S05.E12: Head Games

[greekmom]

Quote

Kim and Usman's relationship is put to the test; Gino tries to win over Jasmine's mom; Hamza worries about Memphis' relationship with her ex-husband; Mike seeks help to understand Ximena's doubts.

Preview: 3/4/22; TLC: 3/6/22; Discovery Plus: 3/6/22

[Stuckathome]

Quote

 Mike seeks help to understand Ximena's doubts.

Uh...what "doubts?" She said clearly she does not love him. 

[hookedontv]

14 minutes ago, Stuckathome said:

Quote

 Mike seeks help to understand Ximena's doubts.

Uh...what "doubts?" She said clearly she does not love him. 

RIght? Ximena told  him she doesn't love him, doesn't want to be intimate him, finds him weird, and basically anything he does creeps her out. 

Oh, and "no boobies no wedding dress."

Mike refuses to see the red flags that are as big as football fields waving all around him, and pathetically says "I'll change."

[CruiseDiva]

16 minutes ago, hookedontv said:

RIght? Ximena told  him she doesn't love him, doesn't want to be intimate him, finds him weird, and basically anything he does creeps her out. 

Oh, and "no boobies no wedding dress."

Mike refuses to see the red flags that are as big as football fields waving all around him, and pathetically says "I'll change."

I've been feeling bad for Mike, but if he gives that homely, trashy bitch the boob money he deserves all the heartbreak she  dishes out.

[magemaud]

I wonder if the title of this week's episode has anything to do with Gino and his hat. 

[Frozendiva]

Hamza needs to see the red flags of how Memphis speaks to him and how she treats him.

[magemaud]

22 minutes ago, Frozendiva said:

Hamza needs to see the red flags of how Memphis speaks to him and how she treats him.

He'd be leaving a home where his mother and sister treat him like a king! 

[Mrs. Hanson]

15 hours ago, Frozendiva said:

Hamza needs to see the red flags  blankets of how Memphis speaks to him and how she treats him.

Fixed it for you.

[Frozendiva]

So, the preview.

Jasmine took Gino to her mom's place. Her mom seems around Gino's age and she has a sister who is 18. A 16 year age gap is a lot. Guess Jasmine's mom had her at a young age. She seemed concerned about Gino's age and that he had no kids. So what? Maybe he didn't want any, maybe his previous wife couldn't have any. His business. Jasmine explained to her mom that Gino keeps his hat on - even when it is dinner prayer time. Uh, he can be respectful and remove his hat and expose his magnificient head for a minute or two.

Ben had a swim at his hotel and called his friend, who was surprised that Mahogany was real and that she showed up. Ben told his friend that things weren't adding up. His friend mentioned watching for patterns. Ben said that Mahogany seems to be in a weekly rental expensive condo complete with a surfboard, some tourist brochures, bunk beds, etc., her parents seemed odd and that they told him she was only 22. He also thought it odd that the person who he was talking to online talked about falling in love and marriage and kids and this version of Mahogs thinks of him only as a friend and not a prospective boyfriend/husband. So he meets her and her friends - he asks if the girls are hungy and the translator asks if one of them is a man. He is trying to dig for info about Mahogs but they are not really all that forthcoming and just tell him that she is a nice, responsible girl. Ho hum.

Memphis and Hamza meet with a translator. He comes across as a bit smarmy, but maybe that is my view.  Hamza wants to know if she will run to her ex if she has a fight with him. Uh, Hamz, run right now. You don't trust her. She tried to explain that she has kids with her ex and that she and her ex have to talk about child care - together. She promises that she won't run and stay with her ex...... ho hum again. Neither of you are ready for marriage nor any sort of other long term relationship.

[magemaud]

13 minutes ago, Frozendiva said:

he asks if the girls are hungy and the translator asks if one of them is a man.

Ha ha, I haven't watched yet but that reminds me of my high school Spanish class when I meant to say "Yo tengo mucho hambre" (I'm very hungry) and instead used the word "hombre." 

[1011101010001]

Ben gets friend zoned!  And in public!

Um Memphis, you supposedly have a degree.  Conversate is not a word.  If you must be pompous say converse, but talk or speak work well for normal people.

