Rest easy, Game of Thrones fans--George R.R. Martin says everything is going to be alright. In a March 9 post on his blog, the author gave multiple updates about the plethora of GOT...Does it technically count as a cast trip if the host only invites one other Housewife along? That was my question at the start of this week’s Real Housewives of Orange County as I watched Heather Dubrow and Gina Kirschenheiter jet off to New York. Obviously the answer is no. (I didn’t say it was a hard question.) But something I loved about the whole thing was — and I know I’ve said this in several recaps this season but — how much it reminded me of vintage Orange County.
To be clear, I’m talking about the days before cast trips were even part of the Housewives formula. Before Heather ever waltzed onto the show with her champagne glass and Cheshire cat smile to elevate the franchise to a new level of wealth, class and aspirational living. I loved it because Heather and Gina‘s trip harks back to the days when Vicki Gunvalson was dragging Jeana Keough all the way to her hometown of Chicago to meet her friends from high school. Where Kimberly Bryant would make not one but two cameo appearances after hightailing it out of Orange County following the first season. And then the pair would road trip to see Shane Keough play for the minor league Kane County Cougars. Only back then, the OGs certainly weren’t flying private.
It’s also smart strategy when it comes to filming. Because inviting another Housewife to join you not only draw attention away from the cast members you’re leaving behind, it also pretty much guarantees that a producer and camera crew will follow you. Think about it. Did we get to see any of Jill Zarin‘s family trip to South Africa during Season 4 of RHONY? Were cameras there to document Lisa Hochstein‘s annual European vacation in Saint-Tropez on this season of RHOM? No and no. But if you use a page out of Vicki and Jeana‘s OG playbook, your trip can suddenly become the A-plot for the episode.
The first stop on Heather‘s New York getaway is her old stomping grounds upstate, where she’s taking Nicky Dubrow and Max Dubrow on a college visit to her alma mater, Syracuse University. After checking into the local Sheraton (gasp!), Heather takes Gina down to Faegan’s, which was apparently the hottest bar in town back in the day. The pair reminisce about their respective college experiences — Gina went to Hofstra University on Long Island — and you really do see a real friendship cementing between the budding pals.
That’s one reason why Heather‘s always been one of my favorite Housewives. For all her wealth, privilege and champs, she really takes time to get to know her fellow ‘Wives on a human level. It’s why, over the years, she’s been able to connect in an authentic way with everyone from Tamra Judge and Vicki to Lizzie Rovsek, Lydia McLaughlin and even Alexis Bellino, who revealed during her episode of Life After Bravo that she and Heather are actually on great terms these days. (No seriously, if you don’t believe me, watch Alexis tell the story of how they made up in her own words here.)
The next day, the Dubrow Collegiate Crash Course
continues as Heather takes the twins to tour the campus and relives her past life as a musical theater major. They even get to stop by her old sorority house. Which the current students have obviously decked out with a “Welcome Heather” banner emblazoned with a bottle of champagne. That night, she hosts a live episode of her podcast on campus at the invitation of the alumni association. And then it’s off to New York City for the next leg of the journey.
Back in the OC, Shannon Beador is bound and determined to have more fun than her cast mates off in New York. So she invites Emily Simpson, Dr. Jen Armstrong and Noella Bergener over for an at-home cooking class. This does not sound like that much fun for the three. Being that as a lawyer, doctor and professional tornado of chaos, respectively, they each try to stay as far away from a stovetop as humanly possible. But they’re game to try it for a night, even if it includes wearing the hairnets and chef’s coats Shannon has so lovingly provided for the occasion.
Over a meal of chicken and apparently one single raw shrimp, Shannon can’t help but bring up the idea that Gina thinks she’s jealous of her friendship with Heather. The accusation’s clearly been gnawing at her ever since Emily planted the seed in her head a couple episodes back. In fact, to prove she’s so totally not jealous, she decides to call Heather right then and there. Except…the call goes straight to voicemail. Like, without even ringing. Is Fancy Pants screening her old frenemy’s calls now? Heather and Gina do call right back on FaceTime to tell the group how much they’re loving New York, but the underlying tension has already been stirred up.
