Couples Therapy - Season 5 - Premier Sept 10 2014 - General Discussion

I'm an introvert as well, and I know I'd be a total wreck with cameras in my face 24/7, especially if I had to talk about private issues. But I also know that there is no way I'd be cursing at innocent bystanders who are just doing their jobs. Blame my parents for teaching me how to behave, but my manners just don't allow lashing out at strangers. That's why I'm having a hard time buying all the excuses for Nikki's behaviour. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck then... well... And knowing how I like to keep my private matters to myself, I most certainly wouldn't sign up for reality TV show even once, let alone twice! I'm sure Nikki knew the cameras would be there all the time. If she didn't then that's just stupid. I would certainly do some research before signing up for something like that. Like Cecily said, she needs to put her big girl panties on and deal with it. If she agreed to do it to improve JPG's image (though I'm guessing the money didn't hurt), then I don't think the best way to go about it is by throwing herself under the bus. If he's ever gonna marry her then her behaviour reflects badly on him too.

Juan Pablo was acting quite attentive towards Nikki, but he still seems to mostly light up when she's pissed. He was full of glee when the cameras caught her bad behaviour and made sure to point out every unkind gesture towards him as they were in a competition of who is more at fault. I wonder if subconsciously she's looking for attention from him with her moods and behaviour, because that's when he starts paying attention and showing her "love" (in order to soothe her). When things are going well between them, he doesn't pay as much attention, and since he doesn't tell her how he feels, she's stuck second-guessing. After a while she finds a reason to be pissed so he perks up and starts being attentive and then she feels loved again. I used to be in a relationship like that when I was young and naïve, and no, it didn't end well. And no, the guy didn't really love me and I didn't really love him, I was just in love with the idea of us together.

Jenna's acting like a child too, but she's a drug addicted porn star, so I can't really hold her to the same standards of behaviour as a normal sheltered young woman.

mindless wrote:Juan Pablo was acting quite attentive towards Nikki, but he still seems to mostly light up when she's pissed. He was full of glee when the cameras caught her bad behaviour and made sure to point out every unkind gesture towards him as they were in a competition of who is more at fault.

You saw that too, huh? "Did you get that? Did you get that on camera?" Hee hee.

I always chuckle when he explains his "helpful and understanding" actions to the camera crew. Again, I am reminded of how he explained in detail the way he soothed Clare's battle with her sister on his hometown visit and that he and her Mom "even spoke a little Spanish" (that line in a nursery rhyme sing-songy tone). Watching him, I momentarily thought I was one of Camilla's school buddies getting a lecture by her Daddy on How To Settle Conflict like he is Mister Emily Post.

I tell yah... underneath all of that tooth decay sweetness, this boy's ego is as big as Yertle the Turtle. It's OK though.

JBF wrote:

mindless wrote:Juan Pablo was acting quite attentive towards Nikki, but he still seems to mostly light up when she's pissed. He was full of glee when the cameras caught her bad behaviour and made sure to point out every unkind gesture towards him as they were in a competition of who is more at fault.

You saw that too, huh? "Did you get that? Did you get that on camera?" Hee hee.

There were so many red flags raised to me this last episode but of all of them, but this one is the "red-est" flag; when a relationship starts playing the "blame game" it's become pretty unpleasant for both parties in it and that "habit" is a hard one to break out of. I've been there and done that.

I know that Nikki signed up for CT and knew (or should have known) that there would be cameras on her all the time and if she wasn't up for that she shouldn't have gone on CT but I suspect that the idea to do CT in the first place was JPG not Nikki and it was motivated more by $$$ than fixing their relationship problems and Nikki has a certain level of resentment towards JPG for throwing her back into a very public relationship where she can't even talk to JPG because she doesn't want cameras on her all the time. So JPG is blaming her for bad behavior and she's blaming JPG for putting her in a spotlight she really didn't want to be in and she's behaving badly because she's p***ed at JPG for putting her in that spot in the first place. And instead of talking directly to JPG (which is what Dr. Jenn told her to do) she talkes to all the other girls in the "house" as if she's trying to recruit allies in her "fight" against JPG. It's a vicious circle.

