S06.E05: Suspect

[greekmom]

Quote

Tyray discovers shocking information about Carmella; Meisha asks to meet Nicola's family; David spends his first night with Sheila; Gino gets some tough love; Riley's friend warns him about Violet; Christian is off to see Cleo.

First Look: 30/06/23; TLC: 02/07/23; Discovery+: 02/07/23;

[magemaud]

Looks like Nicola got to third base! 

[greekmom]

8 hours ago, magemaud said:

Looks like Nicola got to third base! 

NIcola: "Heavy petting.. what is that?"

LoL. Dude is lucky some woman is willing to give it to him. Truly Meisha is looking for the D and I don't know why Nicola just doesn't give it up. I mean he wont get it elsewhere.  Loved how conveniently he used the Bible when she asked about him telling his family about her.  Just goes to show you, if you get a conservative religious dude no matter what the religion is, they will use their bible/koran/torah whatever as an excuse of "tell me where (insert holy book) it says that I need to (insert excuse)."

I feel for David. But why are they not using the translator app more?

 

[Gobi]

49 minutes ago, greekmom said:

NIcola: "Heavy petting.. what is that?"

LoL. Dude is lucky some woman is willing to give it to him. Truly Meisha is looking for the D and I don't know why Nicola just doesn't give it up. I mean he wont get it elsewhere.  Loved how conveniently he used the Bible when she asked about him telling his family about her.  Just goes to show you, if you get a conservative religious dude no matter what the religion is, they will use their bible/koran/torah whatever as an excuse of "tell me where (insert holy book) it says that I need to (insert excuse)."

I feel for David. But why are they not using the translator app more?

 

I have the feeling that Nicola won’t be inserting anything.

[Elizzikra]

1 hour ago, greekmom said:

NIcola: "Heavy petting.. what is that?"

LoL. Dude is lucky some woman is willing to give it to him. Truly Meisha is looking for the D and I don't know why Nicola just doesn't give it up. I mean he wont get it elsewhere.  Loved how conveniently he used the Bible when she asked about him telling his family about her.  Just goes to show you, if you get a conservative religious dude no matter what the religion is, they will use their bible/koran/torah whatever as an excuse of "tell me where (insert holy book) it says that I need to (insert excuse)."

I feel for David. But why are they not using the translator app more?

 

I think Nicola is very conflicted about sex. Like any reasonably healthy human, he probably has a sex drive. But his religion has made sex a “sin” outside a very specific set of circumstances and now he is a 42 year old with pretty much no experience so I think he is also afraid of having sex. I do believe that he is celibate for religious reasons but I also think that conveniently allows him to avoid his conflict about the subject.

[1011101010001]

10 hours ago, magemaud said:

Looks like Nicola got to third base! 

I thought third base is oral.

Does anyone under 80 use the term petting?  It’s very Laverne and Shirley.

Did we have to watch David urinate in real time?  Good thing they didn’t eat there as he had nowhere to wash his hands.  Did David actually sign the word “poop” or was that Sharp being juvenile?

7 minutes ago, Elizzikra said:

and now he is a 42 year old with pretty much no experience

Worse, 46.

[Fable]

Heavy petting?  Urination?  This episode sounds riveting!  I can hardly contain my excitement.

[1011101010001]

43 minutes ago, Fable said:

Heavy petting?  Urination? 

Luckily not at the same time.

[Elizzikra]

1 hour ago, MrBuhBye said:

Luckily not at the same time.

That we know of…

[1011101010001]

I did enjoy the travel porn of seeing where Mary used to get her water.  My apologies for using Mary and porn in the same sentence.

[Shrek]

1 hour ago, MrBuhBye said:

Luckily not at the same time.

It was only a preview so you never know.

[magemaud]

5 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

I thought third base is oral.

Does anyone under 80 use the term petting?  It’s very Laverne and Shirley.

Did we have to watch David urinate in real time?  Good thing they didn’t eat there as he had nowhere to wash his hands.  Did David actually sign the word “poop” or was that Sharp being juvenile?

I'm old, I forgot the bases. In my day third was "anything but penetration." (Ugh, I can't believe I just typed that.) 