While Dr. Jen calls it a night early to attend to the ongoing marital problems in her home, Shannon, Emily and Noella decide to turn the cooking party into a late-night pool party. Next thing you know, Noella’s topless, Emily’s drunk and Shannon’s neck-deep in the pool with her chef’s coat and hat still on. And poor Archie is subjected to all of it. See how much fun they’re having?? This is way better than a free trip to New York on a private jet, promise!
The next day, Dr. Jen gets a house call from the relationship therapist who once saved the Beadors marriage for another couple seasons. Bet you didn’t have her surprise return on your RHOC bingo card, did you? Since Ryne Holliday is seemingly nowhere to be found, Dr. Jen has a solo heart-to-heart with the couples counselor. The newbie says she’s willing to do whatever it takes to save her marriage. And through tears, she makes the breakthrough that she’s brought her unresolved issues from her childhood into her relationship with Ryne, and that some of that stems from how critical and hard she is on herself.
I very much appreciate the raw vulnerability of Dr. Jen airing the problems in her marriage and taking accountability for her part in the issues at hand. But I’m also left to wonder if Ryne‘s really gone or if he was just flat out refusing to film at this point in the season. The doctor did admit in a conversation earlier in the episode with Emily that she was considering asking Ryne to move into a vacation rental for a month so they could each have some space and time apart. But we never saw the fallout from that cringeworthy dinner at the Dubrows, and I’m curious to know whether Dr. Jen’s drunken antics caused any ramifications in the couple’s already-fraught relationship.
Gina and Heather finish up their New York adventure with a big family dinner at TAO, home to many a scene filmed by the likes of Tinsley Mortimer, Dorinda Medley and Luann de Lesseps over the years. Heather’s mom Carole Kent and her aunt and uncle are the first to arrive. And Gina’s parents came into the city from Long Island. Right way, it’s hilariously clear that, despite both hailing from New York, the two ‘Wives are products of entirely disparate worlds. On one hand, Gina’s parents fawn over her, telling her how proud they are. Meanwhile, Heather’s mom is busy re-setting the table properly and lecturing the waitress on exactly how she wants her filet mignon cooked. (Which, for the record, is “not moo-ey.”)
As the meal progresses, it also becomes obvious that there’s a bit of tension between Heather and her mother. And it’s about the time that the veteran ‘Wife is explaining how she and her mom are both completely different and yet exactly the same that it dawns on me. Heather and Carole‘s dynamic would be the OC answer to Tinsley and Dale Mercer if only the didn’t live all the way across the country. It’s incredibly entertaining, and to be honest, I’m kind of obsessed with the subtle mother-daughter clashing. I need more Carole, STAT! And let this be a lesson that the old adage is true. The fancy orange doesn’t fall far from the apple tree.
Back at the hotel, Heather and Gina finally get a chance to see what their friends in the OC have been up to in their absence. And videos of the pool party immediately prompt Gina to FaceTime Emily for an explanation. Why isn’t Shannon wearing any pants? How much tequila was involved? Naturally, Emily uses the opportunity to stir the pot. She promptly spills everything Shannon was saying about Gina at the party, calling her ego inflated and slamming how full of herself the younger ‘Wife seems to be these days.
Emily also lets slip about Shannon‘s “who’s having more fun” competition. And interestingly, the comment sparks a memory in Heather of the Season 10 cast trip to Mo’orea, where Shannon spearheaded the exact same thing with Tamra and Vicki…complete with getting wasted and jumping in the pool by the end of the night. It’s not a connection I would’ve made off the top of my head. But Heather’s not wrong. Now the stage is set for a face-off between Gina and Shannon that’s been brewing under the surface all season with Heather in the middle. And honestly, I can’t wait.
