Are we allowed to like Jesse from MAFS now? Asking for a friend.

"I'm finding Jesse attractive. What's wrong with me?" 

That's the message I sent my colleague Chelsea McLaughlin last Wednesday. 

She laughed and laughed and avoided eye contact with me for the rest of the week. 

And then yesterday, while she was recapping last night's episode, it happened to her too. 

Suddenly Jesse no longer seemed like the villain. He was no longer the subject of her greatest meme. 

^ an actual work of art. 

The man had redeemed himself. And it was a redemption arc none of us ever saw coming. 

When we first met Jesse a mere fortnight ago, he introduced himself as a man with a list of 'icks'. 

He then listed those icks. Which he had written down on a physical list. They included 'star sign chicks', crystals, mirror selfies, girls who are addicted to their phones and social media, any girl who starts a sentence with 'Oh my God babe', any girl who calls him 'honey' or 'sweetie', and girls who... talk. 

He was immediately attracted to his wife Claire when she walked down the aisle. But then became concerned when she opened her mouth. 

He shushed her on their honeymoon. 

He thought they'd have a great future together if only she'd stop talking. And having feelings. And expressing those feelings with her mouth. 

Jesse quickly became public enemy number one. The man was incredibly meme-able. Honestly, it was fun to hate him. 

Then the tables slowly started to turn. 

It seemed as though his wife Claire may have cheated on him with fellow groom Adam and no one would believe Jesse. Probably because of his ick list and general demeanour.

We started to think maybe Jesse wasn't so bad after all. 

And then he started to be nice to his wife. 

via GIPHY

I know... plot twist. 

In last night's episode, he even went crystal shopping with her. 

And pretended to care. It was cute. 

Look, it's a low bar but did our good friend Jesse just jump right over it? 

Is it okay to like him now? 

If you squint does he little bit look like Penn Badgley? 

Asking for a friend. 

Keryn Donnelly is Mamamia's Pop Culture Editor. For her weekly TV, film and book recommendations and to see photos of her dog, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.