DCBLOG: Are You The One? Season 2 - A Primer, A Review and A Preview

By DC Cueva

@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Hi, hello, what's up and welcome to DCBLOG's coverage of Season 2 of Are You The One?. This winter & spring, we saw "the most ambitious dating experiment ever attempted" that captivated viewers and changed the game in the reality sub-genre of dating shows. We watched a group of 20 young adults previously unlucky in love go through a roller coaster of emotions in Hawaii that ended in a blaze of happiness in two ways. They shared the largest prize in MTV history when they won $1 million, and produced a soon-to-be married couple who'll soon become parents to a brand new baby. Now, we've waited through five long months, and for some just a short summer after a great season of The Challenge, for our first glimpse of what the second season of this awesomely awesome show has in store for us. The countdown to October 6th is now in full gear, and soon Teen Wolf "Moon-days" will soon become AYTO Mondays.

There's always a curiosity in the entertainment industry of whether or not the sequel can be just as good as the original, and the end result has a varying degree of success. Now we will find out if season two of this matchmaking & social experiment can match, perhaps exceed, the tremendous success of that marvelous first season. Having seen what Adam, Amber, Ashleigh, Brittany, Chris T., Coleysia, Dillan, Dre, Ethan, Jacy, Jessica, Joey, John, Kayla, Paige, Ryan, Scali, Shanley, Simone & Wes did before them, now it's time for Alex, Alexandria, Anthony, Ashley, Brandon, Briana, Christina, Curtis, Dario, Ellie, Garland, Jasmine, Jenni, Jessica, John, Layton, Nathan, Paris, Pratt, Shelby & Tyler to take the baton. And of course, we'll see if - and pray that - lightning can strike twice.

This season, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, Jacy's homeland, will welcome the show's new class of romantic pledges in the quest for cash and love. And to kick off our season 2 coverage of the show New York Observer calls, "The Greatest Reality Show of The Decade," we will take you through a primer of what this show is all about, bring you a review & recap of that incredible first season, provide a preview of what to expect this time around, and look at the lucky handful who have been given the huge task to try & follow up what's probably the best first season of any MTV reality show since Catfish. That's all ahead after the jump.

A PRIMER...
As we begin, if you happen to be a newcomer to this show, then welcome to this world. This especially applies to those from my part of the world who follow MTV's two longest-running shows - The Real World and The Challenge - who might be thrust upon this show suddenly because buzz have been floating lately about four members of the season 1 dream team popping up on the next Challenge, which has been filming over the ladder part of the summer, and is presumptively Battle of the Exes 2.
If you haven't watched any of the first season, it's a strong recommendation by me to fork some money on iTunes, binge watch if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber or cable On-Demand customer, or watch episodes on MTV.com on your desktop to catch up on that first go-around. I guarantee that after watching the first few episodes, you will most definitely become hooked on this show, just as I did earlier this year, and it will be a show that you will have as one of your favorites.

There was a good number of those RW/Challenge fans who, just like me, also got to watch season 1 of AYTO, which actually rode on Chelsea, Kailyn, Jenelle & Leah's coattails, and as I tweeted then, it was worth losing a bit of sleep for after Teen Mom. Thanks to that huge audience who sacrificed sleep, it won't be the case this time for season 2 as it'll air one hour earlier this time around. This echoes what happened to another MTV show, Catfish, which aired late at 11PM in its first go (after mega-hit Teen Wolf) and after the buzz it generated earned a time-slot advancement for its succeeding seasons.

As for the show itself, at first glance you'll find that Are You The One? is a hybrid reality show, although the focus in based squarely in the romantic world. Ryan from season 1 wrote on his EarthToRyan.com blog, "It's like a combination of a dating show like the Bachelor, a reality show like Survivor, and a challenge show like Rivals. It's like nothing I've ever seen...it was the craziest experience I've ever had. Are You The One? will blow your mind." And indeed, it brought fans from those shows and others to this unique concept, mixing elements of MTV's The Challenge and Real World with a dating show atmosphere. This provides us with the competition and curiosity of who might be a match or not, and all the drama we love from our favorite reality shows.

The lucky group of 20 singles from all over America - 10 girls & 10 guys - has been picked based on the very fact that even though they have tried everything they can, they have not been lucky in the long-term love department and in the dating game. Prior to them arriving in the house, they'll be put through a extremely thorough process of matchmaking using a special dating algorithm procedure designed especially to help express & measure the quantity and compatibility of the participants.

They'll all be put through a rigorous assessment by professional matchmakers, psychologists, and their families, friends & exes to help determine their significant other. Much like The Real World casting process, there will be in-depth interviews and questionnaires, plus there's compatibility testing to achieve the best possible results. And like most every other reality show, these 20 people will share a house together not just to see what happens among them, but also with the knowledge that somewhere in the house, their perfect match is living with them, perhaps even next door.

When that matchmaking process is complete, recommended matches of the 20 singles will be identified, and the goal is to eventually have everyone find the perfect partner. And this technology will eventually bring together the 10 ideal pairs when they all meet up in Puerto Rico. Ultimately, everyone will come face-to-face with their match, but the twist is that results are kept a secret from the group. And throughout their stay, our cast must uncover the mystery and identity of their match.

