Episode 5 - 6/20 - Discussion - Spoilers

Alanna wrote:Am I being dumb? Doesn't she have a stepdad who is caring and wants her to finish school? Does he not count?

This sounds awful, but Brad had a few stepdads, including one who was there for a long enough time that Brad changed his last name to the stepdad's, and yet Brad still had all kinds of issues.....

Alanna wrote:Am I being dumb? Doesn't she have a stepdad who is caring and wants her to finish school? Does he not count?

I'd actually forgotten that she has a step dad, but I think it still depends on when he came into her life, and how damaged she was by what her bio dad did when he was in her life. She may still not be over the feelings of loss, abandonment and guilt that kids sometimes have as a result of dealing with an abusive (alcoholic, I believe) parent.

Bloomers wrote:

Alanna wrote:Am I being dumb? Doesn't she have a stepdad who is caring and wants her to finish school? Does he not count?

This sounds awful, but Brad had a few stepdads, including one who was there for a long enough time that Brad changed his last name to the stepdad's, and yet Brad still had all kinds of issues.....

Stepdads can be wonderful, but they're still not YOUR dad - it's not like she never had contact with HER dad - didn't he walk out on the family? That's got to be very very tough, I can't imagine how that damages someone (especially since my ex essentially walked away from our son - on the outside he appears to be fine, but only he knows how that is affecting him). Kids internalize everything and I'd bet dollars to donuts somewhere along the line she's always wondered 'what if' or 'what could I have to make him stay' - all those things kids think when they think daddy leaving somehow is because of something they did.

Bloomers wrote:

Alanna wrote:Am I being dumb? Doesn't she have a stepdad who is caring and wants her to finish school? Does he not count?

This sounds awful, but Brad had a few stepdads, including one who was there for a long enough time that Brad changed his last name to the stepdad's, and yet Brad still had all kinds of issues.....

Brad is a special case IMO considering that he has two normal brothers while he's a wackadoo of the highest order. In any case, I think Ashley has as many issues, daddy or otherwise, as Jillian and Ali who both had dads growing up so I was just confused about what we were talking about in this thread.

Anyone who goes on this show for a second time has a screw lose in their head somewhere.. some may just have more than one lose at a time.

Alanna wrote:

Brad is a special case IMO considering that he has two normal brothers while he's a wackadoo of the highest order. In any case, I think Ashley has as many issues, daddy or otherwise, as Jillian and Ali who both had dads growing up so I was just confused about what we were talking about in this thread.

:brav:

I really don't see Ashley's dad being a problem here. If she has daddy issues they would be brought up more and would have a Dr. Jamie following her around. But like Alanna said she has a dad who loves her alot. There's a difference between being father and dad and I think Ashley gets that because we have only heard about her dad once this season and it was in episode 2. Just like we never heard about the dead ex BF.

I think she fell for the "forbidden fruit" early on and she is now realizing that she has stronger feelings for other guys and needs to put a period at the end. We have to remember at this point she still thinks HE might want her because HE left the dot dot dot not her. She basically needs to break up with him and eliminate him for good... and tell him she will not being seeing him ever again regardless of the dot dot dot that HE gave.

The VO's of her walking up to his room are clearly from another time. And were just put there for the sake of the preview of upcoming drama. I even think the clip of her crying saying it's only going to get worse is after she eliminates Blake and whoever at the RC. Alot of Bettes cry after RC's when it starts to get down to the nitty gritty.

I think Mickey's problem is with someone else and I think Lucas's VO is either from another time and place or it's the inital WTH before she tells them she kicked Bentley to the curb.

noobsleuth wrote:I think Mickey's problem is with someone else and I think Lucas's VO is either from another time and place or it's the inital WTH before she tells them she kicked Bentley to the curb.

I can agree on Lucas seeing as he stays a bit longer, but I'm not so sure about Mickey. In the preview he says to Ashley: "Obviously you lied to us", so that makes me think he is talking about the whole Bentley situation.

Lucas already had his 1:1 date rose, and leaves the very next epi.

anders wrote:Lucas already had his group date rose, and leaves next epi.

I'd forgotten about that. You're right. She wouldn't have been able to eliminate him.

Did it bother anyone else that Ryan P didn't seem very remorseful that he gave Ames a concussion? I would be beside myself if I had done that!

klarson79 wrote:

sgjsnow wrote:

Admittedly maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see but to me I think she was preoccupied in that chat with JP cause she sees that he is developing strong feelings for her and I think she is developing stronger feelings for him too. I think she realized that out of respect for him (or any other potential guys on the show) and a relationship that develops that she has to put the dot.dot.dot business behind her for good. I think she said as much to CH in the deliberation.

I agree too. That's it, in a nutshell. TPTB are over-dramatizing it for ratings. Otherwise the season would have been pretty boring and uneventful. I think we're not giving Ashley enough credit. She's trying to do the right thing and end this Bentley thing in her mind, so she feels free to fully give herself to others (JP). That moment when she was sitting on JP's lap was pivotal.