90 Day Fiance viewers are of two minds over the painful awkwardness of Mike Youngquist and Natalie Mordovtseva.
Some feel that Natalieff7de8;s hypercritical and controlling behavior makes her the villain.
Others wonder if Mikeff7de8;s dismissive silence earns him that odious title.
Season 8 resumes on Valentineff7de8;s Sunday, and in this sneak peek, Natalie suggests a real solution to their issues.

As this sneak peek for Season 8, Episode 10 begins, Natalie notes to Mike that they are halfway through their 90 days alloted by the K-1 visa.
The two of them are out at dinner, and at times during this scene, it feels like they might as well have been at different tables.
Mike tells Natalie that, at present, he is feeling like they need ff7ddf;another 45 to 90 daysff7dde; to sort through their issues.

Despite some stumbling due to the language barrier, Natalie tells Mike that she would like for them to go to couples counseling.
(Okay, she talks about going to ff7ddf;a psychology,ff7dde; but everyone ff7ded; including Mike ff7ded; understands her meaning)
Immediately, Mike shakes his head, saying ff7ddf;noff7dde; and ff7ddf;Iff7de8;m not interestedff7dde; ff7dcf; leaving some to wonder how he expects problems to magically be fixed in the remaining 45 days.

Natalie then awkwardly waits for Mike to say something more.
She still smiles even as she asks Mike, who is still eating, ff7ddf;whyff7dde; he is immediately turning down this genuinely good idea.
Mike, who just acknowledged that there were problems, asks ff7ddf;what do you think needs to be talked about?ff7dde;

Natalie says that the whole idea is that theyff7de8;ll talk about whatever they feel like, but Mike turns the question on her.
She replies that because they come from ff7ddf;different mentalitiesff7dde; (an understatement), they could resolve these conflicts.
Natalie is very optimistic that this can be ff7ddf;fixed easily.ff7dde; Given that one of their key issues is communication, she may be right.

At this point, Mike does this thing that viewers have noticed where he rolls his eyes and is dismissive.
Lots of people disagree with Natalie over many things ff7ded; body-shaming, food policing, calling him ff7ddf;low class,ff7dde; and might do the same.
But even some of those same fans are angered when he does this. Why? Because thatff7de8;s not an acceptable way to treat your fiancee.

We do have to observe that Natalie is giving us the goofiest face in this scene.
It may be a cultural difference or a personal quirk or how she responds to being on reality TV, but she often smiles ff7dcf; seemingly at inappropriate times.
But hey, if it helps her keep positive when her fiance is being obviously rude to her, more power to her.

Natalie then emphasizes how important that it is that they resolve their issues.
Mike agrees, but for some reason claims that heff7de8;s ff7ddf;not readyff7dde; to go to ff7ddf;someone elseff7dde; and talk about them.
This is a hangup that some people have ff7dcf; but itff7de8;s especially weird to see it from reality stars, who obviously donff7de8;t have the excuse of feeling like their problems are private.

Mikeff7de8;s version of an explanation here is to say ff7ddf;I donff7de8;t wanna.ff7dde;
He then asks ff7ddf;why canff7de8;t we talk to each other,ff7dde; a problem that neither of them can answer but a professional couples counselor might.
Natalie replies: ff7ddf;Because we cannot agree on stuff.ff7dde;

Michael, despite her pleas, doubles down on his refusal to make this simple move to improve and potentially even save their relationship.
Natalie is disappointed, visibly.
Mike does his best to explain why heff7de8;s being so muleheaded about this, for whatever thatff7de8;s worth.

Mike complains to the camera that he has been trying to work with her, and now she wants to see a counselor, and he takes an annoyed tone and asks ff7ddf;So what, youff7de8;re gonna listen to him?ff7dde;
It seems that he is fundamentally misunderstanding the point.
A couples counselor isnff7de8;t there to repeat one partnerff7de8;s issues to the other. Theyff7de8;re there to help the two of them come together and resolve things ff7dcf; or realize that they donff7de8;t belong together.

Mike tries to make an excuse to say that itff7de8;s about spending a bunch of money ff7ddf;just to have a conversation with Natalie.ff7dde;
Itff7de8;s clear that the idea of any form of therapy makes Mike uncomfortable.
His refusal to work on things in a constructive manner, meanwhile, makes Natalie uncomfortable.

Natalie assures him that couples counseling helps.
Mike fires back: ff7ddf;We have some issues that are beyond talking.ff7dde;
My guy, that is all the more reason to get a professional to help you.

Theyff7de8;re having clear communication issues that a third party could help immensely.
Meanwhile, Natalie feels hurt ff7dcf; and presumably, this scene comes before Mike confesses to her that heff7de8;s not sure if heff7de8;s ready to marry her.
If that were the case, he shouldnff7de8;t have started the K-1 visa process with her. They both have a lot to work on.