In each episode, Are You The One? features weekly challenges of various forms that determine which pairs win a getaway date with the person they choose. If you're a regular viewer of The Challenge, Survivor or Big Brother, then the challenges have some similarity to what you'd see on there, though it might not be as intensely athletic as what is in the first one. The season 1 challenges we saw echoed those that we've become familiar on the so-called "5th major sport," like climbing down a waterfall and paddling, but also included odd ones like taking selfies of body parts to drinking unusual drink mixes. We even had exes of a few giving dirt on some of the singles as well.

The winners of those challenges, usually anywhere from two to four pairs, will then go on luxurious and often adventurous dates, which allows the lucky pairs the opportunity to enjoy the locale of their surroundings away from the house, while also getting to know each other. This can vary from enjoying a trip by the sea & snorkeling to riding on an ATV to going zip-lining, just like we saw in Hawaii. For a comparison, it's more fun and usually better to win a getaway challenge on AYTO than a mission on The Challenge in which the winners get to enjoy some time out & about and away from the house drama more often than in the other series.

Then comes the truth booth, which will determine if one of the winning pairs is a perfect match as defined by the results of the research. While the winners are on their dates, the also-rans back home will decide among them who to put in there. And when the pair is finally determined - typically by a house vote, they'll go to a room located outside the mansion as the others watch back in the living room, and the lasers inside the booth will let them know if they're a perfect match or not. If they're not a match, they will stay in the house and try to find who else could possibly be the one. If they are a perfect match, they'll then move to a separate living quarter outside of the mansion away from the madness called the "Honeymoon Suite," and would only rejoin the group for what comes next.

And that would be the matchup ceremony, where the castmates gather on the house patio with host Ryan Devlin (of Veronica Mars fame, previously ET on MTV host & also an energy bar investor) to choose who they think is their perfect match, through putting their hands onto a tablet, locking them into a match machine. They'll then sit on the patio with the matches, and watch beaming lights in the background determine how many perfect matches they have. That's where the money factor comes into play that, before season 1, the cast didn't even know of the handsome reward they will receive. It's only if the group goes 10 for 10 within 10 tries that the mission will have been accomplished and they will win $1 million, or $50,000 per person among the 20; all other times they would leave empty-handed but of course we are all praying that they will not go through that scenario.

Of course, like every other MTV reality show, there's a living element to all this with all the contestants sharing an entire mansion, complete with all the drama, fighting, wildness and humor we've become used to and love on all these shows. There's always the presence of tension, jealousy, temptation and despair, and the fear that if a certain pair is not a match, budding relationships may be put into a tail-spin. Plus, there's a bit of strategy involved in the fact that the group is not necessarily competing against one another for the attention of those in the house, but are also competing with one another too with a goal of winning the money. And of course, when cash is at stake, things can get more tense.

A REVIEW - SEASON 1

As we begin our Season 1 Wrap, I first started taking notice of Are You The One? when Jessica liked some of my MTV pictures on my Instagram @DC408Dxtr, and like everyone else, I had a curiosity of what this show would be like. I absolutely didn't know at the time in early January that I would, for the first time ever, not only seriously watch a reality dating show but also fall in love with it the same way my mom loves watching The Bachelor. And there was never a thought in my mind that this show would reach the level of The Real World & The Challenge in terms of enormous interest to this MTV fan.

As is the case when strangers get together to do an MTV show, first impressions are everything here, and in the first few weeks the group had a chance to get to know each other, which spawned an endless amount of couples. The most notable one was Chris T. & Shanley, who were brought together by a strong initial attraction the moment they met, and never let go. Everyone thought that they would be a perfect match, but when they were chosen to go to the very first truth booth just after they had hooked up on their getaway date, the lasers showed otherwise. And in the weeks after, Chris & Shanley continued to stay together, which frustrated the rest of the house as their constant cuddling risked the group's chances at the cash. But fans became attracted to them more than any other duo.

Along with Cranley, there was Adam & Brittany, whose flirtation started when they hooked up on night #2 and went to a whole different level of a love/hate relationship. There was John & Simone, who also became attracted to one another at the outset and went through a roller coaster too but didn't come out a match; Ashleigh & Dre, who enjoyed each other's company perhaps more than any other non-perfect match; and Paige & Scali, whose attraction came about by way of two hookups. Lastly, there was Amber & Ethan, where while they wasn't as drama-filled as the other couples (other than for Kayla kissing Ethan early on which fueled negative feelings towards her), they instantly clicked. Little did we know back in episode 2 that the show's matchup formula would ultimately prove them to be more than just a perfect match.

As for the entire group in the game itself, they were initially stuck in neutral. They got no matches in the succeeding three truth booth trips after Chranley and notched only 2 matches at three of the first four matchups (save for 4 in WK2). After that 4th week, the group all came to a realization that they weren't playing the game as a team and something needed for them to gel. I even talked to host R-Dev after that fiasco of whether or not they could get somewhere, and what happened next turned out to be the turning point. In week 5, they were given a double chance in the truth booth after a challenge by the waterfall, and finally got their first perfect match when Dillan & Coleysia gave the group a much-needed dose of good news, which then turned into 5 matches at the halfway point.

