S02.E00: Matchmaking Special / S02.E01: Wedding Preparations

[CarrieNation]

In my classes (I teach college courses on pop culture related topics), we proceed from the idea that race is a social construct. If you study the history of "race," you would find that its definition changes through history. For example, in nineteenth-century Britain, social scientists wrote whole books on the Irish as a race (not ethnicity). In the US, you could walk a few miles over the border and your legal "race" changed. In 21st century America, we are still wedded to the concept of race as determined by skin gradation--to put it crudely (because these categories are crude), black, brown, white, yellow, red. Genetic community does not, in fact, align with our categories of "race."

 

So, before I stray off topic too much, perhaps we should leave the debate on race for now and keep discussion focused on the train wrecks that are our couples, their tacky generic weddings, and the annoying voice-overs of the "experts." It would be much more productive, no?

Edited March 24, 2015 by CarrieNation

[film noire]

It just bothers me that the "experts" are selling us the idea that they have an interracial couple on their show, when they are loose with the facts.

So true (if they can't get *that* right, what's the likelihood the process was any more scientific than "Hey, let's get Dr Pepper drunk on peach schnapps, and butt naked! And hire a m***** to climb up her body, and throw a copy of the Kinsey report at the photo wall! And whichever photos fall off, those are the matches!" )

 

I too thought initially that Sean was possibly gay, that Jaclyn was 37 (and somehow mistakenly holding the opinion that she is a creature of such breathless beauty, a mere mortal male is not fit for her company)  and that Davina -- as emotionally unsettled as a teacup chihuahua on a racetrack  -- likely has (if life proves at all difficult) a future of not being ignored, as the bunny boils merrily away in a stew pot.

Edited March 25, 2015 by film noire

[Pepper Mostly]

hahaha, you guise! Yer killin me!

 

I too think Davina and Sean have the best chance. They both seem intelligent, open and interested in making the thing a success. I agree that Davina is probably more vulnerable than she lets on, but Sean has a nice, calming way about him and if he's the guy I think he is, could be a good foil for her. (but omg, the bitchface on his mother! Geez, lady, try to behave like a grown up. He's not going to Mars. If it doesn't work out he can move on and have a really cool story to tell.)

 

I actually like Jessica quite a bit. She seems very sweet. I really loved her closeness to her family and how well they reacted to her news! And for all her tears, I think she has more realistic expectations than Jackie. Jesus, "The Notebook"? Despite that, on the intro show I liked her a lot, she seemed like a lively funloving girl, but able to be serious and she totally had me snowed with her "I believe in this process, I trust the experts, I am going to do my best to make this work!" Haha. then she sees who they've picked for her and its all out the window. And dear me, his accent is annoying? Listen to yourself for two minutes. Good lord.

 

But I thought for sure Jessica would be matched with Ryan R.! I could see her being very enthusiastic about going out and doing girly stuff with his niece , really befriending her. They both seemed to be homebodies very family focused. And for sure I thought Ryan D. and Jaclyn would be matched. But what do I know? I'm no expert.

 

I think the experts were being way disingenuous with the "they were both bullied" and "they both love family" criteria. No mention of shared values, shared expectations of marriage, shared interests? come on! And its not like there were time constraints that necessitated editing down the discussions of these issues. My god, how many times did I have to hear "These are real, legal marriages! If it doesn't work out, they'll have to get a divorce!" or endless recaps of Jackie saying she love The Notebook? Jesus, this show!

 

All that said I am so in. Cannot wait to see how this all unfolds!

Edited March 25, 2015 by Pepper Mostly

[ketose]

So true (if they can't get *that* right, what's the likelihood the process was any more scientific than "Hey, let's get Dr Pepper drunk on peach schnapps, and butt naked! And hire a m***** to climb up her body, and throw a copy of the Kinsey report at the photo wall! And whichever photos fall off, those are the matches!" )

I assume that's in the extra segment of the FYI version of the show.

[Lovecat]

I assume that's in the extra segment of the FYI version of the show.

Sadly, I can confirm that it is not.

[Snarklepuss]

Ryan R. (who I remember as Ryan the Realtor) caused me to have an instant reaction of dislike & distrust. I can't identify why & since so many of you got a good guy vibe from him I find it even stranger. My immediate thought regarding him was 15 minute seeker with a dash of what the hell thrown in. Jaclyn is so intensely on that I grew tired watching her. I wasn't surprised she wasn't attracted to her Ryan, I found him bland & I predict she will not be at all impressed with his mother & deep family connection. (I found her mom to be so pretty.)

