Rachel and Nehemiah clash because Rachel can't stop talking about how difficult it was when she was in Iraq, and Nehemiah is anti-war. Nehemiah tries to speak his mind, but gets shouted down, and finally tells Rachel that she wasn't even really in the war. Rachel blows up. Nehemiah realizes that he was wrong and writes Rachel a note of apology, and they make up. Melinda tries to go out and have fun without Danny, and ends up kissing Wes as kind of a joke. Lacey takes it upon herself to tell Danny about it, out of what she claims is concern for Danny's well-being, and then, when she realizes that Danny is upset, totally backtracks and pretends that she wasn't the one who spilled the beans. Danny confronts Melinda about it, and they get in a fight for like five seconds, and then make up. The roommates get more training on using video and audio equipment for their jobs, and Rachel won't shut up that they were never late for anything in the army.
The opening montage, instead of just having streetlights, lampposts, and people walking to and fro, contains footage of some people protesting the war in Iraq. At the house, Danny is busy holding a napkin to his bad eye. Couldn't he get a patch or something? How does he accomplish anything with one hand constantly clutching gauze or whatever to his eye? Lacey looks through a scrapbook of Rachel's Adventures in Iraq, which seems like kind of a weird thing to collect photos about, and Rachel explains that, in some pictures, she was in Saddam's palace in Baghdad. Rachel interviews that she wants her roommates to know about her service, so that they will understand her. Danny asks what happens if you get caught having sex with other soldiers. Rachel says that she did, but doesn't offer further details yet. Rachel interviews that her boyfriend, Erik, is still in the army and is stationed at Fort Drum. Hey, that's right near me! I don't know why I found that so exciting. Watertown, in the house! Rachel says that her punishment for having sex was to guard the roof for five nights in a row.
Rachel, Johanna, Melinda, and Nehemiah are out having a meal somewhere. Rachel relates how they didn't have any juice in Iraq, so they use to put Skittles in water and make a sort of fruit water. That actually sounds...pretty gross. I think I'd rather just have water. Nehemiah says it sounds like what people in jail have to do, and Melinda interrupts that people in jail have it made. Really? They have it made? She's such an idiot. She offers up as evidence that they have internet access, libraries, and gyms. Yeah, and violence, rape, and that whole lack-of-freedom thing. Nehemiah tells Melinda that she's an idiot. Rachel thinks that being deployed is a lot worse than being in jail, and her evidence is that she dug a hole and shit in it. So do people who are camping. I mean, this whole thing is a dumb argument, because it's not a zero sum game. Both going to prison and being deployed can suck equally, and it's not as if one sucks more, the other somehow sucks less.
Nehemiah sits quietly while Rachel goes on and on about shitting in a hole. He interviews that he's sick of hearing Rachel brag about her deployment, because he's against war, and he feels the need to tell her that. I don't know what he hopes to accomplish. Nehemiah says that Rachel signed up for war, and that people don't ask to go to jail. Rachel says that people in jail committed a crime, and Nehemiah points out that not all of them did. Rachel is convinced that deployment is worse than jail. Rachel interviews that it's difficult to come from somewhere where people shared her experiences and end up somewhere where no one understands her. Yes, because everyone else in the house grew up together and all did exactly the same things, so they have shared experiences. Nehemiah says that maybe they should ask someone who went to jail and also served in Iraq, and that seems to end the argument. Although if he hates war so much, you'd think he'd be in total agreement that serving in a war sucks, instead of the opposite.
Rachel talks to Erik on the phone and relays her conversation with Nehemiah. Rachel adds that she said that at least jail is safe and you won't get shot at. And look, I realize that Oz wasn't a documentary, but I think it's a lot more realistic than whatever Rachel's ideas are. I would hardly describe jail as "safe." Erik just reinforces Rachel's ideas, and basically says that they went to war to protect Nehemiah's right to spout off about his big opinions, so Nehemiah should be thanking them. Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night, dude. I don't think that's what this war is about, but then again, I'm not in the military. Rachel says that she's going to go off on Nehemiah soon.
Danny and Melinda hang out in bed and rub each other. Melinda is going out tonight and Danny can't go. Melinda interviews that she doesn't want to leave Danny home alone, but that she knows that she needs to befriend her other roommates too. ["Is 'befriend' a synonym for 'get completely wasted with'?" -- Wing Chun] Melinda says that she'll probably make out with Rachel tonight. Danny interviews that Melinda is a little less conservative than he's used to, which turns him off a little bit.
Johanna uses the most complicated hair thing I've ever seen to crimp her hair in preparation for going out. The roommates head to The Dizzy Rooster. Even Lacey is dancing on the bar! Johanna flirts with Leo, the bartender who did a shot from her belly button.
Outside, Wes gets in a drunken mock argument with some girl about whether he could get any nearby girl to kiss him. I think. You know, they're drunk, so the argument itself doesn't make a lot of sense. But it does end with Wes asking several ladies if he can kiss them. They all say no, because Wes is not that cute. He finally asks Melinda, who agrees to kiss him. It's not just a peck on the lips either.
