DC Fan's View: Reality Debrief 2014 with DC & Andrew

The views and opinions expressed in Fan's View are only of its host & guest 

and do not necessarily reflect the views of DCBLOG or affiliated parties.

A DCBLOG Year-End Special

with DC Cueva and Andrew Kirk

@DC408Dxtr / @CSUAKirk

Well on this New Year's Eve, here we are at the end of what has been a memorable year in so many ways. We've had so many great stories, big events and other things that's defined the last 365 days across the whole landscape. But if you're an MTV fan, this has been a fantastic year as well: we've seen a passing in the Teen Wolf cast, the intriguing drama Finding Carter, new additions to Snooki & J-Woww's family, taking trips to Alaska, Virgin Territory and beyond, new comedy Faking It joining Awkward, and of course that never-ending but fascinating saga of Chelsea, Jenelle, Kailyn & Leah.

   But the MTV shows I'm most passionate about are not one, but three: one had a brand new format that totally reinvented TV's longest-running reality franchise here in the Bay Area and its newest season already underway in Chicago, another with an unpredictable season where anything can & did happen, and a third that is a hybrid of those two that became my newest guilty pleasure. And obviously, there was also the untimely passings of both Diem Brown and Ryan Knight last month, and whose appearances on the upcoming Challenge will make this the most emotion packed one yet.

   It's with this backdrop that we bring you this latest edition of DC Fan's View. In previous editions of this post, we've brought you unique perspectives on the reunions & after shows for The Real World, The Challenge and Are You The One? from the eyes of those who watched it in the audience. But for this first installment of this newly-revamped feature, I'm turning the attention now to fellow fanatics, webcast hosts and bloggers to discuss the shows we love right here on this site. And what better way to kick off this new generation of Fan's View than to bring on perhaps my twitter best buddy to discuss the year that was in MTV reality TV. And to explain how post has come about, you gotta go back to when I started here in the twitter-sphere.

The Saturday after Christmas last weekend marked exactly two-and-a-half years since I joined Twitter on June 27, 2012, the same day as the premiere of Real World St. Thomas. During this time, I've become great friends with so many people - both those in the MTV family and fellow fans, and one of them is Andrew Kirk (@CSUAKirk). Although it's been 30 months since I first heard of AK, it feels like we've known each other for way longer than that because so much has happened during this time frame in watching, covering and following this MTV world & beyond.

   As I wrote a couple times on here, Andrew is one of the best in the business in talking to Team MTV, starting in 2011 as a caller to Brandon from The Challenge on his show. AK then became a webcast host himself a year later - first on Blog Talk Radio, then SpreeCast and now on Google+. He's enjoyed the pleasure of talking to 60 cast members from The Real World, The Challenge, Are You The One? and others. And though you might not hear my voice or see me on camera (I don't like listening to myself on playback), I've been a contributor to his shows in asking questions to the cast. And he's also given me a plug on his shows in promoting this very blog as well, and vice versa.

   In all, both of us have watched & covered six full seasons of the RW/Challenge franchise and both seasons of AYTO since he started doing webcasts on a regular basis at the same time I started my thing on Twitter. And of course, with Real World Skeletons now underway and Battle of the Exes 2 to come on its coattails come January 6th, this will be the 9th and 10th MTV seasons that we've covered together. Not to mention, there's also been some other shows on the side and lots of sports as well.

Now to the present. With 2014 to shortly become a thing of the past, Andrew and I will be reviewing the year that was in reality television, with specific focus to the Trifecta: Real World, The Challenge and Are You The One?. We started the year close to home here in our Northern California backyard with RW Ex-Plosion, then went to South America for Challenge: Free Agents. During that time, we saw the first season of Are You The One? in Hawaii, and we recently got done with season 2 over in Puerto Rico. And now, we're into RW Skeletons and the countdown to Exes 2.

   But here's the catch: how about I flip the the script and let this fella talk to Andrew. We'll discuss our thoughts on the four seasons of those shows, plus we'll also discuss other reality TV this year. Plus, since Andrew also has own reality TV blog in addition to doing these webcasts, and me also having some thoughts too in actually answering my own questions as well (LOL), there's sure to be plenty of discussion here to both provoke and fuel conversation in these last hours of 2014.

So, join Andrew and I after the jump as we debrief and discuss the moments, the personalities and the stories of the year in reality television.

DC SocialPulse: Real World Skeletons - "Love & Other Drugs" + Holiday Special

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language and
spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

@DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow

Hi again and Happy Holidays, welcome back to DC SocialPulse and Episode 2 of Real World Skeletons. Things are starting to get heated in Chicago to warm our senses during this cold and dark of this first official week of winter and the festive mood of Christmas. Last week, we began Season 30 of this franchise as we welcomed Bruno, Jason, Madison, Nicole, Sylvia, Tony and Violetta and the usual pomp and circumstance of them moving into their new city & house. We saw two romances right out of the starting gate Tony & Madison and Bruno & Sylvia, plus we relived the bar tip situation that happened on Free Agents earlier this year, and had some fighting as well. And this all comes before the twist of the skeletons coming in to cause havoc.
   This week, the group gets to know their Chicago surroundings, including a trip to Wrigleyville and the Second City. And the attention turns to one of those budding romances suddenly gets threatened by the heated tempers of the two. The housemates clash with Madison eventually leads to a haunting secret being revealed from her past that opens their minds behind the voice and persona. And the group finds out about what is about to go down, along with learning more about the others' pasts.
   After twitter's view of the episode, we'll be sharing how Team MTV celebrated the merry holiday known as Christmas. And when that is done, we'll again reflect on a simple thing that separates The Real World from other reality TV.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)

- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

So join us after the jump for Episode 2 from Chicago and Christmas, Team MTV style.