TELL US – WHICH LOOKED MORE FUN: THE TRIP TO NEW YORK OR THE POOL PARTY IN THE OC? IS SHANNON JEALOUS OF GINA’S FRIENDSHIP WITH HEATHER? CAN DR. JEN SAVE HER MARRIAGE? WERE HEATHER AND HER MOTHER GIVING YOU DALE AND TINSLEY VIBES TOO?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
The post Real Housewives Of Orange County Recap: Comparing (Big) Apples To Oranges appeared first on Reality Tea.
Into every generation, a cult favorite TV series is born. On March 10, 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered, making its debut on The WB as a midseason replacement for the shortlived...And we’re back! There’s no stopping Survivor and it feels so good to once again be recapping and discussing TV’s best reality competition show! Survivor 42 (!!!) kicked off on Wednesday night with a two-hour premiere that was full of surprises big and small, and ended with a player using their “shot in the dark” in a desperate attempt to stay in the game.
After the pandemic robbed of us two full seasons of the show, Survivor came back last Fall with a new numbered title (gone were the show’s subtitles like “The Australian Outback,” “Heroes vs. Villains” or “Winners at War“) and with it, a new slimmer and more “dangerous” version of the ground-breaking show that started all the way back in the Summer of 2000. Survivor 41 was just 26 days long (compared to the 39 day format that the show had adopted for nearly two decades) which meant that the pace was a bit faster and the challenges a bit more brutal. To compensate for the shorter in-game time-frame, the contestants were not even given rice to begin the game, and losing challenges would result in severe penalties like having to sacrifice all-important items like fire-making flint. Jeff Probst and the producers made it a point to let us know that last season was the “hardest” season of them all, and the show’s format was tweaked ever-so-slightly (like with Jeff occasionally talking directly into the camera, or the inclusion of “flashback” scenes to help contestants share their stories). These changes were tough for many long-time Survivor fans to swallow, but those that stuck with Survivor 41 were rewarded with a good season, made great by the likable, diverse cast that it was built around.
Flash-forward to Survivor 42 and we still find ourselves in the “new era” of Survivor. Once again the show takes place in Fiji and several of the twists from last season are still intact (this season will be 26 days for example, the players were given no rice and face penalties for losing challenges, and we witnessed a few of the new twists from last season already in 42, like the “shot in the dark” as well as the “prisoner’s dilemma” summit). But since Survivor shoots two seasons back-to-back, that means that Survivor 42 – shot last Summer – came directly after the conclusion of Survivor 41, and that means that while the TV audience might now be accustomed to the “new game,” the 18 contestants of Survivor 42 did not get a chance to watch 41…therefore many of the changes, for them, will be brand new.
I’m happy to report that Survivor 42 felt familiar, and way less jarring than last season. But following in last season’s footsteps, this diverse cast (a result of new initiatives for diversity in casting at CBS), through the first two-hours seems promising…heck, I’ll go a bit further and say this cast already feels special. If there was one major surprise from 41, it was that Survivor showed us what’s possible when nearly the entire cast is worth rooting for, and the characters of 42 already seem to have a great mix of chemistry and potential.
Season 42 began creating differences from last season right from the get-go, when this cast was boated right up to the beach, instead of last season’s “mad dash” for supplies and goods on the deck of a boat (Survivor often jumps between these two types of opening season segments). The rest of the episode – per usual for a premiere – was spent allowing us to get to know the 18 new contestants, beginning to plant seeds for storylines that will play out over the next few months of the show, and allowing us a peak at some of the dynamics that are starting to form on the island. We even had a near medical-emergency when Daniel dislocated his shoulder during the opening challenge and needed the Survivor medical team to pop it back into place (he’s OK…for now). But by far the most alarming and unexpected element of the premiere was how Jackson Fox, a transgender healthcare worker from Pasadena, Texas, was pulled from the game after just two days…a Survivor “first” after 42 seasons in that he was pulled out for failing to disclose to the producers (until the day before shooting) that he was on the drug, lithium, prior to the game starting.
