For Love or Money 2, Fourth Episode: The Smell of Money

This episode was not only very different from the general assumptions of our show, the original For Love or Money, but also left me exasperated when a commercial break would interrupt a particularly intense moment.

These boys are definitely kept on their toes and are having to fight for their dates. Whether it’s playing a hand of blackjack or having team captains to choose who will be eliminated from the dating process, it’s been interesting to see the competitive side reveal itself from each of them.

The first challenge reminded me of something I’ve seen on MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge... maybe that’s where they got the idea from! The men were required to hang onto a bar that was suspending over the swimming pool, with only their swim shorts on. I had NO complaints however with this challenge! It was nice to see the five boys showing off their nicely defined and chiseled bodies!! Chad V. stayed on the longest, so he had to choose one guy to not go on a date with Erin. His choice was Wade. I definitely think the ones who have become the most competitive with each other are Chad V. and Wade, and this only reaffirmed that suspicion.

Chad V. (okay, he’s the only Chad left now, I probably don’t need to add the "V" anymore) and Vic went on the first date with Erin. I was laughing when I saw the scene – a picnic on a ranch. Nothing like a manure aroma to enhance your appetite! At one point during the lunch, it seemed as though Vic was feeling a bit "crowded," so he got up to "use the restroom." Throughout this episode, I was really enjoying Vic. I think he is hilarious, confident, and good-looking! So, it seemed odd to me that Vic would question himself in anyway. But Erin said she was happy for the alone time she was then able to spend with Chad.

I felt so bad for Vic when Erin and Chad then began kissing each other, very passionately I might add, all the while oblivious to Vic watching from afar. I know that must have been very uncomfortable for Vic. (I was in the same situation in the hot tub on the first series, when Rob was kissing a few of the girls in front of me.) While Erin and Vic had some time alone together, there was a voiceover of Chad saying that he has a "strong feeling that this is right" with Erin. I wonder if he will still feel that way when he is presented with a million dollars OR Erin, instead of both!

The next "manure-filled" date Erin had was with Eric and Greg. Their date was at a polo and racquet club, and they had little polo outfits to change in to. OK, call me crazy, but for some reason, there is something so sexy about polo outfits!! It’s more than just the tight pants... I just can’t put my finger on what it is exactly! Erin seems to really be, as she put it, "smitten" with Eric. They too shared a rather passionate kiss. Erin said that Eric is a bit "risky," but she is willing to ignore that, even though she thinks he would take the money over her. She might be right. Guys typically do not get too emotionally involved with women as quickly as women do with men, so for a guy to choose money over love would probably be the most likely choice! So, maybe Eric WOULD in fact choose the money over Erin, even if he fell madly in love. Guys are too practical, and not romantic enough! Anyway... back to the show.

You can see when the boys get back from the date, and everyone is hanging out in the master bedroom, that jealousy is starting to really seep in. You can see it in some of the guys’ eyes and body gestures, especially when they are told that Erin is only going to choose one guy to have dinner with in the gazebo. Wade naturally thought she would choose him, since he was left out of the group dates and this would be the only fair choice! The poor guys all had to dress up ready for the date and were all pretty upset when Erin picked Eric! It was a romantic date, as far as being in a gazebo in the backyard of the house. From the master bedroom, you can see the backyard, so I was surprised that the guys were spying on the two "love birds." After dinner, they decided to go in to the hot tub, to give the date a good Blind Date ending, I guess. I thought it was a good idea, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t like how Eric rubbed it in to the guys upstairs. It just seemed a bit out of character for him! Eric and Erin definitely made that hot tub even steamier and you could really feel the chemistry between them.

Let me just say, that I was very impressed by Vic throughout this episode. I felt like we were really able to see his true personality more than ever before! Vic has such a great sense of humor – I really like him!! My sister and I were both crushing hard on him, as well as laughing hysterically at his side comments. Any guy that is good looking and can keep you laughing is a rare find. I wish they would have showed his personality a little more throughout the previous episodes though... that way, he would have made my top favorites early on.

Before the elimination, there was a TWIST... (surprise, surprise!) The boys were offered $10,000 to eliminate themselves, and never be allowed to see Erin again. They put blindfolds on and slid their rings off, and held them above a velvet box. I was laughing so hard at one of the guys’ comments, "I had this fear of passing out and the ring falling." I wish I would have known who had said that. With the dramatic music in the background, and the slow motion set, we watch in horror as someone drops a ring. Okay, maybe not in "horror," but in great surprise! I was SURE it was Greg who dropped the ring, but was extremely surprised when we find out that it was Vic! But, if I had been put in the same situation on our show, the first For Love or Money, I probably would have done the same thing if there was no connection between Rob and me.

I cannot wait until next week when Rob returns and moves into the house with the boys! It will definitely be interesting to see not only why he is back, but how the game will change when the boys find out the truth about Erin! I will be on the edge of my seat until then, counting down the days until next Monday...

Alima Ravenscroft appeared on the first For Love or Money. You can read more about her and her time on the show in her earlier interview with RNO.

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