And Dr. Jenn, IMO, isn't helping things at all - if anything she's hurting them. She took on Nikki over rude behaviour and bad language towards the camera crew and told Nikki that this was part of the whole process. But she seems to be aligning herself with JPG over this issue so Nikki has JPG and Dr. Jenn allied against her. And how in the world did a camera crew become part of a therapeutic process anyway? A camera crew is part of a Reality TV show not therapy so I wonder just what "process" Dr. Jenn is thinking more about - therapy or TV production? I'm not sure that this show can do justice to therapy and reality TV at the same time in all cases and this may be one of those cases. Another red flag to me.

Nikki said she had barely talked to JPG in several days because she knew if she did there would be cameras all over the place and she wanted to talk in private, not in front of cameras. But JPG loves being in front of cameras and he's actually quite good at it. If this "therapy" were being conducted in private instead of on a Reality TV show IMO they would have talked already because Nikki wouldn't be holding back because cameras. JBF mentioned he looked like a news caster and that should come as no surprise - he actually had a short stint working as a television presenter for a Miami-based (Spanish language) sports show, Mega TV's Mega News. IMO both are genuine here - JPG genuinely likes the spotlight and isn't bothered by SM negativity, and Nikki genuinely doesn't like it and is bothered by it. Something's got to give here and so far I haven't seen any steps towards a compromise - or even an indication a compromise is possible. Another red flag.

JBF wrote:You saw that too, huh? "Did you get that? Did you get that on camera?" Hee hee.

I always chuckle when he explains his "helpful and understanding" actions to the camera crew. Again, I am reminded of how he explained in detail the way he soothed Clare's battle with her sister on his hometown visit and that he and her Mom "even spoke a little Spanish" (that line in a nursery rhyme sing-songy tone). Watching him, I momentarily thought I was one of Camilla's school buddies getting a lecture by her Daddy on How To Settle Conflict like he is Mister Emily Post.

I tell yah... underneath all of that tooth decay sweetness, this boy's ego is as big as Yertle the Turtle. It's OK though.

Yes, he has this certain charm about him that enables him to manipulate people quite easily. We saw it on the Bachelor and again during his talk with Dr. Jenn. He had her eating out of his hand and agreeing that Nikki's behaviour is the biggest problem in their relationship when in truth it seems more like a symptom of a bigger underlying issue, which he himself is part of. He only needs to slap that expression of fake concern and sincerity across his face and explain things calmly, drawing out every other word, and people will think "oh yes, I see, you've clearly thought this through because you care". It seems like a skill honed by his work in the public eye as well as his interactions with his daughter. I didn't want him as the Bachelor, yet still found myself thinking he's a nice sincere guy after the first episode or two. It's no surprise he makes friends so easily.

I also think it's a bad idea for Dr. Jenn to speak to them individually, because she's only getting one side of the story and giving advice based on that.

The only problem Dr. Jenn should have had with Nikki is her refusal to talk to Juan about her issues and using the cameras as an excuse much as Juan keeps using Camilla as an excuse for everything he doesn't want to do and Jenna using the color of her sheets as an excuse for being a "mega-biotch". Nikki's HUGE No-No was "catty talking" with the ladies instead of Juan, who hilariously eavesdropped on her with Steph. C-l-a-s-s-i-c!

Sssssooooo... I have to agree somewhat with Dr. Jenn there.

Except here... LOL!

And how in the world did a camera crew become part of a therapeutic process anyway? A camera crew is part of a Reality TV show not therapy so I wonder just what "process" Dr. Jenn is thinking more about - therapy or TV production?

Ooooohhhhh... tell us what you really think, Lucas15! Don't be subtle. Ha ha!

Let's face it. Juan/Nikki and Jenna/John are the primary two couples needing help. Dick and Steph simply split for a time, then get back together, then split and reunite. What are Deena and Chris doing here? I don't see any problems other than his masculine pride over how much $$$$ she makes. Treach and Cecily should simply break up. They are giving me a migraine the longer they stay together and bicker together.

