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

If I didn't know they were already broken up, this episode made it obvious that there was no way these two could hold a lasting relationship. IMO, I believe they were basically broken up awhile ago but kept up appearances as long as Nikki could stand it and then she had enough.

stuckinsc wrote:

Amberish wrote:I think we'll eventually learn the truth behind the Miami story.

Moving to LA was part of the CT show, both on air and a clip where Nikki complained that Juan wanted the two to move to LA together, but wouldn't commit to getting their own place, instead, living together while staying with his friends. (Could be a cultural thing for him, I guess.) She was upset that he expected her to quit her job and relocate without any concrete plans.

I believe JPG was willing to move to LA for DWTS and probably lost enthusiasm once that went away.  But it was like "their" plan so it was discussed as a thing.

I don't think JPG really wanted to leave his daughter and should have been honest.

But, if Nikki wanted to move she could have found an apartment and a job.  So I think they both liked being able to discuss and blame the other when neither made any concrete actions to make it happen.

We're talking about people we don't really know, but do know a thing or two if by while watching segments of Juan and Nikki on CT episodes and clips. Specifically, we know that Nikki's only interest in moving to LA was to live with Juan Pablo. And, it was his idea and a career move for him. And, he didn't understand why Nikki couldn't just go with the flow (translation, do what he wanted to do the way he wanted to do it.)

Obviously, Juan Pablo was willing to leave his daughter and said exactly that.

Juan didn't want to move to KC. Reasonable, given he's looking for a entertainment/media career and KC is a bad fit.

The part I struggle with is why was Nikki moving to Miami off the table? The woman that slays dragons for her boyfriend refused to move to Miami because her hair would frizz? No. That just doesn't fit.

Amberish wrote:

stuckinsc wrote:

Amberish wrote:I think we'll eventually learn the truth behind the Miami story.

Moving to LA was part of the CT show, both on air and a clip where Nikki complained that Juan wanted the two to move to LA together, but wouldn't commit to getting their own place, instead, living together while staying with his friends. (Could be a cultural thing for him, I guess.) She was upset that he expected her to quit her job and relocate without any concrete plans.

I believe JPG was willing to move to LA for DWTS and probably lost enthusiasm once that went away.  But it was like "their" plan so it was discussed as a thing.

I don't think JPG really wanted to leave his daughter and should have been honest.

But, if Nikki wanted to move she could have found an apartment and a job.  So I think they both liked being able to discuss and blame the other when neither made any concrete actions to make it happen.

We're talking about people we don't really know, but do know a thing or two if by while watching segments of Juan and Nikki on CT episodes and clips. Specifically, we know that Nikki's only interest in moving to LA was to live with Juan Pablo. And, it was his idea and a career move for him. And, he didn't understand why Nikki couldn't just go with the flow (translation, do what he wanted to do the way he wanted to do it.)

Obviously, Juan Pablo was willing to leave his daughter and said exactly that.

Juan didn't want to move to KC. Reasonable, given he's looking for a entertainment/media career and KC is a bad fit.

The part I struggle with is why was Nikki moving to Miami off the table? The woman that slays dragons for her boyfriend refused to move to Miami because her hair would frizz? No. That just doesn't fit.

I totally agree with you Amber. IMO the move to LA was not supposed for DWTS 'cause it seemed to be longer than just a few months.

I hope that Nikki's reputation+career will not be affected by going on CT. I'm not a snob but personally, I'd never do therapy with the likes of porn or rap stars with addictions...etc. just because ...

vivi2 wrote:
I hope that Nikki's reputation+career will not be affected by going on CT.  I'm not a snob but personally, I'd never do therapy with the likes of porn or rap stars with addictions...etc. just because ...

It has already been suggested to her to recap the epi's of Chris's season on the radio station she was on, so I don't think so. One of her complaints was the media and being in the spotlight.

I think that will change soon enough.

