Courtesy of The CW
After weeks of build up, we finally get the first retribution episode.
Let’s bitch it out …
For the last month or so we have had “DMA” shoved down our throats by ANTM’s production team, and I for one was worried that I was going to have to bear another month of Devin’s annoying explanation of the model gang: “Devin, Mikey, Ashley … heh heh heh.” The mean girls, as Bello calls them, have been making life difficult in the house, but so far they’ve been pretty untouchable. I liked Ashley in the first few episodes, and I had higher hopes for her. To tell the truth, I’ve been worried about her since she fell for Mikey back in Episode 4, and as I suspected, it didn’t take long for him to drag her down. Clearly, she hasn’t moved past her childhood abuse, and is still seeking out “bad boys” for self-validation, but the blame can’t be laid entirely at Mikey and Devin’s feet. Ashley is a grown woman, and she chose to hang out with the toxic-twins. This week, we all learn a valuable life lesson in choosing your friends wisely.
At the acting challenge for The CW executives, Ashley and Devin’s insulting audition earns them the worst challenge score this season (even Courtney’s pitiful, yet earnest Cordelia scored higher!). But you can’t stop the Devin, and his crazy-train was chugging along at high-speed this week. Ashely admits she was nervous going into the audition with Devin, and she is right to be. This may be the first time a participant in the acting challenge brought The CW’s Lori Openden, skilled in the arts of patience and political-correctness, to feelings of anger and resentment. To be fair, the offended executives feel Ashley’s frustration with Devin, but they still seemingly score them as a pair. Meanwhile, Nyle and Lacey impress the executives with their professionalism and presence. Unless something drastic happens, I see this duo going all the way to the finale.
Every once in a while Tyra pulls out a truly ridiculous idea for a shoot, and the Boom Boom Boom deodorant ad ranks up there with the worst of them (no small feat against gems like the roller-skating H2T Water ad from cycle 15, and the Pot Ledom music videos from cycle 17). The last half of this episode contains some of the most awkward television I’ve had to suffer through in a long time. I suppose it’s a good lesson for the models in taking sh*t seriously, and I admit that the final videos were laughably entertaining; I just don’t need to sit through five of them. A few of the models manage convincing performances (Tyra loved Bello’s take, and I completely agree with her!), but Ashley’s extremely low challenge score gets into her head, and she can’t pull it together. I feel bad for her – it should have been Devin going home this week – but she did it to herself. If anything, Ashley’s elimination betrays the weakness in the “objective” score-based judging method; in earlier seasons, Devin’s behaviour at the acting challenge would have got him sent home regardless of his performance at the video shoot. Instead, his partner pays the price for his lack of professionalism.
Other Observations:
- It’s awesome to finally get an episode that focuses more on positive bonding, rather than 45 minutes of fighting and hatred. The real treat this week is getting to know a little about how Nyle is feeling in a house full of bickering models.
- ANTM continues its mission to provide positive examples of healthy relationships. This week it’s “jealousy makes the heart grow fonder.” Somehow, Mamé and Justin solidify their relationship by making out with other people.
- Oh Tyra, WHAT are you wearing at judging?! Seriously, you need to burn that asymmetrical yellow-shoulder-padded one-armed flared-leg pantsuit. Despite that, I still agreed with you more than with Miss J. Someone isn’t earning their keep this season.
- Now that Devin’s reckless attitude has sent Ashley home (I hope he’s happy), who is Mikey going to screw?
Best Lines:
- Lori Openden (about Devin’s audition): “There’s a part of me that’s even angry.”
- Kelly (at judging about Devin’s acting): “Devin, seriously, please don’t do this professionally. Like, the world’s got enough problems.”
Your turn: Do you think the judges were wrong to send Ashley home this week, instead of Devin? Do you think Mikey will focus his anger back at Courtney, now that Ashley isn’t around to sate his sexual appetite? Will Ashley leaving create a rift between Devin and Mikey? Who do you want to see Mikey go after next: Lacey, Haddasah or Nyle?
Sound off below …
ANTM airs Wednesdays at 8pm EST on CW.