DC SocialPulse: Real World Skeletons - The Premiere

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language and
spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

@DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow

Hi, hello, what's up and welcome to the first edition of DC SocialPulse for Real World Skeletons. With an incredible 2nd season of Are You The One? now in our rear view mirror (and with two last posts coming up here shortly), our focus now turns towards what will ultimately be an ultra-busy Tuesday for MTV fans. And eventually, there will be two reasons to look forward to this night, as there will be episodes of not just The Real World, but also The Challenge airing back to back.
   On Tuesday, the 30th season of the iconic reality franchise kicked off in Chicago as the new class of seven strangers made their move to their new city for an experience they will never forget. Right off the bat, a romance starts up with two of the castmates. Plus it's déjà vu all over again as something that happened on Free Agents earlier this year happens again in Chi-Town. And this all comes before any of the skeletons of the seven strangers walk into the door of their house in the West Loop. We'll have the premiere covered here, along with the release of the trailer for The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2 as we reach four weeks before its debut, hence the new name Double Shot Tuesdays.

But first off as we begin covering the 7th & 8th MTV series that we've provided full coverage of here, if you're checking out DCBLOG for the first time, as always welcome...it's great to have you with us and make yourself comfortable. An DCBLOG exclusive, DC SocialPulse is our signature feature, offering one-of-a-kind running tweet diaries of the MTV shows you love and the big events as they happen, straight from the people watching them in the twitter world, including myself.
   Social media has definitely been the game-changer for the TV industry in how people can have the true communal experience of watching TV and interacting with castmates, fans, friends and everyone else. Having grown a strong rapport with so many of Team MTV since the summer of 2012, both inside & outside of the RW/Challenge community, this site strives to bring that interaction to you on these journals. It's also the premise of my secondary DCNOW twitter hub devoted to live tweets.

   If you're a fan who wants to relive how your favorite castmates reacted to a hookup, a fight, a mission or anything else that took place, of course we will have everything covered. Or, in the case of some of you such as yours truly, those who might have stayed off social media while the episodes aired and didn't get the benefit of having the true TV/Twitter experience of your favorites tweeting along with you out west - or even watched it on your DVR or OTT service a day or so later to avoid those spoilers, DCSP is your first opportunity to catch up on the tweets you missed.
   These posts are designed & curated just for you so you don't have to browse through them all afterwards. And they're all carefully pieced together by me to replicate that experience in real-time, tweet-by-tweet, uncensored and unfiltered into these diaries, so you won't miss a thing. These posts serve as a public service so that all fans, regardless of where you live or when you watch it, can catch up on the social interaction, plus I add in wraps, thoughts and perspective when necessary. And it's recommended to have a two-screen experience to watch these shows, and have an internet device handy to follow the simultaneous, spontaneous interaction among cast, fans and all of us.

   It's because of these SocialPulse posts I've done since Rivals II that made up for what will soon be 20,000 views of this blog. Yes, it's a really long process of compiling all these tweets for you here, but the reward is a worldwide audience that reads this site, and receiving acclaim from fans and castmates. And the work I do to put this together, along with all the other posts that I do in covering these shows, have certainly made it worth it too. After all, no shows can lend themselves more perfectly to this kind of great insight, perspective and storytelling like MTV shows, and no channel has a deeper, more intimate relationship with & impact on both its personalities and its viewers.

Enough of this prologue. Let's get now to the reason you are actually here for: the following are the actual tweets of the cast, alumni, fans and me as we got to see the premiere, along with the Monday buildup to the premiere, the Exes 2 trailer being released and the day after the first episode.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)

- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

So without further delay, join us after the jump as we say hello to Bruno, Jason, Madison, Nicole, Sylvia, Tony and Violetta as they enter Chicago for The Real World; and our first footage of Exes 2.

DC SocialPulse: 2014 World Series Game 7

By DC Cueva

@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Welcome everyone to this Special Edition of DC SocialPulse powered by DCNOW, and to our 100th post of this year on this site in what has been a landmark 2014. Normally, the 'Pulse brings you the play-by-play of MTV shows and big events as seen by the twitter world. But as we are in the last two weeks of what's been an eventful year for sports fans, DCBLOG is proud to bring you this special diary documenting something's that near to me as a devoted Bay Area sports fanatic as, for the very first time, we present a twitter diary of a sporting event. And what better way to kick off the Sports SocialPulse than with the latest milestone in Bay Area sports history.

   It seems in the past several years, sports fans here in Northern California have been living the good life. There's been a resurgence in one of sports' greatest franchises as Jim Harbaugh taking over the head coaching position of the Niners have seen the team make it to three straight NFC title games, a Super Bowl appearance and hope for the 49ers Faithful. The Warriors have once again become a force in the NBA thanks to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and arguably the NBA's most-rabid fan base who've seen a record start for the team. Fans of the Oakland A's have also been enjoying their run as consistent contenders in the AL West against all odds perhaps best portrayed by the money Moneyball. And there's also the Raiders, Sharks, Cal, Stanford and more.

   But one team has stood above all others not just in Bay Area sports, but also in all of Major League Baseball. And what happened the night of Wednesday, October 29 helped bring back a word that was last used two decades ago in Bay Area sports lore by a team it once shared the same stadium with: "dynasty." In 2010 by way of their 5-game triumph over the Texas Rangers, the San Francisco Giants won their first World Series title in the Bay Area and their fifth overall, first since their 1954 surprise sweep of the Cleveland Indians as the New York Giants. In 2012, they dominated the heavily-favored Detroit Tigers in a stunning 4-game sweep, led by Pablo Sandoval's heroics. And in 2014, the Giants became the first team since the Yankees to win 3 World Series titles in a 5-year span.

This special edition of DC SocialPulse will look back at Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, where the Giants and the team of destiny, the Kansas City Royals, faced off in the 36th Game 7 in the 111-year history of the Fall Classic. This will include real-time tweets from the @MLB and @SFGiants accounts, media & more and of course myself, covering the events as they unfolded. From the build-up and the early part of the game, to Madison Baumgartner being put in to protect the Giants' lead in the 5th inning on only a few days rest in an MVP performance, to of course the celebration that took place in both America's heartland and in the Bay Area.

   And after twitter's view of Game 7, the celebrations and the parade that followed, I'll offer some perspective on the team, its glorious history, their run to the trifecta and what it means to fans. This five-year have made all of us here in the Bay Area feel like kids all over again.
   Join DCBLOG after the jump and relive the game that turned a team into sports' newest dynasty.