I also thought that "heavy petting" was an obsolete term. It was funny how Nicola had no idea what the producer was talking about when he asked him.

The public urination scene was totally gross. At least they turned off the light briefly. And don't get me started on not being able to wash his hands. And yes, apparently David signed something about glad he didn't have to poop. (I'm glad, too.) I actually know the sign for needing the toilet, it's the letter T (thumb between index and middle finger) and you rotate your fist, but don't know the Poop sign. 

[greekmom]

3 hours ago, Fable said:

Heavy petting?  Urination?  This episode sounds riveting!  I can hardly contain my excitement. excrement.

FIFY

5 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

I thought third base is oral.

Does anyone under 80 use the term petting?  It’s very Laverne and Shirley.

Did we have to watch David urinate in real time?  Good thing they didn’t eat there as he had nowhere to wash his hands.  Did David actually sign the word “poop” or was that Sharp being juvenile?

Worse, 46.

According to google " Third base is stimulating anywhere below the waist".  According to another source "Richters and Rissel conversely state that "third base" is now sometimes considered to comprise oral sex as part of the accepted pattern of activities, as a precursor to "full" (i.e. penetrative) sex." Maybe if Nicola got oral he would equal it to sex !?? Why am I goggling this? It's almost worse than finding out about "soaking".

Guess TLC lives up to their name of the "learning channel."

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, greekmom said:

Guess TLC lives up to their name of the "learning channel."

They have covered everything except fisting so far.  Maybe next season.

[Frozendiva]

I missed a riveting preview?

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, Frozendiva said:

I missed a riveting preview?

Yes it was rosy.

[SunnyBeBe]

It’s difficult for me to believe Meisha really wants intimacy with Nicola.  When she looks at him….it’s as if she’s thinking…..it’ll never happen.  The woman is clueless about packing. Has she ever traveled?  

Edited July 2, 2023 by SunnyBeBe

[1011101010001]

22 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

It’s difficult for me to believe Meisha really wants intimacy with Nicola.  When she looks at him….it’s as if she’s thinking…..it’ll never happen.  The woman is clueless about packing. Has she ever traveled?  

You would think with her supposed devotion she would know excessive focus on clothing and Botox etc. constitutes the sin of vanity which is the worst of the seven deadly sins.

[SunnyBeBe]

4 minutes ago, MrBuhBye said:

You would think with her supposed devotion she would know excessive focus on clothing and Botox etc. constitutes the sin of vanity which is the worst of the seven deadly sins.

Yeah and just common sense.  Multiple pairs of similar sandals?  Lol Nobody really cares about you footwear.  And, who packs fabrics that wrinkle?  Idk.  High maintenance.  🙄

[DEL901]

1 hour ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Yeah and just common sense.  Multiple pairs of similar sandals?  Lol Nobody really cares about you footwear.  And, who packs fabrics that wrinkle?  Idk.  High maintenance.  🙄

I noticed the sandal thing too.   ….and for an 8day trip?  Ridiculous.  

[1011101010001]

43 minutes ago, DEL901 said:

I noticed the sandal thing too.   ….and for an 8day trip?  Ridiculous.  

She saw all those Biblical paintings of folks in sandals and wanted to blend in.

[AR Traveler]

True enough, when I watched Nicola fishing, I thought of Jesus's disciples right there!  My childhood Bible book showed the ubiquitous blue-eyed, long red hair European Jesus and his not bad looking disciples, not schlumpy Nicola. 

I cannot wait 45 minutes.  We are going to be on fire tonight, I can tell.

[Auntie Anxiety]

On 7/1/2023 at 3:41 PM, magemaud said:

I'm old, I forgot the bases. In my day third was "anything but penetration.”

Carlos? VaLentine? Is that you?

4 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

just common sense

On this show? That’s cute.

[Fable]

4 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Lol Nobody really cares about you footwear.

Contrary!  Everyone knows shoes make the outfit!  

[bravofan27]

Amanda, though very not "made for reality TV' given her stoic nothingness she brings, is smart to be wary of the dude. He is a player. Those tears were so fake, and unfortunately, I think she fell for it. He's trying hard to have sex, IMO.

