Beauty and the Geek: Fun in the Snow
The remaining competitors scampered off to Big Bear on Beauty and the Geek, and it wasn't just the snow that was flying. It was all about the fights, potential flings and occasional hissyfits as the Beauties start making their moves on their chosen Geeks. It's not pretty.
Tara and Joe get a bit of a tepid welcome when they return from elimination -- "As a team, they're just Debbie Downers," says Kristina. Cowboy Joe takes the opportunity to make a speech, shockingly enough. But the remaining teams don't have much time to think about it, because Mike announces they're heading to Big Bear for some snowy fun. Everyone is excited (trust us -- there was a montage of people saying "excited!"), except Chris, who thinks it's just going to be the same stuff they're doing in the mansion, but with the potential for frostbite.
The challenge is to use teamwork to build a sled, then race it down a hill. Kristina is the first to complete her sled, but she and Jason can't make it across the finish line. Chris and Cara are next, and Chris is confident they'll destroy the competition., They don't make it more than five feet. Tommy and Amanda make it up next (at least in part because Tommy sprinted up that punishing hill), and they manage to make it across the finish line on the first try.
What is up with Chris? All of a sudden, he's developed both a bad attitude and one hell of an ego. He isolates himself from the rest of the group, and suddenly he's talking tough about the rest of the teams. We're the biggest threat! Cara questions his math - we've only won one challenge (and, we'll add, it was Cara who won in her science fair presentation. As far as we know, she was the one who came up with the egg metaphor.) Chris counts that, plus he won the football game, and "everyone considers" he won the talent competition. What? We don't even remember what he did!
Cara leaves Chris to contemplate his greatness and gets snuggly with Matt. Matt is thrilled, and suddenly decides he's a pimp. Ohhhhhhkay. We're happy he's gaining new confidence, but we think he should slow down a bit. Still - Cara's a sweetie, and we can see her and Matt getting along. Cara won't move beyond some light snuggling, though - she doesn't want to create more drama.
Speaking of drama... the Tara and Joe Show is chock-full of it. Joe is smitten with Tara, and waxes poetic about her sterling qualities -- "I couldn't ask for a kinder heart or a more wonderful soul to be with" - as she beats the crap out of him with snowballs. Tara continues to barely tolerate Joe, and it's getting old. She even builds a pillow wall down the center of the bed they'll be sharing, because god forbid any bit of Joe touch her delicate-flower flesh. He's not her ideal man, fine, but does she have to be so openly disdainful?
It comes to a head when Tara tells Joe he's just jealous because Tara is hanging all over Tommy (who, inexplicably, still thinks he's going to date Amber. Poor, deluded Tommy.) "The truth is, 60 percent of the time, I want to strangle you," Tara says. Only 60? Maybe she does have a kind heart and a wonderful soul! But they manage to patch things up and present a united front at the elimination.
The elimination is working differently this time - all the teams have to nominate one other team to be booted. If there's a tie, Tommy and Amanda will cast the deciding vote. When everyone gets one vote, they need to exercise that power, and choose Jason and Kristina to go home. Say goodbye, Buff Geek and Daddy's Girl!