Finally, the getting-tossed-off-the-show scene was scripted aboard an elegant yacht that Brody bragged he had won in a poker game with the Sultan of Brunei. Following the formulaic drama of identifying the "safe" guys first, three dudes remained at the back of the boat: Chris, Femi, and, of course, Chris P. Who would be tossed?
Chris P. was portrayed as the most emotionally disconnected, but nice, guy who couldn't get his feelings up. He was given a life jacket, symbolic captain's hat, an oar, and helped into a small inflatable dinghy, alone minus the blowup doll, to paddle to shore. How sad. It looked like a long way to go.
Most of the guys managed to have tears streaming down their cheeks or at least welled up in their eyes. I guess that saved them. Poor Chris P. couldn't cry even if staying on the show depended on it. Perhaps if he had shed a tear, Brody would have been able to relate to him.
Now I never have been one to doubt the sincerity of emotion expressed by men, but when a bromance with Brody is at stake, I guess a man’s gotta do what a man's gotta do even if the feelings don't ring true. I get that.
Although I doubt the guys ever get emotionally real on the show, I still applaud the idea of recognizing and valuing men’s ability to engage in emotional intimacy and deep friendship with another guy. Sure, the motivation to perform is strong because the guy who does it best gets the prize. Nevertheless, in real life, the prize for emotional expressiveness and genuineness can be a beautiful and healthy forever partnership with a woman. And guess what? I imagine that there is a wide audience of young women hoping to find a guy who can cry, too.
Isn't that outcome worth this soap opera of gorgeous young men with watery eyes and tear streaked cheeks? I think so.
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