Look…it’s never, ever good news when Jeff Probst shows up in the flesh at camp. It almost always represents the show intervening in the game in some way. But when Jeff pulled Jackson aside, you almost knew that that would be the last we’d see of Jackson this season. As it turns out, the show gave him some great moments, discussing his journey and transition from female to male, and how his mother being on her death-bed brought him closer to both of his parents. He seemed like a very intriguing player, even if we didn’t get any “game” moments or strategy from him. It sounds like the show had their hands tied with the situation, as Jackson’s disclosure of the drug usage was given to them too late to pull him and replace him with an alternative before shooting began. It also sounds as if Jeff and the producers really tried to figure out a way to keep him in the game, but ultimately they made the correct – the safest – decision for Jackson. Imagine the liability if they had this information, left him in the game and then he did something terrible to hurt himself or others later on. It was a risk too big to chance, and instead, as Jeff and company often do, they turned it into a learning moment and a gut-wrenching, eye-opening few minutes of television.
Jackson‘s exit means that technically the pressure of being the “first boot” was off the rest of them, and it definitely altered how the first Immunity Challenge may have played out, had all six members of each tribe been able to compete. As it turns out, the youngest male contestant this season, Zach Wurtenberger, was unanimously voted off after his tribe (the blue “Ika” tribe) finished in last place. Knowing that he was in trouble, Zach took his “shot in the dark,” a twist that was only used once last season (on Day 14, also unsuccessfully), but it failed. Zach seemed like a “Cochran-type” but really created the circumstances for his own exit, by first spilling some info to tribemate Tori that came back to bite him, and also by making a big deal out of the fact that he blew the puzzle-portion of the Immunity Challenge (even if true, he didn’t have to help paint the target on his own back by making such a dramatic fuss about how bad he did). Just like that, we’re down to 16!
So who among the 16 stood out? Several of them, if not all of them! The least screen-time probably went to Omar, Chanelle, Lindsay, Marya, Swati and Lydia (don’t worry, you’ll learn all of their names as we go), but even in their passing moments, they all seemed likable, witty and with a high-probability of being memorable once we do get to spend more time with them (Swati’s offering up one of her fingers in exchange for getting to leave Tribal Council was quite hilarious, for example). That almost entirely encompasses the orange “Taku” tribe, minus the overly-excited Maryanne, who seems like quite the character thus far. She provided enough energy in the premiere to be thought of as “cute” for the time being but with the real possibility of devolving into “annoying” sometime soon. The other orange tribe stand-out was the absolute beast-of-a-man, Jonathan, who seems physically unmatched on the cast and charming to boot. Especially having lost Jackson and considering the make-up of the rest of his tribe, he almost certainly will be kept around to compete in challenges until the merge, and then, well, look-out.
While Lindsay didn’t have that much screen-time she was one of three players that received an advantage right off the bat…a new advantage that was not part of Survivor 41 or any previous Survivor season for that matter. During the opening challenge, Lindsay, Hai and Drea – all from different tribes – agreed to earn an advantage that the rest of the players wouldn’t know about. It turned out that this was the new “Amulet Advantage.” These Amulets become more powerful the fewer of them remain in the game, and they must all be played at the same time in order for them to reap an advantage. With three of them in the game (if they all were to choose to play them), they would earn an extra vote…with two of them in the game, they would earn a “steal-a-vote.” If there is just one amulet in the game, then the amulet would essentially become an Immunity Idol. This new twist creates some interesting new dynamics…will the Amulet-holders become allies in order to wield their collective power? Or will they try to blindside each other because fewer Amulets in the game mean that there’s become more powerful? I like this twist I must admit…but it’s very unlikely that they will become playable at all until post-merge, unless by some miracle, a tribe-swap or game-twist puts all three Amulet holders on the same tribe. We shall have to wait and see how this new twist plays out.