How could they function as a couple if they need to hire a translator every time they want to have a serious conversation?

[magemaud]

Hamadi the Translator is no Adam! Sigh

[1011101010001]

10 hours ago, magemaud said:

Hamadi the Translator is no Adam! Sigh

Although Memphis is adamant about getting married on this trip.

[magemaud]

I just realized that both Hamza and Mahogany claimed to be two years older than their actual age and apparently that EXACT difference is a potential deal breaker for their American partners. 

Edited March 10, 2022 by magemaud

[Gobi]

47 minutes ago, magemaud said:

I just realized that both Hamza and Mahogany claimed to be two years older than their actual age and apparently that difference is a potential deal breaker for their American partners. 

It’s looking like Ben won’t get his come for Jesus moment.

[Tuneful]

I saw the first look epi, and IIRC, Gino goes to meet his SO's mother in his typical t-shirt, gym shorts, and sandals. He couldn't spring for a button-down shirt, pants, and shoes? Jasmine announces at the dinner table that he will not remove his hat. It's probably half an hour into the visit and her mother looks like Gino is a bad smell under her nose. The little sister is cute. 

It was worth every minute of this torturous season to see Ben start to get that he is friend-zoned, and always was. His (original) family will be rolling in the aisles. He's taking all that crap seriously that he dished out on the dating site and probably paid for by the minute. One of M's friends, Elizabeth, is poised and lovely--natural hair, fresh faced, and no t**s hanging out. 

I turn the sound off when that little garden gnome Memphis comes on because her talk is like a pickaxe to my brain. I do know she escalates her volume every time a foreign person doesn't understand what she said...which is ignorant. The translator reminds me of Larry Fine of the Three Stooges.

That was it. Not promising.   

 

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by Tuneful

[winsomeone]

What kind of work did Gino do before he was off the past 8-9 months, which is more than a year now? He said "I seen your nail on the floor." so doesn't strike me as very educated? From the looks of him and how cheap he is, what makes Jazmine think he has a house that is worthy of her?

[Tuneful]

1 hour ago, winsomeone said:

What kind of work did Gino do before he was off the past 8-9 months, which is more than a year now? 

He's a mechanical engineer. I wonder if he was that cheap while he had the previous job. With his "quirks," Gino may not fit with some situations. Still, supermarkets and delivery services, e.g., have been hiring since the pandemic started. I think a lot of these people are on the show because they want at shot at being a model, actor, influencer, etc., or just do 90Day shows for years. I think Jasmine is fond of Gino but not actually into him. Unlike Ximena, she may see a nice-guy stepfather for her kids, and a green card.  

Edited March 6, 2022 by Tuneful

[Kid]

On 3/3/2022 at 11:54 AM, hookedontv said:

finds him weird,

I bet she does not find those American dollars supporting her and her spawn to be weird.

[Tuneful]

Duplicate

Edited March 6, 2022 by Tuneful

[Kid]

What is it that Mike does NOT understand???  She was quite clear.

She has been clear all along. Every time she looks at him it’s obvious she can’t stand the sight of him.

Mike’s friend who was doing the translation nailed the situation completely!

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by Kid

[magemaud]

3 hours ago, winsomeone said:

What kind of work did Gino do before he was off the past 8-9 months, which is more than a year now? He said "I seen your nail on the floor." so doesn't strike me as very educated?

He worked for Ford and the average salary for his job is supposedly over $ 100K a year. When we "met" him in his first TH, he said “Because of the pandemic, I got laid off from my job as an automotive engineer about seven months ago, but since I’ve been smart with my savings, * I thankfully have been able to send money to help Jasmine out.” 

* that could be code for "cheap." 

I've heard many well educated people say, "I seen..." 

[1011101010001]

4 hours ago, winsomeone said:

What kind of work did Gino do before he was off the past 8-9 months, which is more than a year now? He said "I seen your nail on the floor." so doesn't strike me as very educated? From the looks of him and how cheap he is, what makes Jazmine think he has a house that is worthy of her?

Often people who are good at math or science aren’t that good at English usage or grammar.  I know that at some law schools those who do not have a liberal arts background often have to take a remedial writing class because it’s a different skill set to write up lab reports versus essays etc.