Real World Memories: First Time

The following post, and DCBLOG's coverage of Real World 

Season 30, is dedicated in memory of Ryan Knight (1986-2014).

By DC Cueva
@DC408dxtr

Tonight, we kick off a brand new season of The Real World as this groundbreaking series will reach a major milestone, as will be premiering its 30th season on MTV. In a landscape where many programs have come and gone, The Real World is the longest-running primetime entertainment series on basic cable, MTV's longest-running show, and is the one that pioneered the now-ubiquitous genre of reality television. Every reality-based series that has come on the scene since May 21, 1992 can all say thank you to these pioneers for paving the way for this new form of entertainment. And tonight, the show returns to the city where we first saw Challenge veteran Aneesa: Chicago, IL.

   Here on DCBLOG as part of my wall-to-wall coverage of All Things MTV, I've been taking advantage of my broad knowledge of this show having watched at least part of every one of these 29 seasons to write and blog about certain aspects of it on here. Being someone who has been following it since the beginning and has been watching it for a very long time on a continuous basis dating back to high school (15 years if you're counting), it has provided me with a vault full of memories of watching all these people ewho I've now become very good friends with in the social world and everything that we've seen over the years.

   From that very first season almost 23 years ago in the SoHo district of New York City, to the most recent one in my Bay Area backyard that rejuvenated this pioneer in explosive fashion, there's no denying the show's impact on TV and on its viewers. And with tonight being the season premiere, I'd thought it would be good to take a step back in time to when it all begins for the seven strangers.

For me, something that's always one of my favorite parts of any Real World season is the one that takes place right at the very beginning: the premiere episode and the first day or so in the house and in their new city. While I've become a new Challenge enthusiast and many roommates have gone on to do numerous Challenges, there's nothing like when they make their first impressions on everyone on the show that's closest to my heart. It's a common thread in every season: the roommates meeting one another for the very first time, checking out their new digs, sampling what their new city has in store for them and seeing if those first impressions of what they think of each other are true.

   As someone who's also an Olympic fan and enjoyed the Sochi Winter Games earlier this year, I like to compare the premiere & finale episodes of any Real World and Challenge season to the Games' Opening & Closing Ceremonies. The Opening has that sense of anticipation and excitement that comes at the very beginning of it, while the Closing has that touch of sadness that it's ending but with a lot to look back & be proud of. I get the same feeling of both in the first & last episodes of not just the Real World and Challenge, but also any MTV season as well, just as I do during the Olympics.

   When this experience begins, just about all of the roommates are anxious, wide-eyed and ready to see what the next few months have in store for them. When they fly home once their stay wraps up, they'll be changed people, and it'll be a matter of whether their lives will have changed for the better or for worse, and whether they're friends with some or all of the roommates or not. And of course, it's not until the trailer or related material is released beforehand pre-premiere that the real show begins, where how these people are edited play a factor in the likability of the cast. And now with social media playing a fundamental role, how friendly and interactive the roommates are to their fans will play into it too.

I recently bought on iTunes the opening episode of every season that they offer for fans to buy legally (sorry, YouTube doesn't count, wanna make sure I support the Viacom folks). And having watched those episodes, along with the DVD's of the original NY, both Vegas and the Ex-Plosion seasons, and taking notes from those as well, DCB would like to share with you some quotes and highlights from the premieres (note not all seasons will be covered, just those above listed). Where necessary, we also included quotes from some of the cast members' audition tapes which were also posted by them on YouTube, or from clips on the old Real World Dailies of their casting interviews.

   Note all of the cast's quotes are in order from when they made their first appearance on camera during the episode, and includes their twitter handles where available. And after the jump, we'll start with one of those seasons that stand out to me as an all-time favorite for myself: the first Las Vegas season in 2002.

Double Shot Tuesdays: Countdown to Real World Skeletons & Exes 2

DCBLOG's coverage of Real World Skeletons and Battle of the Exes II
are dedicated in the memories of Ryan Knight and Diem Brown.

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr

Hi, hello, what's up and welcome to DCBLOG's coverage of both Real World Skeletons and The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2. This will represent the sixth and seventh seasons of an MTV series that we've covered extensively on here, shows which I love so much and something that represent sort of a religion to me as a longtime MTV fan. And now the best time of year is coming up.
   With only 2 days until we head to Chicago this Tuesday for a new season of TV's longest-running reality franchise, I was thrown a curveball last week and now there's something to look forward to Tuesdays, times two. And perhaps, my schedule of working, babysitting the kids and spending spare time covering this show on this blog and following it on my social platforms will have to be adjusted accordingly for what's about to be announced on here. Here comes Double Shot Tuesdays.
   Yes, things are about to get a bit complicated as two of the shows I follow the most in the television world will not only be on at the same time, but also on the same night. For the first time in several years, seasons of MTV shows produced by reality TV pioneers Bunim-Murray Productions will air simultaneously, as its magnum opus, The Real World, will have its landmark 30th season in the Windy City, premiering this Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 10PM. Aside from everything we expect from this great show, RW Skeletons will see the roommates tackle people from their pasts head-on.
   Just after we usher in the new year, on January 6th at 11PM, the 26th season of the show that Bill Simmons' Grantland site calls, "the 5th major pro sport," will start up as The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2 takes shape from Panama. In addition to all of what we can expect in great competition, all the drama, a cast full of names familiar & fresh and lots of twists, there will be a sense of poignancy to this season as Diem Brown and Ryan Knight take part in what will turn out to be their last Challenge as their untimely passings last month will make this season an emotion-packed one.

Coming up here, we'll have a preview of the seasons of both shows coming your way here, including a look at all of the roommates in Chicago and all the teams competing in Panama, as well as their back stories. Join us after the jump as we preview Real World Skeletons and Battle of the Exes 2.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 - The Finale

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language,

objectionable content to some readers and spoilers for 
international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Hi, hello, what's up and welcome to the season finale edition of DC SocialPulse - Are You The One? Season 2. Back on VMA Night, we kicked off the countdown to the sequel of this great social experiment with the question of, "How will season 2 follow up the great success of season 1?" Now during the holidays, there is now, for sure, three shows that grab my attention more than any other as an MTV fan after an incredibly sophomore season and whose impact will be felt when it makes an unprecedented crossover on one of those shows in the new year.