Retired firefighter Mike Turner was one of the stand-out players from the premiere, in that he acts as a reminder to not judge a book by its cover. Sure he’s a big strong guy, but that isn’t his personality, and as we heard from him he’s overcome a lot. On his green “Vati” tribe, it appears that he and Chanelle had bonded, while two other pairs – Hai/Lydia and Jenny/Daniel – formed as well. That’s an interesting dynamic on a tribe of six, but we’ll have to see how things begin to change as the game progresses.
Last and also least – as far as the Immunity Challenge was concerned – is the blue “Ika” tribe. There’s always one older gentleman who comes out every season and gets all crotchety about the “kids at camp” and the importance of building the shelter, and this season that old codger is Rocksroy Bailey. He’s just 44 but you’d think he went to high school with Rudy Boesch or B.B. Anderson the way he was portrayed this episode. His general curmudgeon-ry isn’t going to bode well for him in this game and he was greatly benefited by how Tori chose to play this game over the course of its first 48 hours. Tori seems like a nice person, but has possibly overthought her game to the point that it has become a detriment. First off, she decides to lie about her occupation (sorry, but telling people you are a “caregiver” when you are really a therapist seems…unnecessary?). Then she went off on her own early in the game to look for an Idol, a huge no-no as we all know. She was able to shift the vote from herself to Zach in the end, and that may be all she needs: A few more days in this game. As next week’s preview shows, you can go from zero to hero pretty quick in the game of Survivor, and sometimes surviving one vote is all that matters in the long-term.
I’ve saved Romeo and Drea for last, because of all of the contestants this season, they struck me as the two major players to watch, based on the premiere. Romeo seems very well-liked and with a strong social game. He’s physical but in a non-threatening way. And he seems very strategic, and was able to get Drea to switch her target away from Tori (he was unable to save his “Plan B” in Zach, but that may not be a big failure). Drea on the other hand was perhaps my favorite so far. She came to play! And drawing the short straw at her camp led her to gain her second advantage in just three days in the game. As any eventual winner will tell you, luck is always a big factor, and so far Drea has lucked her way into two situations that have given her the early leg-up…we’ll see what she can do though, as her tribe will need to stay away from Tribal Council or else she may become a target herself, and soon.
Episode Take-Away. Phew! That’s a lot to digest. I was struck by how strong I felt this cast is despite not getting to know them all. The show itself was less jarring to me than the beginning of last season. I was sad to see Jackson go the way he did, but also he may end up being the most memorable person to ever leave the game first. I can’t wait to see what this season has in store, the tweaks that the show will make based on what worked (and what didn’t) last season, and the new twists and advantages that are going to inevitably be introduced. I hope people tuned in and that they still have a place set aside in their hearts for Survivor! Oh and by the way, Survivor isn’t going anywhere: On the same day in which Survivor 42 aired, CBS announced that the show has been officially renewed through the Spring of 2023. That means at least a Season 43 in the Fall and 44 next Spring. Accept it haters, Survivor is king! And the tribe (meaning its audience, mainly) has spoken!
Who the heck am I, anyways? These opinions and thoughts in this column are of course my own, but who am I you might ask? I’ve been a long-time fan of Survivor, having watched every single episode since the show’s debut in the Summer of 2000. Beginning with “Heroes vs. Villains,” Season 20, I began covering the show professionally for various sites, and have been the resident Survivor recapper here at RealityTea since “Millennials vs. Gen X,” Season 33. I’m also the film critic for ABC-affiliate WXYZ in Detroit and the producer and co-host of the half-hour show “Movie Show Plus.” I have appeared as an “expert” on Rob Cesternino‘s “Rob Has a Podcast” podcast, and was one of the few members of the press to vote on the inductions of the “Survivor Hall of Fame.” I appreciate all of my long-time followers and readers as well as any new fans of Survivor that have stumbled across this column. I love more than anything to interact with fans of the show, so I look forward to your comments, critiques (constructive, hopefully!) and thoughts on the show as we progress through the season!