42 minutes ago, magemaud said:

He worked for Ford and the average salary for his job is supposedly over $ 100K a year. When we "met" him in his first TH, he said “Because of the pandemic, I got laid off from my job as an automotive engineer about seven months ago, but since I’ve been smart with my savings, * I thankfully have been able to send money to help Jasmine out.” 

* that could be code for "cheap." 

I've heard many well educated people say, "I seen..." 

I think many car manufacturers laid off people because there were supply chain issues with computer chips and cars are basically computers now.  But I wonder if that is the reason he was let go and even if so after the revenge porn etc. a major corporation will take him back.

[Xena]

Let's have a vote  - which is funnier :  Pole running OR Gino dancing?

• To vote for Pole running - choose the Useful (lighbulb) button.
• To vote for Gino dancing - choose the Surprise (suprise face) button.
• If you can't decide because they are both equally hysterical - please choose the Heart or Laugh button!

Edited March 6, 2022 by Xena

[myrrh]

Just typing my thoughts out as I watch

Kimbaally: "You're making me look like a fool, yo" yo, yo did I miss her saying this in previous episodes or something? I hope she asks for the console and laptop back 😆 Well, turns out he offered anyway. The end of the yammy?? I hope so, I don't care for Usman 

Ben is creep central. 24 is a-ok, but 22? Cradle robbing! His daughter is that age! He doesn't seem to be liking god's plan anymore. Also his phone is FILTHY. I don't know who cut Mahogany's hair like that but if I were her I'd be asking for my money back. I think she's quite pretty though

Ximena is totally checked out. I almost feel bad for Mike but the red flags have been glaring. Mike watching her sleep to the point where she wakes up and catches him regularly is off-putting as heck, I'd be scared he'd turn into Buffalo Bill and wear my skin

I'm team Hamza at this point, Memphis is doing too much. I do not envy the translators in this show, but they do get a good front row seat to some trainwrecks. All those drinks and teas look really good

I have nothing to add about Gino and Jasmine, Gino is the worst out of a bad bunch of Americans. Homeboy needs to get a hair piece or use his TLC money to get some hair plugs.

Overall, I've been pretty bored with this season, the only couple I was really interested in watching was what's her face "delta virus/not a big deal!" and Johnny. I didn't even watch the previous episode until last night 😅

[kristen111]

I can’t take Noxema.  Does Mike need to be hit over his head with a hammer?  Leave her, you damn fool.  Now she wants money for surgery?  She’s no model.  Go home back to the States.  She’s no good, and he’s a dope.  I feel sorry for her boys.

[JeanJean]

Mike makes me want to bang my head against the wall.

[KateHearts]

Mahogany is definitely looking for an out this episode- I can hardly blame her.  She looks very different in her THs vs the episodes with Ben- like she gained a significant amount of weight.  I think she was just having a good time and liked the idea of being on TV. Then, as many young girls do, realized she was over her head and got bothered by his heavy, creepy attention. He makes my skin crawl.

Gino and Jasmine are boring. They had a knock-down, drag-out like yesterday and now she's taking to meet "mommy"? I don't even believe any of it.

Ximena- he just needs to tell her the funds are cut off and get a ticket home. She just wants an ATM and he is so incredibly oblivious to the blatant "hints" ("I don't love you; you're gross; you are creepy; it's like you are stalking me"...) what more do you want, Mike?

I am scratching my head wondering how, oh how does Memphis even love Hamza when they can't communicate- AT ALL? Like literally all they can say is "I love you" and "sexy time." Am I missing something? Someone please explain!

[FrancescaFiore]

Ben: "None of my interactions with Mahogany have matched up to what she told me, and I'm pretty sure her apartment was fake. Also, she lied about her age & it turns out she's the same age as my daughter. I don't know what to do.. so I'm going to take her on a road trip." Anyone else notice that Mahogany was reacting to the translation app after it translated Spanish to English?

Hamza's proposal made me smile. Then it made me sad because it was to that manipulative harpy who talks to him like she Tarzan and he Jane.

Okay, yes. Ximena is mean, classless, a user and evidently the town pump. But Mike knew that she stopped working so that he could support her and her entire family. He allowed himself to be used.