 

ITA and I felt that way from the first moment I saw him.  Later when I read that he likes to go to casinos I wasn't a bit surprised.  Perhaps it's because I'm from NY and I can tell a ga-bone from Lone-Guyland in a hot minute.  Being half Italian and knowing what that Long Island culture is like (and coming from a progressive mom of Italian descent who was often repulsed by it) I am especially sensitive to that.  He's not a "mushmouth", he's a bonehead momma's boy and not in a good way either.  There's something viscerally cheesy and low class about him, and I would believe under the surface he doesn't have a true respect for women.  And the gopher teeth don't help either.  They age him at least 10 years.  Not that Jaclyn's a prize package but I could just tell he was not her type. 

 

I think these matchmakers need to learn a thing or three about NY culture when matching these people.  I predicted Jaclyn's reaction to him right away.  I see her as having more class and recognizing him for what he is right away as he is so much of a stereotype that he can be pegged almost immediately by anyone who can recognize a slimy bonehead a mile away.  Yeah, slimy momma's boys come off as being oh so into family but so what if it means you don't feel respected?  I have not yet watched later episodes so I don't know what happens next.  I find it amazing that so many people here had the same thought as I that they should have switched the Ryans around.  So much for the so-called "experts".  I think they should ask some of us so-called non-experts our opinion on matching them after seeing footage of each one separately before actually matching them.  Another thing they should do is look at the guy's mother.  Does her personality bear any resemblance to the woman they're matching with him?  In this case they look pretty opposite to me.  Suffering "all for my boy" madonna is about as far from Jaclyn as you can GET.  Jaclyn's personality is way too strong and she will want to be number one, not defer to him as number one, which is what he is used to being.  And he will not truly respect her unless she is a suffering martyr/madonna who puts him first.

Edited April 5, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[Waterlilly]

Interesting Snarklepuss, what is your NY take on the other couples? I'm being serious not snarky, I know when you have lived a certain "culture" you get it. I'm southern, I could explain redneck, good ole boy but not NY. Your post made me want to watch with more discerning eyes!

[Snarklepuss]

Interesting Snarklepuss, what is your NY take on the other couples? I'm being serious not snarky, I know when you have lived a certain "culture" you get it. I'm southern, I could explain redneck, good ole boy but not NY. Your post made me want to watch with more discerning eyes!

 

Actually I don't have anything quite as negative to say about them.  I love Ryan D. the hottie but think he may be a little immature.  I was blown away to find out he is ethnically Jewish because he comes off as Italian and has an Italian last name.  When I found out his step dad was Italian it made sense.  He seems to be an interesting combination of both cultures.  He has good vibes although he may need a few years to grow up a bit.  He is very good looking and too into his appearance, and I'm not quite sold on his being all that ready to settle down.  Maybe someday but not now.  He reminds me of the car salesman type in NY.  Kind of slimy with the slicked back hair and not someone I'd trust right away, but deep down a nice guy.  (Mr. Snarklepuss once sold cars in NY so I have some frame of reference).  Jessica reminds me of a young J-Lo in a way.  She is a very nice girl but yet I think she is also a little immature.  I really like both of them but I worry that they might need to grow up some before they can succeed.  I don't see any clash with their cultures, though.  Both of them seem to have a mix of things going and don't have any strong affiliation to anything that might clash.  They seem to be open to each others' background and are on the same wavelength despite some cultural differences. Any clashing might depend on how traditional Jessica's parents are but they don't seem to be the type to be too staunch about their daughter marrying Catholic or anything.  They seemed very thrilled about this process so they seem quite open minded.  All of them make me homesick!

 

Sean puzzles me because he seems in many ways more like a traditional guy than a lot of younger men, which I like, but then they show him sitting in an apartment that looks like his grandmother decorated it.  I am not so sure I buy that this was his apartment.  He seems to have a lot of great qualities but something about him bothers me and I can't put my finger on it.  Like maybe there's something cold or mean and perfectionistic underneath his exterior.  Davinia was not raised in the NY area but she definitely qualifies as an adopted New Yorker just by virtue of her attitude (hard to explain), so I think she and Sean won't have any particular culture clash.  He is from mid-Jersey anyway.  They seem to have the best chemistry right off the bat but they both seem to have hang ups related to their childhoods that might interfere.  I do see some clashing between Davinia and her in-laws as they seem a little hard to please.  I also sense that they may not be on board with Sean marrying someone of another race.  I can just feel it in the air with them.   I am sure they pictured him with a nice Irish Catholic girl and given how rigid they seem it may cause trouble for Davinia.