The biggest moment of the season, and the game changer, took place at the very next truth booth when, after being tired of Chris & Shanley staying together, Simone came up with a plan to have her housemates vote him & Paige in. When the words "perfect match" flashed to both the pair in the booth and the rest of the group in the living room, it left everyone on edge, starting with the pair being left speechless. A huge fight between Shanley & Simone ensued afterwards, just after the rest of the group cheered that result and leaving the Panda both enraged & in tears. Although the group's matches stayed at five in that ensuing 6th matchup, Simone & friends did get that 2nd perfect match but made for some awkwardness between both Chris & Paige when they came to the honeymoon suite.

It was the range of emotions that came with the 1st and 2nd perfect matches that both divided & united the house and turned the tide in the group's fortunes. As the game rolled along, they decided that instead of going on just pure instincts of who they thought would be their match, they should keep matching up with who they were paired with in the previous matchup ceremony in the succeeding challenges & matchups. This was where the remaining housemates finally had the opportunity to gel, open up and work as a whole team with their goal of the $1 million in their focus, which ultimately decided the final outcome.

With Chranley out of the way, then came the next love triangle to grab the house's attention: Ryan, Kayla & Wes. Early on when Ryan's journals went missing, he became attracted to Kayla, which, after he saw them in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g, made Dub Bucks jealous. This was just after he picked her in the first matchup, which led to her being rotated among the two. In the 7th truth booth, Ryan & Kayla were sent into the truth booth, but didn't come out a match. And in the next one, she & Wes were put in, and they became perfect match #3, which led Ryan to cuddle up with Jess. Even with all the drama, the group went nowhere but upwards in their matchups - 7 in week 7 and 8 in week 8.

The last hurdle that separated them from the finish line was to solve the last remaining love triangle between John, Jacy & Scali. After he & Simone weren't a match, JJ then made a move for the Puerto Rican, who was also being played by the Brooklynite. In the 9th truth booth as the only one with voting power, Dre put the resident goofballs in the booth and when they weren't a match, they knew they had to switch partners at the matchup: Jacy with Scali and JJ with Ashleigh. The rest is history: once the 9th light came up in what was their last matchup, it was game over, and history was made as the entire cast celebrated their historic achievement: winning $1 million.

Finally at the eventful reunion, we saw a lot more drama with just about all the cast except for the drama-free fella Joey: the two triangles, all the couples, and even a reference to the TMZ story of Dre being married before arriving in Kauai. But it ended with a fairy tale ending: Ethan got down on one knee, proposed to Amber, and got engaged right on the spot. That turned out to be the beginning of great things for the only perfect match that stayed being a couple: he moved down from Denver to be with her in Austin and upon their arrival in Texas, she found out she was pregnant. And on Monday night, they and the entire season 1 cast will get together one more time for a good old baby shower.

Watching the entire journey of the AYTO season 1 cast, from discovering the show on IG to the great season I watched and now to their 2nd reunion, is right up there as a highlight of my MTV career. Them going 10 for 10 is one of my favorite moments of 2014 and is one of those I've been replaying a lot on my iPad since March 25th. I've been able to interact a great deal in the social verse with all 20 cast members almost from the start, jumping on-board when they had followers in the hundreds, all the way to when all of them are now in the five figures (570,000+ Total in the days after their win). This blog generated lots of worldwide traffic (13k views) because of the show, including my SocialPulse diaries for all the episodes. And of the six editions I've done of DC Fan's View, my favorite chat with fans is the one covering that Reunion, which now ranks in my top 10 in overall hits, along w/ 3 other AYTO posts.

A PREVIEW - SEASON 2
Now, from one of the most popular MTV casts ever to another incredible group who are destined to join that list. Having watched what happened earlier this year, they have been given the unenviable task of following up the massive success of the first season of Are You The One?. But as always, they are ready and willing to live up to the task that has been set for them by their predecessors in Hawaii.
Like the season 1 group, this fall's class is both an eclectic and diverse one who were chosen from all parts of the U.S. to try their luck at love, landing their perfect match and winning $1 million. From a hippie girl from Philly and a prankster/poker player from Vegas, to "a shot of whisky in a porcelain teacup" and a beekeeper turned comedian and beyond, the AYTO Season 2 cast spans the spectrum of various backgrounds, but all have a common thread of being unlucky in the long-term dating game.

To signal their arrival to Team MTV, here's a mini edition of DC SocialPulse from August 26th, when they were unveiled to the world, and the trailer were released. And after the 'Pulse (caution: contains adult language, please read with discretion), I'll be offering a look at the entire cast, which is actually larger than the one last season, along with explaining the season's totally new twist.

