Kim gave this episode a grade of
B
239 users have given this episode an average grade of
B-
Previously on Real World: Tonya had big medical bills, which we've never heard about before. Aneesa actually said that Tonya needed a lot of attention. Does she hear herself talking? The editors juxtapose Aneesa's accusation with footage of Aneesa walking around with no pants on. Tonya tells Aneesa that she's offensive and Aneesa just laughs.
Kyle asks if Tonya is around. Keri says that Tonya wanted them go eat at "her" restaurant. Kyle sounds completely unenthusiastic about it when he says that maybe they should. It's like, "Well, I guess I should get this mole removed," or "I guess I should pick up my dog's steaming crap from the floor." (Ahem, Jack Osbourne.) Keri says she'll shower and go with them. What restaurant? Why do the editors spend five hours hammering home certain points (Aneesa is obnoxious! Theo hates the gays but likes to work with kids! CJP is needy!) and then just drop other things in willy-nilly. They couldn't have manufactured some footage of Tonya getting the job in the first place, or telling Justin on the phone that she got a job? Ugh.
In an interview, Tonya explains that she got a second job because she has to pay her big medical bills. First of all, the mural-painting thing hardly counts as a first job. How many hours per week do they actually work? Like ten? Maybe fifteen? And if you were going to get a second job, would you really waitress at some stupid pizza joint? I'm sure the pizza is good and everything, but it doesn't seem like high-income potential. Tonya should just strip because you know that's where she's going to end up anyway. Keri, Kyle, and some friends go eat at Tonya's restaurant. In an interview, a teary Tonya says that she can't turn to her mom and dad. Boo hoo. There are tons of people out there, some who were in foster care and some who weren't, who don't have their parents' money to fall back on. If you know that you have a chronic health problem, you get health insurance, because no matter what the premiums are, it's still going to be cheaper than the eventual hospital bills. Or, more likely, you stay the hell in Walla Walla and get a job that offers benefits. What you don't do is go to Chicago with no health insurance, knowing that you are very likely to need medical treatment, and then cry about how you can't pay the bills. I don't feel bad for Tonya at all. Because I have a black, black heart.
Tonya takes orders from the group, and it's like she was born to be a waitress. Just slap a name tag on her and call her Flo. In an interview, Keri says that Tonya has been through so much, and she wants to be strong all of the time. Tonya tells Keri and Kyle that she misses hanging out with them. We see Tonya doing normal waitress-type stuff, like setting tables. Tonya voice-overs that by the end of the night, her back started aching and she knew that something was going on.
“ Ah, it wouldn't be a season of Real World unless there was an argument about doing the dishes. ”
Tonya tells Aneesa that she's had urinary tract infections since she was thirteen. Aneesa asks why she never did anything about it. Tonya says that when you are in foster care, no one cares about you and you don't go to the doctor. Which is not universally true, but I see her point. In an interview, Tonya says that while she was in foster care, "a lot of [her] kidney and bladder infections were overlooked because [she] was a foster kid, and [she] might have been making it up for attention." That is such an interesting thing to say. I'm not sure whether to feel bad that people are still accusing her of making up this problem for attention, or feel like she just revealed that she probably does make things up for attention. Tonya tells Aneesa that when she turned seventeen, she moved out on her own and got health insurance and went to the doctor and was told that she had a lot of cysts that should have been taken care of long ago. In an interview, Tonya says that she has a lot of resentment and anger because she feels like she wasn't taken care of as a child, and on top of being sick, she's thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. Maybe she can't get health insurance because she has a pre-existing condition? Tonya says that she's lived on her own since she was seventeen. Aneesa says that she couldn't do that. Tonya says that Aneesa would if she had to. Aneesa says that she wasn't allowed to get a job until she was a senior in high school, and by then she was too lazy to do so, and she's always been given everything she wants. In an interview, Aneesa says that she's spoiled and her mother is a pushover. Aneesa says that she has no motivation. In an interview, Aneesa says that it's time for her to become the adult that she's been claiming to be.
Aneesa gets ready to go out, but the sink is full of dirty dishes. Theo tells Aneesa that she can't go out because she's grounded for not doing the dishes. Aneesa says it's only been a day since she promised to do it. CJP and Theo disagree. Aneesa runs out the door and says she'll do them when she gets back. In an interview, Theo says that Aneesa is one of the laziest people he knows. Ah, it wouldn't be a season of Real World unless there was an argument about doing the dishes.
