Summer House Recap: Ex Marks the Spot

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Participating in these reality shows is arguably more chaotic than dealing with both the Unabomber and Havana Syndrome combined. The level of madness escalates when former partners are forced to coexist, like Ariana Madix trying to steer clear of Tom Sandoval for most of a season on Vanderpump Rules, following his infidelity that wrecked her life and career. Or consider the drama on Southern Charm when Madison LeCroy disinvited her ex, Austen Kroll, from his own birthday party after their break-up, only for him to unexpectedly show up anyway.

On reality shows, events occur that seldom happen in real life. In actual relationships, when one ends things, it usually means no further contact, allowing both parties to move on independently. Occasionally, a sneaky peek at each other’s social media posts might offer a glimpse into their lives, but signs of misery are rarely found. However, this is not the case in reality shows where co-stars must share extended periods together, and it’s especially challenging on Summer House, as they live under the same roof for entire weekends. Even Austen, who could retreat to his private space to grieve, finds little solace because Carl has to cry in a room filled with more cameras than an influencer’s brunch sponsored by Fashion Nova.

This summer in Sag Harbor, also known as the Hamptons, there have been not one but two dramatic situations unfolding. It feels like a reality TV show producer could be walking around, repeatedly saying “oh my goodness” in an irritating voice every time someone talks in the same room. I’m referring to the break-ups of two popular couples – was it Larl and Wiara or Cest? Let’s start with Lindsay and Carl. Or rather, Carl, who seems as sweaty as Drake minutes before the Super Bowl halftime show this year. He enters the pool where everyone is gathered and gives awkward hugs and introductions to everyone – except Lindsay. Kyle then swiftly takes him and the other guys for drinks, leaving them to discuss Carl’s feelings in a more private setting, given that they are both in public and being filmed by a team of producers.

It was surprising that Carl didn’t greet Lindsay casually in the pool, which led her to complain to Gabby about him ignoring her. To her restraint, she didn’t say anything, but Gabby made fun of Carl’s large teeth. After their day, Carl is cooking dinner while Lindsay cleans the dining table. Kyle then signals for him to talk to Lindsay. Before he could finish wipping his forehead, Carl greets Lindsay to start an awkward conversation that even Larry David found unconvincing. Carl congratulates her on her pregnancy, she thanks him, and he apologizes several times for not speaking to her earlier in the pool, but Lindsay remains composed and continues cleaning as if nothing is happening. The scene becomes uncomfortable until Lindsay leaves the room and passes by Kyle, who is setting up his DJ equipment, and says, “Kyle, you’re always listening in when you’re pretending to work on your speakers.” Caught red-handed!

Essentially, Lindsay and Carl’s interactions appear to have reached a conclusion. At dinner, Lindsay applauded Carl for cooking steak, and the next morning, she cheered him on again for getting bagels. It seems that Carl’s therapist functions like a Jewish mother, as her advice revolves around ensuring everyone is well-fed. Lindsay claims to have moved on from him, having a new boyfriend and a new baby. Time will tell how she behaves later in the summer when confronted with seeing her ex flirt with other women regularly. I share Gabby’s concerns; both of them should reconsider their decision to be together this summer, especially given their career paths. However, Lindsay showed more maturity than expected from most viewers’ perspectives.

From what I understand, it seems beneficial for Carl to have Lindsay around. As you pointed out, he’s still visibly anxious around her, and his trembling and redness during their conversations suggest this. It appears that the breakup, his brother’s death, his sobriety, career shifts, and other life events since the Wirkus Twins resurfaced have left a deep impact on him. Carl seems to be undergoing significant changes, but I believe having Lindsay nearby could aid him in coping better. Frequent encounters with her over the kitchen island for two months might help him move past this quicker than if he were alone in his Brooklyn apartment, pining for a sober bar to frequent. It seems Carl is evading confrontations, but avoiding Lindsay, given her proximity, pregnancy, and discomfort, may prove challenging.

The other pair grappling with their past is Cest and, similarly to Larl, West is still dreading an encounter with Ciara. However, this scenario presents a unique twist. West is not afraid of Ciara, but rather he fears causing her further harm, enduring more criticism, and facing online ridicule – as he did following the reunion in the previous season. On the other hand, Carl is striving to mend his life, whereas West aims to restore his reputation.

