Previously: Nicole greeted Malik and Kevin on the first day. Nicole went on a disastrous date with Rene. In an interview, Nicole said that she loves black men who love black women. Nicole wondered why she's going out on dates when she has Malik at home. I was wondering that myself. And we'll find out in this episode.
I just realized that, in the opening credits, Malik is wearing a shirt that is open to his navel. What's up with that?
Malik reveals to Nicole that he's never had sex with a black woman, even though he has dated them. Malik explains that he's selective about his (sexual) partners, so he's not going to have sex with the first black woman he meets. Malik asks Nicole whether she's ready to be the first one, and she giggles and looks away. Rachel yells out that Nicole said she was looking for sex, causing Nicole to giggle even more. In an interview, Rachel says that there is definitely sexual tension between Malik and Nicole, and that they both acknowledge it. Nicole feels that if Malik loves his culture so much, he should have had sex with black women. In an interview, Malik says that he's dated outside and within his race. Nicole is glad he's diverse, and thinks that's respectable, but that's not for her. Malik semi-jokes that he's waiting for her, and Nicole laughs and says that she doesn't want to be a token.
In the guys' bedroom, Mike and Kevin say that Nicole obviously likes Malik, and that Malik is the type of guy she would want to marry. Kevin says that Nicole is his favorite "this year." What does that mean? Mike says that it's an eighth-grade thing where Nicole picks on Malik because she likes him. Well, most of us passed that phase in about the fourth grade, but I guess I shouldn't expect any different from Mike. Malik says that Nicole is more critical of him than she is of the others. In an interview, Malik says that Nicole doesn't want black men to date outside their race, and that she wants to marry a black man. Malik feels that Nicole is still a stranger to him, and that he doesn't know anything about her life and family.
In the kitchen, Malik asks Nicole whether she has brothers and sisters. Nicole explains her family situation, and says that she doesn't get along with her siblings because she's the only one who went to college and left Oregon. In an interview, Nicole says that she doesn't like to talk about her past to her roommates or her friends, even though she is proud of her past. Mike asks Nicole why she moved to Atlanta. Nicole says she heard it was like the new Harlem. Mike asks whether it is, and Nicole says that it's not where she wants to be. Mike asks where she wants to be, and Nicole says that she wants to be wherever she can find a man. In an interview, Nicole says that her goal in life is to be happy, giving love and sharing love.
Nicole walks down the street. Nicole voice-overs that her family was poor and on welfare when she was younger. She says that her mom got involved with a man who had a drug habit. When he wasn't high, there was constant arguing. Her mother got stabbed and hit with a baseball bat, and would steal for him. In an interview, Nicole cries and says that her mom valued her boyfriend and his drug habit more than she valued her kids. That sucks a lot.
Kevin and Malik go out to a bar. In an interview, Kevin says that he and Malik have similar outlooks -- laid-back. Malik gets a phone number from some white chick. In an interview, Malik says that he and Kevin are very close. Maybe Malik should think about dating white boys -- namely Kevin. They love each other. Malik and Kevin talk to some white chicks and do shots together.
At home, Nicole tells Malik that when people date outside their race, you have to ask why. Nicole points out that a black man might treat a white woman as an object, or date her to gain status. Quarrel and Rachel listen in. Malik says that ideally he would marry a black woman. Nicole wonders why he bothers dating white women, then, because God forbid you date anyone that you wouldn't want to marry. Quarrel points out all of the ways that Malik dresses and acts as if he is Afrocentric -- his Afro, the incense, the reggae music. Hey, I have white friends that have Afros, burn incense, and listen to reggae music. We call them pot smokers. ["Hey, leave me out of this." -- Wing Chun] Quarrel can't believe that Malik hasn't had sex with black women, and that he has had multiple dates with white women. Quarrel says that it's confusing to her and Nicole, as black women, to see Malik so into black culture and yet still date white women. Nicole says that Quarrel is inside her head, because she's saying exactly what Nicole is thinking. In an interview, Nicole says that Malik puts out an image of black culture, but then dates white girls. Nicole tells Malik that she wants him to be happy, but that he should not put out an image of being into black culture if he's not going to follow through with who he dates. Nicole brings up Malik's Marcus Garvey t-shirt as an example. In an interview, Nicole explains that Marcus Garvey was all about not mixing the races and getting the black people to go back to Africa where they could have "their own thing." Nicole wonders how you can believe in Marcus Garvey and date white girls, and compares it to someone "wearing a Ku Klux Klan shirt and dating Patti LaBelle." ["Hey, leave Patti out of this." -- Wing Chun] Malik tries to get a word in edgewise, and Nicole gets upset that he is "disrespecting" her. Kevin and Rachel watch from upstairs. In an interview, Quarrel says that Nicole feels that Malik has misled her. Nicole says that she's losing respect for Malik because he doesn't stand for anything. In a confessional, Nicole says that Malik is "such a fronter."