Wow, does Jasmine's mom have a flat-affect! Even while she was looking at old photos of Jasmine and talking about her love for her daughter, not a smile. Not an eye twinkle. Nothing. Nunca. I'm starting to understand the origin of Jasmine's histrionics. She didn't want to be like her mother, so she went polar opposite. 

Kim's freakout doesn't make sense, yo. That was some WTFuckery from TLC's plot tinkerers.

My Bullshit-O-Meter has been sputtering and sparking all season. Tonight, it caught fire and blew up. 

[Adeejay]

Kimbaaaly and Usman appear to be acting.  And are doing a terrible job, I might add.  I am at a loss as to what they are arguing about. Is it that Usman neglected to tell Kim that Zara is a real person that he was in love with or that he neglected to tell her that he was in another relationship right before her?

Wonder how much extra they had to pay Benjamin and Mahogany to continue this farce. It’s clear as day that they are on two completely different pages.  I don’t for a minute believe she was the one he was corresponding with. 

Even if Mike catches Ximena in bed with another man, he will still want clarification as to where he stands.

[Frozendiva]

I did laugh at the show's title being Foreigner's 'Head Games'.

[Mrs. Landingham]

15 minutes ago, FrancescaFiore said:

Anyone else notice that Mahogany was reacting to the translation app after it translated Spanish to English?

Yes. Also, after Ben bleated out to her friends “So who is hooooome-bray?” she immediately (and it seemed, instinctively) said to him “what?” in a perfect American accent before explaining to her friends he meant “hambre”.  At least I think she did, I’d have to replay it. Anyways, her indifference to him plus the fake home obviously all screams scam. Which I am totally fine with, given what a swine Ben is. I revel in his embarrassment and failure. 

After learning about Mike’s old social media posts, I am rooting for Ximena to fleece his ass for every measly penny he’s worth. And he can definitely continue to step in dog excrement every day for the rest of his life.

 

[JeanJean]

51 minutes ago, Mrs. Landingham said:

After learning about Mike’s old social media posts, I am rooting for Ximena to fleece his ass for every measly penny he’s worth. And he can definitely continue to step in dog excrement every day for the rest of his life.

 

Just read about that myself.

[Meowwww]

Old creeper Ben leading with his penis.  So fucking gross.  Creeper.   He’s acting all confused but who is 52 years old and is a predator of a 22 year old. 

Edited March 7, 2022 by Meowwww

[JeanJean]

1 hour ago, Mrs. Landingham said:

After learning about Mike’s old social media posts, I am rooting for Ximena to fleece his ass for every measly penny he’s worth. And he can definitely continue to step in dog excrement every day for the rest of his life.

 

Just read about that myself.

TLC needs to start vetting their cast better. Abuser Geoffrey (thankfully in prison), Alina, now Mike.

[magemaud]

10 hours ago, Xena said:

 

Let's have a vote  - which is funnier :  Pole running OR Gino dancing?

 

I’m holding off on voting until after I see the Mike doing the promised Pole Run. That might be voting option #3 

[FrancescaFiore]

Further Fuckery: Ben and Mahogany having those bizarre hybrid Spanish-English conversations, where he'll literally be speaking rapidly in English about complex issues (like going to therapy) then all of a sudden pull out the translation app and need to use it to translate incredibly basic words. Meanwhile, she's figured out how she can get him to stop talking about her lies to him: get him going on with his religious blather. She uses it to change the subject and steer conversations away from topics like, "When I met your parents at what was clearly not your apartment, why did it seem so much like it was your first time meeting them, too?" She's learned to distract him by just saying, "So.. Jesus, right?"

Edited March 7, 2022 by FrancescaFiore

[nutella fitzgerald]

Ella wasn’t even in this episode, and I still had to see her crying! No te amo, TLC.

[Texasmom1970]

Was it just me or did Mahogany's so called friends look too old to know her from school? One of them looked old enough to be a teacher, not a student. 

[kristen111]

9 hours ago, FrancescaFiore said:

Ben: "None of my interactions with Mahogany have matched up to what she told me, and I'm pretty sure her apartment was fake. Also, she lied about her age & it turns out she's the same age as my daughter. I don't know what to do.. so I'm going to take her on a road trip." Anyone else notice that Mahogany was reacting to the translation app after it translated Spanish to English?

