The third season of Netflix The ultimatum: get married or move on Things got off to a rocky start when two couples abruptly abandoned the experiment, putting their trial marriage at risk. Here’s everything you need to know about the four contestants who left the show and what the show’s creator and cast said about the drama.

The ultimatum Season 3 premiered on Netflix on December 4th and brings back the unconventional dating experiment with six new couples teetering between marriage and breakup. In every couple, one partner who is ready to tie the knot gives their more hesitant partner an ultimatum.

The couples must then split up and enter into “trial marriages” with other contestants to ultimately decide whether to commit to their original partner, choose someone new, or leave the show single. However, two couples ended their trip early, leaving a mystery surrounding their decision.

Forbes“The Ultimatum” Season 3 Release Schedule – When Will New Episodes Release on Netflix?From Monica Mercuri

After the six couples selected new partners for their trial marriages, Vanessa Hattaway and Dave Adams, along with Micah Hardeman and Chanel Watkins, decided to leave the show overnight. Her departure reduced the number of participants in the first episodes, which were released on December 4, almost in half.

In Episode 4, which marked the third day of trial marriages, both Nick Tramontin and Mariah Zernick were shown arriving at their apartments, only to learn that their trial partners Vanessa and Micah had packed their things and left without explanation.

“Earlier in the day, Dave, Vanessa, Micah and Chanel secretly met off camera,” read the title cards revealed during the episode. “That evening they were caught on surveillance cameras packing. Dave, Vanessa, Micah and Chanel left quickly, ending their experience abruptly.”

Why did four couples suddenly leave? The ultimatum on Netflix?

The exact reason why the four couples left NetflixThat is the ultimatum after only three episodes remains unclear. Chris Coelen, the show’s creator, explained diversity Although most participants fully engage in the experience, not everyone is comfortable with it, leading some to leave.

Coelen noticed something was wrong during a segment called “The Choice,” in which each couple had to break up with their partners and choose something new.

“My understanding and impression was that people in this group were somewhat unsettled,” he explained. “But I feel like we’ve seen that every season. You saw it when Lauren wanted to pick Colby, then in Season 2 with Lisa and Brian. They finally decided to leave.”

The creator said that after filming “The Choice,” he left Pheonix and returned to Los Angeles. Then he got a call from showrunner Stephanie Boyriven, who told him that Dave and Chanel had told producers they weren’t sure if the show was for them.

“Then they snuck around. As a group they met secretly. And listen, they’re adults. We don’t limit what people do or don’t do,” he added. “But the expectation of the other participants is: ‘We’re going to have trial marriages.’ Let’s actually do this and not hang out with our original partner.’”

Coelen mentioned that the next call he received informed him that Micah was gone. Although Micah was unavailable, Coelen communicated with Dave, Vanessa and Chanel and told them, “We support whatever you want to do.”

“You want to be fully involved, great. If you change your mind, that’s okay too. We are interested in the story regardless of how it unfolds,” he said. “But it was very clear that they wanted to leave. And we will always support that.”

What did Vanessa say about leaving? The ultimatum?

On the same day of the third season premiere, Vanessa made it clear on social media why she left the experiment. “I know I just had to do what was best for my mental health,” she replied to a fan on Instagram on December 4. “You only see 1%.”

When another social media user asked her to apologize to her co-star Nick for leaving the marriage during the trial marriage, Vanessa replied that there was no need.

“They don’t know what happened behind the scenes. I have nothing to apologize for,” she replied. She also negotiated with another fan who said they were rooting for her and Nick to get together, replying, “Yikes.”

Vanessa assured viewers that they would get more answers during the reunion episode. “I’ll probably talk more about it soon, but I can only say so much,” she added. “I will add more context after the reunion.”

Dave posted a photoshopped image of himself in the Elmo Fire meme to describe his experience on the show. “What it looked and felt like on @ultimatumnetflix,” he wrote on Instagram on December 4. “Do you see the chaos?” In another comment, he even called the season “a dumpster inferno.”

Meanwhile, Chanel and Micah reposted a photo of themselves on the reality show on their Instagram Stories with the caption, “Well… that escalated quickly.”

Which pairs are left? The ultimatum Season 3?

Following the departures of Dave, Vanessa, Micah and Chanel from Netflix The ultimatum In Season 3, the four couples remaining in the experiment are Zaina and JR, Nick and Sandy, Mariah and Caleb, and Scotty and Aria.

The next three episodes of The ultimatum Season 3 arrives on Wednesday, December 11th, while the final episodes arrive on Netflix on Wednesday, December 8th

Check out the official trailer below.