Amberish wrote:

stuckinsc wrote:I believe JPG was willing to move to LA for DWTS and probably lost enthusiasm once that went away.  But it was like "their" plan so it was discussed as a thing.

I don't think JPG really wanted to leave his daughter and should have been honest.

But, if Nikki wanted to move she could have found an apartment and a job.  So I think they both liked being able to discuss and blame the other when neither made any concrete actions to make it happen.

We're talking about people we don't really know, but do know a thing or two if by while watching segments of Juan and Nikki on CT episodes and clips. Specifically, we know that Nikki's only interest in moving to LA was to live with Juan Pablo. And, it was his idea and a career move for him. And, he didn't understand why Nikki couldn't just go with the flow (translation, do what he wanted to do the way he wanted to do it.)

Obviously, Juan Pablo was willing to leave his daughter and said exactly that.

Juan didn't want to move to KC. Reasonable, given he's looking for a entertainment/media career and KC is a bad fit.

The part I struggle with is why was Nikki moving to Miami off the table? The woman that slays dragons for her boyfriend refused to move to Miami because her hair would frizz? No. That just doesn't fit.

IMO the "moving to LA" idea that was raised on CT (where JPG specifically mentioned that he was willing to leave his daughter to go to LA with Nikki) had nothing to do with DWTS because that was already long off the table before CT filmed.

I found his statement about being willing to leave his daughter to move to LA with Nikki to be somewhat disingenuous because I struggle to see how JPG would be willing to move to LA for Nikki yet not be willing to move to KC for Nikki. The most probable reason is that JPG is willing to move to LA - not to be with Nikki - but to better advance his possibility of landing meaningful work in the entertainment industry that's centered in LA.

I'm also puzzled by Nikki's statement that she would not move to Miami because she doesn't look cute in all the humidity and wonder if there's perhaps another reason that a move to Miami is not viable. However I can't recall that JPG ever suggested her moving to Miami even though that might seem an obvious choice. Perhaps there are reasons why it isn't a good choice that haven't really been made public and I can see reasons why it could be problematic given JPG's living arrangements in Miami.

Regardless, the inability to resolve a move is a barrier to a relationship for these two. Lots of other couples who met through this franchise have resolved the challenges of a long distance relationship by one of them moving to be with the other but in those cases there seems to have been a mutual commitment to the relationship and that's what's lacking with Nikki and JPG.

I was banking on you chipping in, Lucas15. *chuckle chuckle*

All of that move-to-LA talk was so wishy washy that I am unclear if they were actually THINKING about it at all or simply giving us a "performance" to make us think they are a genuine couple. They certainly had me fooled! I can't believe I have wasted time on this show hoping they may succeed.

Going off on a side-road here... ha ha! You folks with less patience can jump to the final paragraph.

It seems like we can easily dump all of the past Bachelors and 'ettes into three distinct categories, although a few straddle over two of them.

Type #1- the lead who really wants to find a "life partner". Why they can't do it the normal route like everybody else is a key question. Obviously they ALSO want to be on TV. Yet they do seem serious about THE PROCESS. (We are... hoping... Chris Soules falls in this category.)

Type #2- the lead who definitely wants a media career and is chosen because:
     a.) (s)he really is popular with fans and "they are giving us what they want"
     b.) their first choice for the lead turned them down and they have another show to produce

... I absolutely hate, hate, HATE seasons that fall in the #2 category because they always feature one or two "destined-to-be-dumped" contestants who are serious about longterm relationships and ceremoniously edit them like lambs being lead to slaughter (making the lead look even worse). Of course, something "isn't quite right" with the F1 the lead chooses (by way of the edit if not in reality) although we, as viewers, do try to like her/him at After the Final Rose and hope for the best. Then, after the breakup, we pound ourselves with a mallet and tell ourselves never to be fooled by Fleiss & Company again. Naught!

Type #3 - the "default" who is pressured to do it at gun point.