Everyone comes home. Melinda heads right to Danny's bed and shows off how even really skinny girls can have love handles if they're wearing low-rise jeans that are too small. Go up a size, Melinda! She hops into bed with Danny and apologizes for being so aggressive, because she knows it's unattractive. Danny says it's not, but that it is different from what he's used to.
Leo, Johanna, Lacey, and Wes hang out. Wes admits that he kissed Melinda, but says that he was thinking of Danny the whole time. I don't think he meant that how it sounds. Or maybe he did! Lacey asks if Wes is going to tell Danny about it, and Leo thinks he should. Wes agrees, but says that if Danny saw it, he would understand. Lacey wonders why the idea of kissing even came up. I'm going to guess that the alcohol had something to do with it. Lacey is really concerned about Danny and Melinda's relationship for no apparent reason. Well, except that she's worried that if Danny and Melinda break up, the vibe in the house will be "awkward and horrible."
In the morning, Rachel goes around and tells everyone that they have to leave for work soon. The roommates are sleepy and moving slowly, and Rachel keeps nagging everyone. Rachel interviews that, in the army, everyone is punctual. Well, these people aren't in the army, are they? Maybe she missed that part. And this happens every season, and every season I wonder why they all have to travel in a pack. I would just leave so that I would be on time and fuck the rest of them. Johanna interviews that Rachel is annoying and controlling.
The roommates meet with Jenn and PJ, two of their trainers in the film world. After some plugs for Sony for providing the equipment, the roommates practice using cameras and audio equipment, especially the logistics of how to get various angles and work with two camera crews without getting the crew in the shot. Jenn and PJ say that the roommates made a lot of progress today.
While walking home, Johanna tells Rachel that while Rachel is used to barking out orders in the army, civilians see that as bossy and loud and blunt. Rachel says that she feels like a bitch, but that's how things are done in the army. Johanna points out that there are other ways to approach it, and Rachel says that she didn't know that the army affected her life this much.
The roommates are sitting around talking politics. Oh, this should be good. And by "good," I mean, "filled with uninformed opinions." Although I guess that's what being a young adult is all about -- feeling like you are the most original thinker of all time, and that no one else is as smart as you. Anyway, Nehemiah says that President Bush is a robot, and not even a human being. Danny thinks Bush is a great president and a great leader, and Nehemiah asks whom he's so great for. Wes makes some sarcastic remark about Nehemiah's being educated. Nehemiah interviews that he hasn't seen enough evidence that the war is just. Nehemiah asks his roommates what they think the war is about. Danny says that "they killed four thousand people on American soil." Now, many people assumed that Danny was talking about the Iraqis, but it's possible that they were talking about Afghanistan, or the "War on Terror" or whatever. So Danny might not be as misguided as that statement would have you believe. Danny tells Nehemiah that he's watched too much Fahrenheit 9/11 and Wes says, "It's not a documentary. It's propaganda." Nehemiah thinks the war is propaganda. This is one step away from, "No, you're propaganda!" Rachel points out that Nehemiah doesn't know about the war, because he wasn't there. He can't know about the war unless he participated? Nehemiah yells that Rachel wasn't in the war either, because she's just a nurse. Wuh? I'm no huge fan of Rachel, but I think if she was in Iraq, she was in the war, given the plethora of suicide bombings and suchlike. Rachel's response is that she did a lot more than Nehemiah, because while he was sitting on his ass at home, she was taking care of dying soldiers. She says that Nehemiah is the most ignorant person she's ever met, and stomps away.
And now it's time for the Most Awesome Thing I Saw on TV This Week. The most awesome thing I saw on TV this week, honestly, were the reruns of the first season of The Amazing Race on the Game Show Network. I have tried to rewatch a lot of shows now that cable and DVDs make that a lot more possible, and very few hold up. The Mole? Didn't really hold up. Angel? I got bored very quickly. But so far (five episodes in), even though I know the eventual result, TAR holds up really well. So far, the highlights have been Phil looking twelve years old, forgetting why I hated the Guidos, forgetting that some of the teams ever existed, remembering why I hated the Guidos, the first appearance of the correct phraseology for the Roadblocks and the Detours, the difficulty of the clues, Kevin and Drew, and looking forward to the rest of the seasons, which I haven't seen since they originally aired. And it's on every night! Which is awesome.
Melinda and Nehemiah go out to eat. Melinda brings up the fight we witnessed before the commercial break, and says that she wondered why Nehemiah made that comment about Rachel. Melinda interviews that Nehemiah is wrong to put Rachel down that way. Nehemiah tries to explain that he doesn't think Rachel was "in the straight-up battleground." Melinda asks if Nehemiah thinks that Rachel is bragging, and Nehemiah thinks that she is, in a way. Melinda says that she would want everyone to know if she served. Nehemiah admits that he didn't really get his point across properly, and that he does admire Rachel's service to her country. Melinda asks if he can talk to her about it. Nehemiah says that he just got fed up. Nehemiah interviews that he used to have a bad temper. What, when he was ten? He's not that old. He adds that now that he's grown up, he can let other people release their anger without retaliating.
