Sounds like there’s trouble ahead for one of the couples in the new Peacock reality show Couple to Throuple, which explores the world of polygamy.
Hosted by Access Hollywood co-anchor Scott Evans and guided by Sexologist Shamyra Howard, the 10-part series follows four couples as they experiment with adding a third person to their relationship.
The first three episodes aired on Feb. 8, 2024, with the following episodes dropping on Thursdays.
Decider hopped on a Zoom call with Evans and Howard to talk about what’s in store for the rest of the season, particularly when it comes to the show’s only same-sex couple Ashmal Ali and Rehman Bhatti, who choose to swap out their third in the third episode.
“All of [the couples] were spectacular,” Evans told Decider. “To me, what was really cool to see, was Ashmal and Rehman, our only same-sex couple. It was really cool to see them down in Panama giving it all they had.”
In the first three episodes, Ashmal and Rehman match with Jonathan Intriago, a single from New York, but after the first night, Rehamn appears unenthused about the partnership.
To the dismay of the others, Rehman outwardly ignores the two for a majority of their time prior to the first Stay or Swap Ceremony, and his behavior results in an awkward navigation of Howard’s “safe word” exercise and a public spat during group breakfast.
Rehman eventually works through his emotions and has a genuine conversation with Ashmal, and later explains his actions to Jonathan. He says that he needed to work through some personal reservations and the three decide to make the most of their time together.
From here, the throuple seems to be on Cloud Nine and Ashmal and Rehman even invites Jonathan to join them in their home.
But when it comes time for the first Stay or Swap Ceremony, the couple drops the major bomb that they want to swap Jonathan for another single, to the surprise of everybody around them.
Howard broke down the moment, telling Decider that Ashmal and Rehman weren’t “love bombing” the single, as situations of such doesn’t really happen on the show. Instead, viewers are seeing the contestants navigate their feelings of curiosity. “When we talk about love bombing, it happens initially. It happens automatically. It is when people come in and they start with the ‘I love you’s and they are very charismatic… It definitely seems, for some people, authentic, but it also has this inauthentic feel to it. People are confused when they are being loved bombed.”
The Sex and Relationship Expert continued, “What you see in this series is that there wasn’t as much love bombing as there was a lot of… I would say curiosity. That’s basically what you see playing out. It is not love bombing or bread crumbing, where people will just drop in a little bit here and there to keep you interested, it is ‘I’m trying to figure this out and I don’t really know what I want to do here.'”
Evans chimed in, saying that Ashmal and Rehman were “nonstop surprises… I don’t know if I’m supposed to say that to you, but the surprises never stop with this couple.”
The host added, “You are going to love them, you are gonna want to hug them, [and] you are gonna want to shake them at the same time. You know what I mean? But all while rooting for them to find the truest expression of their dynamic together or not together… to be totally honest with you.”
Peacock has been transparent that some of the couples may break up by the end of the first season, writing in the show’s synopsis, “At the end of their time in paradise, the couples will decide if their hearts have room for more than just ‘the one’ and commit as a throuple, go home as they arrive, or leave separately.” Given what Evans shared… maybe Ashmal and Rehman are one of the unlucky ones.
Couple to Throuple is currently streaming on Peacock.