What's up with the guy that won't accept he was scammed, and insists this is a real person. What a moron-- he's exactly why there are so many scammers-- people are just so desperate to believe they are in a relationship. Now he's thinking she is a victim of human trafficking. Very sad how sheltered and how few coping mechanisms people have. I think he is refusing to believe this lady is real because he has no capacity or skills to handle disappointment, rejection, and humiliation, and lives in a very small, sheltered world. He would rather play this out than admit he was wrong and was scammed. 

 

[Fable]

57 minutes ago, bravofan27 said:

He would rather play this out than admit he was wrong and was scammed.

It's easier to fool a person than to convince them that they have been fooled, or so Mark Twain has said.  

[1011101010001]

I know when I think of a romantic date I think about looking at tanks.

[anoninrva]

1 hour ago, bravofan27 said:

What's up with the guy that won't accept he was scammed, and insists this is a real person. What a moron-- he's exactly why there are so many scammers-- people are just so desperate to believe they are in a relationship. Now he's thinking she is a victim of human trafficking. Very sad how sheltered and how few coping mechanisms people have. I think he is refusing to believe this lady is real because he has no capacity or skills to handle disappointment, rejection, and humiliation, and lives in a very small, sheltered world. He would rather play this out than admit he was wrong and was scammed. 

 

I was also thinking of how irresponsible it was of his sister to show this poor woman whose likenesses had been stolen by some unscrupulous scammer and not stress to him that they *are not the same person*.   I get Tyree being so invested in the scam over several years, but I don't get how he can't understand that the escort was not the person who had been scamming him.

[bravofan27]

28 minutes ago, Fable said:

It's easier to fool a person than to convince them that they have been fooled, or so Mark Twain has said.  

Deep.

5 minutes ago, anoninrva said:

I was also thinking of how irresponsible it was of his sister to show this poor woman whose likenesses had been stolen by some unscrupulous scammer and not stress to him that they *are not the same person*.   I get Tyree being so invested in the scam over several years, but I don't get how he can't understand that the escort was not the person who had been scamming him.

I think he will go to his grave thinking this was the person contacting him. His sister is maybe playing with him a bit, but it's ultimately up to him to accept the truth. Unless he has some mental or IQ issue that hasn't been addressed, it's really on him IMO. His sister is seems a little scared of him. 

Edited July 3, 2023 by bravofan27

[Kiss my mutt]

I was wondering if Violet was trying to inspire an analogy by showing an American service man tanks that were used to defeat the Americans during the Vietnam war and then saying “we win!” She’s got the upper hand here. 
I was so grossed out when the deaf guy peed against the walk and then grabbed her hand! Hygiene goes a long way in relationships. He so gross. I can’t believe she slept with him not having had a shower first. 

Edited July 3, 2023 by Kiss my mutt

[renatae]

David's expression rarely changes and it creeps me out. Violet seems to really like him so I hope it goes well for them.

Nicola telling Meisha she was more tolerable with her mouth shut. Seriously, dude? She's trying to talk about important issues and he acts like a four year old. He's been chatting with her for seven years and his brother is so busy he can't even mention her. Sure.

The big guy with Violet seems to expect way too much. Sure, she should be available, but it seems nothing she does is enough.

 

[Hellohappylife]

Meisha & Nicola’s conversations are just dreadful. Can the two chat about anything else outside of Jesus?  Are they looking for Love or a bible school friend? Meisha is gonna be so disappointed when they (if) do have sex. Nicola is definitely the type that will only have missionary sex. 

I found it comical the clerk at that “restaurant” was wearing gloves, as if that helps,never mind the bugs all over, that dusty house fan blowing around particles into the air. That alley he urinated in was probably much cleaner than that place. 

[Stuckathome]

Oh boy.....

I LOL'd when Riley was on the phone with his sister (I think that is who she was) and they were just so perplexed that Violet's panties didn't drop over the "pearls". He said "she acted like it was basic." Because to her it WAS basic! And, those aren't even real pearls FFS. Stop acting like you didn't pick those up at Costco or Walmart or off Amazon. Rather than just enjoying the day with her and being happy that she did make him a priority, he had to pester her nonstop with questions. And, I think although her English seems very good when she speaks, Violet sometimes does struggle to express herself with Riley and to really understand what he is asking her or wants to talk about. They should use an app MORE. And that cheap ass ring looked like a man's wedding band. Not a women's engagement or promise ring. WTF is helping this man shop for jewelry?? 

