Bachelor In Paradise - Episode 4 August 25 2014 - General Discussion - *Spoilers*

Sprite wrote:I wouldn't mind Robert and Sarah as a couple since they seem relatively normal but, I remember from RS that they didn't stay together. Oh, well.

Other than Lacy and Marcus I don't see any of these people really being all that into one another and serious about a relationship.

Lucas15 wrote:

emusha wrote:wow this epi looks to me like michelle is kinda acting like she was hired maybe starting way back in brad's season

Michelle is an actress and had some small movie parts to her credit before she appeared on Brad's 2nd season. I think if you replace the notion of "hired" with the notion of "cast" you'd be right on. Contestants on this show don't get paid anything and they don't even get their out of pocket expenses compensated for unless they make the final four, and even then it's only a very modest reimbursement for something like a dress. They do their own makeup and supply their own wardrobe. People go on the show for exposure and seem to tolerate the emotional abuse the producers dish out. Go figure ...

It's hard to tell exactly "who" the real Michelle is because she's actually a pretty decent actress, at least compared to the typical cast of this show and its spinoffs. I don't think the producers have to do much manipulation of Michelle because they can explain what kind of character they want her to portray and she does a decent job of portraying that character.

One part of last night's episode I found most interesting was when Michelle helped Sarah with her hair even though Sarah was going on a date with Robert (and Michelle sort of had her sights set on Robert also). Hidden behind the smokescreen of the villain role on Brad's season was the reality that Michelle helped all the girls with hair and makeup and gave them "beauty" tips so that little bit of "helping others out" is probably pretty close to the real Michelle because she's consistently done that over several appearances. I used to think of her as the "crazy Michelle" she portrayed on Brad's season but now I more think she's a decent person with a generous heart and enough acting skills to shine pretty brightly at least when compared to a bunch of dim crazies. She obviously is very close with Graham and I think the friendship and love Graham feels for Michelle says a lot about who she really is.

pander3575 wrote:I thought on BIP unlike TB that the contestants were paid to be on it.  

Kashathediva wrote:I think both parties have issues that make a match other than friends difficult. In the long run, friendship seems to work great for them.

ironcat wrote:I listened to Jason and Molly's podcast, and they talked about how stunningly gorgeous and nice Michelle is and how they don't understand why she can't find a man.  Obviously, something is going on there that we can't see.  Although if she has really found happiness with Cody, good for her.  Supposedly he's extremely sweet, so sometimes unlikely couples really work out (although I'm not holding my breath).

I agree that most of them appear to be pairing up to remain on the show (for more pay, I guess).  They also might have suspected that there would be some additional payoff for remaining until the end (like the show that this format seems to have been based on, Paradise Hotel), since I doubt they were told anything in advance (and I sincerely think the producers were sort of making this up as they went along, also like Paradise Hotel).  I think that Graham waited to dump Ashlee until he was sure there was no more cash to be made for putting up with her crap.  She is really a piece of work with a very unattractive mean streak for such a beautiful woman.  Glad she's getting flack on SM for her behavior, maybe she'll learn something from it.

Marcus and Lacy are growing on me, but they appear soooo young to me; I hope they really were having those substantive conversations the editors never show us, in addition to staring at each other all googly eyed.  Marcus really falls in love hard and fast, doesn't he?