I think Brad Womack's second season falls into #3 since they clearly wanted Chris Lambton (who married Peyton rather quickly). Ben Flajnik semi-straddles #2 but is more of a "prime" example of #3 in that, despite increased wine sales aiding him, he was perhaps the least enthusiastic Bachelor we've ever had. Even Prince Lorenzo looked like he was enjoying himself (and seriously couldn't make up his mind between blonde #1 and blonde #2 in the end). When introduced in the finale of one of the Bachelor Pad seasons, a fan asked Ben if he would find love. His response: "that is what THEY want". If nothing else, he looked happiest when flaunting his bare behind to the camera. Unfortunately, Courtney wanted to do more than just mutually flaunt hers too along side.

Even though Trista loved being on television (later doing FEAR FACTOR, DWTS and other shows), she and the other pre-Bob Guiney leads (despite the fact that the first three guys all broke up with their F1 ladies within five months) did at least want to find a partner. Bob Guiney was the first "poster boy" for category #2-a, eager to promote a rock album and a "fan favorite" from Trista's season. (In fairness, he was also a married man for a couple years post-show, so he wasn't exactly as "fake" as we often joke today.)

Sooo... Juan is probably category #2-a also. Remember the T-shirts? Even Kalon sported one on Bachelor In Paradise. He may also have been #3, since they were gun-shy about Drew and Brooks and Zak W. turned them down. Yet he was the primary contestant with his own wikipedia page going into Desiree's season thanks to his earlier soccer accomplishments and, of course, they wanted somebody who was bilingual for a change of pace. (It didn't look like Desiree was turned on by him, which is why he left the show earlier with less screentime than other recyclables.)

Since the public response to Brad's first season and Jen Schefft was so hostile, they pressure these category 2-a's to at least pick somebody for a "showmance", then guide them on the proper procedure for "breaking up" without too much public outrage. Every season, it is a different route. I guess this time, Couples Therapy is the method?

I dunno... Are (or were) Juan and Nikki serious about maintaining this relationship, as they constantly say in front of Dr. Jenn? Maybe... the idealistic optimist in me says this... Juan had no intention of finding a match on the show, but did see SOME potential with Nikki (a.k.a. "I like you a LOT") and at least put SOME effort into this. Sure wish he was pretending at trying harder on screen. Nikki seems to be showing a lot of effort, but something still seems off with her. When he did his "anger management" routine in the old mansion, she supported him with less affection than Dr. Mike Dow.

I don't think I was clear.

I think the idea of moving to LA came up first for DWTS. Nikki was probably excited, mentioned her dislike of moving to Miami then and it became "the" place they would move to.

Once DWTS, with the lack of communication we have seen between these two, I think it continued to be "we will move to LA", but neither of them ever made serious steps to do so.

I think once DWTS was not a possibility, JPG did not want to go to LA away from Camila. I also think he never said it to Nikki, probably just continued to be vague or non-committal every time it came up.

I don't know why Nikki didn't want to move to Miami, but that seemed pretty clear from her words. Maybe the Carla thing bugged her more than she let on. Maybe if JPG wouldn't tell Camila she was more, then she wouldn't go, I have no idea. But I think for Nikki a move, in her mind, became "LA" or no where.

Nikki also could have applied for jobs in CA, or looked for apartments, both without having to actually commit and called JPG's bluff. She did not.

I genuinely think this was just one more issue where they could claim they were trying and then blame the other person because they weren't happy with what they were doing.

Just my opinion.

Lucas15 wrote:

Amberish wrote:

stuckinsc wrote:I believe JPG was willing to move to LA for DWTS and probably lost enthusiasm once that went away.  But it was like "their" plan so it was discussed as a thing.

I don't think JPG really wanted to leave his daughter and should have been honest.

But, if Nikki wanted to move she could have found an apartment and a job.  So I think they both liked being able to discuss and blame the other when neither made any concrete actions to make it happen.