CJP walks out and starts washing dishes. Theo tells her not to do it. CJP says that there are a lot of dishes, so she's just going to do some. Wait, they have a dishwasher? How is this even an argument? After you use a dish, put it in the dishwasher. If it's full, run it. If it's not, leave it. If you need a dish, and there aren't any, you empty the dishwasher. I thought they had to do all of their dishes by hand. I don't even understand why this is a problem. CJP thinks that it's fair. In an interview, CJP says that she's "a big pussy," and the dishes get out of control, so she's going to do them. Keri says that she can't believe that CJP is doing the dishes. CJP says that it's okay. In an interview, Keri says that she wishes CJP would stick up for herself more.
Aneesa walks in and asks who did the dishes. CJP says that she did, but she wants Aneesa to finish them and empty the dishwasher. Aneesa says that she has to poop really bad. CJP tells her to get her ass back up there and clean the rest of the kitchen afterwards. Kyle asks CJP when she's going to get pissed. CJP says that was about as pissed as she gets. In an interview, Kyle says that CJP is constantly saying, "It's okay!" and that's her role in the house. CJP says that she doesn't get pissed, and Kyle says that he wants to see her really mad. In an interview, CJP says that she pleases people. Kyle says that he's going to take all of her clothes and burn them. CJP says that she'd be feisty. How long have they lived together? Is it really that big of a deal that she hasn't gotten pissed off in that time? Maybe I just get to vent my spleen via my recaps, so I don't get pissed off once a week or whatever. But I don't really get that pissed off that often; I just let things roll off my back. That said, if she's really angry and not expressing it because she doesn't want people to dislike her, that's a problem. CJP tells Kyle that she would burn all of Kyle's clothes and all of Aneesa's too in retaliation. In an interview, Kyle says that he appreciates the positive side of CJP, but he would like to see the negative side too, because either she suppresses it, or she doesn't have one, which he doesn't believe.
Tonya walks through the bathroom wearing pajama bottoms and holding a blanket up to her chest. She passes by some random guy in the bathroom. Who in the hell was that? Why doesn't she have a shirt on? I don't know. She advises Theo not to use the last stall on the left, because she might have just passed a kidney stone in there, and she needs to scoop it out. Theo is like, "No problem." In an interview, Theo says that he has no idea the kind of pain that Tonya is going through, and while he and Tonya have butted heads in the past, he is concerned about her health.
Okay. That's seriously all of the information that I needed to know about Tonya's possible kidney stone. Everything that follows in the few minutes is definitely too much information. Tonya fishes around in the toilet with a cup, trying to get the kidney stone out. Did I need to see the dirty toilet water, filled with Tonya's pee and used toilet paper and blood? No. No one needed to see that. Also, why has she not put on a shirt yet? For someone who was bitching at Aneesa last week for walking around naked all of the time, Tonya could get dressed and keep the items that have come out of her private parts to herself. In an interview, CJP tells us more information that we didn't need to know: that Tonya has passed what looks like a blood clot with tissue attached. Is she sure that came out of her urinary tract? Because it would be...you know what? I'm not going to analyze this. I don't care. I didn't need to know this, and I'm not going to think about it. CJP wrenches the cup away from Tonya to check out the clot. CJP asks if she's sure it's not just a blood clot. Tonya points out a dark spot and then. And then. I don't know if I can go on. They fucking show the blood clot. They showed it. I am not a squeamish person, believe me. I watch my fair share of emergency-room shows on TLC and even the surgery shows at times. And that was fucking disgusting and unnecessary. I was eating some ice cream when I watched the episode and I stopped with my spoon halfway to my mouth and yelled out, "Oh, unfair! Unnecessary!" J-Dawg was all, "What's your problem?" from the other room. And I just got up and put the ice cream away. And if you know anything about me, you know that it takes a lot to come between me and my ice cream.
