red12

The makeup is also severe.

It was a great answer and I appreciate your perspective and candor.

I appreciate your insight as a viewer with a different religious background than what is in the show and my own which is Southern American Christian, evangelical. I really appreciated the presence and spotlight on Hassan and Ali. I also wondered if anyone else saw the worship of whiteness in Bev. It reminds me a lot of experiences with some white American Christians and the idea of what they deem to be tolerant and even nice is still racist and insulting. Dehumanizing also applies in real life but, because of the vampire status here, I hesitated to use that word. I did wonder while watching if any atheist viewers had a different experience watching. Like, I wondered if I would find the cannon of the show weird or boring without my religious upbringing.

There is something that stood out about Sophie's character and I wonder if other's noticed how her story of who she is and her actions are so different? The "I do everything for my kids" thing really rubbed me the wrong way because the person in that story does not have an ongoing affair at a school where she and the other person teach AND both of her children attend school. She loved that job (for some unexplained reason) much more than she was concerned for her kids. She should have resigned immediately when she decided the kids were going to go back there. Then, instead of taking the principal's offer to let her resign, she pretended it never happened and guilted the younger son into going into that meeting to help her grovel to the bully's dad. On top of that, she turned around and told him they were moving and he was leaving school anyway after he got attached to going back. I just could not with her character on so many levels. She was a great illustration how a parent can convince themselves they are "doing it for the kids" when really, it's all about them. Also, see Pia and Nick's mom and "He died of a heart attack." I have a little more leniency with her due to her generation and the stigma surrounding suicide though. As someone else stated, the casting really saved some of the iffy/ rushed writing of the plot.

Regarding Wendy's boobs. Do we know how old they were at the time of filming and whether she had a combination surgery of lift + implants? Generally, it can take months for the breasts to soften and drop to a natural position. That also depends on how much the person is keeping up the massage advice from their doctor/nurse. I wonder about a lift because Wendy's seem unnaturally high and I can't tell if that's because she does push up tops even though they are already augmented. It's a strange look because generally women who have had children get a more natural looking bust because the skin is not as tight. Wendy's boobs at the time of filming give me a black Pam Anderson aesthetic that has been out of vogue for years. Regarding the action, I think Ashley was kicked for being the messenger this time. These shows need fodder for storyline. Ashley has taken her turn as the subject so, I didn't necessarily need her to be cursed out for bringing the info today. I also don't recall Wendy having a particular amount of gentleness with others last season other than kissing up to Gizelle so, I didn't feel much sympathy for her with this. However, I do love to see Gizelle forced to shut up and take a well-deserved tongue lashing so, it's a wash for me. Additionally, I have never been a big fan of Robin and her performance as the Gretchen Wieners of this show. A more strategically verbal Candiace is always appreciated. I want Karen to "get her some business" as my grand mother used to say because that grudge about Ray death talk is getting old. Mia was unneeded this episode and I am undecided on Askale. Maybe if she has some cute kids to be shown or a life of some sort, I will be interested later.

And this is why you choose any option other than go on national tv when you have something (anything) to hide. When will these people learn to get some sort of online certification and learn a skill instead of trying to snow millions of viewers, lawyers, judges and the IRS?!

Now wait. I do have a line. The writer's just haven't gotten me there yet. I am so sorry about your experiences. I hope you are having an amazing life after escaping that type of situation.

I still don't think Allison will want me on her jury if the OD plot works though.

Me too. I understand Allison is eager to bond but, I don't trust Patty yet. The part where Allison was asking Patty why she didn't previously care about Kevin's bad acts was a good example of how internalized misogyny can work. Reminded me of older women I've seen use "did he hit you?" as the barometer of whether another woman is allowed to express dissatisfaction or expect change in her marriage.

I also keep in mind that Sheila is a Baby Boomer woman and probably was involved in second wave feminism earlier in life. So, she has a lot of competing ideologies running around in that one brain as evidenced by her homophobic inner monologue while talking to the lesbian professor who was probably a former peer in academia. Sheila's obsession with food and looks very much fits the personality types of my friends' moms during that time. I am a couple of years older than Sheila's daughter from what I can guess. My own mom has been known to slap a potato chip out of my hands when I was a kid. I did not have a weight problem at all but, my body was constantly an area of scrutiny while I was growing up. Regarding ballet, I was absolutely taught how to purge by older girls at ballet camps and those after school special type tv movies that were supposed to be helping "bring awareness" to the issue. Teachers pretended they didn't know what was happening and weighed us in front of everyone in class while calling out your numbers from week to week. I also recall that even over the counter diet pills actually worked in the early to mid 80's because of the speed that was allowed to be in them. There's real reasons stuff like Dexatrim is no longer on the end caps of every grocery store like back then. Laxatives were also pretty popular. Based on how Sheila's husband behaves and some of Sheila's behaviors, I think someone on staff has read Jane Fonda's "My Life So Far". Their dynamic has similarities to her marriage to Tom Hayden (1973 - 1990) except he was spending Jane's money.

Okay. I'm willing to go with that for now. Interested to see where the writers take things.