   All throughout the season in Puerto Rico, there have been numerous romances, as well as two shocking Matchup Ceremonies where the group didn't garner a single beam. And of course, we've had a roller coaster of drama and emotions that matched what we saw in Hawaii. Last week, the group's quest for love and money fell in the hands of Ashley as she had some uncertainty in whether to choose Layton or Dario. Meanwhile, the allure of the 11th girl led to another blowup between two of the guys she's been seeing. And the group notched its best matchup total yet with 8 matches, putting them on the edge of either victory or defeat.

   This week, it's Episode 10 - the finale and, considering what happened to the Originals in them making short work of their goal in 9 tries in Season 1, we have entered uncharted territory for Season 2 as the group enters its 10th and last shot to make it all work. Just as it was in Hawaii, the group is faced with making just one switch to unlock the jackpot and, while the Truth Booth gives them an answer, the question of the 11th girl and who her double match is will be answered. And it will all come down to one last Matchup and one last chance for the group to make what was at times a seemingly impossible task become a reality.

Earlier today in a separate post, we brought you the anticipation in the days leading into the Are You The One? finale, which also included news of the Are You The One? S1 cast's crossover into The Challenge, for which we'll be previewing it and Real World Skeletons this weekend. This post will feature all the interaction from last Monday, the episode tweets and the aftermath, along with the thoughts of me and fellow fans. And after twitter's view of the finale, I'll also offer my view on the tough road the group had to endure to getting to the end. 

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

So, join us after the jump for the final week of Season Two of Are You The One? and find out if Team 21 makes the greatest comeback in reality competition history and if, indeed, lightning can strike twice.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 - Road to the Finale

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, 
objectionable content to some readers and spoilers 
for international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408dxtr / @DC408dxnow

Welcome again to DCBLOG and to DC SocialPulse powered by DCNOW...an unusual one here. Usually, DCSP brings you the tweets of cast members before, during and after they watch episodes of MTV shows. But today, in this, the first part of a 2-part DCBLOG doubleheader, we're doing something rather different in that we're not presenting the episode tweets as twitter saw it, but to get a sense of the vibe among cast members heading into a big day.
   In letting you read the conversations between cast members from both shows, you can get a sense of what the vibe is like among the casts as they await a big day, either the season premiere of a show that they're on that they anticipate the same way they do for Christmas, or the finale of a competition show like Are You The One? or The Challenge with money hanging in the balance.
   We've done this post before, both before the season finale of The Challenge: Free Agents with the week-long buildup to the epic finale in South America and with the FIFA World Cup already underway. And just before the season 2 premiere of Are You The One?, we brought you the transition from the great season 1 cast to the season 2 cast that were destined to join that club, which was determined in this week's episode.
   In this special edition of DCSP, we're presenting the week-long buildup to the season 2 AYTO finale and instead of bringing you the tweets as the season 2 cast, their Hawaiian predecessors and fans saw the dramatic, tension-filled finale, which we'll present in part 2 coming up later today (as we talk to you on Thursday, Dec. 11), as well as for the sake of conserving as much space as possible in these posts, we'll bring you the twitter interaction in the days leading up to Monday, December 8, a day that would either change the group's fortunes or live in infamy as a day they would forget.
   Included in the lead-up posts is news of the Are You The One? S1 cast's crossover into The Challenge, where Adam, Brittany, John and Simone, who all took residency in the house in Kauai, will shack up again, this time in Panama with the big names from The Real World and The Challenge, along with fellow rookies for Real World Ex-Plosion. We'll be kicking off our Exes 2 and RW Skeletons coverage here this weekend, if not before Tuesday's premiere from Chicago. And at the end of this post, we'll have more on how you can get involved in our last AYTO post of the season, which we're saving just for the fans.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)

So, following the jump, join us for the five-day countdown to the finale of Are You The One? Season 2.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 "Old Flames"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, 

objectionable content to some readers and spoilers for 
international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Welcome again to DCBLOG and to our coverage of Are You The One? Season 2 with the Episode 9 edition of DC SocialPulse. As we enter the first week of December and the end of the year, we are also heading towards a final decision in the quest for love and money in Puerto Rico.

   Last week, the latest love triangle is revealed as Dario and Layton battle for the affection of Ashley. Nathan finds himself in a love triangle of his own as Ellie makes a play for him, but still has a feeling for Christina. And for the 11th girl, she began to feel the pressure of being part of a potential double match. Her and Nate were sent to the booth but to no avail, while Team 21 lost one matchup light.

   This week as pressure and tension increase, so does the jealousy as the presence of the 11th girl and being a no match causes Nate to explode as Brandon awaits her. The attention turns to Ashley and her having to choose between Layton and Dario that may decide the group's fate. And after taking a step-back last week, where will the house be as they enter the win or go home final week.

   Along with covering this week's episode, we'll also have the vibe of the group marking the long Thanksgiving holiday. And after twitter's view of Episode 8, we'll again travel into the strategy room to forecast the group's chances at the million as they head into the last challenge, booth and matchup.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

So, when the 'Pulse begins after the jump, all the excitement as the Are You The One? group celebrates Thanksgiving, the group continuing to enjoy SoCal after taping the reunion and of course, the episode tweets, the lead-up to and the aftermath.