“ Aneesa says that she hates hospitals. That is the lamest reason for not visiting someone. Who likes hospitals? Except for maybe doctors and nurses and other medical personnel. ”
Tonya lies in her bed. Aneesa checks out the clot and then dives onto her bed, saying that her vagina hurts. In an interview, CJP says that Tonya downplays her pain a lot. Wait. What? I missed that on first viewing because I was still so traumatized by the clot. Did she just say that Tonya downplays her pain? This is a bizarre episode. Tonya tells Kyle that she doesn't want to go to the hospital because she'll just get pumped full of drugs and get a $2000 bill and then have to go back in ten days. Tonya. It's called preventative medicine. Look into it. In an interview, Tonya says that it hurts so badly, and she knows that she needs to go to the hospital, but she's scared. Kyle tells her not to worry about it. Good advice, Kyle. Not. Tonya cries and says that she doesn't want to be sick anymore, and she knows that she should go to the hospital, and she's being stupid. Kyle tells her that he'll take her. Tonya agrees to go.
Kyle wheels Tonya into the hospital. In an interview, Kyle says that he sees Tonya differently now, because he realizes how much pain she has had to cope with. I don't understand how all of the roommates suddenly changed their tune: a few weeks back, they were all talking about how Tonya was just doing it for attention, and now they suddenly believe her? I don't get it. Unless it's in the editing. Yeah, that's probably it. Keri and CJP try to comfort Tonya in the waiting room while Kyle just sits there. Tonya is standing, bent over, while CJP blows on her neck and Keri rubs her upper back. In an interview, CJP says that she hates hospitals and doesn't want to spend the night there, but she knows that Tonya would do the same for her. Tonya is called in. The nurse tells the roommates to leave so that Tonya can get undressed and be examined.
The morning, Kyle tells Chris that they were in the emergency room from 1 AM until 8:30 AM (I assume -- he doesn't say AM or PM). Meanwhile, Keri relates to Aneesa that Tonya was all drugged-up and yelling at the doctors. The scene alternates between Keri and Kyle describing how Tonya wanted to leave the hospital. Maybe that's why she never gets quality care -- because she always leaves the hospital too early before they can give her some sort of long-term diagnosis. Chris asks if Tonya is going to be okay. In an interview, Chris says that he's worried about Tonya, because she's in the hospital and doesn't have any family. Keri tells Aneesa that they need to go and visit Tonya because she's alone and in pain. Aneesa says that she hates hospitals. That is the lamest reason for not visiting someone. Who likes hospitals? Except for maybe doctors and nurses and other medical personnel. Does anyone think, "Yippee! I get to go to the hospital! And I loooooove the smell!" No one does.
“ CJP tells Theo that Tonya is bleeding every time she pees. Poor Theo was just about to settle down with his lunch, and CJP had to be so graphic. ”
CJP tells Theo that Tonya is bleeding every time she pees. Poor Theo was just about to settle down with his lunch, and CJP had to be so graphic. Aneesa comes in and says that she's going to leave, and that she has "a card downstairs from Mickey." I think that's what she calls her mom. CJP tells Aneesa to go and see what she got. Aneesa walks over to the elevator. In an interview, CJP says that she's wishy-washy, and it's not cool, so she's trying to change it. Like all of her other issues that she's trying to change? Oh, they did just include a shot of her putting some cheese on a sandwich, so I guess we're supposed to infer that she's totally over her "eating disorder" from last episode. CJP calls out to Aneesa and asks her to put the dishes away when she gets home. Aneesa claims that the dishes are not clean, so she's not putting them away. So clean them! Gah! In an interview, Aneesa says that she only cleans when she's bored and there's nothing else to do. These people need to draw up a schedule.
Kyle calls Tonya to see how she's doing. Tonya says that she's doing better, but she doesn't remember anything. Kyle asks if she's eaten anything. Tonya says that she's worried about her job. In an interview, Kyle says that it's sad that Tonya has to worry about her job, and that the doctor came in and said that she needed a CAT scan, and she started crying because she knows how expensive they are.
Theo writes Tonya a note, which CJP thinks is sweet. In an interview, Theo says that his heart goes out to Tonya because the girl can't get a break. CJP, Kyle, and Keri take pillows and blankets to the hospital to spend some time with Tonya. They meet Aneesa on the way down, who is all chipper and wondering why she can't get kisses from anyone. In an interview, Chris says that you shouldn't have to be asked to go and visit your roommate in the hospital, and he doesn't understand why Aneesa can't just put aside her differences and go. I don't understand why Aneesa can't read the mood of her roommates: Keri, CJP, and Kyle were clearly kind of bummed out, and she was all chipper and it just grated. Maybe because she's so self-absorbed.
