Two Takes: UnREAL “Insurgent” 

Everlasting Spring Break Party or Soulmate Love Search — what over the top insanity do Everlasting viewers want more?! That was the question this week and now that Chet and Quinn are pitted against one another, it’s time for everyone to choose sides. Let the best man (or woman) win!

But amidst this all-out war and the shooting of two separate shows, we also got a chance to get to know the girls better, see some front-runners emerge, learn more about Chet’s “deal” and in a ballsy move, witness Rachel take matters in to her own hands, only to see it backfire. The gloves are off as everyone steps up their manipulation game this season and we are loving it.

Cortney: Tina, I know we don’t usually like to start at the end, but I can’t help myself this week. Watching that final scene as Rachel smugly sat there with that smirk on her face awaiting her big moment in the sun, only to see her plan come crashing down around her — priceless.

Not only did she go behind Quinn’s back (which I’m sure will come back to bite her in the you-know-what) but her actions also led to the arrival of Coleman (played by Jane The Virgin‘s Michael Rady), which can’t mean anything good professionally. Especially for Team Quinn since he clearly prefers Chet’s raucous spring break version of the show. What did you think of Rachel’s attempt at one upping getting one upped? And is it just me or were you getting serious potential-love interest vibes?

Tina: First of all, I was hoping you’d start at the very end. That’s when s–t got real, as far as I’m concerned. Rachel made a calculated move. Too bad she couldn’t predict things taking a very horrific turn for her. I mean, she should know her luck by now, don’t you think? But, still. I don’t blame her for doing something. Chet and Quinn producing two shows at the same time — does this really happen? Has it really happened? Inquiring minds want to know. Actually, scratch that. I don’t want to know at all.

Coleman’s arrival was fantastic drama. He knows what Rachel did and how it spectacularly backfired on her. I want to know how this universe is going to change with his presence. I’m more than a little disheartened by the fact that he’s leaning toward’s Chet’s vision, however. That was all flash no substance. BOO.

I actually felt really bad for Rachel this entire episode, even though her manipulation skills with a certain blonde was on point.

Cortney: Right?! I feel like Rachel HAD to know this wasn’t going to work in her favor. That being said, I love that she still has that little bit of naivete and optimism despite all the s–t she’s seen. I think the second she loses that, she full on becomes Quinn and I’m not ready for her to go there yet.

Tina: I don’t want Rachel to completely transition into Quinn. She’s so dangerously close as Jay pointed out, but it cannot go that far.

Cortney: I hope not, but as the stakes go up, she is getting close. Speaking of stakes, the double show thing absolutely blew my mind. I mean the insanity of it all…I can’t even. And agreed, the fact that Coleman chose Chet’s sex’d up version — that’s a check in the “con column” for him right off the bat.

However, I am curious to see where they take this character and whether he really goes with Chet’s vision or just starts there and makes it his own. I can’t see him really partnering with Chet. However, I did notice that you avoided my other question, which I’m assuming was intentional as rumor has it that he will become a love-interest for Rachel…which, if we’re being honest, doesn’t really take much, but I’m still curious to see how it plays out.

Tina: I guess I totally not on purpose skipped your question about the love interest vibe between Coleman and Rachel. This is UnREAL. I can see it happening. There was some sort of weird nervous energy between them in their first full on conversation that could be construed as sexual tension. I don’t know if I’m willing to call what I saw sexual tension just yet. But there was something. A kernel of something.

Cortney: Okay, I’ll take that. And back to your point about Rachel, yes, I felt like she had a particularly rough week, which despite all the awful things she does, I still can’t help but feel bad for her. This one hit me particularly hard.

Quinn: Do you think I ran around yelling at you all those years for fun? I set this up for you but you need to deliver.

Rachel: Okay, well you need to let me.

Quinn: Let you?

Rachel: Yes, let me.

Quinn: It takes an iron spine and a steady hand to do this job. I don’t know, maybe your mother was right.

Rachel: What?

Quinn: I mean, come on, we all know you’ve had “episodes.” You’re great, until you’re not. You’ve had a couple of whirly gigs in there before, which is fine, but not so much if you want to be the boss.

Referencing mom is a low blow, right?! Quinn knows how to play everyone, including Rachel, and it’s brutal to watch. That being said, you mentioned Rachel’s manipulation skills as well and I love that she claimed that she was “manipulating for the right reasons.” I don’t even know how to respond to that. Could she really believe this or is this just Quinn getting in to her head?

Tina: Me thinks Rachel is a bit delusional. Meanwhile, Quinn is the Queen of Manipulation. She knows how to get everybody to do what she wants. And those she can’t, she knows just where to hurt them. She has Rachel’s ticket. Her mom is one of her weaknesses, probably her biggest. Jeremy’s exploiting that. And now Quinn is, too. Rachel’s other weakness is her mental stability or should I say instability? And you pretty much can’t mention one without the other.