MTV Stories: Paige & Brett

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr

We are heading towards the homestretch of what has been an eventful year for me as an MTV fan. This year, I've been following several MTV shows, including a rejuvenated Real World which revamped their format with Ex-Plosion earlier this year and Season 30 coming up on December 16th; The Challenge: Free Agents taking place over the spring, and the passings of both Challenge veteran Diem Brown and Real World funny guy Ryan Knight.
   But the year's biggest breakout story is definitely Are You The One?. It caught my attention the very moment the buzz started almost 12 months ago and has never let go. With its mix of drama, romance, love and money, it struck a cord with everyone. And for me, it's become my new favorite show, thanks to the incredible first season whose cast won the largest prize in MTV history in $1 million - one of my favorite moments in what's been the best year yet for me in social world - and the current second season in Puerto Rico that I'm enjoying just as intently as the first one.
   But as we anticipate the season finale on Monday as the show's second cast of 21 single girls & guys have one last chance to get it all right and etch their name into history after what's been an amazing season up to this point, we'd like to share with you a story that might be related in a way to this incredible show and features one of its cast members, but also teaches us once again that life and family should always take precedent over a reality TV show. And just in time for the holidays, this story is something that's just as very heartwarming as the fire in the fireplace during this cold of winter.

If you watched Episode 5 of Season Two a few weeks back, you saw the shocked expression on the face of Shelby when she and Curtis found that they were the group's 2nd perfect match. That stunning moment broke up his budding relationship with Briana, who everyone thought was his match until that first matchup blackout. Well, Shelby might have something in common with what happened last season to one of the Originals in the very first season in Hawaii earlier this year.

   Paige, that blonde college girl from Phoenix, AZ (and a Victoria, BC, Canada native), was part of the surprise 2nd perfect match with Chris T., which also separated him from his love from the start, Shanley, and whose reaction to the match led to both the season's biggest fight and paved the way for the group's run to $1 million. And though support for her since season 1 and their reunion has diminished, there is a story about Paige that's actually very positive that felt worthy enough for me to share with you here.

If you check out Paige's Instagram hub (IG @PaigeBrendel) and scroll down through her pictures including some with her BFF Kayla, you'll find four pictures of someone who she discovered during the time she and her season 1 cast were busy rewriting MTV history. Along the way, she, like others in the Phoenix area, discovered Brett Wallick, a 15 year-old young man who has a great loving personality and is well-liked by all of his friends and family.

   But while he was taking finals at Sunrise Mountain High School in the suburb of Peoria almost a year ago, although he was healthy and active, Brett found that his chest was getting tight. Though his family thought he had asthma when he was hospitalized, they found that he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and thus can't efficiently pump blood. Suddenly, his life was put into jeopardy with no idea of what caused his pain.

Practically the only way Brett could survive this sudden battle for his life was to receive a heart transplant, for which doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital would ultimately have surgery to install a heart pump until they would receive a donor. However, during this most important time for him and after he was at home resting, Brett's family lacked the necessary funding they needed to cover the costs of both his pending surgery and the hospital bills. So, they looked to the donation site YouCaring.com to help spread the word beyond their family borders and onto the internet.
   This also caught Paige's attention and she gave him a mention on her hub and posted that link on her picture of him as well. Visits with Cardinals OLB Sam Macho and to baseball spring training with the D'Backs, the Giants & White Sox further helped bring the word out to the Phoenix community. And with all that help, as well as being on the front page of the Arizona Republic, they raised more than $12,000, well above their $10,000 goal, to do exactly that.

Then during the week that the lives of Paige and her cast were changed forever in Hawaii, life would change also for Brett and his family. On March 22, Brett's parents, retired SM Sgt Scott and step mom Carla, received a call that a donor had been found for him to sacrifice his life and his heart to help give their son new life, and top doctors at PCH immediately went into surgery to receive his new heart. The letter from the donor that came with the heart read, "He was a son, a brother, and a father. He was always a giving person always cared for others. He lived life to the fullest. We as a family wish you the best; live life to the max...keep him in your prayers. We as a family would like to know about you one day when you get better. Know that our family always wanted to help others. May God keep you safe." (1)
   His parents wrote to the donor family in knowing that while they would celebrate Brett and his new lease on life, they also sympathized with the donors in losing their son but also hoping that family can find peace in having saved the life of a person they donated their heart to. The day after, Brett took plenty of rest after the surgery but also was alert and responsive to doctors, even with having no immune system and relying on his breathing tube. Shortly after on March 24, doctors removed Brett's breathing tube which enabled him to talk once again, and a day later, he took his first walk with his new heart.
   And two days after her cast won the $1 million on the AYTO season 1 finale, Paige visited Brett and his family at Phoenix Children's Hospital and was immediately touched by him that they became friends. He would return home afterwards to make a full recovery and eventually return to school. He wrote in his IG caption before that emotional homecoming, "Tomorrow will be my first day back to school in 7 months. It's been a rough and painful journey but I told myself everyday that I would work to be able to go back to school tomorrow to show everyone how you can't let anything get in the way even if it changed your life. Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow and be back where I belong."

And just a month ago, Paige updated Brett's status where now, he is not only fully recovered, but also is stronger than ever. Here's quotes from Paige from her IG pics of, and with Brett, for which we've included a picture of them at the bottom of this post.

- #1: Everyone please support Brett Wallick, at 15 years old Brett's heart has failed him and he is now waiting for a new one. They are raising money for the transplant, it would mean the world to me if you all could donate. I couldn't imagine what he and his family are going through. Although his heart has failed him, you'd think he has the best heart by his sweet loving personality. Please help this young boy get a new heart..who are we as individuals if we don't help one another❤️ @brettwallick @michellebrendel (http://instagram.com/p/ks8jkbO7ey)

- #2: BRETT GOT A NEW HEART EVERYONE and is already on his feet, this is truly amazing. I can't thank everyone enough for donating. Not only did you help him get a new heart, but you gave him a healthy LONG life to look forward to. I'm seriously so touched right now. Way to go sweet boy, so proud to see you like this! I'm honored to say I'm now a friend of someone with such strength. God bless you and your family. @brettwallick (http://instagram.com/p/mDZ7jbO7aZ)

- #3: Having a visit with Brett, he's doing so well. Thank you so much for being an Are You The One fan and a friend to me! You're so inspiring. Your new heart shines through, sweet boy. @brettwallick (http://instagram.com/p/mG_rWtO7aw)

- #4: Wanted to give a shout out to this strong young man. In March he received a heart transplant and now, he's better than ever. That's strength. So proud of you, Brett. I'm honored to have met you in the hospital and now watch you grow. @brettwallick (http://instagram.com/p/uuFmEWO7Z-)

The recent passing of Challenge veteran Diem Brown after her long, brave battle with ovarian cancer has brought to light the health of young adults & teenagers and their battles with poor health, and there are countless stories too many to mention of people aged 12-34 of those suffering. However, after seeing those pictures of him in the hospital and presenting this story, there is something inspiring in seeing and reading stories like this. This saw someone make a remarkable recovery from fighting for his life to receiving new life from a donor who gave their life to save another.