Edited April 6, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[PreBabylonia]

I find it amazing that so many people here had the same thought as I that they should have switched the Ryans around.  So much for the so-called "experts".  I think they should ask some of us so-called non-experts our opinion on matching them after seeing footage of each one separately before actually matching them.  

 

I think that sounds like an interesting show. It reminds me actually of a dating show from my youth, starring Chuck Woolery. (Pretty good-looking host, now in his 70s, I think). Watched it daily, cause my mom had a crush on ol' Chuck! The show was Love Connection, their "computer" matched up the dater with three possiblities, and he/she chose one to go on a date with, then we had an analysis of the date from both sides. Once in a while, it worked out and they planned to keep going out, but most of the time it was a disaster, and the best ones were horrible disasters. Then Chuck would show us which one the audience had chosen, and if the contestant wanted to go out with that one on a date, the show would pay for it. Once in a while, it would pick the same one as he/she had, so usually that option would get turned down. Not that I could see that a disasterous arranged marriage would tempt the newly divorced to immediately try out a new match, but down the road, maybe five or six months, they could actually go out at the show's expense. And if we're right that most of these people are just looking for attention and not a real marriage, it would be a good way to get cameras on them and have a good time. Maybe stick all the failed men and women in the same house, kind of like Bachelor Pad, and see what develops.

[aradia22]

Realized all the episodes are on the website so I'm going back and watching them. It's a good show to watch when you don't want to think or engage with what you're watching. 

 

I don't think you can just put two strangers together and magically have it work out even when you have ideal matches on paper. There are just too many variables that questionnaires, no matter how sophisticated, can't account for. That said, I doubt they had ideal matches on paper with the groups they were working with. 

 

I kind of like Jaclyn right now. I believe she's been single for a while because sometimes she talks like someone who's heard/read a lot of dating advice. 

 

One of the biggest parts of the psychological exam is probably not matchmaking but their fitness for being on this show. There's something weird about this one that makes me feel like it's downfall will be when the cast a criminal or someone mentally unbalanced. 

 

I agree with the person who said they thought the experts might think that by casting Ryan they'd found another Jason but they might have actually found another Vaughn.

 

Ryan has anger issues. Jessica may not deal well with that. Oh, Cilona.

 

The way they so awkwardly talked about interracial relationships was hilarious. More of this, please.

[crazychicken]

After the mess of a season I thought I would rewatch this episode to see what the experts said about how/why they were matched. After putting it off for a week I knew it wasn't going to happen so just reread the forum and what do you know people here picked the problems from the start, good work maybe we should match them in future we seem to pick their issues without having to analyze 2 billion pages of data.

 

I do imagine there are a lot of relieved ladies out there thanking their lucky star that they did not match this season I know I would be.

[crazychicken]

Funny after reading this forum again I suddenly got the motivation to watch and I solved the mystery on how they matched

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/19/24/63/31/matchi10.jpg

 

Look at the centre pics in each row, the intern put all the pics on the board and whoever was centre in the first 3 rows were declared a match, now we know who the backup couple was in case anybody ran.

 

Also a shout out to Ryan D's puke face during Peppers speech about how this was a real marriage

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/19/24/63/31/ryand10.jpg

 

This is way more amusing watching it in hindsight Cirlona loves Davina and how self aware she is, and Davina loves Dr Joseph as she can trust all his data and science.

[okerry]

Realized all the episodes are on the website so I'm going back and watching them. It's a good show to watch when you don't want to think or engage with what you're watching. 

 

I don't think you can just put two strangers together and magically have it work out even when you have ideal matches on paper. There are just too many variables that questionnaires, no matter how sophisticated, can't account for. That said, I doubt they had ideal matches on paper with the groups they were working with. 

 

I kind of like Jaclyn right now. I believe she's been single for a while because sometimes she talks like someone who's heard/read a lot of dating advice. 

 

One of the biggest parts of the psychological exam is probably not matchmaking but their fitness for being on this show. There's something weird about this one that makes me feel like it's downfall will be when the cast a criminal or someone mentally unbalanced. 

 

I agree with the person who said they thought the experts might think that by casting Ryan they'd found another Jason but they might have actually found another Vaughn.

 

Ryan has anger issues. Jessica may not deal well with that. Oh, Cilona.

 

The way they so awkwardly talked about interracial relationships was hilarious. More of this, please.

Wow! You were spot on with this, back in April!