Okay, the episode could have ended right here as far as I'm concerned. We got the major issues. Nicole thinks that Malik should only date black women and is not shy about saying so. Malik doesn't necessarily agree. Nicole thinks that Malik is sending out an image of being all about black culture, but he's not. This causes problems between Nicole and Malik, even though they were interested in one another before. That's really all you need to know.
Bunim: Okay, so that's the main plot. What's the subplot in this episode?
Murray: Um...we don't exactly have one.
Bunim: You mean this whole episode is going to be that drag queen blathering about race relations?
Murray: Don't worry. We managed to get multiple conversations of them all saying the same things ten different ways.
Bunim: I can't watch this crap. Turn it to thirtysomething on Bravo.
Kevin and Lori eat breakfast and discuss dating outside of your race. Wow, they have a lot of food in their house. Kevin says that Nicole wants Malik to date only black girls, and Kevin thinks that it's 2001, and you should be allowed to date who you want. In an interview, Kevin says that Malik and Nicole have issues, and that he's not getting in the middle of it. Kevin points out that Nicole's mother is white. Lori is surprised to hear that. Kevin says that it doesn't make sense that Nicole is be so judgmental about interracial dating, and that is why Kevin has "had a beef with [Nicole] the last couple of days." Kevin doesn't think that Nicole practices what she preaches. Wait -- just because Nicole's mom is white, Kevin thinks that Nicole automatically has to approve of interracial dating? It's not like Nicole hates white people. She is just very into her culture, and wants to have a family with someone who shares that love. It makes perfect sense to me. I don't think that she should be so bossy about it with Malik, but I can understand why black women feel like there are few marriageable black men out there, so they don't want any of "the good ones" like Malik to marry white girls. I don't know. This is so not my issue. I'm just going to shut up now. Kevin says that he stays out of Malik and Nicole's arguments, because it's not his place.
Same shit, different day. Nicole tells Malik that she expects a lot of him, and that sometimes her attitude comes off as critical. She thinks it's her responsibility as a black person to call him out. In an interview, Nicole says that although she is half-white, she identifies as black because that's how she is treated in America. Malik tells Nicole that he doesn't agree with some of the things she says, but that he still wants to be there for her, and not alienate himself from her. In an interview, Malik says he, Nicole, and Quarrel are family beyond the house because they are part of a larger culture. Nicole wants Malik to talk to her about issues first, before talking to Kevin. She compares it to talking about family business in the family before talking to the neighbors.
Malik, Lori, Kevin, and Mike walk down the street. Mike says that Nicole was "screeching the entire time." Mike says that Nicole was "out of control." In an interview, Kevin says that he's lost all respect for Nicole, "because of the way she carries herself and the way she acts." Kevin talks about how hypocritical Nicole is, because she told Kevin not to discuss their issues with any other roommates, and yet Nicole probably ran right to Quarrel to discuss her issues with Kevin. Cut to Nicole being hypocritical by discussing it with Quarrel and Rachel. Quarrel says that her arguments with Mike are short, because she just tells him to shut up, and walks away. Yeah, that's something to be proud of. In a confessional, Nicole says that she's happy to have Quarrel there -- to have someone who understands where she is coming from. Nicole says that when she gets mad, she's not a good talker, so she yells. In a confessional, Nicole says that she's sad because she let Kevin get her angry. She thinks that most of that was due to Malik's talking behind her back. Nicole explains that she wanted Malik to talk to her first, before talking to others. Suddenly, Malik is back in the house, even though he was just out on the street with the others. I'm so confused. In an interview, Nicole says that she has lost trust in Malik.