Christian and Chloe----again, the dude is in this for self promotion. If he suddenly has any second thoughts, it's not from anything his friends or family have said about her being trans. It's because he is realizing oh shit this will be broadcast and I will either look like I hooked up with a trans woman or I shunned a trans person. Depends which audience he is planning to shill for which road he chooses and perhaps he has a bit of guilt that an actual person is caught up in this game and will be hurt. I predict once they meet, the intimacy will be ZERO. And his excuse will be the difficulty of being with an autistic trans person, just like Caleb kept making an issue of Alina's disability and how he never realized what an issue with would be. FAKE FAKE FAKE. 

Tyree is too stupid to live. I don't think his sister looked afraid, I think she was just in shock at his stupidity and delusions. When he went on about how it is shocking that "Carmella" could hide that she was an escort from him when they had been in a relationship for 4 years, I wanted her to shake him and say, "you were NOT in a relationship. It is NOT a relationship when you never hear the person's voice or see them on video and never actually meet up at some point. You could have been talking to a fucking bot." Most likely yes, the scammer stole that woman's pics. Yet here is this moron now going to track down an escort from a website to confront her. WTF. 

Sheila and David......sigh. The fact that he can't read lips and she can't sign pretty much makes me think they are doomed. I did appreciate that while he did the typical ugly American complaining about hygiene WRT the restaurant, he rolled with it. Ditto for the hotel. I doubt he earns a lot of money, and hasn't traveled much so he didn't realize how dirty a budget friendly hotel in a developing country would be, lol. Lesson learned, you need to spring for 5 star plus in certain parts of the world, like Riley in Vietnam. I can imagine being in a new country with so many new things when you can't hear a peep of it would be a little overwhelming and scary. Again though, he didn't freak out and blame Sheila or act rudely to anyone, so points there. 

Jasmine and Gino---this woman is certifiable. She pretty much admitted to her sister that what she has is an obsession. Her sister looked like she is used to her histrionics with her very calm, "you should drink some water." 

 

[seacliffsal]

My heart is with Sheila as I think she really, really, really wants a better life and David seems to be the ticket out of poverty for her.  But, really?  He couldn't take time for a shower before bed?  I think they will work out-she seems like she is trying to learn ASL and that will be a huge factor in their futures.

Nicolo?  I think we are seeing more and more why he hasn't been in a relationship for quite a while.  He was so very dismissive of Meisha.  And, he was quick to try to embarrass her into silence-'show me in the Bible where it says I have to introduce you to my family.'  He is betting that she doesn't know the Bible that well, because there are plenty of references regarding his behavior (from honoring his mother, love is patient and kind, etc., etc., etc.).  However, Meisha's continuing the debate over whether or not to introduce her to his family is not going to convince him to do so.  I think she already knows this relationship is over and should just go join a tour group and see as much as Israel as possible.

Amanda is making Razvan work hard for the green card.  I really don't understand why the participants think the loves of their lives have to drop everything, including their jobs, to make them happy.  Riley should be glad that Violet has a job (and she referenced a real reason why she couldn't see him until the evening [even though she later rearranged her schedule] as it was for her job).  Amanda should be aware of what Razvan does for a living and he did invite her to be in the video.  In a way, I think that Amanda still sees herself as 19 (before she got married), and so is pulling the 'pouty' face and the teenage angst and jealousy.

Cleo's cats are adorable.  That is probably the most positive thing I will be able to say about two wanna be influencers trying to get screen time (this is solely my opinion and if they are truly in love and want to be with each other forever, then I will admit that I am wrong).

[Stuckathome]

23 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

Nicolo?  I think we are seeing more and more why he hasn't been in a relationship for quite a while.  He was so very dismissive of Meisha. 

