Are You Tempted?, Episode 3: First Repercussions

So, here we are again on Temptation Island. And just in case you'd forgotten, they begin the third episode with a several-minute recap of what's gone on previously. Okay, guys, we get it. Move along.

Day 4 is ending after the Tribal Council – er, I mean campfire ritual. The girls are depressed ‘cus they saw the videos from a couple of their boyfriends and didn't like it. But that doesn't last long – the come back to their part of the island and party with the single guys! How could I ever have thought they were shallow?

Day 5 begins with them finding (or, in Ytossie's and Taheed's cases, not finding) a videotaped message from their "significant" other. Andy told Shannon he had a great time on his date. Oh, good idea there, pal. That's just what she wanted to hear, I'm sure. Shannon told Andy not to focus on just one girl, but to spread himself around.

Kaya told Valerie he was having a good time and hoped she was as well and that she was letting loose. Valerie told him that she was thinking about him and missed him. Again, people on different wavelengths here.

Billy also told Mandy that he was having a super time and she should have fun. She told him that she met some great people and they were laughing and crying together. Um. Okay. Whatever.

Ytossie complained to the camera that she knew Taheed wouldn't send a tape because he wanted her to wonder. Taheed said he didn't expect her to send one because it's in her vindictive nature. Can there be any doubt that these two belong together? At least that way they won't ruin the lives of anybody else.

Next came a round of "power dating." Each single guy sat down with each "committed" woman, and each single girl sat down with each "committed" man for a two-minute interview. Then they shifted ‘til each had done it. Then the players made a Top 4 list to get themselves paired up.

Ytossie, Shannon, and Mandy all picked Tom the Ivy League grad. So he picked Ytossie. Valerie and Mandy both picked Matt as the next choice; he picked Valerie. So Mandy finally got Johnny, the singer/poet. Shannon got Charlie, the entertainment reporter.

On the men's side, Andy got Carla the bass player and Shannon complained that she was too aggressive in swimming over to him and jumping on him. Billy got Vanessa the cover girl and Mandy complained that he hugged Vanessa in front of her – and just a couple minutes later she turned around and jumped into Johnny's arms. Kaya got Heather the singer/dancer; Valerie yells out that it will be her only date with him (which turned out to be quite true, as we'll see later). Taheed got Lisa the bartender; Ytossie yelled out, "I have a better looking blonde." What class.

So, they all go out on their dates. They mostly have fun doing whatever they're doing. There were only a few interesting things. Taheed noted that Lisa was comforting and caring – two things missing from his relationship. Yeah, Taheed, we figured that one out.

The Mandy/Johnny date, however, was the one that's been shown on all the racy promos. First they get a full body mud massage while pretty much completely naked. We're treated to a close-up of Mandy's butt in a bathing suit as she's changing. Then, they go to eat. You know how your mother always told you not to play with your food? Well, apparently Mandy's and Johnny's moms didn't get through to them. Johnny rubbed his food over his nipple and Mandy licked it off. Then they moved into a fairly passionate kiss. Later we see Johnny licking food off Mandy's stomach as she yells, "Billy, I'm sorry." Yeah. We could tell. Real sorry. She's so sorry that she later tells the camera, "you can only be on your best behavior for so long." Real marriage material here.

After the dates, it was time to vote somebody off the island again. The guys were spared having to make a decision because Heather decided, for "her own reasons," to leave. Must have been a great date, Kaya! Or else Valerie scared her with that line about it being her only date with him. Or maybe, just maybe, she had an attack of conscience about the idea of trying to break up committed couples. Nah. Couldn't be.

The girls voted off Keith without having to even discuss it. He didn't seem too upset as they weren't his type. What, he doesn't like shallow?

At the campfire ritual, the girls went first this time. When Walberg asked if there were any regrets about coming, Valerie said it would make her stronger no matter the outcome. Shannon said she sometimes finds herself asking what she's doing there. Indeed, I find myself asking what they're all doing there.

Then they get to choose whether or not they see highlights from their partner's date. As before, if they choose to see it, their partner must watch their date as well.

Ytossie wants to see Taheed's, which turns out to be no biggie. Valerie and Shannon turn down the offer, with Valerie noting they should be totally out of contact. Mandy decides to see his, knowing full well what went on during her own date and saying, "if Billy can't love me for who I am and exploring myself, we're not meant to be together." Babe, you seem to forget that you weren't exploring yourself; Johnny was exploring you.

All four decide to leave videotape messages (yes, this includes Valerie, who just moments earlier was so adamant about being out of contact).

Moving on to the men, Taheed has to watch Ytossie's date, which is also no big deal. Billy, of course, gets to watch Johnny smearing food on his nipple. At that point, he wants to shut it off, but Walberg says it has to play through. So Billy turns aside while the other three watch with amazed looks. Billy later wonders if he saw the best part of the date or the worst part. He heard Mandy saying, "Billy's gonna kill me" and kind of wonders why. Maybe he should have wondered that before coming to this island.

As before, Taheed is the only one who doesn't want to send a message.

As we go back to the guys' part of the island, Taheed talks about how he wanted to go after Johnny when he saw the tape. Andy and Kaya blamed Mandy, though. Billy, meanwhile, heads off to Vanessa's cabin for a nightcap. A little revenge sex? Well, that's certainly what Fox wants us to think.

Let me rephrase that. Fox doesn't want us to think at all. Thinking is definitely not part of this show. But onwards it goes.

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