> DC SocialPulse: Welcome to Team MTV

@MTV_JESS: You have no idea what you're in for 😝 #shitgetscrazy

@blacuesta: STAY.FUCKING.TUNED

@laurashall93: Rumors are true!!! I will be on Are You The One season 2 starting Oct 6 10/9c check me outttt!!!!! http://t.co/e5BxjTtGaB

@A_Bartolotte: "Are You The One?" Season 2 premieres October 6th. Stay tuned http://t.co/eDBcx1KnVR

@blacuesta: I've kept my mouth shut for too long! CATCH ME ON SEASON 2 OF Are You The One on MTV on October 6!!! #AreYouTheOne http://t.co/dOHaIm1esZ

@PrimeTimeSiebs: #AreYouTheOne!! #Season2 #KillinEm Be sure to watch #MtV October 6th!!! #BerrienSpringsReppin!!!… http://t.co/igKiZ0rVs4

@jenniknapmiller: HERE IT IS! The full cast of #AreYouTheOne season 2! Premiering October 6th! Tune in Mondays at 10/9c… http://t.co/QHsVCEbImy

@blacuesta: Hey @SDSU , one of your very own is gonna be on season 2 of #AreYouTheOne on MTV! Holler Atcha girl!!!! http://t.co/5VdOUZMe9C

@PrimeTimeSiebs: Bitch I'm bout to BLOW UP!!

@EikeParis: THE RUMORS ARE TRUE! I'm on MTV's second season of Are You The One! Check out the trailer, share like and follow... http://t.co/k7pEqWAmc9

@blacuesta: This summer was one hell of a roller coaster! Tune in on October 6th to relive it all with me!!!! #AreYouTheOne #season2 #teambreezy

@MTV_JESS: TUNE IN ON OCT6th and WATCH ME ON @MTV all new season 2 of #AreYouTheOne #AYTO2 #areyourdy? #teamcrazy http://t.co/QkIdhjtBX2

@MTV_Christina: Tune in to MTV on October 6th to watch yours truly on "Are you the one?" Season 2! It's going to be great! #AreYouTheOne #ayto #teameleven

@dariomedrano01: "ARE YOU THE ONE" season premieres oct 6. Check it out on MTV every Monday. WILD 🙌🙌🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥10000 http://t.co/Z7r8ansYNu

@MTV_JESS: Hehe! tune into @MTV October 6th at 10pm to see my cast and I go on some crazy adventures! #AYTO2 #AreYouTheOne !! http://t.co/81e49y6KAz

@Pratt_MTV: Check me out this fall on MTV's hit show "Are You The One"! #AreYouTheOne #MTV http://t.co/XIY2aotlBu

@lwjones1: Well it's finally here! The Cast of Season 2 ARE YOU THE ONE! Everyone better get ready! #ayto #AreYouTheOne #MTV http://t.co/dPPttrnUsQ

@shelbyyardley_: SO HAPPY to announce myself & rest of the cast for @MTV #AreYouTheOne Season 2! Catch us October 6th at 10pm ET/PT http://t.co/6Gcp8afSzK

@PrimeTimeSiebs: Coming soon!!! #AreYouTheOne #Season2 #XXI #BetterThanSeason1 #Promise… http://t.co/kijpMNgOLp

@whaattaafoxx: Just retweteeted the trailer!! Everyone go watch!!

@blacuesta: AYTO Season 2!!!! Follow me on insta (brianalacuesta) to relive this crazy&dysfunctional journey! #AreYouTheOne #AYTO http://t.co/rkYcDX4Ioh

@tabron27: Me on MTV's season 2 of Are You the One! :) Make sure you guys check me out Oct 6! #mtv #areyoutheone #areyoutheone2 http://t.co/Gol8aSh9Yk

@laurashall93: Tune in on oct. 6th on #MTV and see me on Are You The One season 2 #AYTO2 http://t.co/Us2xjjM5nX

@A_Bartolotte: They lovin the crew http://t.co/1yxEEDwAdN

@MTVJohnMoustis: First Tweet! #GladThisIsOverWith

@MTVJohnMoustis: Check it out: http://t.co/O6FDHFKdE6

@laurashall93: Had the best summer ever with my loves that I can finally tweet!!! @jenniknapmiller @JSECRETZ @cleblanc1121 @whaattaafoxx @EikeParis

@laurashall93: @lwjones1 @TylerJohnPratt @tabron27 @Tindel10 @PrimeTimeSiebs @dariomedrano01 @blacuesta @JasIPen

@laurashall93: @Modelboi12 @Curtishadzick @AlexPhillipz @chickalexx

@laurashall93: @shelbyyardley_

@Modelboi12: Yeah it's true Garland Brown is a cast member of #AreYouTheOne Season 2 tune in Oct 6th at 10 pm ET/PT http://t.co/OsD9cvgQuk

@dariomedrano01: Octobers very own #AYTO

@lwjones1: Ahhhhhh...#MTV #AreYouTheOne What's going on here? Stay tuned in and follow me for info! Premier Date October 6 10/9c http://t.co/9Mksqv9G7Y

@MTV_JESS: & the fun begins! Perfect match or naaaa ? @Tindel10 @MTV @AREUTHE1 TUNE IN OCTOBER 6th at 10pmET 😝😜 http://t.co/Qp2zfUbfMX

@IamJoeyDillon: ARE YOU THE ONE? Season 2 airs in October. If you haven't seen the preview yet, go take a look. #areyoutheone2 #ayto #AreYouTheOne