Bunim: Man, that Hope and Michael Steadman sure are whiny. They're almost as bad as the London cast.
Murray: But don't you think Gary is cute? Can you believe they killed him off in the last season?
Bunim: I wonder if we could get away with killing someone off. Lord knows we tried with Ruthie.
Nicole tells Malik that she is hurt beyond belief, and that she doesn't consider him a brother anymore; she adds that she wants the two of them to take a walk in the morning so that they can talk without involving the other roommates. Apparently, Malik has no choice in whether to take this walk. Nicole has dictated it, and it is so! In an interview, Nicole says that she expected a lot from Malik. Nicole asks him again not to repeat anything she says to anyone else in the house, especially someone who's not black. Malik says that is cool, and Nicole walks away.
Malik immediately tells Kevin about it. What is it with these people not being able to keep something to themselves? Kevin thinks that Nicole has a lot of anger. Malik says that Nicole had high expectations for them, and that he understands that they have a common culture, but that he doesn't agree that he shouldn't talk to white people about his problems. In an interview, Malik says that he's color-blind in his friendships. Malik tells Kevin that he doesn't know whether he will be close with Nicole after this, but if that's what happens, "so be it."
The morning, Malik and Nicole go for a walk. Nicole says that it shouldn't be an argument, but that they should express their feelings to each other. Nicole says that she expected a lot from Malik, and thought they would be really close. Malik says that Nicole is very critical of him, while claiming to be non-judgmental, and that she doesn't know who he is. In an interview, Malik says that Nicole needs to find out who he is, but that he hasn't given it any time. Suddenly, Nicole yells at Malik, saying that he is talking behind her back, and that she doesn't consider him family. She says, "Your actions and your words have proven to me that you're not a real brother in my eyes." Whoa! How did they go from a reasoned discussion of their feelings to yelling at each other on the street? Nice editing. Malik thinks that Nicole is a judgmental person. In a confessional, Nicole says that Malik has an Afro and wears "black figure shirts," but that he is "the first one to disrespect a sister behind her back with a boy who supports George Bush." Wow, Nicole is really hung up on that George Bush thing. I mean, I'm not his biggest fan by any means, but it's not like he's George Wallace or something.
Nicole feels that Malik is trying to prove that he is black enough in the way he presents himself. Malik says that's not what it means to him, and that maybe it means something different to her. Malik says that he tries to explain, but that Nicole seems to feel that her opinion is greater than his, and that she is "holier-than-thou." Nicole can't believe that he thinks she is "holier-than-thou." Instead of showing us the rest of their argument, so that maybe we could understand them a little better, the editors do a quick montage of them arguing on the street to the tune of Linkin Park's "One Step Closer." Is that a shout-out to Mike? After the montage, they appear to be walking home. Nicole says that she doesn't like Malik, and that he doesn't like her. I still don't get how they got from "holier-than-thou" to "I don't like you." The conspiracy theorist in me says that they were talking about "the project," and that Nicole doesn't want Malik to be portrayed as either "the angry black man" or "the playa." And B/M didn't want to air any talk about "the project." Nicole says that they have to work together, but that they don't have to be friends or even talk. In a confessional, Nicole says that they won't be talking anymore. Malik tries to continue the conversation, but Nicole cuts him off. They go their separate ways. In an interview, Malik says that there's nothing he can do -- that not everyone will like you, and that you need to accept it. In a confessional, Nicole says that she "fell into what [she] was preaching against, this angry black girl yelling at the boys." Nicole feels bad about that; she feels like she has a responsibility, and that she failed.
week: Lori sings on the roof. She didn't sound that great, but I will cut her some slack because she was wearing headphones. Have you ever heard someone sing while wearing headphones? It's not pretty. Everyone cringes and puts in earplugs. Lori thinks that no one understands her passion for music. The roommates are recruiting for two different focus groups.