Would love to chat with you more about VPR! I watched the first season and then didn't watch anymore until this one. My experience of watching this season has been surreal because I am not seeing things the same way as seemingly everyone else!
I appreciate the context you give about Schwartz in the Salon piece, as well. Because there are many things I missed.
Here's my baseline—what happened was messed up. Ariana has every right to feel how she does about things. BUT, watching the reunion and seeing things people say online (particularly about Raquel who just seems like a very lost 28-year-old, desperate for validation and love), the reactions feel gross.
Humans make mistakes, sometimes colossal ones, but I don't believe that makes them irredeemable nor do I think that Tom & Raquel lack remorse. And the hypocrisy from everyone on stage during the reunion made me feel a little sick. It's very easy to point fingers at the ones whose behavior is the most egregious at that moment. But it is never that simple and doesn't give everyone else a free pass to be cruel. I have been cheated on, I have been the one who cheated, and I have been the other woman. I cannot imagine having this play out in the court of public opinion and I think that maybe the best thing for everyone involved would be a break from the show.
Would love to chat with you more about VPR! I watched the first season and then didn't watch anymore until this one. My experience of watching this season has been surreal because I am not seeing things the same way as seemingly everyone else!
I appreciate the context you give about Schwartz in the Salon piece, as well. Because there are many things I missed.
Here's my baseline—what happened was messed up. Ariana has every right to feel how she does about things. BUT, watching the reunion and seeing things people say online (particularly about Raquel who just seems like a very lost 28-year-old, desperate for validation and love), the reactions feel gross.
Humans make mistakes, sometimes colossal ones, but I don't believe that makes them irredeemable nor do I think that Tom & Raquel lack remorse. And the hypocrisy from everyone on stage during the reunion made me feel a little sick. It's very easy to point fingers at the ones whose behavior is the most egregious at that moment. But it is never that simple and doesn't give everyone else a free pass to be cruel. I have been cheated on, I have been the one who cheated, and I have been the other woman. I cannot imagine having this play out in the court of public opinion and I think that maybe the best thing for everyone involved would be a break from the show.