@tabron27: Make sure you guys tune in Oct 6 and follow me on ig and twitter at @tabron27 for all the latest updates ;) http://t.co/oqag3WdniH

@whaattaafoxx: Goooooon Squaaaad!!! @cleblanc1121 @JSECRETZ @blacuesta 👏🙌😍

@blacuesta: Long live the g00n squAaad @JSECRETZ @whaattaafoxx @cleblanc1121

@MTV_JESS: #goonsquad #badbitches #mtvkitties @MTV @whaattaafoxx @blacuesta @cleblanc1121 😍❤️

@MTV_JESS: Guess what happens next? #AreYouTheOne @MTV get ready for a juicy dramatic chaotic season!!! Match or na? http://t.co/Fr45ZM5YHn

@MTV_JESS: #teamNY

@MTV_JESS: Why are we so happy brando ? 😁😍😘😝 FIND OUT OCT.6th at 10pmET @MTV @Mtvareyoutheone #AreYouTheOne http://t.co/hHQL6RIEiX

@MTV_JESS: Why was I crying ? Find out OCT.6th at 10pmET on mtv #shitgetsreal #chaoticmansion #puertorico #mtv… http://t.co/eUxUMcAGVQ

@chickalexx: So excited to announce the new season of MTV's #AreYouTheOne Season 2! Come watch me & the cast October 6th at 10pm! http://t.co/Rerw6OOvrp

@Tindel10: Hey anybody wanna watch me on Music TeleVision Channel? @MTV http://t.co/pKlDhnn29T http://t.co/wZXNe9Yhwd

@Tindel10: Haha such a good pic jess

@MTV_JESS: @Tindel10 i can't waitttttt<33333

@MTV_Christina: The best part about all of this is the amazing family I get to experience it with. I love you all!

@EikeParis: I'm not always partying and wasted. But when I am, I'm on national television. What a glorious trailer. #mtv... http://t.co/Wswkknnc4x

@amberleeMTV: Thanks for the adorb baby blankets @laurashall93 !! Can't wait to watch you on SEASON TWO of #AreYouTheOne 😘💕 #MTV http://t.co/oeOYHVHsJM

@laurashall93: Life right now😳 but so thankful for the opportunity I was given🙏 #AYTO2 #MTV

@EikeParis: That beautiful moment @blacuesta and I bond over the dumb ishhhh people say.

@MTV_Christina: Was it national tip your waitress shitty or nah? CAUSE I DIDNT GET THE GODDAMN MEMO.

@MTVshelbs: Check out and like my fan page on FB for updates on myself along with @MTV and @AREUTHE1 Season 2 at http://www.facebook.com/MTVshelbyyardley

@LaytonJonesMTV: Are they the one? Maybe! You'll have to watch and find out Season 2 Premier October 6 10/9 C! #MTV #AreYouTheOne #WOW

@tabron27: Follow me on IG @tabron27 for all the latest info. #AYTO2 #MTV #THATGIRL

@blacuesta: Dear @deeemoneyyy & @tmish2 , I'm sorry in advance for being your best friend & all the shit you'll have to see me do on @MTV #AreYouTheOne

@RyanDevlin: Meet the glorious lunatics! “@lwjones1:The Cast of Season 2 ARE YOU THE ONE! Everyone get ready! #ayto #AreYouTheOne http://t.co/27rEZiFqwm”

@MTV_JESS: I can finally wear my special tanktop ❤️

@Curtishadzick: So its official. Here is part of the cast from areuthe1 that will be on the television starting… http://t.co/XXh6bzSOHi

@MTV_JESS: Do we get a theme song? 😏

@PrimeTimeSiebs: #AreYouTheOne2 #SeemsAboutRight hahah #Awesomeness #MissMyOtherFamily! #Reppin #Tatted http://t.co/YkenGb9ogL

@jenniknapmiller: My bio crackin me up 😭😂🙈

@AlexPhillipz: Lol my bio is pretty spot on

- @MaybachDiamonds: Hey season 2, FUCK YOU! Except Alex. You're cool.

As we begin our look at the cast, I do have to admit about a problem I had with trying to follow everyone on the cast, but after some initial difficulties, I am now on friendly terms with most of the cast. I'm very hopeful that they'll be just as fan friendly as the first group of 20, and in fact some of the cast actually follow me too. So with that, we will go through the entire cast in alphabetical order, starring with the first of four people who actually share the same first name.

- Alex: Coming to us from LA via Georgia is Alex, the resident comedian of the cast (aka the season 2 John Jacobs), and he traded beekeeping in Columbus, GA for standup comedy in SoCal. Though he's had no problem getting girls out west, he's in the wilderness when it comes to the long-term game to the realization that he sometimes doesn't realize he's in a relationship. And just like JJ, will Alex finally put his humorous side aside and become serious in his quest for a girl?