We're talking about people we don't really know, but do know a thing or two if by while watching segments of Juan and Nikki on CT episodes and clips. Specifically, we know that Nikki's only interest in moving to LA was to live with Juan Pablo. And, it was his idea and a career move for him. And, he didn't understand why Nikki couldn't just go with the flow (translation, do what he wanted to do the way he wanted to do it.)

Obviously, Juan Pablo was willing to leave his daughter and said exactly that.

Juan didn't want to move to KC. Reasonable, given he's looking for a entertainment/media career and KC is a bad fit.

The part I struggle with is why was Nikki moving to Miami off the table? The woman that slays dragons for her boyfriend refused to move to Miami because her hair would frizz? No. That just doesn't fit.

IMO the "moving to LA" idea that was raised on CT (where JPG specifically mentioned that he was willing to leave his daughter to go to LA with Nikki) had nothing to do with DWTS because that was already long off the table before CT filmed.

I found his statement about being willing to leave his daughter to move to LA with Nikki to be somewhat disingenuous because I struggle to see how JPG would be willing to move to LA for Nikki yet not be willing to move to KC for Nikki. The most probable reason is that JPG is willing to move to LA - not to be with Nikki - but to better advance his possibility of landing meaningful work in the entertainment industry that's centered in LA.

I'm also puzzled by Nikki's statement that she would not move to Miami because she doesn't look cute in all the humidity and wonder if there's perhaps another reason that a move to Miami is not viable. However I can't recall that JPG ever suggested her moving to Miami even though that might seem an obvious choice. Perhaps there are reasons why it isn't a good choice that haven't really been made public and I can see reasons why it could be problematic given JPG's living arrangements in Miami.

Regardless, the inability to resolve a move is a barrier to a relationship for these two. Lots of other couples who met through this franchise have resolved the challenges of a long distance relationship by one of them moving to be with the other but in those cases there seems to have been a mutual commitment to the relationship and that's what's lacking with Nikki and JPG.

I tend to believe that JPG is committed ... to moving to LA!

From realitystevedotcom:

"Lets first start out by mentioning the breakup of Juan Pablo and Nikki, since it seemed to dominate the headlines the last few days after Juan Pablo posted a picture on Sunday in San Francisco with a female friend, as the two of them took a cozy selfie with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop, only to have Nikki 30 minutes later spit some venom at it."



"Make no mistake, these two are done and apparently it’s Nikki that broke it off. Don’t be fooled by Juan Pablo’s tweet this morning wishing her a Happy Birthday and hoping for some reconciliation or something. Not sure why it took her so long to realize that he was never going to move for her and never going to marry her (hence the reason he’d never tell her he loved her), but hey, she finally came around and realized what a Grade A douche he is and ended it. Glad she finally listened to what I’ve been saying about the guy from the very beginning. You’re welcome, Nikki. We’ve all had friends in sh**ty relationships where you’ve known their partner wasn’t the right fit, or you knew they’d never last, but that person thinks they’re with the greatest person in the world and they’re just seeing rainbows and butterflies the whole time. No different with Nikki. She was living in a delusional state the whole time she was with him, trying to convince herself that what they had was real, he wasn’t the guy that everyone thought he was, that he really did love her blah blah blah, when in reality, he’s EXACTLY what everyone thought he was. Probably worse. She was blinded by the fairytale. For months she fought for a guy that essentially didn’t care nearly as much about her as she did for him, and it took her 11 months to finally figure it out. Well, better late than never. Maybe now she’ll go running back to ex Ryan McDill."

I haven't visited his site in ages, but wasn't it also reported here that HE also thought they might "make it" as a couple despite how weird that finale and After the Final Rose show was? No doubt, his scoring another successful seasonal S-P-O-I-L-E-R for the masses allowed for a "rosier" view of the couple back THEN if not NOW.

I don't think RS ever thought they were gonna last. He knew it was a train wreck waiting to happen.

RS did say from the beginning that JPG didn't love her that he had never dated a "white" woman, I believe those were his words, but I might be wrong and that Nikki was not going to be an exception to that.

RS was very pro-Clare and anti-Nikki from day one.