Hamza's proposal made me smile. Then it made me sad because it was to that manipulative harpy who talks to him like she Tarzan and he Jane.

Okay, yes. Ximena is mean, classless, a user and evidently the town pump. But Mike knew that she stopped working so that he could support her and her entire family. He allowed himself to be used.

Wow, does Jasmine's mom have a flat-affect! Even while she was looking at old photos of Jasmine and talking about her love for her daughter, not a smile. Not an eye twinkle. Nothing. Nunca. I'm starting to understand the origin of Jasmine's histrionics. She didn't want to be like her mother, so she went polar opposite. 

Kim's freakout doesn't make sense, yo. That was some WTFuckery from TLC's plot tinkerers.

My Bullshit-O-Meter has been sputtering and sparking all season. Tonight, it caught fire and blew up. 

P.S. My Mother was going to name me Francesca, but opted for Frances instead.  I wish she would have as I just love your name.  It’s romantic.  ( if it is).

Edited March 7, 2022 by kristen111

[kristen111]

21 hours ago, Tuneful said:

He's a mechanical engineer. I wonder if he was that cheap while he had the previous job. With his "quirks," Gino may not fit with some situations. Still, supermarkets and delivery services, e.g., have been hiring since the pandemic started. I think a lot of these people are on the show because they want at shot at being a model, actor, influencer, etc., or just do 90Day shows for years. I think Jasmine is fond of Gino but not actually into him. Unlike Ximena, she may see a nice-guy stepfather for her kids, and a green card.  

You mean she would take her two kids to the states?  She has no love for him.  She wants to come here to be a movie star, as she’s so beautiful and talented. Lol.  That screaming and yelling was a tryout.  My husband says she’s a good 45, hahaha.  That can’t be tho as her Mother is about Ginos age I told him.  Mechanical Engineer?  Doubt that as he’s dumb as rocks.

[magemaud]

6 hours ago, FrancescaFiore said:

She's learned to distract him by just saying, "So.. Jesus, right?"

She talked about Jesus like he was a Superhero. Okay, I guess He is, but to say things like “He was the strongest man in the world” and Ben’s response that “Before He suffered, he spent a few hours in a garden...” just sounded like a child’s Sunday School lesson. Oh, that’s right, he was a Youth Pastor and used to discussing the Bible in simplistic terms 

[My Girls]

Ben can claim his religion all he wants and go on about how his past relationship fails weren't his fault, but all I see is a dirty old man creeping on a young woman.  Apparently he's too good for 50 year old women, which is probably the REAL reason behind his marriage fail.  His last girlfriend hit 30 wasn't it?  That's when he ended it?  And that scene of him with his hand on her ass was just gross.  I wish these dirty old men had an idea how ridiculous they look.  I was 20 once and we would get a good laugh outta these geezers (to us) coming on to us.

[PinkFlamingo]

I work with many so called mechanical engineers and I can confirm that intelligence is not required to do the job, not there at least.  We have product engineers that are more intelligent. 

[Polliwollidoodle]

On 3/5/2022 at 7:10 PM, magemaud said:

I just realized that both Hamza and Mahogany claimed to be two years older than their actual age and apparently that difference is a potential deal breaker for their American partners. 

This! Future "contestants" please note- it can be 1, 3 or 4 but 2 is the generally acknowledged deal breaker. 

[anoninrva]

1 hour ago, magemaud said:

She talked about Jesus like he was a Superhero. Okay, I guess He is, but to say things like “He was the strongest man in the world” and Ben’s response that “Before He suffered, he spent a few hours in a garden...” just sounded like a child’s Sunday School lesson. Oh, that’s right, he was a Youth Pastor and used to discussing the Bible in simplistic terms 

I'd thought her question was "Why does Jesus allow so much suffering in the world", which wasn't really answered.  Maybe I misunderstood something.  My Spanish is only so good.

[mytmo]

Give me a break Ben doesn't want to discuss his past.  His existing kids just disappear if they are not mentioned.  The whole youth pastor creeper vibe is overwhelming and his explanation of Jesus' strength was underwhelming.  The 2 year difference really doesn't bother him.  It just messes with his whole justification of his predatorness.