In a confessional that I think we've seen before, Aneesa says that she loves Tonya but she can't stand her. Theo tells Aneesa that everyone just left to visit Tonya in the hospital. Aneesa knows, but she's not going. In an interview, Aneesa says that she's not ready to go see Tonya yet. I don't know why Theo isn't going, and it's never addressed.
Kyle, CJP, Chris, and Keri arrive to visit Tonya. They hand her the note from Theo. In an interview, Tonya says that she really appreciated Theo's note. Tonya asks where Aneesa is. Cut to Aneesa strutting around her room, flirting with Theo, while some girl named Danielle lies on the bed. In an interview, Aneesa says that she met Danielle through another friend, and Danielle brings out her "childlike side." Aneesa walks around in stripper shoes and then falls on the floor, which I'm just going to pretend is an homage to David's strippers in New Orleans.
Back in the hospital room, the roommates show Tonya some pictures. CJP asks the nurse if two of them can sleep there overnight. The nurse says that one of them is plenty. Heh. I wonder how the medical personnel feel about all the cameras and such. I'm surprised that they were allowed in. CJP and Chris do "Rock, Paper, Scissors" and CJP wins, so she gets to spend the night. Tonya thanks them all for coming. In an interview, Kyle says that if he was in the hospital, his room would be filled with family and friends, and Tonya's is empty. Okay, granted, Tonya doesn't have any family. I'm assuming that she does have a few friends, but they live in Washington. I don't think that's a very fair comparison.
Mural-painting time. Aneesa works by herself on the side. CJP is so sixth-grade, exaggeratedly mouthing to Theo that they need to make Aneesa go visit Tonya, or Tonya will never forgive her. Why is that CJP's business? She should tell Aneesa that Tonya will never forgive her, and then let Aneesa decide what to do. She's such a Nosy Parker. In an interview, Theo says that when your roommate is in the hospital, the right thing to do is go visit them. Apparently, Theo did go to visit at some point, because he refers to it here. Aneesa writes a note to Tonya. In an interview, Aneesa says that her note was an apology, because she expresses herself better in writing, and plus Tonya can keep it and look at it later and know that Aneesa cares. I don't understand why this is such a big deal. Just because they live together, why do they have to be BFF?
CJP asks the kids to sit in a circle to come up with a script for their mural-revealing ceremony. Aneesa volunteers to write the words down. CJP repeats what one kid said so that Aneesa can write it down, but Aneesa didn't get it all. She asks for it to be repeated. I'm guessing that this is not the first time Aneesa didn't get it all, because CJP appears very frustrated. Maybe if she had a pen instead of a marker, she could write faster. In an interview, CJP says that she noticed that Aneesa was missing some of the things being said. CJP tells one of the kids to slow down and tell Aneesa what he said so that she can write it down. The kids all laugh. Aneesa snarks that you have to go really slow for her. In an interview, Theo says that CJP wasn't trying to mock Aneesa; she was just saying that Aneesa was a slow writer. Aneesa insists that CJP take over writing duties, but CJP refuses. This goes back and forth a few times. That's mature. In an interview, CJP says that it feels weird to stand up to someone like that. That was standing up for herself? Wow, she really is a doormat.
“ Aneesa pees, and they totally show her face relaxing and you can hear the urine hitting the water. Too much! No! I was just recovering from the blood clot. ”
CJP, Aneesa, and Theo get in the van to leave. Aneesa stands outside the van, smoking. CJP apologize if Aneesa was offended, but that wasn't her intent. Aneesa continues to be bitchy about it, accusing CJP of calling her slow. CJP tries to explain, but Aneesa is still offended, and frankly, I would just drop it, because clearly Aneesa has decided to be offended and nothing CJP says is going to make a difference. I would discuss it later, when Aneesa has decided to grow up a little bit. Does that make me a doormat? Maybe, but I think arguing with Aneesa right now is a huge waste of time. CJP tried to make her point, and Aneesa wouldn't listen. CJP says that Aneesa is slow to do everything: she was slow to empty the dishwasher and she's slow to visit Tonya. Now that's not fair. True, but she's not fighting fair. Aneesa tells CJP to "cut it," and walks away. Theo just munches on a piece of melon or something.