I am enjoying the show more as the episodes build but, something that surprises me about my experience is I'm starting to see Allison as the villain of her story more than Kevin. Her choice of Kevin as a partner is a symptom not the disease in my view. It appears she had some level of success in high school but did not believe in her ability to build on that and leave her surroundings so, she did the thing guaranteed to keep her in the place she allegedly hates, marry Kevin. Short of a teen pregnancy or early addiction, that is the most self-sabotaging decision she could make. On top of that, there was little scrutiny of the decision because on the surface it didn't seem dumb like the other two. As much as Allison complains and imagines a different life, she also goes back home everyday. What was to stop her from just leaving for work and never coming back at any time? Kevin isn't physically abusive and sometimes seems more obsessed with his relationship with Nick than their marriage so, why not just fade out and mail divorce papers later? Why try to generate your own "Snapped" episode within the show with the poisoning plot? Allison is more of her problem than Kevin at this point. Maybe the writers will give more information to change my mind as the show progresses.

I'm truly saddened by the dysfunction these 22 yr olds must have escaped in their families of origin to believe any of this is a "key to future success". I'll officially take ya'lls word for it.

Curtis was drafted in 1981. According to his wiki "Berry wore jersey number 31 at the Kings' training camp and was not able to break into the Kings' roster which was loaded with tested forwards like Cliff Robinson, Reggie King, and Leon Douglas, from the Kings' camp, Berry went to join the Lancaster Lightning in the Continental league." My googling produced stats for 3 yrs overseas. I'm willing to be wrong. But, I don't see enough of a resume from professional basketball or coaching (prep school currently) to support the idea that his DMs are popping with nudes the way the clip from the reunion might lead viewers to believe. I don't think the man would be homeless without Jackie. But, life would definitely be different.

What I want to know his who is sending Curtis nudes and why does anyone want him unless it's a poly relationship where Jackie will still foot the bill? Curtis without Jackie's financial backing is not what I would think a thot would want.

The only thing I can say at this point is that Scott is distracting from the big con. He is throwing out illogical lies willy nilly and behaving erratically to distract from the essential thing he is doing. Keeping Contessa and even the viewers off balance and sure of nothing makes him able to continue with something else he is really trying to do. I don't know if it's that he is organizing things financially for a divorce, solidifying a relationship with someone else so that he can do the Tarzan swing into a new household or what but, we need to hold on for the big reveal (probably after this season wraps). My best guess is the Tarzan swing where he is trying to grow the other relationship and demonstrate to that person that he really isn't invested in Contessa anymore and has moved on while he still has to stay for now. These reunion shows should be interesting.

In light of the last episode and previews, I will edit this comment to say Scott appeared more vested in APPEARING to be a good man than being happy. I have no idea what the "el" (my 8 yr old's version of a curse) he is thinking. I don't see the upside of their storyline at this point.

I am old enough to remember the HBO show "Real Sex" and indeed it was a thing back then. I couldn't understand the point because at the time it seemed so fake but, it existed and had what seemed to be a lot of customers.

What has been most disturbing to me is how Scott appears to utilize the children in his PR war against Contessa. I saw it first when she went away to school and now in the "daddy's girlfriends" exchanges involving his cell phone. His refusal to "be negative" and leaving after throwing the first rocks is a low point too. Contessa has her issues but, I think she is trying to the best of her limited abilities to connect with him. The cruelty of referencing his unknown "life coach" in general was hard but seeing him save that bomb for the cameras hurt me as a viewer. It would be so much better for the family as a whole and even Scott's individual development to just end things instead of dragging it out like this.

In my experience, dry humor isn't the problem. Jake has terrible delivery timing. The thing about kneecaps being his favorite and how they are underrated can be a minute and a half bit if both people are good at conversation and the initial tone of delivery is more Seinfeld and less possible kidnapper.

Kevin, you don't know whether you have slept with a woman who hated you. You know whether you have slept with a woman who told you she hated you.

I wonder if it's subliminal golden handcuffs. They can't fully admit to themselves or each other they should get out so, they dig the hole deeper so that they "can't". They think it's "why would we abandon all this?!" Having a job where I tried to bury my misery with my work environment by telling myself "look at all the stuff I can buy even though I need an antidepressant to earn it." drove home for me that my mental health requires a balance of peace and stuff. If I get too far on one side, it's bad news. Luckily, I was in late 20's and not 40's with a husband and kids when the universe brought me that.

My spouse and I were discussing this and I am unsure Contessa and Scott will divorce. They could be one of those couples who chooses to stay miserable together unless there is an intervening event. Both of them seem unwilling to just admit they aren't willing to do the work necessary or walk away. I also imagine the financial split and prospect of two households for the kids will be too daunting for them. Scott comes off as so passive and more vested in being a "good man" than being happy. Contessa doesn't seem to have the planning skills or attention span to execute a divorce either.

These shows need at least one person who needs the paycheck and attention. Rinna is one for this cast and that is why I think there is no low the producers can ask for that is too low for her and she won't be getting fired anytime soon. I think production can also leverage her into feeling like she is on the "inside" of things and producing the show with them without actually giving her a credit.

I have been disappointed in this season's iteration of the show and remember why I stopped watching for a couple of seasons. There used to be more substantive conversations about basic life details of things like budget and chore distribution, etc. that happen in traditional relationships. The "experts" have always been a little questionable but, this season is the worst and they are barely providing any guidance. Production's involvement in storylines and edits also used to be less obvious. They seem ham-fisted this year and I will give them a little tiny pass because we have all seen more of this stuff and it requires the behind the scenes to be much more talented than when reality tv was newer. Based on the cast, it appears the process to be on the show is more of a barometer of whether a person wants what they think they want in a partner more than whether a specific couple can make it work. So much of what is shown makes it seem like these people are just delusional about themselves and their needs more than they are having problems picking a suitable partner in their given city.