Absolutely....I thought he treated her horribly the entire day. I hope that she realizes this is a no go and just sort of plays along and rides this out to see the sights and collect her TLC paycheck. The man is clueless and dismissive and I can't imagine him in the US. I forget, did they mention what he does for a paycheck? I see his point about the relationship being about the two of them and screw what anyone else thinks, but he fails to even consider how it is also disrespectful of Meisha as his future wife (LOL as if there is a snowball chance in hell) or at least his 7 year Bible study buddy that he has never mentioned her. 

And WTF is the new woman showing up next week? The lesbian from TX? Why introduce her so late in the game? Because Tyree is going to go get his ass kicked at a 1-900 call center and stop filming? 

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, Stuckathome said:

I think she was just in shock at his stupidity and delusions.

I would start wondering if he is competent to be a caregiver.  

46 minutes ago, seacliffsal said:

Amanda should be aware of what Razvan does for a living and he did invite her to be in the video. 

While he may control the content of his own music video does she think an actor never kisses on set?  So he should turn down all those jobs or try to convince the directors to cut the scenes?

[1011101010001]

21 minutes ago, Stuckathome said:

I forget, did they mention what he does for a paycheck?

The friend said he was broke and unemployed.  Sometimes adult children pretend they are helping mom or dad by living with them when they are really leeching.  I bet he prefers saying the rosary to looking for work.

[Quof]

20 minutes ago, MrBuhBye said:

does she think an actor never kisses on set

Maybe he could do a Kirk Cameron?

Why can none of the Americans speak English properly?  Between Christian talking about "Cleo and I's relationship" and a "riff" with his family, Gino and his "pre-nump" and Meisha wanting to "nip it in the butt", it's like one big ESL lesson. 

Edited July 3, 2023 by Quof

[1011101010001]

12 minutes ago, Quof said:

Maybe he could do a Kirk Cameron?

Why can none of the Americans speak English properly?  Between Christian talking about "Cleo and I's relationship" and a "riff" with his family, Gino and his "pre-nump" and Meisha wanting to "nip it in the butt", it's like one big ESL lesson. 

That pronoun thing goes on in every reality show. I think they teach English differently now than they did years ago. I had read they jettisoned phonics altogether. I think people use “I” or “I’s” (which isn’t even a word) when they should use “me” or “my” because they think it sounds more educated. When in doubt, they use a variant of “I”. You don’t hear a lot of the opposite, such as “Josh and me went on a date,” although you do hear “Josh and myself disagreed” lol.

[Quof]

19 minutes ago, MrBuhBye said:

Josh and myself

Middle Management Myself. If I have more pronouns, I must be more important.

[Matty]

Nikola is a misogynist. A rude, judgemental, critical, rigid, narrow-minded nitwit. I'm paraphrasing, but I think he said "The woman will never control man. I am the man" or something along those lines. This guy will never find someone to marry. He has a bird in hand with Meisha but can't even manage to be charming, kind, complimentary, and well mannered while she is there. After seven years of waiting to meet each other in person, this is his best side? There are other single, Catholic men, Meisha.

[1011101010001]

47 minutes ago, Matty said:

"The woman will never control man. I am the man" or something along those lines.

I think fundamentalist Christians both Protestant and Catholic believe that the man is the head of the family and the woman should obey him etc.  I wonder if Nicola is into that super conservative Opus Dei stuff that Mel Gibson (who also exhibits misogyny and anger issues) espouses.

[Shrek]

There are lots of religions & cultures  (if not most)  that believe the man is the head of the family. 

[mmecorday]

Quote

My heart is with Sheila as I think she really, really, really wants a better life and David seems to be the ticket out of poverty for her.  But, really?  He couldn't take time for a shower before bed?  I think they will work out-she seems like she is trying to learn ASL and that will be a huge factor in their futures.

I want to be a cheerleader for this couple ... but David just seems creepy to me. And just because he's deaf doesn't mean he is exempt from observing proper table manners. Watching him shovel that food into his pie hole would have turned me off. If I were Sheila, I'd say, "Let's make a deal. I'll become proficient in ASL if you stop slurping up your food like a starved caveman." 

Quote

I was wondering if Violet was trying to inspire an analogy by showing an American service man tanks that were used to defeat the Americans during the Vietnam war and then saying “we win!” She’s got the upper hand here. 

