S02.E13: The Big Decision

[jamblastx]

I totally agree with your assessment. And I wonder if the producers panicked because they couldn't find enough men willing to go through with this who weren't outright serial killers, so they felt they had to "do what they had to do" to get the thing on the air.

 

Yes, last year it really was a "sweet little show" that at least appeared to be sincere. Now it's a boring, depressing mess, and I'm ashamed of everyone involved with it.

 

And if I was the producers, I'd much rather have people snarking on Doug's moles than looking on in genuine revulsion at a nasty little bully like RyanD or getting increasingly turned off by a truly hopeless couple like S&D. In the end, of course, everybody loved Doug because he turned out to be a great guy who really loved his wife. But this season, those three dolts both ignored their wives and treated them like shit. Hey Producers: Notice that good looks did NOT outweigh behaving like an unloveable ass.

As a non-reality show viewer because I cannot stand the contrived 'reality', Season 1 took me by surprise by while clearly being a reality show and using the horrible reality show trappings (have everything punctuated by music, the awful sound effects, disingenuous editing, etc), it did have an overall sweetness and almost documentary feel. So much so, I recommended this show to a fellow male friend who thankfully ignored me and never bothered to watch this season.

 

For Season 2, not only did you have horrible matches seemingly done more for potential conflicts rather than trying to find love, but this has become the usual crap dating reality show (and it certainly isn't an 'experiment').  Even with the previews of this season, they made Basement Ryan look as if he was unemployed because he made that joke to Jacklyn when they met where she had a horrific reaction for a second until he said he was just kidding.  But we never saw the 'just kidding' part until the show aired and the promos cut it after her reaction with that sound effect that is somewhat like a screeching cymbal that is used in EVERY reality show to punctuate conflict.

 

I am really on the fence if I will give Season 3 a shot...right now, no. 

[Passthepopcorn]

In Sean's newly found religion, if Satan is Davina I'd bet God must be Dr. C.  What a truly warped view of heaven that is!  I'm sorry but I agree with Davina.  She inasmuch said he was a "pussy" by calling him "weak".  I think Sean was threatened by Davina's strength of character, and that's why she turned him off.  People call her "high maintenance".  I don't think Davina is all that high maintenance.  When a man knows what he wants and sticks with it, people applaud him.  Why should a woman have to be the one to bend and twist and give up everything they want to please a man or be called high maintenance?  That's not fair.  Davina is a highly intelligent, successful woman who has fought to hold onto her self respect, and I applaud that.  She needs a man who is not threatened by her.  She shouldn't have to turn into a wet dishrag in order to win some insecure schmuck's affection.  If she looked at him negatively it's because she knew he was too threatened by her and she was pissed off at the implied insult to her and rejection that carried with it.  Of course on camera she came off looking like the one who's impossible to please because of it.

She doesn't know what she wants. Or she knows exactly what she wants regardless of what the other person wants. I want this, and this is like this, only like this.

IN other words, I think she needed a "check" in the relationship box, the achievement she has yet to conquer to show the world how successful she is, how daring and what a bold winner she is. That is her goal.

[Passthepopcorn]

I'm going to be unpopular now, but I've never been too bothered by Sean. I don't think he is the sadistic monster I'm reading about here. Issues and trouble dealing with conflict yes, but not the former.

I don't think he lied when he said he would be open to move. He underestimated the mess that was going to be, especially when you work long shifts and have a job where you HAVE to be awake and alert, given the responsibility that lies on your hands.

 

That and being turned off by her personality killed all hope. If they had clicked and had chemistry, then maybe it would have been worth the effort. But to quit everything for a relationship that never bloomed and was full of conflict and misunderstandings, no.

He should have told her, of course, to respect her time and investment in this and to not mislead her. But he was probably trying to process this, to try to make it work, by himself and in his own head, which is what people that are too used to being single do.

 

I think he needs a partner that is strong but also gentler, kinder someone who can win his trust and help him overcome that fear of speaking his mind without being bashed, attacked or belittled. Of course this is something that he has to do himself, but if he is going to be with someone, that would help.

[CaptainCranky]

I see where Jessica already has a protection order out on Ryan.

 

http://my.xfinity.com/articles/entertainment-eonline/20150615/b666840/

[CaptainCranky]

If the Bachelor series is a -5 on a 10 scale for insipid reality TV, then this show is a -3.

 

I won't watch another year of this tripe.