Aneesa works out on the treadmill. In an interview, Aneesa says that she seems happy, but when people get to know her, they find a lot of pain and things that she has to work out. Aneesa talks to her mom on the phone and thanks her for the cards, and says that she's been having some breakthroughs lately. Aneesa says that she has to leave, because she's going to visit Tonya. In an interview, Aneesa says that she loves who she is, but she hates herself for doing things that she shouldn't do and not doing things that she should do, and then justifying those actions.
Aneesa drives to the hospital. In an interview, Aneesa says that she's going to the hospital because she's ready to, but also because she wants Tonya to feel that she cares about her. The cameras must not be allowed in this time, because they stop at the door. I'm surprised that the producers didn't make her wear one of those Fear cams.
Later that evening, Theo asks Aneesa where she's been. Aneesa says that she was at the hospital. Theo asks how long she was there, and Aneesa says that she was there for about an hour. What is he, her parole officer? Aneesa pees, and they totally show her face relaxing and you can hear the urine hitting the water. Too much! No! I was just recovering from the blood clot. Theo says that Tonya said Aneesa was only there for a half-hour. Man, who cares? Why are they making a federal case out of this? Aneesa says that it felt longer than thirty minutes. In an interview, Aneesa wonders why anyone cares how long she was there. Word. I still think Aneesa is a self-absorbed brat, but I don't see why this matters. Theo keeps harping on it, and Aneesa voice-overs that Theo just wants to start some drama. Kyle asks how Tonya received Aneesa when she walked in. Aneesa says that Tonya wasn't thrilled, and Aneesa gave her the letter. In an interview, Aneesa says that Tonya was talking to Justin the whole time, and she didn't feel welcome, and she wondered why she was there. I don't blame her for leaving.
“ Tonya looks through her bill from the hospital and says that she feels like she's going to throw up. Chris asks how much it is, and Tonya tells him that it's $9,940. Yikes. ”
CJP goes to pick up Tonya. In an interview, Tonya says that at Northwestern, the doctors were a lot more caring and optimistic. She relates how one of her doctors grabbed her ankle and said that he would get her running again. Tonya was touched that the doctor called Justin and her doctors at home to find out more about her, including that she's a runner. Also, that the disease has limited her medically and physically.
Aneesa finally does the fucking dishes. In a confessional, Aneesa says that she can't run from how she's feeling, so she might as well deal with it. I don't even know what that means. Back in the van, CJP tells Tonya that she got home and noticed that Aneesa had emptied the dishwasher, so she thanked her. Later, CJP found out that she had been nagging Aneesa to do it, and Chris had also gotten into a fight with Aneesa about it. Tonya says that she can't handle how Aneesa won't do anything unless you yell at her or argue with her. In an interview, Aneesa says that she has to deal with herself first. I still don't know what she's talking about. CJP says that Aneesa is always telling her to stand up for herself, but when she does, Aneesa bites her head off. Tonya says that Aneesa always talks louder than everyone else and has to fight back, even when she's not angry. CJP thinks that it's "a very kindergarten-like attitude" that she wants people to like her. Well, now she's bitching about her roommates behind their backs. That's much more advanced. Fifth-grade, at least. Tonya thinks that CJP has already gotten better about standing up for herself. In an interview, Tonya says that she likes hearing CJP stand up to Aneesa because she feels vindicated, since she's been pointing out how annoying Aneesa is all along. Tonya adds that Aneesa can also be really cool.
Back at the loft, Aneesa talks to Tonya about her reception in the hospital. Tonya says that she wasn't sure how to respond, and also, she was sick. In an interview, Tonya says that Aneesa's feelings are hurt because she wasn't all excited about her visit. Which isn't Tonya's job. Did Aneesa just go to the hospital to be fussed over? Apparently, she did. Tonya tells Aneesa not to take the cool reception personally, and that she appreciates the visit. In an interview, Aneesa says that while she and Tonya have personality conflicts, they are still there for each other. Aneesa concludes that she feels bad for being such a bitch.
Tonya looks through her bill from the hospital and says that she feels like she's going to throw up. Chris asks how much it is, and Tonya tells him that it's $9,940. Yikes. Tonya sits down on the floor and holds her head in her hands. That's a lot of clams. She should leave the show and get a full-time job, pronto. No preview for week, so use your imaginations.