This week has proven that the Damsel in Distress act is still effective. I have three examples from The Bachelor, Jersey Shore, and Parenthood.
We'll start with the most well-executed act. This clearly goes to the ladies of The Bachelor. Showing any form of fear or distress gets Brad's attanetion and earns the girls a little extra one-on-one time. From Emily's understandable issues with last week's Nascar excursion to Jackie's fearful overdramatic episode when repelling down a cliff, Brad's proven his caretaker instincts to be intact. The award for best execution of what is clearly an act does not go to either of them. After all, their distress was genuine. It goes to (no drum roll needed as this will shock no followers) MICHELLE!
It was painful to watch her practically throw a tantrum while the girls were repelling on their group date despite the pact Brad had made under Michell's direct pressure to repel again only with her. The pain really set in when, after she called him a "bleep", he still repelled with her exclusively rewarding her five-year-old behavior. The crazy schizophrenic control freak topped the charts this week with her surprise visit to Brad's private room listing off the girls that should go so she and Brad can live frightfully ever after. As if this weren't enough-the best act came when he confronted her about her recent antics at the rose ceremony. She turned the tables so quickly, it was masterful. In light of the waterworks, Brad was feeling guilty for the confrontation and had decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm so glad I'm not dating anymore because this was just scary to watch. I wish I had a clip to share!
The flowing tears were preceded by last week's Jersey Shore episode when Sammi got so upset with Ronnie, she threatened to leave the house. Before you knew it all housemates excluding Ronnie and J-Woww were convincing her to stay. A call to mommy the next morning to cancel her request for an emergency ride home led to an evening out making up with everyone she'd wronged. Everyone included Jenni who she's had a very big issue with for almost a year which had previously included 2 physical altercations. This flow of tears had its rewards. The rewards are likely to be short-lived of course but that's what keeps us watching (shamefully).
On Parenthood, a much deeper and very real issue was presented. It is ironic that I would see this as a "real issue" considering it's the only one that's not a reality TV show. After her parents refused to let her date her older, recovering alcoholic, living-along love interest beginning with the spoken phrase "As long as you live in my house. . . ", Hattie moved in with her grandparents for a week. When she returned after some encouragement from her grandmother, her parents expressed their change of heart. Victory! As a non-parent follower, I think they just finally came to their senses. However, it appears that Hattie's expressed distress through an absence her parents found agaonzing got her exactly what she wanted with some restrictions.
This proves a valuable lesson. The tried-and-true classic act of a damsel in distres still proves extremely effective. The more manipulative you are, perhaps, the better the rewards. However, I also have a feeling that future epiosdes will refresh our memories of the lesson of the boy who cried "wolf". These plotted acts of distress will soon downplay any actual agony these girls may encounter in the future causing less of a reaction when it may genuinely be needed. So, instead of taking this lesson literally, I am reminded that genuine distress exists and faking it may cost us supprt when we need it most. So while some say choose your battles wisely, choose your cry-outs wisely too. Oh-and don't let them be caught on film! :)
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