Ciara is sensing some tension between West and herself, which is why she openly criticizes him at the dining table. It seems that this location holds a particular curse for Ciara as it was here where she had a heated argument with Danielle before. The initial conversation among everyone pretends to be about their maturity and ability to sit down together peacefully. Even Kyle provokes the situation by teasing West about his haircut in front of him. West and Ciara, seated opposite each other, find it difficult to maintain eye contact. Ciara initiates the exchange by commenting that she finds it childish for West to publish an article in the New York Times once more, expressing his dislike for her.

Afterwards, West suggests they discuss things privately, but Ciara prefers to do it publicly and clear the air once and for all, putting an end to all inquiries that are currently circulating. While Ciara continues to criticize his approach towards media, she also labels him as a failure and a coward. West responds to conflict like a possum, collapsing in a manner similar to how a gay person might when they hear Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica II” transition to “911”. He believes that if he plays dead, if he simply lets the negativity wash over him, then it will pass, he won’t upset everyone, people will still admire him, and he’ll appear as though he was respecting a woman’s feelings.

After dinner, a group of guys gather around me, insisting that I should speak up about something. They make it clear that ignoring the issue won’t make it disappear. This experience on the reality TV show serves as a valuable lesson for me. Throughout my life, I’ve often been successful with women and sometimes assumed their feelings were secondary. However, since I could easily avoid them in the past, I never had to face the consequences of my actions and reconcile their hurt feelings with my self-image as a “good guy.” Here, someone is telling me something difficult to hear: that I’ve caused pain, that it’s on me, and perhaps I’m not as kind as I believe myself to be.

The following day, he visits Ciara’s room to talk, dressed only in swimming shorts. Frankly, I can’t recall much of what he said due to the fact that West is my dream man. Please, none of you tell Kyle! It’s no secret that I find West incredibly attractive, and if a guy who could potentially lift me and then wanted to order Domino’s afterwards walked into his swim shorts for a conversation, I would probably agree with anything he said. Scenarios so outlandish they’d be unsuitable for OnlyFans were racing through my mind.

However, this isn’t about me or my personal feelings; rather, it concerns Wiara. West acknowledges his struggles with the criticism he faced and admits that when given an opportunity to defend himself, he grabbed it. He expresses regret if his actions caused Ciara distress, stating that if he had known she would be happier without them, he wouldn’t have published that article. I firmly believe that West desires to mend things with Ciara, for the sake of his public image, enjoyment, and because I think a small part of him still cares about her. He offers another apology and asserts that his intentions are not malicious. Although she doesn’t smile or yield any ground, Ciara indicates that she has moved on, no longer cursing the day he was born, and hopes for a pleasant summer together.

It appears that beneath Ciara’s cool demeanor during the conversation, there’s something suggesting she’s not as cold towards West as it seems. Earlier in the day, she confided in Paige about a heated argument with West at dinner, and mentioned afterwards she just felt like kissing him. Aha! I see now. Ciara is clearly still smitten by him. Whoops. This summer looks set to be more complicated than we initially thought.

For Ciara, getting into any of those relationships could pose a risk because she explicitly avoids dating or hooking up, preferring instead to proceed slowly and cultivate feelings. However, the longer her feelings grow, the stronger they become. The stronger they become, the more challenging it is for her to break them off. And as the difficulty in breaking things off increases, there’s a higher chance she might find herself leaving a party early to hide in the bathroom with West while they’re ripping each other’s elaborate costumes apart.

Given the flurry of activities at home, it’s puzzling why Jesse Solomon, who’s smitten beyond belief after just two days, would charge towards Lexi with the force of an Olympic javelin throw. Despite teasing his friends about his affection for her, he’s been exchanging messages with her, even managing to get her number during a guys’ outing and calling her on the way home. The other guys are taken aback by Jesse’s aggressive pursuit until Lexi invites him into her room upon their return, and he gives her a rather enthusiastic koala hug. One might wonder if Jesse is aware that many koalas carry chlamydia?

Upon his arrival, he wraps her in a warm embrace, leading them into a heartfelt conversation. The narrative unveils details about Lexi, such as her father being quite attractive. They got married at a young age, and she is currently 26. A simple calculation suggests that Lexi’s father is likely the same age as I am. This revelation has left me in despair due to Reality-Television-Induced Sadness. (For those dealing with RTIS symptoms, please visit ICantBelieveBravoDidThisToMe.org.) They both disclose their personal struggles – Jesse’s cancer and Lexi’s friend’s passing a year ago. With the somber topics of illness and death in the air, they share a sweet, almost flawless kiss. How charming! A new romantic pair to support, until next season when they exchange harsh words over surf and turf. Then, their relationship will truly mirror the ups and downs faced by Larl.

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2025-02-20 06:54