her own beauty. “I knew that Yara didn’t like me going to strip clubs, but I thought she was just being a protective wife. I didn’t know that going to strip clubs was causing her to feel more insecure,” Jovi told cameras. “Knowing how much this has hurt her, I do regret going. I didn’t know this would affect her in such a negative way.” He made a pact — no more strip clubs unless without Yara.
As chapters closed on past dramas, it was time for the recommitment ceremonies. Only four couples remained after Kelly Brown and Molly Hopkins left the series early. Here’s where each of the four ended up — and what vows they exchanged — as the season wrapped.
Angela and Michael
Angela Deem arrived to the ceremony with divorce papers in hand but had much to say before telling Michael Ilesanmi why she was holding the legal documents. The Nigerian man — who’s had to take part in the therapy sessions virtually from home country in Africa — began by professing his love to Angela.
“I promise you my wife, I will not lie to you,” he said. “I will be honest with you at all times. Also, I will make you happy now and forever, my love. And also, I will support you in good and bad times, so help my God. Amen.”
Angela was up next. “I don’t have to write down nothing that I’m saying to you because it comes directly from my heart. I just want to tell you — I’ve always loved you, never gave up on us, but, you know, I truly love you, or I wouldn’t be here. And I’m shocked I’m doing this, I do love you Michael, with all my heart, but these are divorce papers,” she said.
After a mini-cliffhanger, Angela tore up the divorce papers and reaffirmed her commitment to the marriage. “It breaks my heart that I had to go this far,” she said. “I know we have a lot further to go, this doesn’t stop here. But I’m your wife, and I’m gonna back you up in all that you need.”
Angela also addressed Michael’s past infidelity. While the couple has yet to fully rebuild trust, Angela said time at the resort was enough to start a new journey on the right foot. “I just want you to know I’m older. You have your whole life ahead of you, and if you truly love me, make it work because you know I don’t like lying,” she told Michael. “I love you. I’m here because I love you. I should have left you many times, but I love you. Don’t take that for granted.”
Kalani and Asuelu
Up next were Kalani Faagata and Asuelu Pulaa, who formally ended their marriage on last week’s episode. The aftermath of Kalani’s decision continued on Monday as they promised to co-parent peacefully.
“I commit to being a better friend to you, and to building a good friendship. I want to learn how to communicate gently and be more peaceful and patient with you,” Kalani told Asuelu. “I want to be there for you, and for you to do the same with me. And I want to co-parent the best I can with you so we can still have a very good, strong family. I just want to make sure that we always put our kids first and just help each other out.”
Asuelu was emotional and admitted it had been the “worst day of my life.”
“I just want to commit that I want to have a nice co-parent with you, and I wanna appreciate everything that you do and done for me,” he said. “I just wanna apologize for everything that I treat you and done bad to you and hurt your feelings. I just hope that you forgive what I did and all the past that we have, I want you to let it go and just make a new friendship. I just want us to love and respect to each other and trust to each other from here to the future.”
They sealed the deal with a sweet hug, and the promise to work on building a friendship, far different from their volatile romantic relationship. Kalani cried in an interview while talking through the conflicting emotions she felt after deciding on divorce.
“I’m feeling anger and sadness and relief, and it’s just a lot — I’ve been numb. I’ve numbed myself for years to be able to deal with what he’s done to me,” she said, referring to Asuelu’s repeated cheating. “So, even though I know it’s the right thing, It’s really hard to do. I just hope my kids know I did everything I could, like, I really tried for years, but I know for my own sanity and for my own health and for the health of my kids, it needed to end.”
Jovi and Yara
With the strip club stress behind them, Yara and Jovi were ready to step into a new light — as spouses and parents. Jovi went first in professing his love and recommitment to Yara. “I want to work on communicating with you better and building trust with each other, because that’s one of the biggest things we’ve had issues with,” he said. “I want to make you feel loved, I want to make you feel beautiful, and I want to give you and [our daughter] Myla more of my time. I want to give you more special, romantic moments to make you feel appreciated, and I love the way that you have changed me to be a better person.”
Yara followed with a sweet declaration of love, plus applause for Jovi’s skill at parenting their 3-year-old. “I just want to start that you are a super loving husband and you are the best dad in the world, and I’m gonna cry right now. You’re [the best] daddy that I [could] ever dream of. Myla is so happy to have you, and I am so happy to have you. I just want to be the same to you, a good wife as I am a mother, as we’re both parents to our [little bun],” she said.
Adding a romantic line in Ukrainian, Yara made a vow to her husband. “I just wanna promise you that I’m gonna talk more about my feelings besides getting angry or mad at you. From today, you’ll be tied to me [I promise you to choose happiness and love and not shame and anger].”
Ed and Liz
The final recommitment was from “Big Ed” Brown and Elizabeth “Liz” Woods, who weren’t shy about counting their past 13 breakups (the last time viewers saw them on screen, they’d split for the 11th time). Ed got down on one knee to propose to Liz for “the very last time.”
“So I want you to know how truly lucky you are to have found such a beautiful catch,” Ed began with a joke. From there, he led with sincerity. “You are one of the kindest, warmest, and loving women, mom and fiancée,” he said. “You make me want to strive to be a better man. You’re making me a better son, a better father and a better partner.”
After professing his love not only for Liz, but for her daughter, Ed was stunned that Liz couldn’t give an answer — at least, not until she spoke.
“You have taught me to laugh again. You have supported me, and I just want to let you know that you are not unnoticed. You take really good care of Ryleigh, and I see the love that you have for her. You connect to her in ways that somehow I don’t seem to connect to her. And I hope you really do know how much she loves you,” Liz said of Ed’s special bond with her daughter.
Liz also reflected on the growth in their communication and trust while attending the retreat. “As long as we continue to learn to communicate with each other, and listen to what we are saying to each other, and accept that we may not necessarily agree, we do know that with a little bit of time we can and will see the sun rise on all of our tomorrows from this sunset on. Forever, hand in hand, as we are meant to be. Thank you for your love to me and Ryleigh. I love you, I will move to Arkansas with you.”
Then she teased, “And I have one more thing for you,” before pulling out an engagement ring for Ed that she’d been holding for a year as she waited for the right time to recommit. “I want you to have this ring so you know that I am forever committed to you,” she said. Ed gladly accepted the ring, and the pair officially agreed to start planning a wedding.
One more beachside dinner was in store for the couples. They danced, laughed and got an invite to Ed and Liz’s wedding as all agreed to leave their drama at the resort — and recommit to friendships in the real world.
Previous episodes of 90 Day: The Last Resort can be streamed on Max, and 90 Day Fiancé’s OG franchise airs new episodes Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.