- Alexandria: From Carlsbad, CA (Shaun White's hometown), Alexandria is wild and ready for everything. She's done very well luring guys with her feminine side, but jealousy and control problems, plus liars & cheaters, have been the hurdle separating her from a healthy relationship, resulting in being scrutinized and having suspicion among her friends. As she comes to PR, Alexandria will have to toughen up and drop the "bait and switch" tactics to sustain a relationship.
- Anthony: From the suburbs of Chicago, Anthony is in the homestretch of his time in college, and he wants to find the right girl to take home to his parents and become more in-touch with the grown-up side of him. But at the same time, the frat boy also doesn't want to give up the life of being the big man on campus who parties hard and also likes to brag about his package. Will Anthony find the girl who can tame his hard-partying ways? Time will tell, of course.

- Ashley: From the hometown of Steven from RW Las Vegas - San Marcos, TX, Ashley is highly energetic and athletic, and has her eyes set on coaching cheerleaders. Raised very religiously, this bubbly Texan is also staying true to her faith by staying a virgin, and not just keeping that vCard but also having a purity ring to show for it. Will there be true love in store for Ashley in finding her someone who also respect her traditional values?

- Brandon: Brandon is someone who lives a double life in Las Vegas. By day, he has a serious job working in cancer research. By night & weekend, he loves to have fun in America's pleasure capital: filming prank videos, playing the poker tables and mingling with music's best. Brandon's ideal girl is someone who can have as much fun as him, but not every grown woman is ready to have the same youthful life he has. Will someone grab his attention who can mix fun with being a gentleman too?

- Briana: Spending time celebrating her graduation from San Diego State University in PR rather than in Surf City, Briana is eager to find her perfect match, and is also in a hurry to find love. The plans she has in the next two years is to find the man of her dreams, get married, get pregnant while enjoying the honeymoon and start a family...that's quite an ambitious schedule for someone who's also outspoken. Will someone who lives the fast-paced life as her be in the house?

- Christina: Coming to us from Philadelphia, Christina describes herself as a "self-proclaimed hippie" who has a mix of peace and love, plus a dose of bad girl too. She can lay claim to wanting any guy fall for her, but it's not always the right ones who fall for her. Thanks to the matchmakers, Christina's relieved that she doesn't have to choose because of her poor guy choices. And despite that being #TeamEleven may leave her match-less, it's not stopping her from finding love.
- Curtis: From the Encinitas, CA beach community of Cardiff by the Sea, Curtis is passionate about making art and building furniture in that beautiful seaside locale, hence his slogan "Do What You Love." But that doesn't mean he's had the kind of attention he received back in high school, where he was skinny, shy & always trapped in the friend zone. Now that more people know who he is, and also that he wears his heart on his sleeve, Curtis is searching for a girl he can finally call The One.

- Dario: As one-half part of a pair of fraternal twins from Salem, MA, aspiring baseball player Dario has his eyes set on the major leagues. But when it comes to postgame parties at the club, he generally lets his twin brother take the wheel in the girls department. With his hopes high in love and with this trip to Puerto Rico, will Dario finally have the chance to step out of brother Raphy's shadow and hit a home run with his perfect match and helping the house win the cash?

- Ellie: Hailing from Rockingham, NC (near the Pinehurst golf resort, Fort Bragg and in RWPDX's Jessica's neighborhood), Ellie has a big, cheeky and no-filter personality that makes her no Southern belle. She can admit that her personality may be too much to handle for the guys and she's ready to leave behind the small hometown dating pool to find the one she hopes will be the one who can stand up for her. She's also hoping that leaving her job at Wendy's will be a wise one.

- Garland: A Midwesterner from St. Louis, Garland has a reputation of, as his bio states, "being a dog to women," and has been struggling to move beyond those instincts. But he is eager to reinvent himself for as a newfound ladies' man by finding his soul mate with cash on the line. But will Garland find his inner gentleman or return to an uncomfortable comfort zone? But don't worry, this model even has a soft spot for The Lion King and Harry Potter too.

- Jasmine: As one Jasmine heads into the real "Real World," another one takes her place on Team MTV, and this Jasmine from San Diego is the total package. This Rosario Dawson lookalike is ambitious, gorgeous, sexy, and even raps. She's also a dental hygienist who takes her job & her dates very seriously: she doesn't like guys with bad teeth. Though she's had no problem luring guys in, she's had trouble locking them in long-term. Will Jasmine finally find everlasting love?

- Jenni: From the Twin Cities, Jenni calls herself "a shot of whisky in a porcelain teacup". On the outside she has a classy demeanor, but deep inside she loves to get down and dirty. And for someone who saves lives as a Minneapolis nurse by day and a wild one who likes to get loose at night, the "work hard, play hard" mentality fits her perfectly. Just out of an on-and-off relationship, Jenni is looking for a fresh start in finding her perfect match and someone who can keep up with her.

- Jessica: One who'll definitely receive the support of Camila of The Challenge, and even met Jay of RW Ex-Plosion before going to PR, Jessica was born in Brazil and raised in the Big Apple. She can share traits with the Camilanator of having lively Latin roots and having a heated New York temper too. But Jessica has "daddy issues" of acting impulsively, poor guy choices of men and being hurt. She knows it's tough to adjust her ways, but she isn't one to shy away from a challenge too.