Why exactly are they all here? Let's not be silly. To stay on TV!

Ever since he was a little boy, Juan Pabloooo dreamed of being on Big Soccer Star on the international stage, but he has to settle as a reality TV celeb for now. Gotta settle for what is available, y'know. Has to do this show FIRST so All Of America knows he "works at relationships". Then he can conquer his next TV show.

All joking aside, there may be a chance that this couple will succeed. Opposites attract. Catherine disliked the limelight while Sean couldn't stop drooling for it. Then, as she increasingly got impatient for Consummation Station, Catherine did more talking on their wedding special than he did. In a way, Juan/Nikki are a somewhat similar couple (extrovert/introvert), only Catherine seems to *LIKE* people more than Nikki.

Just call me an idealistic optimist.

Hey! Good news. VH1 will do a second season of DATING NAKED. They succeeded there where Mike Fleiss failed: there was an actual wedding in the finale! Granted, it was an odd "new age" one, but it was still a great excuse to bring back all the stars of the season. I don't know why they call it "naked" dating when there is so much blurring on screen that you would think they are wearing swimsuits. Well... the bare bottoms are not blurred, something that has yet to happen on Fleiss' shows whenever somebody gets drunk and naked. Also the "lost" episode aired yesterday had the one gal fussing too much about one of her trio of men being uncircumcised.

Otherwise, it is a very wholesome show... kinda.

JBF wrote:Why exactly are they all here? Let's not be silly. To stay on TV!

What does a Reality TV star do for a living? They go on Reality TV shows. Deena is on CT, Snooki went on DWTS and JWow went on Marriage Bootcamp: Reality TV Stars along with Trista & Ryan. As long as there's a gig in town, there will be a Reality TV star trying to get it.

I know I will get tomatoes and pumpkins thrown at me, but it would be fun to see Andi and Josh on next season's. Maybe any pair on this franchise that doesn't tie the knot fast enough should do it as a "test" to their relationship.

Harrison can freak out the final couples on next season's Bachelor In Paradise with the option of meeting Dr. Jenn.

Heeeey! That's an idea!

^^^
JBF, chuckle chuckle...

I've been watching a few epi. of JPa's season because I wanted to be fair. As much as I tried, I couldn't find any "buses" that people were talking about him being thrown under the bus. I think he got good editing and the same with Nikki.

I agree with mindless, Lucas and of course JBF. This episode shows that JPa is very manipulative. I think he convinced her to go on the show just to make her look bad, and for the $$$. And if they ever break up, people will blame her instead of him.

This couple have something in common : blame and ungratefulness.

Oh JBF,  I agree with you for the most part, but not with Catherine being an introvert,  she's quite the opposite!

Not so sure Nikki is all that introverted either.

At the ATFR,  if only:

JPa to CH: I'm grateful for the show, without it I'd not have met my beautiful Nikki.

JPa to Nikki:  You're such a beautiful woman, inside and outside.  I care so much for you, so Nikki, I'd be the happiest man alive if you agree to date me in the real world.  Who knows where it's going but for now, I'm always happy to be around you.....

..Then after 2 months of dating, this couple can go on CT to work on their relationship ....( and make a lot of $$)

All the fans, including me, will be cheering them on and everyone, including me, will be soooo happy for them...

A bit of gratitude goes a loooong way.  My 2 cents!

I am just curious, if most people who dislike JPG and Nikki so much did his whole season or if their failure to play nice to Sean/Cat made most people angry?

I see a lot of Andi fans who dislike Nikki, but much like Arie and Jef back in the day, Andi and Nikki are friends who are still friends. I know I question my opinion of Andi because of how much I like Nikki, do any of those who like Andi do the same with Nikki? I am not trying to a smart alec, rather I am truly curious.

I think only time will tell with this couple. It has definitely been a rough few days in CT for them, again until the end of the show, who knows what will play out. I only know that Nikki and JPG have vacationed together and that Evil seems to be okay with Nikki and JPG, so I am thinking they were too bad. But hard to tell until it is over with.