If that was Violet's intention, Riley certainly didn't seem to pick up on it. But that's a really good interpretation of that scene. 

[Stuckathome]

Why would Violet leave her life and daughters (can they come with her right away) to go live in small town PA with blowhard Riley? He will constantly bring up her past, any single lie he ever caught her in, etc. He and his family remind me of a scene in an Oliver Stone film, "heaven and earth" I think it is called. The man (Tommy Lee Jones) brings his Vietnamese wife to the states right after the war ends and his family goes into this rant about how she should be super grateful to the US and her husband for this amazing life (I dont' remember the details of what they say to her, that is the general idea). And her husband lays into them about all the suffering that the Vietnamese endured and basically how if they want her to grovel for their scraps, they can fuck off. That would be Violet's life with Riley and his clan. They are already showing it by being super pissed off that she didn't blow him right in the restaurant because he gave her some Walmart "pearls." 

[FrancescaFiore]

Tyray is just sad.

Nicola is a 46 year old virgin for a reason. " You are most cute when you are mute?" He wouldn't have been able to get to the end of that sentence without seeing the back of me and hearing the door slam behind me. Does Meisha really think that being religious requires her to be subservient and accepting of that kind of abuse? Gross.

Riley is getting bad advice from home, but he's also far too self-assured in his wrongness. Riding Violet for having plans with a school which sounds like it's work related or family related and not being able to see him until later in the day on his second day is not in the least bit in considerate of her. I live in a tourist town and when people come to visit I do what I can to give them as much of my time as I can but my whole life doesn't just stop because they've decided to come visit. And then Riley wasn't even happy when she changed her plans to spend more time with him. He still felt compelled to continue harping on that. I think it's pretty clear that she's not attracted to him.

Glad Razvan is finally pushing back. Demanda is rude, manipulative and mean. She refuses to be the girl he kisses in his video and then refuses to let an actress be that girl. Her bullshit manipulative tactic of "your actions will tell me what I need to know," made me so angry. She's completely oblivious to the fact that her own actions should be telling him everything he needs to know and that he should run, not walk away.

I can't express how deeply I despise the way that they are showing David and Sheila's story. It's just gross that they don't put any music over their scenes like they do for everybody else so you hear David making the grunting and mouth smacking sounds that deaf people aren't aware they're making. It even seems like they've amplified those things in post-production. They also play this weird like circus music for the intros when they're going into David and Sheila's story, like they are some kind of side show. Watching the show always made me feel bad about myself, but it's beginning to make me feel dirty now, too. They are so exploitative.

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, FrancescaFiore said:

Tyray is just sad.

Nicola is a 46 year old virgin for a reason. " You are most cute when you are mute?" He wouldn't have been able to get to the end of that sentence without seeing the back of me and hearing the door slam behind me. Does Meisha really think that being religious requires her to be subservient and accepting of that kind of abuse? Gross.

Riley is getting bad advice from home, but he's also far too self-assured in his wrongness. Riding Violet for having plans with a school which sounds like it's work related or family related and not being able to see him until later in the day on his second day is not in the least bit in considerate of her. I live in a tourist town and when people come to visit I do what I can to give them as much of my time as I can but my whole life doesn't just stop because they've decided to come visit. And then Riley wasn't even happy when she changed her plans to spend more time with him. He still felt compelled to continue harping on that. I think it's pretty clear that she's not attracted to him.

Glad Razvan is finally pushing back. Demanda is rude, manipulative and mean. She refuses to be the girl he kisses in his video and then refuses to let an actress be that girl. Her bullshit manipulative tactic of "your actions will tell me what I need to know," made me so angry. She's completely oblivious to the fact that her own actions should be telling him everything he needs to know and that he should run, not walk away.

I can't express how deeply I despise the way that they are showing David and Sheila's story. It's just gross that they don't put any music over their scenes like they do for everybody else so you hear David making the grunting and mouth smacking sounds that deaf people aren't aware they're making. It even seems like they've amplified those things in post-production. They also play this weird like circus music for the intros when they're going into David and Sheila's story, like they are some kind of side show. Watching the show always made me feel bad about myself, but it's beginning to make me feel dirty now, too. They are so exploitative.