As was the case when Ethan of season 1 shared his story of being almost paralyzed only to defy the odds and not only make a full recovery but also be part of its first married couple, and recently of Briana of season 2 sharing her heartbreaking story of suffering a miscarriage before her baby was even born, you'll realize that not everything on Are You The One? is about love, drama, money and pretty people.
   And just as is the case with other MTV reality shows, the cast's backstories are just as amazing as those that we see on the shows and makes them instantly relatable, bringing a sense of perspective to the house. And in a great first season of a show that I was hooked on from the beginning, this is another one of those stories that adds more to the greatness of that first cast in seeing one of its members do something very good in helping others and making a life-long friend in one.
   To Brett, your story is really inspiring and heartwarming. You've got a great and long-lasting life ahead of you. Thanks and much respect bud.

Be sure to bookmark DCBLOG for coverage of All Things MTV and the entertainment and sports you love. Are You The One? is covered extensively here with weekly and must-read SocialPulse diaries & wrap-ups and more from both the current 2nd season in Puerto Rico and Paige's season, season 1 in Hawaii. Our DCSP recap of Episode 9 will be posted here on Thursday with all the episode tweets plus a look into the strategy room as we forecast the group's chances at the cash. We also offer extensive coverage of The Real World and The Challenge, for which our countdown to the upcoming 30th season of The Real World in Chicago will get underway this weekend.
   To follow live tweets of Are You The One?, Real World and the big events in entertainment and sports, follow my live twitter handle, DCNOW at @DC408DxNow. And of course, also follow my primary hub @DC408Dxtr for tweets, chats & alerts; and Instagram at the same handle for pics.

   Once again, we hope you enjoyed this amazing story. And until I talk to you on Twitter and here on DCBLOG, thanks for reading, stay warm, stay safe and Happy Holidays.

- DC

From IG @PaigeBrendel: Paige visiting with Brett Wallick back in March. Follow Brett on Instagram at @BrettWallick.

Sources, including (1): http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/go-brett-go-help-brett-get-a-new-heart/120630

A DC SocialPulse Special: Remembering Ryan Knight

This article was originally posted on Dec. 1, 2014, before 

the season launch of The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2.

*** Advisory: this DC SocialPulse post contains some
brief adult language. Please read with discretion. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow

Hello again everyone, welcome to this Special Edition of DC SocialPulse with me, DC Cueva. As we end the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend and enter the month of December, once again it's with a heavy heart that we present you this post as reflect on the life and times of a fun-loving and humorous young gentleman. And for the second time in 13 days after the passing of Challenge legend Diem Brown in mid-November, the MTV family has to cope with suffering a personal loss, but the person whose life was taken this time was tragically cut too soon.

   Ryan Knight, cast member of The Real World: Back to New Orleans and two-time competitor on The Challenge, was found dead on Thanksgiving morning in his hometown of Kenosha, WI, 35 miles south of Milwaukee. The cause of his death remains clearly unknown and a police investigation has been ongoing during thE weekend, though TMZ reports that he choked on his own vomit after a long night partying on Wednesday night, Thanksgiving Eve.

   We first got to know Knight on RW NOLA in the summer of 2010 as the fun-loving roommate who gave us plenty of opportunities to laugh during his time in the Big Easy. He also fell in love with one of his roommates and whose relationship, both on a romantic and personal level, would continue after they left the house. He would then make his debut on The Challenge as part of Team New Orleans on Battle of the Seasons II and immediately made a strong impression in causing drama but also being the funny one. He then was partnered with Preston on Rivals II a year later and they made it all the way to the last guys elimination, and also made viral headlines for slapping Frank during the reunion.

   Once again, just as it was on November 14th when Diem Brown passed away after an eight-year battle with ovarian cancer, words simply can't express how both the MTV community and fans who've gotten to know Knight have been feeling during this Thanksgiving weekend, a weekend that's usually associated with the start of the holiday season and families getting together. And the nature of his passing in a tragic and unexpected manner has once again brought together his entire Real World/Challenge community as they once again had to deal with the passing of one of their own.

Ahead here, we'll showcase tweets and posts from, of course, the entire MTV family plus fans as they offer reflection and memories of Knight. And after all that, I'll have some perspective on him and his time on MTV. And just as it was when we paid tribute to Diem two weeks ago, at the end of this article we'll invite you to share your thoughts and reflections.

   Join DCBLOG after the jump as we remember Ryan Knight.

DC SocialPulse: DCBDAY 2014 and a Note of Thanks

By DC Cueva

@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Hi, hello, what's up and welcome to this very special edition of DC SocialPulse on DCBLOG, and Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. So, on this Thursday what does this site have in store today? For the past year-plus, this blog and this series has brought you the twitter play-by-play of MTV's most popular shows and the biggest events in pop culture. But today, we are doing something very special.

There are days we all look forward to every year. For sports fans, it can vary from Super Bowl Sunday in the United States to the final of the UEFA Champions League soccer tournament in Europe to NCAA March Madness. For those in the entertainment world, it can be the Academy Awards, the Grammys or the MTV VMA's. And then there's the holidays we all look forward to: 4th of July, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, and of course with us celebrating Thanksgiving today, Christmas and New Year's are now just around the corner.

   But for me, there's one day in the whole year I look forward to every year, and it falls right in between the trick-or-treating on October 31st and the beginning of the holiday season, all during what is the best time of year for me. It's my birthday and every November 13th, it becomes a tradition nowadays for me to receive plenty of love from people I know - both personally and now socially. It's that one day of the year where people like myself can feel the love and support all day long.