Erik Reichenbach DabuDoodles Art. For those that followed this column the past few seasons, you also know that this page is the EXCLUSIVE home to new artwork from none other than two-time Survivor contestant and legend, Erik Reichenbach. Each week, Erik contributes a brand-new, original piece of artwork relating to the new week’s episode. It will appear here usually in the days after the show’s airing, so if it does not appear here now, check back usually by the weekend following an episode and give this page a refresh. All of Erik’s work as well as past works can be found and purchased on his site, DabuDoodles.com, and I urge you to support this amazingly talented former Survivor player!
Out This Week: Jackson (removed from the game for failure to fully disclose medical situation), Zach (voted out)
Won Immunity: Orange Tribe (Marya, Lindsay, Maryanne, Omar, Jonathan), Green Tribe (Jenny, Chanelle, Lydia, Mike, Daniel, Hai)
Vote : Zach used his “shot in the dark” but it failed, no idols/advantages played. 5 – Zach (Romeo, Rocksroy, Swati, Tori, Drea). Zach voted out unanimously (Zach had no vote due to using “shot in the dark”).
Next Week’s Episode: What a difference a few days make: Tori seems like she’s wiggled her way to the top of her tribe, while Mike seems to be in trouble over at his. Tune in!
Quick Note! I appreciate that you are reading this recap! Those that have followed me also know that I am also a RottenTomatoes-approved film critic and I encourage you to check out my past movie reviews and my movie show (episodes are also available online at the website, www.MovieShowPlus.com.) As always, the easiest way to get all of my Survivor coverage and movie reviews is to follow me on Twitter – @tomsantilli – or on Facebook.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW “ERA” OF SURVIVOR? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON JACKSON’S EXIT? AND WHICH PLAYERS ARE YOU ROOTING FOR/AGAINST?
[Photo Credit: CBS/Monty Brinton/Robert Voets/Timothy Kuratek/Jeffrey Neira/Michele Crowe/David M. Russell]
The post Survivor 42 Premiere Recap: Strategy, Surprises And A Shot In The Dark appeared first on Reality Tea.
The Married At First Sight couples are being tasked with deepening their relationships. For many of the newlyweds I am not sure if they are ready for that just yet. People are really starting to show their true colors. It seems like everyone is having issues, even your favorites. I don’t know if it’s something in the water or it’s the stress of the experiment but almost every is at odds.
The stakes go up for the newlyweds as they seek to strengthen their bonds of trust and intimacy. Each couple consults an expert who asks the tough questions. They are challenged to try to improve their emotional and physical closeness. This task proves to be easier for some than others. Let’s get straight to the recap!
Olajuwon and Katina receive a visit from Dr. Viviana Coles. Her first question is why food is the number one thing that comes up in their relationship. Immediately, he defends his stance on why cooking and cleaning is a necessity for HIS wife. He even doubles down stating he questions her mentality and whether she is lazy. I still don’t understand why her not wanting to sweep the floor one night made him come to this conclusion. Sigh! Omg, can we get this man a chef, maid and a therapist? Dr. Viviana wastes no time putting him in his place about his unrealistic expectations. She is flabbergasted by how he is putting down his wife over something so trivial. Katina gets emotional and admits Olajuwon makes her feel insecure. Once again, I am wondering why the experts would put an abuse survivor with a guy like this. He doesn’t understand or care how his behavior affects his wife. I just want her to know she deserves better than this toxic relationship.
Dr. Viviana tells Olajuwon if he is going to make cooking and cleaning an issue, he is going to be married and divorced several times over. He then switches gears and says that he needs her to be more open. SMH… Do these people not realize that in order for someone to open up, you have to make it safe for them to do so? Calling someone lazy and telling them they are failing as a wife, isn’t doing that. Later, Katina tries to do something nice for Olajuwon. She goes to the grocery store and plans a movie night for them. He is ecstatic that she listened and did something he requested. I’m sure later he will complain he was fed popcorn and candy instead of real food.