Why was Jasmine portrayed like she's a naive babe in the woods with the whole age difference thing with Gino?  Isn't she like 35?

Edited March 7, 2022 by mytmo

[seacliffsal]

So much to say about some of the participants, so I'll start with the easy stuff: still don't care about Jasmine and Gino.  She wants the green card as there is no other reason to be with him IMO.

Okay, so Memphis is surprised that Hamza doesn't like it when she yells at him?  She seemed shocked when the translator told her that and she had to incredulously ask Hamza if that was true.  And, I am so over people using being "strong" as a reason for their anger.  Strong does not equal; strong implies that there is an inner strength to get through difficult times and that one is also able to support others through their trials and tribulations.  Memphis thinks it means that when she doesn't get what she wants/hears what she wants that she is able to use her anger to get her way.  Still, Hamza, like others, wants the green card so there you go.

Kim also wants what she wants when she wants.  Usman unknowingly burst her fantasy bubble so there will be no forgiveness for him.  He dared to cause her to face reality.

If Mike doesn't cut things off with Ximena, then he will spend all of his money in an effort to get her "love."  Mike is fortunate to have good friends who speak the truth to him.  His friend who did the translation was spot on.  I know she infused her own opinion into her translations but she wasn't wrong.  I hope Mike does follow through and get on the next flight home.

But it's Ben who creeps me out the most.  Not only did he go to Peru after she told him no, he is now going to "isolate" Mahogony in order to get her to "love" him.  The message has been super clear since he arrived in Peru-Mahogony does not see him as a boyfriend and is not envisioning marriage and family with him.  But that doesn't stop him.  I could not believe how he was touching her at the lunch (especially as she does not consider him to be anymore than a friend).  What also bothered me is that it looked like the tent set up in the desert was for them to spend the night-that he would send the driver home and be there alone with her.  And his anger when she was questioning him about his past was very telling.  Those producers better not leave her alone for a moment-I just know that he got two room keys to both rooms and will feel entitled to enter her room when the producers leave for the night.  Mahogony needs to rethink her participation in this show and just leave and go back to her real house and stop all interactions with Ben. Ben sees his will as being God's will and therefore will think all attempts to end the relationship as going against God as he has placed too much importance on what he wants no matter the resistance and actual words to "don't come."  He already seems to be in disbelief that she isn't into him as much as he is into her and he has already demonstrated that he doesn't care what she says ("don't come") and that he is going to do what he wants to do.  Oh, and she doesn't have any protection when in the car for the 3 1/2 hour drive as they are being filmed by a mounted camera-not a camera person/producer.  The producers need to step in.

[Breedom]

12 hours ago, FrancescaFiore said:

Even while she was looking at old photos of Jasmine and talking about her love for her daughter, not a smile. Not an eye twinkle. Nothing. Nunca.

Mommy: Who is that homeless man you are with?

Jasmin: Mommy, it's the love of my life!

Gino, you have to step up your game in the clothes department. You are trying to impress Jasmine's mom, but you come to her home wearing a tee-shirt, shorts and floppy sandals? I will forgive the hat as it's deeply entrenched in your insecurities. Listen to Jasmine's advice here and you would have made a better first impression.

How rude was Jasmine's mom? This is how she welcomes people into her home? Silence, staring disapprovingly, not even a hint of a smile. A disappointed judgemental shake of her head while glaring at Gino. OK, I get it . . . you don't like the age difference. I don't know if Jasmine shared anything of what's going on in their relationship (like the online photo sharing), if so, I would understand the coldness,  but still try and figure out what your daughter loves about Gino, what he has to offer and look past his age.  You can nurture that hate later if you feel its all deserved, but give him a chance now as this is the man your daughter has chosen. Gino was understandably uncomfortable with eagle eye staring him down wordlessly.  I do think that Gino and Jasmine love each other.

[SevenCostanza]

On 3/5/2022 at 8:47 PM, Tuneful said:

I turn the sound off when that little garden gnome Memphis comes on because her talk is like a pickaxe to my brain. I do know she escalates her volume every time a foreign person doesn't understand what she said...which is ignorant.

I can't stand her.   She thinks if she yells he'll suddenly understand what she's saying.