   This year, I turned 31 years old - yep, for someone who was born in the '80s, that means I'm getting old, though I'll admit I'm still young at heart. But anyways, this special SocialPulse post will include every message of thanks from my social media platforms of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. And though I celebrated my 30th birthday last year, this year's DCBDAY was definitely the best one yet. I received over 50-60 birthday messages, and countless other interacts, from people who I both know personally and those who I know only through social media.

Normally, we don't feature posts from people inside my inner circle, which comprises of just my family and my friends from school, and for which my Facebook account is by invitation only to those in that circle. But for this momentous occasion, we make an exception here, as for the first time I will also include their messages here, so you can get to know them for the first time on here.

   And by the way - and to clarify those Facebook posts below, if you're wondering by what the buzz is about from those Facebook posts calling me a different name than usual, yes my actual first name is Dexter. In fact the last four letters in my social media handle @DC408Dxtr, which dates back to my MySpace address, is that name, but without the E's included.
   But since I joined public social media platforms starting with Twitter two years ago, I've referred to myself in social world by just my initials. I just like to prefer it that way because I would prefer to differ-ate myself more from a name that's also a brand of bowling shoes and a show on Cartoon Network. In just using my initials, DC is more of the name that I am feeling most comfortable using when I'm in social media than my actual name, and it gives me that sense of being more myself here..

So, after clearing the air on that, and without further ado, after the jump, we'll present you every message of thanks for the social media platforms of DCBDAY 2014: My 31st B'Day.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 "Dumped" & Reunited in LA

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, 

objectionable content to some readers and spoilers 
for international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Welcome back to DCBLOG and to our coverage of Are You The One? Season 2 with the Episode 8 edition of DC SocialPulse. We are in the midst of the shortest work week for most Americans this year, and we're on the edge of the holiday season. For those people who are fortunate to have just Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to worry about, a four-day weekend is approaching with the Thanksgiving holiday, Black Friday and the first weekend of the holiday season. It also means

Last week in the wake of their 2nd matchup blackout, the group found plenty of reasons to celebrate a new start: they partied on a party bus and then on the beach. They notched their 3rd perfect match when John and Jenni made it out of the truth booth as a match, which turned into major progress in garnering a season-high 6 perfect matches. Plus, we saw Ashley get involved in a love triangle, while Garland found himself in deep trouble in sleeping with another girl.
   This week, a touch of Nickelodeon arrives in Puerto Rico as the latest getaway challenge forces the players to get a bit gooey. The latest love triangle battle gets heated as Dario and Layton go after Ashley. Ellie makes a play for Nathan, but Prime Time feels he is the one for Christina, as she feels the pressure of being the 11th girl. And will Team 21 build on last week's momentum?

Along with covering this week's episode, this expanded edition of DCSP will also be bringing you the buzz surrounding Team 21 gathering in Los Angeles for the taping of their Reunion show, which promises to have some fireworks, just as it was for the Season 1 cast's first reunion. And after twitter's view of Episode 8, we'll look ahead to a big event coming here tomorrow night that I will be fortunate enough to attend and live tweet from.


- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

So, when the 'Pulse begins after the jump, find out which rappers got to hang out, both socially and in person, with two of the castmates; which won something that might make the others jealous, and of course all the anticipation and happenings of the group's SoCal weekend.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 - "Hot Salsa"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, 

objectionable content to some readers and spoilers 
for international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Welcome to DC SocialPulse on DCBLOG, and to twitter's blow-by-blow diary of episode 6 of Are You The One? Season 2. Things have been heating up in Puerto Rico in the past few episodes, and no wonder why for many, this is probably the best reality show you've not seen yet. And of course, it's a recommendation by me to binge-watch, or at least sample, both this season and the first one. 

   Last week, the group hyped episode 6 as the best one yet, and it definitely delivered. Their parents came to visit their kids and question the guys with the girls finding out new things about them. We saw tensions build, especially the guys where Anthony & Layton had the season's biggest fight, as well as both Jenni & Jessica in the house and Briana & Paris on twitter. And for the 2nd time in 3 weeks, the group dealt with getting no lights at the matchup ceremony, putting their chances at the $1 million in serious doubt.

   This week sees the group get yet another fresh start in the aftermath of blackout #2. A new couple emerges when the resident law student clicks with the house's resident nurse. One of the girls is the latest in the house to get involved in a love triangle, while another finds himself in deep trouble by sleeping with yet another woman. With echoes of the famous white party the Originals had in Kauai, Team 21 lets loose on a party bus and on the beach. And after all that they have been through, this week sees the group finally make a major step towards making a big turnaround.

   And after the twitter view of episode 7 and aftermath, I'll offer some my view on the strategy the group has been using this season. And we'll begin our countdown to Real World Season 30 as a Skeleton of one of the new roommates meets two members of one of MTV's most popular shows and something that binds those two.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.
- And there's also a twitter beef that emerged with some members of the community while this episode was airing. We've included all of their tweets in this post, and also carefully edited it to ensure that we showcase both sides of the matter.

So with that, join us after the jump for all the madness from episode 7 in Puerto Rico and other things.

A DC SocialPulse Special: Remembering Diem Brown

This article was originally posted on Nov. 16, 2014, before 

the season launch of The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2.

*** Advisory: this DC SocialPulse post contains some

brief adult language. Please read with discretion. ***

By DC Cueva

@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Hello and welcome to this Special Edition of DC SocialPulse with me, DC Cueva. It's with a heavy heart and a sense of sadness that we bring you this post as we celebrate the life of a brave and inspirational member of the MTV family who touched so many beyond the channel's airwaves.

   Diem Brown, seven-time competitor on The Challenge, passed away at the age of 32 Friday morning at 10:32 AM ET - the same exact time she was born back on June 12, 1982, surrounded by family and friends in New York City after battling ovarian cancer for a third time and losing after two previously successful bouts against it. Words simply cannot express how all of us, both the entire MTV community and viewers & fans such as myself who got to know and watch Diem Brown over the years, have been feeling over the course of this weekend.