Nehemiah leaves a note on Rachel's bed. Rachel walks into her room wearing a pink hoodie that reads "Combat Veteran." Is that endorsed by the military? ["I guarantee it's a Neighborhoodie -- and a pretty lame one, at that." -- Wing Chun] And in case you had any doubts that Rachel is constantly like, "Well, when I was in Iraq..." I think that clothing choice says it all. It's like when a new person starts in your workplace and is all, "At my old company, we didn't do things that way!" and you want to tell the person to go back to their old workplace if it was so great. Anyway. Rachel interviews that it means a lot that Nehemiah is apologizing via note, and she thinks Nehemiah has a lot of pride, so it's even more meaningful.
Rachel goes into Nehemiah's room and apologizes for being a bitch. They hug. Nehemiah interviews that he wants to get to know Rachel better and find out where she's coming from. Nehemiah says that he shouldn't have made that comment, and Rachel says she shouldn't have started it in the first place. They call a truce and decide to get drunk tonight. All is back to normal.
That night, the roommates (minus Danny) go out to a bar. Melinda gets drunk and tells Rachel that she wants to go fuck someone. Classy as always.
Back at the house, Danny tells Lacey that he likes Melinda a lot, but that he doesn't understand why she goes out all the time instead of staying home with him once in a while. Lacey says that Melinda likes Danny too, but she doesn't seem interested in giving up her wild ways for Danny. Lacey interviews that she's concerned that Danny's going to get hurt. Lacey tells Danny that Melinda is fun, wild, and sexy, and that she wonders if that will start to bother Danny after a while. She adds, "Like she is making out with Wes. She's making out with a girl." Danny didn't know that Melinda made out with Wes. Oops. I think Lacey thought Danny knew that. Danny interviews that he's taken aback by the news. Danny tells Lacey that he doesn't want to get wrapped up in Melinda if she's not going to take their relationship seriously, because he could be out meeting other girls.
Melinda and Rachel come home, drunk. They wonder where everybody is, and Melinda suggests they're having sex. All of them? Rachel finds Danny lying on a bed and whispers that Melinda couldn't stop talking about Danny all night, and it's why they came home early. Danny says that he found out that Melinda made out with Wes, and Rachel immediately says that it sucked. I'm assuming she's talking about the quality of the kissing, and not the effect it is having on Danny. Danny interviews that he's distancing himself from Melinda, because he's mad, and is waiting for her to admit it to him.
Rachel immediately goes and tells Melinda what just happened. Melinda interviews that she thought kissing Wes was funny because she's not attracted to him. It is a bit hypocritical that Danny wasn't bothered by the thought of Melinda kissing Rachel, but that it bothered that she kissed Wes, since both activities apparently meant about the same to Melinda.
Melinda finds Danny and asks why he's upset. She interviews that she doesn't want to hurt Danny's feelings, and that she feels bad. Melinda tells Danny that the thing with Wes just lasted a few seconds, and that it didn't mean anything. Danny says that Wes is her roommates and friend, and that Melinda had said she wouldn't make out with anybody, and failed to tell him what happened. Danny interviews that he's not angry with Melinda; he just wants her to be honest. Danny says that he's not letting himself get involved with her if she's going to make out with their roommates. Melinda tells him that if he feels that way, there's nothing she can do. Danny thinks it means she doesn't care, and Melinda starts crying. Melinda interviews that she feels rejected and confused. Melinda apologizes some more and walks away crying.
Lacey is doing laundry. That's a first! They never show the roommates doing laundry. Johanna sits nearby and says she doesn't think Melinda is clingy. Nice legwarmers, Johanna. Lacey thinks that Danny got in over his head, and is rethinking it. Johanna wonders who told Danny that Wes kissed Melinda. Lacey says that it doesn't matter who told him, and then says that it was probably done in passing. And she would know. If Johanna wasn't drunk, Lacey would be totally busted, because she's so obvious.
Melinda is brushing her teeth. Danny comes in and says he likes it when she wears her glasses, and Melinda is short with him. Danny asks her not to be so standoffish. Melinda says it's hard, because she likes him more than she's ever liked any guy. She bursts into tears and Danny hugs her. Danny says that things don't have to change, and that he does like her. He adds that if he didn't care, he would go out and hook up with other girls, but that he's not like that. Danny says that he won't hold a grudge, and asks her to be upfront and honest. He adds that he doesn't want to be screwed over by her. Melinda takes my punch line when she says that she wants to screw him, but not screw him over. Danny interviews that honesty is important in a relationship, and that he's glad they worked through it. Melinda says she'll never find another guy like him. Yeah! She knows all about him in the, what, two weeks they've been in the house. So ridiculous.