Lindsey is even more confused by Mark’s behavior more than ever. Ever since he decided he wanted to pump the brakes on their intimacy, she has been left feeling frustrated. Recently, he initiated sex only for it to be a quickie. Lindsey wonders why he said he wanted to step back only for them to abstain for 2 weeks and then have impersonal sex.
Dr. Viviana arrives to get an update on Mark and Lindsey’s marriage. I already know that this conversation is going to be interesting. When the topic of sex comes up, Lindsey immediately says their sex life is dead. She then goes on to say demeaning things about his performance. Whoa! Even Dr. Viviana suggests she stop being rude if she wants things to work. After some basic questions, we uncover that they both want the same things but are having issues achieving them. Dr. Viviana suggests they start by not hitting below the belt. I think that is easier said than done at this point.
Lindsey plans a nerf gun fight to incorporate some fun into their relationship. I actually enjoyed watching them be playful. Just as things are getting competitive, they get a box filled with intimate goodies from the experts. I don’t think anyone was prepared to witness them both sporting matching ball gags and candy underwear. Nothing is less sexy than witnessing these two sport this look. Mark is laughing, but I can tell he is definitely out of his comfort zone. The man just had his first taco a couple of weeks ago. Now he is playing sex games on television.
Dr. Viviana stops by to check in on Noi and Steve. He feels that they have a great physical connection. But Noi admits she still needs to work on being comfortable communicating when she is upset. The way she walked out during their last fight is an example. Tears start to flow as she recounts how much she hurt Steve. Noi doesn’t ever want to be the source of his pain, but admits it’s going to be a struggle to change. Steve lets her know on no uncertain terms that behavior like that isn’t sustainable. Things get even more tense when Noi mentions she needs a plan in regards to his employment He questions does she appreciate their spotless apartment and the great meals he provides. Yikes! As much as she like that, she wants her husband to work and not be a stay at home husband. She is fine with sharing in the household duties. Now I am a little confused. I was under the impression he wanted to be self -employed, but that statement kind of makes it seem like he doesn’t work at all. I can now see why Noi is pressing to see an actual plan on how he intends to bring money into the household.
Jasmina and Michael play a game to create intimacy and trust and it’s a little awkward. Although they are answering the questions and sharing, I don’t feel any real chemistry. Is it just me? I really want these two to work, but it just seems like they are trying so hard for these small moments. When Dr. Viviana stops by, they both admit they lack intimacy. We can all see that! Michael tries to voice that he is uncomfortable with the negative labels his wife places on him. Jasmina continues to interrupt him and gets very defensive. The reality is that he doesn’t feel comfortable talking to her. Honestly, who would? She can be rude and condescending and doesn’t even realize it. After Dr. Viviana leaves, Michael tries to speak more about using journaling as suggested during counseling. Jasmina becomes extremely irritated by the idea she would need to use that method to communicate. She then storms out and proceeds to blame him for their communication issues. Didn’t she agree to journaling when Dr. Viviana was there? If it was such a big issue why didn’t she say so? Omg, I am so sick of her attitude. At first I thought Michael may be doing something off camera, but she is really showing her true colors. She acts as if Michael is her enemy and not her husband.
Jasmina and Michael go to tantric yoga together. Afterwards, they sit and ask each other intimacy questions from the experts. Surprisingly, she actually takes some ownership of some of their problems and seems much more relaxed. Even Michael is shocked that she isn’t just blaming him for their lack of trust and communication. This is a great step in the right direction. If they can continue this way, there may be hope for them yet.
TELL US –WHO DO YOU THINK IS MOST LIKELY TO SEPARATE ON DECISION DAY? WHO IS YOU FAVORITE COUPLE SO FAR? SHOULD NOI BE CONCERNED ABOUT STEVE’S PLAN TO BRING MONEY INTO THEIR HOUSEHOLD?
[Photo Credit: Lifetime]
The post Married At First Sight Recap: Mighty Mighty Boston Bonds appeared first on Reality Tea.