   Diem made her MTV debut in 2006 on The Challenge: Fresh Meat as the energetic and courageous "army brat" from the northern Atlanta suburb of Roswell, GA, who joined what was then a Real World vs. Road Rules team competition as a brand-new competitor who didn't appear on either show. It was there that she first revealed, on-camera, that she had ovarian cancer, and over the years her cancer battle was well-documented, both on the show and outside of The Challenge house. The first two times, both after Fresh Meat and then after six years later on Battle of the Exes, she went into chemotherapy, fought back and won both times. For this third time, though, the cancer that was found in her stomach and colon when she was flown home from being overseas in August would ultimately spread to her live and lymph nodes. And though she would lose this fight after numerous surgeries and treatment, she certainly fought right to the very end.

   Off-camera during her eight-year battle, Diem became both an advocate and an inspiration for those who can relate to her as someone who has fought a brave battle, which inspired her to found the support registry site MedGift. Today, with its many support pages and resources being offered to those going through any medical or health experience and how to deal with it in any way possible, that site has become the legacy she leaves behind. She also served as an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer, the entertainment industry's cancer awareness initiative and attended its 2012 edition.

Coming up here, we'll showcase tweets and posts from, of course, the entire MTV family plus fans as they offer reflection and memories of Diem. And after all that, I'll offer my perspective on her, the career she had on The Challenge, the impact of both her and her passing, and how it runs parallel to another event that touched the MTV community twenty years ago. And at the end of this article, we'll invite you the opportunity to share your thoughts and reflections.

Join DCBLOG after the jump as we remember Diem Brown.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 - "Parental Guidance"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, 
objectionable content to some readers and spoilers 
for international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva
@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Hi, hello, what's up and welcome to DC SocialPulse on DCBLOG, and taking a break from celebrating the DCBDAY 2014 birthday festivities with the twitter diary for episode 6 of Are You The One? Season 2 from Puerto Rico. And if you thought that watching what has happened throughout the season of this guilty pleasure, train wreck and wildness of a reality show, then you know the saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet."

Last week after having their most satisfying moment so far, Team 21 dealt with the most brutal moment the show has had in its two seasons when, after garnering their first perfect match, got no matches in the ensuing matchup ceremony. We saw another key moment for one of the love triangles, and saw another budding couple witness heartbreak when Briana saw her love Curtis become a match with Shelby; reliving the Shanley/Chris T./Paige drama from Kauai.
   This week has been hyped up by the cast as the best one yet, and I agree with them. The parents of the cast come over to interrogate the guys and the girls find out some new gossip about them. We'll also see tensions build among the girls and especially the guys including the biggest fight in the house so far. And if what happened rather recently was something, imagine what could happen if history repeats itself all over again.

   And after the twitter view of episode 6 and its buildup and aftermath, we'll update you on the status of Diem from The Challenge, who has been bravely battling cancer for the last few months.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- Plus, if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, bookmark DCBLOG as I will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.
- And there's also a twitter beef that emerged with some members of the community while this episode was airing. We've included all of their tweets in this post, and also carefully edited it to ensure that we showcase both sides of the matter.

So with that, join us after the jump for all the madness from episode 6 in Puerto Rico and other things.

theWRAP: Are You The One? S2 - "Strap Those Boots Tight"

By DC Cueva

@DC408dxtr

Welcome to DC BDAY Week - this week I will turn 31...yep I'm old. This is the 10th year that I'm celebrating it in the social world - I joined MySpace on my 22nd bday in 2005, and this Thursday will be the 3rd birthday that I will be sharing with the twitter world too.
   To kick off DC BDAY Week, we have episode 6 of Are You The One? II in Puerto Rico. It's been an eventful season to say the least, and it's only the halfway point...there's still a lot left. To prep you for tonight's activities, we will recap last week's episode 5, where after Team 21 had received the most brutal hand the show has given yet, we saw another perfect match in as many weeks. It also meant the end to a budding relationship that was also confirmed as a non-match previously, as well as revisiting a scenario that we saw last season in Hawaii. Besides that, there's also a key moment in one of the love triangles that has formed in the house, and we'll find out if the group's chances can improve after receiving no new matches the previous week.

   And after theWRAP, we'll tell you which castmate from this season was on MTV well before we saw them in Puerto Rico, as well as look ahead to the week and month ahead here. That's all ahead after the jump.

DC SocialPulse: Are You The One? S2 - "Strap Those Boots Tight"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, 

objectionable content to some readers and spoilers 

for international fans. Viewer Discretion is Advised. ***

By DC Cueva

@DC408Dxtr/@DC408DxNow

Welcome back again to DC SocialPulse and our episode journal for episode 5 of Are You The One? Season 2. Last week in Puerto Rico was an absolute roller coaster: a drunken kiss almost brings down the house's strongest couple. We also saw two of the guys finally make a move on the girls they've been wanting to make the one. And in many hours condensed into a half-hour, the group goes from the high of having their first perfect match to the absolute low of getting no other matches in the ensuing matchup, breaking up budding couples in the process in the most-stunning moment yet.
   This week will see the group deal with, in poker terms, that shock bad beat. We'll also see another key moment for the Jenni/Layton/Jessica triangle. And for one budding couple, will the Truth Booth see more heartbreak? Could we be reliving the Shanley/Chris T./Paige drama from the Islands?
   After twitter's view of this week's episode, this extended edition of The 'Pulse will cover last week's premiere of the show that some on this cast have become BFF's with some of the cast of, Slednecks. And we'll then welcome a new group of seven strangers: the cast of Real World Skeletons.

- As we begin, please note there is explicit language in many of the tweets below, but I am keeping it uncensored in order to retain the heat of the moment. So if you are mature enough, please read with discretion. :-)
- And if you haven't watched the episode yet, then don't proceed. But don't worry, DCBLOG will compile all of these tweets into these posts after every episode so you won't be in the dark of how your favorites saw this all unfold.

So with that, along with the episode 5 tweets, find out after the jump who dressed as who for Halloween, conversations between the cast, Team MTV & our friend Brian Cohen and much more.