Real World Philadelphia, Episode 25: This Skin I’m In

Sarah tells us she is once again obsessing about her weight. She sees her roommates consuming what appear to be impossible quantities of food, and it just affects them not at all. Landon says he doesn’t get why Sarah thinks she needs to lose weight. Willie says it bothers him that she doesn’t realize how beautiful she is. Shavonda says Sarah is her friend and if Sarah wants to eat a cucumber a day for month, Shavonda will too. Well, maybe not every day. Mel and Shavonda manage to cheer up a weepy Sarah.

Sarah says she has taken on a militaristic approach to her weight, she running 45 minutes a day on a treadmill for starters. MJ tells us that somehow, in the big ol’ city of Philadelphia, he runs into Sarah’s parents, so he feels "compelled" to them to see her. At the gym? Sure enough, MJ arrives at the gym and tells sweaty Sarah he has a surprise for her. Sarah doesn’t seem especially surprised at seeing her parents (Mom with cancer looks great!), but tells her mother she’ll call her later.

At Northern Home, the gang is hard at work, putting together the playground they designed. Karamo confides in Mel that he is planning on dedicating a plaque to Landon for all the extra effort he’s made in making the playground reality. Karamo says he’s only telling Mel because he doesn’t want any "negative feedback" from the roomies. Where did that come from?

Ring-ring, guess who? Sarah’s bitchy sister Rachel. "I don’t know how to tell you this..." she begins, but you know she’s been relishing the struggle, "but, Mom says you need to go on the South Beach Diet again." To Sarah, that’s a shot to the gut. Sarah says she was just at the gym. Rachel says I know, but that’s what Mom says. You’ve been drinking too much... or eating too much. (Whichever, as long as it stings.) Just thought I’d tell you. Sarah tells us that she was always the tall skinny girl, and when she picks up weight, Rachel loves to call her on it. We can tell. Rachel goes on a false sympathy path that Sarah heads off by hanging up the phone. And crying in her bed.

Shavonda and Mel are shocked speechless. They just let Sarah rant, "No wonder I have issues! No wonder I stuck my finger down my throat for five years!" No kidding. Later, Sarah’s mom calls, loaded for bear. Mel tells her Sarah is not there. Where is she? Not here. Very good. Mom isn’t buying a second of it, and tells Mel to tell Sarah to call her. Click. Mel tells Sarah that Mom has pumped up the volume, so Sarah calls, a little pissed off in her own right. You don’t look good, Mom says, in that way that cuts you to the quick. Sarah says she gained weight in Fiji, maybe five pounds, big deal. Mom says she looks like she did freshman year of college, Sarah objects. Finally, Sarah says she doesn’t want to continue the conversation, so Mom passes the phone to Dad who says, "You look good!" Huh? Sarah is confused emotional mess. "Why would you say I looked good?" Sarah wails. Dad says, I’m sure trying to be helpful, "you’re my daughter, you’ll always look good to me." Okay, file that under "I don’t think you look good at all, I’m just saying it to make you feel better."

Karamo and Ed go to check on the progress of the plaques. He ordered Landon’s as well as Laura’s (their boss), and Donna (wife of the doctor with the scabies scare. She’s a bigwig with Northern Home.) Karamo thinks it’s wise to clue in MJ, since MJ and Landon are in a pseudo-competition to be the star of the project. Karamo doesn’t want MJ to think he’s choosing sides. MJ thinks it’s a classy thing of Karamo to do.

Sarah goes to have a chat with Donna, someone Sarah says she looks up to. Sarah shares her tale of her demented family. Donna can’t believe her ears. She tells Sarah that she can’t allow other people to do such damage to her self-image. She has to look in the mirror and decide if she likes what she sees or not, and decide what she’s going to do about. Good advice. Sadly, Willie sees this discussion from a distance and concludes Sarah is loafing off. He bellows for her to come help them. Sarah tells us Willie hit a nerve this time. Willie says all Sarah is doing is going on and on about her "nonexistent weight issue." This leads to a full-on shouting match between Willie and Sarah, so intense that everyone else chooses to pretend it’s not happening. You’ve seen those.

Sarah takes it down a notch and explains to Willie that her discussion with Donna (a therapist) was not just about her weight, it was her mother’s cancer, her relationship with her family (that’s gonna need more than a chat!), and so on. Willie admits he was wrong, he could have handled it better.

Sarah has an uncomfortable meal with her parents. Mom asks if she’s gonna give the silent treatment all night. Sarah says no. And remains silent. Mom says she doesn’t want the diet thing to be a big deal, Sarah says it already is. And then she lets her mom have it. Mom says she’s sorry. Sarah interprets this as a control issue with her mother.

The playground is almost done. Jon Bon Jovi arrives to put in the last screw in the gazebo and it’s finito! Time for the dedication ceremony. Karamo makes the plaque presentations, including Landon’s, which shocks him. Landon says he was emotionally overcome at that moment. Karamo says he loves the friendship he and Landon have managed to build (you know, after the throat slashing and everything).

Donna says she is proud of the relationships she has made with each of the kids individually, and offers to be there for them anytime, day or night, as they go through their lives. She seems like a wonderful lady. They all share a group hug.

Next: The finale! Will Landon and Shavonda be a thing or what?

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for 16 years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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