Pulling Together

The troopers bring new life to an Indian Village; and in the process, learn the true meaning of a hard days work!

Analysis

While the opening credits rolled, I was going into this episode with the assumption that the confusion which I'd expressed last week revolving around the Ayanna/Marlene/Clueless triangle feud would finally be straighten out. But as closing credits rolled, eventhough much of the confusion had been cleared up, I was left with more questions than answers- coupled with a sense that I was denied the full story.

The plot holes are not only numerous, but are also concealed in the sense that you know something fishy, but you can't put your finger on it!

For starters, the whole conflict involving the girls was resolved (under circumstances I'm either not aware of, or don't quite understand) way too quickly and easily to come across as anything but believable. You can't have a scenario where at the end of a show you have two cast members screaming their lungs out at each other in rage, then pretend at the beginning of the next show like nothing ever happen!

Just look at the paralles (or lack thereof) for crying out loud: at the beginning of last season's, "Sticks and Stones" Abe and Gladys were still swinging names and fist right and left at each other while remaining incynic with the final events of the previous episode; here Ayanna and Marlene are practically having tea while discussing the night's issues, which is not incynic with the final events of last week! I guess the old saying, "March comes in like a lion, but goes out like a lamb" could be modified slightly to illustrate the events of the past couple of weeks: "Road Rules episodes go out like a lion, but come in like a lamb". In fact, I wouldn't doubt anyone's speculation that a good 5 minutes was axed from the fallout.

Nor was I impressed with S.A.S's lame efforts to bring calm to the storm brewing in cabin 426. After the local advisor (Mike) turns out to be as useful as that photo teacher (Clayton) was to Pawel, S.A.S sends in one of their top brass (Professor Warn-out) to defuse the current tension. Note: that I mentioned S.A.S instead of BMP. C'mon, do you honestly think B-M would send in a mediator to defuse a potential ratings boost coupled with a cameo appearance by Newbill? Ha, don't make me laugh!

As it turned out, Warn-out's attempts to mediate were as pointless as his predecessor's. I thought his speech to the group on resolution was light-weight and unfulfilling, which concluded with a final piece of advice: "Just suck it up!" I found myself asking, "Is that all he has to say?", then later came to my own conclusion that this whole meeting would've been best served if left off screen!

However, and I don't mean to jump the gun here since in many fallout/cliffhanger situations, final closure usually (If at all) doesn't happen in part II. After all... Abe's final resolution with the rest of the group over the Gladys incident didn't occur until "This One's For Gladys"- acouple episodes down the line.

But I have a fear that we'll never hear anything else about this conflict again until the season finale (If then)! Road Rules editors have been notorious for disregarding serious long-term character continuity- especially this season. One of the main questions I had after the show wrapped up Monday Night was, "Where's the resolution?" One missed opportunity for closure dialog that I noticed came during the final minutes of the episode when Ayanna and Clueless shared and compared their similar experiences dealing with dead-beat dads; but what does this have to do with anything? It's almost as if the editors ran out of material relevant to the plot, and decided to paste this in at the last minute!

Extreme confrontations such as this need follow up; If not closure, we need consistent updates on how Ayanna, Clueless, and Marlene are fairing with each other. I'm not saying that they have to drag it out the rest of the season, but don't leave us hanging with the $64,000 question- "What the hell did I just see, and what does it mean?" And if the editors chose to just sweep this issue under the rug next week, and predend like nothing ever happened, I'll be extremely pissed!

So that brings me back to the eachoing question: "Where's the resolution?" Well, I can say for sure it didn't take place during the mission when the troopers had the grueling task of constructing an array of lights and solarpanels for the Dalit Villagers. The project director, Jeff (A.K.A "Bill Nyde") stressed to them the importants of working together as a team to get the job done in time (48 hours).