- John: This Jim Parsons-lookalike from Champaign, IL is the one every lady looks for: charming. funny, and clearly has a sight set in life; for John, it's him nearing graduation from law school. However, he hasn't found someone who can sustain a meaningful relationship because he feels he comes on too strong to eventually have it fade out quickly, which means broken hearts for him. Like Jasmine, John appreciates good hygiene, and he also writes occasional poetry too.

- Layton: A former football QB-turned-tight end who attended Ole Miss with Kayla of season 1, he is surely the most athletic of this group (possible Challenge star down the road?). Of late, Layton's attention off the field has been on finding the one lady that he wants to be "Mrs. Jones" and also, she has to be perfect, as in his perfect match. But in order to find the right one, this faithful country boy has to maneuver his way through all those Miss Wrongs to get to where he is.

- Nathan: At first, you'll think Nathan would have that bad boy image of having a lot of tattoos. But having a rocker style & faux hawk is farther from the truth that he's a guy any girl would love to bring home to mom. Like other guys, Nate goes after the hottest girl in the room and he usually gets it. But once he has his girl, she doesn't hang on because of his spur the moment attachment. As he searches for true love in PR, will Nate change his ways or find the same kind of hard & strong niche?

- Paris: She's the daughter of an NFL player and a model from Bronco Country, and Paris certainly has the perfect genes in having the tough guy feel of her dad and the beauty of her mom. However, that hasn't translated into relationship success in Denver where, outside of some relationships, much of her dating life has been juggling with a lot of guys. She's over that now, and with her going to PR Paris hopes to land true love. But she also assures to stay out of the strip clubs.

- Shelby: Shelby grew up in Wichita, KS as an adopted daughter of two strong female role models - who also happen to be a lesbian couple, but lacked the male presence in her life. It's because of this that she always goes above and beyond to please her guys. But Shelby's desire to be a good girlfriend undermines the fact that she's no pushover, as many past relationships she's had didn't go as planned because of not being able to compromise. She hopes for better things in PR.

- Tyler A.: Tyler was the first castmate to follow me on twitter before the AYTO2 buzz even began. A hip-hop host, Boston College student and (of course) a Boston sports fan, she comes to PR to look for a guy who can match her strong personality. Honest and blunt, Tyler tells is it like it is and has no problem sharing what's on her mind - sugarcoating not included. Her ideal guy is someone who isn't afraid to be honest and give her something to think about before she speaks.

- Tyler P./"Pratt": From Orlando, FL, Tyler P., aka Pratt, is a former nerd who blossomed only recently, and is also a sci-fi fan who supports clean energy. On the love side, he's been drawing ladies in from all corners thanks to his newfound confidence and positive qualities. But when he professes his love to the girls, he's been prone to a bad flaw of his in doing that after having a few drinks. Will he get over his picky nature and look for someone who's flawless?

Now, if you do a headcount of the number of people included in that cast preview, it's not simply a cast of 10 girls & 10 guys as we wrote in the primer. There's an additional castmate that will be added to the house this season, and Christina will be added to the mix to spice things up. She will be in the same position Cooke, Nia & others have been in on The Real World: she will enter the house as the newbie and seemingly the one on the outside looking in, but she'll also be a unique position as well.

Christina, aka #TeamEleven, will be part of a double match for one of the guys, and that will be a battle in itself. The eleventh girl will be immediately eliminated from the game and go home broke if she can't find her perfect match before her female counterpart matches with her man. This twist will make what happened in Hawaii feel oh so different, and will sure to also trigger more love triangles, possibilities in pairs and drama among the co-ed's than what we saw earlier this year.

Considering that the season 1 dream team closed the deal on their $1 million with one try to spare, and taking a cue from their Challenge counterparts in its various twists & turns, this will make the 2nd season cast's road to the cash much more harder than what the kids in Hawaii went through. If the Puerto Rico 21 are able to emulate what the Hawaiian 20 did and win the cash, the feat will be just as great as what we saw among the dream team, especially with the twist that's been thrust upon them.

Finally in this part of the article, a word to the cast. If I hadn't sent you the message via my social platforms, then "Welcome to Team MTV." And to some of you, I'm glad we got to clear up the early difficulties we had so I can get to talk to you on here. You've filmed the season over the summer and had the chance to get some R&R after you returned home from Puerto Rico. Now, it's time for the real show to begin: the buzz beginning to reach full-steam, the episodes just about ready to air, the promotion & publicity machine helping bring this show to life, and the opportunity for fans such as myself to talk to you. Obviously, I'm looking forward to talking to all 21 of you in the social world as this season rolls along, and from being able to interact a great deal with a lot of you already before the season begins, we're on our way to bigger and better things this fall.

But although I'm a huge fan, I'm not the only one in the large network of fans who supports Are You The One? and others in the MTV family; you've probably talked to some of them in this lead-up to October 6th. And although there's so many people too many to mention, there's a few for me to single out: my twitter colleagues Andrew Kirk (@CSUAKirk), Brian Cohen (@BusDriversRoute) & Ali Lasher (@LashTweets), who, as webcast hosts, definitely look forward to having the chance to talk to you on their shows during the season. There's also fellow fans David (@BigTymers228) from New York and Neya (@NeyaSivera) from Croatia, who've also been huge fans of AYTO last season and are also anxiously awaiting your presence on our screens in October.