Yeah they do that whoosh and the muffled thing back and forth.  Imagine what they would do for a blind person or someone who hallucinates.  

[Elizzikra]

1 hour ago, FrancescaFiore said:

 

I can't express how deeply I despise the way that they are showing David and Sheila's story. It's just gross that they don't put any music over their scenes like they do for everybody else so you hear David making the grunting and mouth smacking sounds that deaf people aren't aware they're making. It even seems like they've amplified those things in post-production. They also play this weird like circus music for the intros when they're going into David and Sheila's story, like they are some kind of side show. Watching the show always made me feel bad about myself, but it's beginning to make me feel dirty now, too. They are so exploitative.

I like David and Sheila and I hope they work out. I don’t love how they are being portrayed either. I particularly couldn’t understand why David was eating rice with his hands (that I hope he washed after peeing outside). Did the restaurant not give them utensils and there were none in the hotel room? It also seems like David would have learned table manners along the line; I know he probably makes noises he doesn’t realize he is making, but I’m sure his family or school would have taught him to use silverware and chew with his mouth closed. 

I think it’s sweet that Sheila has learned some sign language and I can see her learning more and more if she stays with David. I really do hope they are the real deal and have a good future ahead.

[kirklandia]

If I have this straight - Tyray hooked up with "Carmella from Barbados" on a dating site.  
Nope, he is being catfish by a dude.

Dude is using the picture of a woman who works as an escort.  A reverse image search reveals that she is offering her services in Stockton.

Just 30 miles from Tyray's home in Modesto.

This seems like an extremely unlikely coincidence.  
(Yes, I am wearing my skeptical spectacles.)

Edited July 3, 2023 by kirklandia

[AR Traveler]

Okay, somebody has to say it.  Violet is not shrinking any time soon.  She has to "earn" her ring (that cheap thing)?  Oh no.  She can buy her own jewelry and probably has better taste.  Riley is Bilal 2.0.

I'm older than Riley; not Gettysburg Address old but up there,  so were I in front of the palace, I would be all "OMG! This is the actual site of the tank through the gate" and so forth.  I remember watching the chaotic evacuation-and the day my brother came home, wounded..  Riley can't appreciate that he's at least on a site of great importance and implications not only to Vietnam but to America, and he's on and on about getting all her time 100% for two weeks. It's all about him.

Mark me as one very disturbed at the way David is almost an exhibit-"Look ant the deaf man!"-and not completely normal in every other way.  Somehow I think he's not picked up on social niceties and manners, but it doesn't seem that he's a bad guy at heart.  I thought of Mary Ingalls at the blind school the first few days, being told not to shuffle or grope around while at table, and wished David had that kind of education.  Maybe Sheila could be an asset for him; I hope so.

Just like a poster said upthread, Nicola wouldn't get halfway through his "cute when mute" sentence when I'd belt back "Well, then I'm a 10+, since I'm leaving and you won't have to listen to me ever again!"  He's used religion and "helping his mother" to avoid facing the fact that he's lazy, self-righteous, overbearing, and a nitwit (had to borrow "nitwit").  That man could forget my ending his 31 year dry spell (let's say 15 at puberty), and I hope Meisha gets the memo also.

Even if it's all a publicity stunt, I find myself liking Cleo.  I would totally get into being her friend.  Christian, on the other hand, is just a nitwit (again with nitwit).  I think this is going to be a big nothing, not even bad enough to be the never ending fight that is...

Jasmine and Geno.  For the love of Mike, there's nothing appealing about either of them.  I just don't get it.

I feel for Razman, even if he has the ulterior motive of a green card.  He's saddled  with the gloom that is Amanda.  He fixed her food, took her out into the city, and is trying to wine and dine her at a fancy place in Bucharest.  Yes, please!  But no, I think the combination of guilt, grief and just plain self-centeredness makes her a wet blanket forgotten in the washer for too long.  Has she smiled once during the entire trip (except when she gets her own way)? 

Pepper Mostly, I'm surprised you haven't started with the "Fuck you, Riley" yet.

 

Edited July 3, 2023 by AR Traveler