"Real World DC": Recap and Review, Episodes 1-6

By our guest blogger, Gita Gupte

“This is the true story of eight strangers picked to live in a house, have their lives taped, and see what happens when you stop being polite and start getting real.” The number of kids in the house may have changed, but the intro is still the same (save the addition of one cast member). Twenty-three seasons later, and we are still intrigued enough to continue watching on of MTV's shrewdest moves. "Real World DC" kicked off a few weeks ago with a new batch of angst-ridden teens on the cusp of adulthood with the maturity level of 15-year-olds running amuck in our nation’s capital. I am not above watching it and if you are reading this, something tells me you aren’t either.

The characters are familiar. We have Josh, a rocker/rapper hailing from Philadelphia. His claim to fame is his rocky-road relationship with his sweetheart from home. Reason he got into the Real World house--clearly, his propensity to cheat. Next we have Erika. Erika is the singer/songwriter alternative chick with the heart of gold. Reason she got into the Real World house--I think MTV hoped she would hookup with Josh, but this hasn’t happened yet.

Then we have Callie. Callie is one of my favorite characters this season. She is a southern belle who unlike most "Real World" cast members actually has the talent she thinks she possesses. Callie is a photographer spending her time in DC doing a photojournalism internship. She dresses well, she's a vegan, and she isn’t annoying. Her downfalls--weight issues. If she is able to conquer her inner “fat girl” demons, she may realize she is one of the coolest people in the house.

Next, we have the loveable goofball, Andrew. Andrew is my other favorite character on the show. He trots around in a panda hat and blue-rimmed sunglasses cracking jokes on the ridiculousness of the other cast members. He is light-hearted and fun. He started the season off with a crush on Callie, and spends the rest of it looking to get laid (quite unsuccessfully). He is endearing and, if I had to spend three months in that house, I am certain he would be my best friend.

True to "Real World" form, there is Mike, the ambiguously gay male. Mike is an all-American boy and struggles between his sexuality and his religion; he decides  to fall in the middle and consider himself to be “bisexual.” Everyone in the house but him seems to know that he is actually gay. He spends the season confronting his sexuality and we love him for his warm personality and mid-Western charm.

One person who is not okay with Mike being all out gay is Ashley, the most annoying character on the show. Ashley has a crush on Mike and after making out with him on an early episode, feels the need to passive-aggressively yell at him any chance she gets. Oh, but wait, Ashley finds the need to passive-aggressively fight with EVERYONE at any chance she gets. Ashley maintains that she is a “victim” and that her roommates disrespect her. I’m over it. I hope she gets caught slapping a roommate so she is forced to go home for the season and we don’t have to be subjected to her shrieking hoarse voice any longer.

The last two cast members are Emily and Ty. Emily is the girl that was raised in a conservative religious environment (i.e., a cult) and has consequently given up God and given to indulging herself in what she feels is good, fun and right. Emily is a tolerable cast member who spends most of her time working out and then making out with Ty. Ty is a smart, good-looking guy who sometimes speaks without thinking. His fling with Emily is producing real emotions and when he looks to say, “I love you,” it’s clear that commitment-phobic Emily is ready to run for the hills. Will they make-up or break-up? Only time will tell.

All in all, I am completely smitten with this season. The cast is not nearly as degenerate as the cast of "Real World Cancun" (which, I admit, I loved watching), but they are rather fun in their own way. I thank MTV for once again providing me with a voyeur’s view into the lives of a bunch of kids who have nothing to do but party, make love and fight, and whose lives are nothing at all representative of the “real world,” but make for excellent television.