But perhaps that was wishful thinking on Bill's part... the troopers were about as organized as their cabin quarters! Everyone was too intent on giving orders, and as a result, the work was falling behind schedule. But apparently the powers that be would have us believe that all it took was a hardy lunch coupled with a pep rally, and immediately the troopers were able to put aside their differences and work together as a unified team to negotiate the tricky wiring, and power up the Dalit Village without a hitch!

Ya right!

I didn't believe for a nanosecond that these slackers were capable of completing the mission on their own given the kind of tension displayed in acts' one and two, yet by act three, all is well with the S.A.S Six. During act's two and three, I didn't feel like I was watching a group of kids who had managed to overcome the tension and work together as a team, I felt like I was watching a skillful cut and paste maneuver executed by the editors to give the "appearance" that the kids had overcome the tension that was spliting the group.

In addition, the plot would also have us believe that the group partially owed their success to a few local villagers, yet in all likelyhood the auto club (A.K.A "Road Rules production crew") deserves high merits for lighting up the villagers' life!

Not to mention that we have Yet Another Original- but Uninteresting mission thrust upon us! At this point I'm really worried (especially from the previews for next week) that Road Rules' mission department has run out of creative minds! Sure, charity work is fine, but on an "adventure" series there needs to be a balance between thrills, and charity. I find it sadly ironic that the only interesting mission (from a thrill standpoint) that I've seen so far this season is the same one I expressed the most complaints about for being a worn-out recyclable cliche (The Skydive). Not good people.

As far as personalities go this week, I suppose everyone's character pretty much remained incynic with the previous episode (eventhough Ayanna's may have been slightly enhanced); however, I have acouple character gripes I want to point out. While Shawn's persona is ever so slowly emerging week after week, that is more than I can say for Pawel. Alas, Pawel is still getting severely shafted, receiveing little camera time and no significant dialog. The editors have got to give this guy a voice because he has become far and away the most underutilized and purposeless character this season!

And as for Marlene? Don't even get me started! I've tried to give her the benefit of the doubt by casually overlooking her all-over-the-map personality swings, but as of this week, I've taken all I can stands and I can't stands no more! In particular her latest in the long line of famed quotes: "I thought we were doing this mission just for the heck of it!" and "I don't know anything about apartheid; just think "apart" and "hate"=(Aparthate)" But her offering this week- "I don't know Jack Crap about electricity! All I know is don't put you finger in the bug (I hope she meant "Bulb") cuz you might get electrocuted" takes home the award for most ditzyest quote of the season (so far)!

However, not to come across as too negative... there were a few saving grace moments in "Pulling Together" such as the group successfully lighting up the church and school, but as far as I'm concerned anyone could've pulled that off: you, me, a 4th grade drop out, Bill Nyde, a trained monkey, or even the auto club for that matter! Also I got the pleasure of seeing these kids do some actual "work" (and I mean hard work!) for a change, because they've been living on easy street this whole season. Plus toiling in the 90+ heat will give them all a pre-workout they'll no doubt benefit from when the lame games begin (that Real World/Road Rules Challenge has got to be around the corner)!

Goofs

• New Geography: Hmmm, [Reviewer checks his Club Med at Sea Itinerary sheet] just as I thought.... what the hell are they doing in Madras?!? According to the itinerary, the S.S Spring Break's next port of call after Mombasa, Kenya is "Chennai", India, not Madras! I guess Newbill and the rest of the production crew hijacked the ship and ordered the captain to make a 48 hour stop in Madras, thus holding everyone's schedule up so he can shoot another one his boring missions. Oooor, the editors pulled a switch'er roo on us.... it turns out that Madras is "Chennai"; Sort of like Chicago A.K.A "Chy Town, The Windy City".

• Continuity Clarification: Last week I mentioned that Ayanna mysteriously acquired a tattoo from somewhere, sometime, and this week it has mysteriously disappeared.... Well not so mysteriously since it turned out to be a skin dye called Henn which can easily be washed off with a simple cloth-- in other words people: It's a fake! Thanks Travis.

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