To Alex, Alexandria, Anthony, Ashley, Brandon, Briana, Christina, Curtis, Dario, Ellie, Garland, Jasmine, Jenni, Jessica, John, Layton, Nathan, Paris, Pratt, Shelby & Tyler: you all have my huge support, and good luck to you all. I'll be rooting you on to win the money and also look forward to enjoying the pleasure of your company this fall.

CALLING ALL CASTMATES...

Now, in an effort to expand my MTV show coverage on here, I'm looking to again take the next step in this next cycle in what is already been a great run on here that continues to get better. Earlier this year, I expanded my DC SocialPulse diaries to a weekly affair and also included interaction from fans and me in addition to that of the cast members, and that has garnered the biggest buzz for this site. And of course this site will be on top of all the twitter interaction for Are You The One? this season, starting with Amber & Ethan's Baby Shower this Monday and continuing every week, with episode wraps, thoughts, Fan's View and more.

But in addition, as I announced on the day of the trailer & the cast being revealed after that night's episode of Virgin Territory on my DCNOW hub, I'm considering adding blog interviews on here with cast members, as a way for the fans to get to know these people very well, just as I've done for my Who Are These Newbies? posts during The Challenge. Previously, I stated that I wouldn't interview cast members on here, leaving that task to my fellow webcast hosts (and by the way I won't join the world of hosting webcasts - at least not now) and the media. But thanks to having this blog, being able of do interviews via email - just as I did for my Fan's View posts, and of course, the hosts' inspiration, now I feel I'm ready to take on the task of interviewing the cast on here.

I've been a frequent part of webcasts, including that of my twitter friend and colleague Andrew Kirk in asking questions to cast members in the chat room, so along with listening to all the interviews I've watched or listened to, I can draw on that experience to bring me through this newly charted territory. I don't plan on asking the tough questions on what we will see in the episodes - I'll leave it to him & the hosts while the season rolls along. But I do plan on asking some general questions, and some fun ones as well. And with so much buzz for the first group more than the 2nd one, I feel that doing these new interviews with the season 2 cast will give them all the respect and coverage they deserve, just as I've done to introduce new competitors to avid Challenge fans the past two seasons.

Now, if the current regulations don't apply that I would need to go through MTV Publicity for all interviews, then the following information will apply. If you're a AYTO cast member interested in doing an email interview with me for this blog (this won't be a Skype or phone one), all you have to do is either tweet, follow or send me a DM to either of my Twitter accounts @DC408Dxtr or @DC408DxNow, or simply just email me to dc408dxtr@icloud.com and we'll set things up (i.e. asking for your email privately via DM, ask other castmates if they would want to do one, etc.).

Shortly after I get a reply and after I thinking of which questions I want to ask, I'll send a questionnaire for you to fill out, which I plan to have on 5-15 questions for you to fill out, and as always, the quicker you reply, the faster I'll be posting it. Because the show won't premiere for another week or so, I don't have to pressure you to reply back ASAP as I typically do for other interviews. But for any preseason interviews I might do I would like to have it in by the Saturday before the season 2 premiere, which is October 4th. But I'll be planning on doing interviews throughout the season to keep this blog busy.

For the season 2 cast, I only plan on asking just general questions and maybe a few "get to know you" ones too so that fans can get to know you more. Therefore, I'll pass on the big questions of the season's key moments to my fellow webcast hosts and to the media. And for the season 1 group, I plan on asking questions on some of the big moments from your season, the baby shower and thoughts on season 2, in addition to the usual "where are you now?" sort-of thing.
Once again, if you're on the cast of either seasons 1 or 2 of Are You The One? and is down to do an email interview for DCBLOG, either tweet, follow or send me a DM to Twitter @DC408Dxtr or @DC408DxNow, or email me to dc408dxtr@icloud.com to set things up. I look forward to talking to you about this show that I love right here on DCBLOG, and in the case of season 2, also look forward to interacting with you all throughout the season on my social networks.

Be sure to bookmark DCBLOG as we bring you every moment of Season 2 of Are You The One? and the entertainment & sports you love. In addition, production of both Real World 30 in Chicago and season 26 of The Challenge is currently in progress; and once buzz for both shows get underway we'll again be on top of it all, along with the upcoming reality comedy Slednecks. In addition to wall-to-wall MTV coverage, DCBLOG will also feature extensive sports coverage alongside other posts as well.

To follow the live tweets of all of these shows and the packed fall sports schedule, make sure to give me a follow to my live twitter handle, DCNOW at @DC408DxNow. There this weekend as we post this on the last weekend of September, that will be where I will burn the midnight oil and set early alarm clocks to live tweet golf's Ryder Cup as Europe takes on the U.S. in one of sports' greatest rivalries. And of course there's always my twitter & Instagram @DC408Dxtr.

Once again, we look anxiously forward to covering season 2 of Are You The One? on my social platforms and we hope you enjoyed reading this DCBLOG primer, season 1 wrap and season 2 preview ahead of both the season premiere on October 6th and the Special Delivery reunion on Monday. And for the time being, thanks again for reading and see you then.

- I AM DC