Real World Philadelphia, Finale: Philadelphia Freedom

The gang is out at a club that just happens to have a drag queen on stage, which prompts MJ to announce to the world that he is, in fact, straight. MJ tells us that try as he might, he still hasn’t gotten comfortable with gay world. This chafes Willie a bit. Willie tells Mel and Sarah that he doesn’t think MJ sees him as anything but "a character." To us, Willie admits that it’s partially his own fault because he hasn’t put any time to getting to know MJ. He says he wishes MJ and Landon saw him as a man, instead of "the short gay guy."

Sarah says she is in denial about their experience coming to an end. She doesn’t even want to think about it. Shavonda says she has been thinking about it since they came back from Fiji - where she hooked up with Landon. Speaking of which, things are still very unsettled on that front. Landon tells us that routinely, Shavonda will end up in his bed, and they will cuddle... and then more happens. Sarah wonders if it’s weird hooking up with someone she lives with. Shavonda says it is, a little. MJ asks for some clarity as well. Is she your girlfriend or what? Landon says it’s just sex, because that’s the way Shavonda seems to want it.

Shavonda tells Sarah that Landon is constantly saying to her, "I could get attached to you." Shavonda doesn’t understand why emotions have to be involved. It’s perfectly simple to her! Landon tells us that he didn’t really plan on having this type of arrangement, "I should have stuck to my guns and told her we weren’t going to do anything." Landon seems quite vexed about things. So, what solution do Landon and MJ come up with? Bring another girl home, of course!

Guess what? Shavonda’s on the phone with Shawn! Shocker! Shawn is apparently not happy with Shavonda’s criticisms of him and Melissa’s relationship. (Melissa?) Shavonda says she doesn’t care about his relationship, how hypocritical would that be if she was all upset over him doing what he needs to do when she’s doing what she needs to do? (If there was any question in Shawn’s mind whether she and Landon are hooking up, she slyly put them to rest right there!) Shawn says he doesn’t want to hear that she doesn’t care. Man, I hope Melissa knows she’s a pit stop!

So, the lab rat is a girl named McKenzie, who waited on Landon at a restaurant some months ago. McKenzie is pretty and statuesque. And utterly smitten with Landon. They return back to the house. McKenzie meets Shavonda, who Landon says is "very happy-go-lucky and oh hi!" which he thinks is a total front. Shavonda, with a few strands of egg on her face still, says she didn’t expect Landon to come home with another girl.

Oh, they are getting in the hot tub. Landon says McKenzie has never been in one before, and he wanted to grant this wish for her. How magnanimous. Shavonda is fairly sneering at them. Bluntly, Shavonda tells us that she wants to be the girl in the hot tub. That’s not the only favored spot currently occupied. Good ol’ McKenzie is staying the night! Isn’t this the first date? She crawls into bed with Landon. Landon is on her like an itch on a rash! Shavonda is tossing and turning in her own bed.

The next morning, Landon tells us that he wanted to get McKenzie out of the house as quickly as possible. He didn’t want things to be awkward (okay, more awkward) for Shavonda. McKenzie breezes away like a Cover Girl commercial. It doesn’t take long before Shavonda reclaims her cuddle spot. Landon tells her, though he knows she doesn’t care (wink-wink), that he did not have sex with McKenzie, they just kissed. (That was major kissing!) Shavonda tells us she is relieved. Though she tried to convince herself that she really doesn’t care for Landon, her emotions "kicked her in the butt."

MJ goes with Mel, Willie, and Willie;s friend Victor to dinner. Willie relays that his mother told his little brothers that Willie will "burn in hell" for being gay, which hurts him deeply. His little brothers are enormously important to Willie. As Willie tearfully tells them he is afraid his brothers will see him some sort of demonic soul, MJ is actually holding his hand. To us, MJ says he was struck by the naked emotion of the moment, and he’ll always treasure it. MJ tells Willie, a bit choked up himself, that he knew from day one that Willie has such a tremendous spirit, and there is no way that spirit is meant to burn in hell. The look on Willie’s face - suddenly this whole season was worth while for me!