To your average citizen of the modern Western world the idea of television series Married at First Sight seems like the first sign of the apocalypse. If Gogglebox wasn’t enough to indicate the impending fall of humanity then watching people let scientists find their true love surely confirms it.

The premise of the show is this: single, childless, never-before-married people enter their DNA and personality into a database to be picked out by an anthropologist, a psychologist, a love expert and a vicar, to be paired into a couple who will commit to each other in a few months’ time. The title of the show is, then, pretty self-explanatory; the couples will not meet each other until they reach the altar and are married at first sight.

Not being cynical about the entire concept would probably make you the most optimistic and trusting person ever to exist. Obviously these couples are going to be deluded and a little bit off their trolley, right?

Surprisingly, all these hopefuls seem relatively sane. One woman in this first episode even has her dad with her during the data collection process to prove that she isn’t entirely mad (maybe). Also surprising is the fact that all of the participants seem very young to be displaying such desperation to commit to someone for the rest of their lives. The couple in this episode are only 27 and 26 respectively. Apparently I only have seven years before I also start panicking that I haven’t opened a joint bank account with the love of my life.

One of the many irritating things about this programme is its outdatedness. At the point where the vicar starts talking about society’s disposability and the fact that no one wants to commit anymore I begin to wonder if it isn’t a little bit judgey. For someone who believes that marriage doesn’t guarantee happiness for the rest of your life and that there isn’t ‘the one’ moping about waiting for you, this programme seems a little like a social experiment from the 1950s.

Everything also seems a little contrived, unsurprisingly. It’s unclear when the camera skillfully reveals friends and family looking shocked at the announcement that Clark and Melissa are making whether they’re relatively good at acting or they’re genuinely taken aback. The wedding dress shop owner certainly doesn’t hold back her own skepticism when she’s told the bride doesn’t actually know who her groom is.

When the wedding day arrives, emotions are heightened – obviously. These two people are about to marry someone they know nothing about; who wouldn’t be about to have a panic attack? The legal binding of the act is enough to make anyone sweat. Tensions run high towards the end of the episode as the couple make their separate ways to the altar – this could all go horribly wrong.

And yet, the whole ceremony and meeting of the two is surprisingly sweet. They are clearly pleased with each other, and their nervous laughter throughout the vows is endearing. This programme has almost stopped seeming completely and utterly disastrous. Suddenly I am rooting for the two of them; I genuinely want the couple to survive marriage. Have I been converted?

It is still the worst idea ever, but the dress, the music and the sweetness is enough to make me almost want to watch the next episode. Almost, but not completely. It’s still a bit too weird