Those meds of hers — I’m not sure whether she should be taking them or not taking them. It’s coming from her mom so I want to say no because I don’t trust that woman and a mom shouldn’t be professionally diagnosing and treating her daughter. I wish Rachel would see another shrink. And not the one that works for Everlasting. She — and her healing nook — are useless.

Cortney: Haha, totally useless. But since you brought up Jeremy, let’s go there. Not only did he pick Chet due to the promise of a future directing career, he is also using the “mom card” to his advantage. However, in a weird way, I still think he’s looking out for Rachel. I loved the interaction he had with Romeo about his Vegas hook-up with Rachel.

Romeo: She is a freak. That girl is crazy, you know what I mean?

Jeremy: Yea, I do. She’s got a doctor’s note saying the same thing. She’s got problems, man.

I mean, yes, it was kind of a mean thing to say but I still want to believe that he’s trying to protect her. Is that crazy of me? Is he totally just trying to sabotage her and make sure everyone knows she’s off her rocker?

Tina: I didn’t get the same thing you did from that conversation. I just thought he was being a d–k. After all, Rachel could hear the entire conversation through his IFB/ear piece. I think I need to see more from him before I am convinced this “new” Jeremy is just a front or a defense mechanism or whatever you want to call it. For now, I don’t trust him when it comes to Rachel. Or for choosing Chet’s side. Or for throwing the mom card in her face. Or for his personality change. Wow, I’m pretty rough on Jeremy. I do feel his pain but I don’t like the way he’s dealing with said pain.

I really want to talk about the contestants because we finally got more than a glimpse of them. Who’s your favorite so far? Who’s the biggest mess? What are your thoughts?

Cortney: I’m so glad you brought this up because I am seriously torn here. I think the whole thing with the Confederate bikini situation was downright awful. I don’t condone it, by any means, but I think BethAnn was definitely manipulated and I LOVE that they put a spin on it and made her a HUGE Darius fan! He is literally her favorite quarterback ever! Honestly, she isn’t the brightest bulb in the shed and the things she says sometimes make me cringe, but I kind of felt for her. And I love how Darius handled her strip down (which took guts!) by giving her his shirt. That won him some major points for me.

Tina: He didn’t score major points with Ruby, however. Per her conversation with Jay where he told her how Rachel manipulated her to keep her on this show, she didn’t give Quinn and Rachel the reaction to the confederate bikini they wanted. No ugly confrontations. She was on her best behavior.

After Darius gave BethAnn the shirt off his back, Ruby put on a shirt. One that said “I Can’t Breathe,” which is a reference to the Eric Garner case. Ruby couldn’t hold back anymore. She told Darius what she thought of his “gallant” move. But you could also tell she was affected by his sexiness. At the end, when he saved her, that was the first time I saw some chemistry between them. I like Ruby.

Cortney: I will say I’m also liking the chemistry between him and Tiffany, she challenges him and can hold her own, which I love. But I also don’t know that she’ll last, she has her own drama as far as being there. I also like Ruby, but not sure about her chemistry with Darius yet. And I really wasn’t feeling Chantal’s chemistry with him, it was so awkward for me. I’m also so not digging Hot Rachel, she’s just a typical “wanna win” girl, which is so last season. How about you?

Tina: I actually did see some sparks between Chantal and Darius, but that’s it so far. She didn’t kiss him because she’s still grieving. I’m okay with their chemistry not being completely there for now. She’s working through some stuff.

Like you, I totally liked Tiffany’s vibe with Darius. She knows his world. They talk the same language. She messed up in the beginning making out with his cousin (who could blame her. Romeo’s HOT!). But she slid by anyway and made it to the next round, which is cool. I want to see more from Hot Rachel aka Yael. She wants to win, yes. But I think she’s a smart girl and I think there might be some substance there too. Jury’s out on her because we haven’t discovered how much of a mess she is. You know we will.

By the way, the actress who plays Tiffany is a former soap star. Kim Matula was Hope Logan on CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful. I love it when daytime stars crossover into primetime.

Cortney: I’m glad you brought up Jay earlier, what did you think of him this episode? Especially that honest but harsh conversation that he had with Rachel in the driveway? I have to say, I like him more this season than last. He’s showing some real heart and that’s definitely giving him more depth.

Tina: The jury’s out on Jay for me. I feel like him growing a conscience this season is a good thing as opposed to what went on with him last season. But I wonder if he’ll stay strong or if he’ll devolve into the madness the rest of the Everlasting crew suffers from. I’m going to give it more time because I love, love, love Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman on this show.

UnREAL airs Monday nights at 10/9c on Lifetime.