Originally aired on Tuesday, 08/01/2006
Episode Rating: *** (3 stars out of 5)
Episode Overview: Tyler is running a marathon, and it's not just a monumental test of endurance and commitment, it's also a chance to foment unrest among the roommates! Meanwhile, while Tyler stirs things up with the roommates, Jose takes a few tentative steps to reach out to them.
Episode Highlights:
- Tyler runs the West Palm Beach Marathon!
- Not all of the roommates are brought to the event, and drama ensues.
- Mellow Jose decides to make more of an effort to connect with his roommates.
Recap:
Tyler Duckworth is running a marathon!
Possibly your reaction was the same as mine: WHAT? THE REAL WORLD hasn't really shown any footage of Tyler that would indicate he was in training for such a major event. We learn from Paula Meronek, though, that his training schedule was impacted by all the chaos of the hurricane, so this might explain why this all seems like news.
Tyler is feeling nervous about the race. As he talks to a friend on the phone, we learn that he ran the Boston marathon earlier this year, a painful and apparently humbling experience. Generally, doctors strongly advise against running two marathons in one year, but Tyler is determined to complete another.
Meanwhile, Janelle Casanave and Jose Tapia are out in the van together, and Janelle makes an attempt to draw out the reserved Jose. He says with the strong personalities in the house, he sometimes just want to continue to keep to himself. Janelle encourages him to take advantage of the unique opportunity of being in the house to connect with the other roommates.
The marathon is a big event, and Tyler is looking for support from his roommates...just not all of them. Paula, Jose and Zach Mann will all be heading out with Tyler to West Palm Beach, the location of the race, but Janelle, John Devenanzio and Svetlana Shusterman are not invited. Or, it's not that they're not invited, it's that they didn't invite themselves. Or whatever. Basically, it sounds like Tyler didn't want the others to come for whatever reason (stealing his thunder or just not liking someone such as Svetlana), but rather than be forthright, he creates a weak rationale that he only wants to bring the people with him who already volunteered to support him. When Janelle and John retort they weren't even aware of the event, Tyler shifts into his usual attack mode, and gets combative with Janelle to deflect from what seems to be her valid point.
Things appear to not be resolved before he needs to leave, so he types up a letter to both John and Janelle and leaves a copy in each of their "Real World" house mailboxes before he leaves for West Palm Beach.
On the road trip, Tyler admits to the other three that he's got a little case of the nerves. That evening at dinner, they try to relax, and Jose takes advantage of the smaller group and the sense of camaraderie to share a bit more about his trouble background, including his own trouble in school and an alcoholic father. The other three are glad for the chance to get to know Jose a little better.
The next day, after a bit of a nervous stomach starting off, Tyler starts the race strong, setting a moderate pace for himself to ensure he can make it through the race. When he gets to the halfway mark of thirteen miles, he's greeted by the cheers of encouragement from his roommates. He's feeling better than he expected at this point, and so kicks up his pace a bit.
And he continues to do well for almost the rest of the race...until his knee gives out at Mile 23. With three miles left to the finish, Tyler collapses on the track, with a knee he later says felt like it was being "stabbed." His roommates, who had been anxiously scanning the race for him, find him on the ground. With their encouragement, Tyler gets up and somehow manages to complete the race!
He says later that the experience taught him that although he doesn't like to show weakness and appear to need anyone, he really did need the support of his "Real World" roommates to get him through in that moment.
Unfortunately, some of his roommates aren't feeling so positive about him in return. John and Janelle receive their letters and feel like it's another list of justifications and not any kind of apology. They're upset about it for a while, and seem to arrange to be out for dinner when Tyler arrives back home (this could have just been editing, though). Janelle seems willing to make peace, ultimately, but John doesn't seem as ready to forgive.
The next day, Tyler approaches Janelle and they resolve their difference through a conversation about what happened. Then Tyler approaches John, and it appears they settle their difference in a different way, one that manages to fulfill many gay guy/straight guy stereotypes. Tyler throws glitter playfully at John, and John then playfully tackles him into the pool. Well, it works: After that, they're smiles and laughs. If only global peace could be achieved through glitter and roughhousing! Maybe we all could learn from "The Real World!"
-BuddyTV Staff Columnist