[Report This]Date: October 11 2024 9:28 AM Title: Chapter 8: Hide and Seek
While I was critical of Charlie's choice of hide and go seek as a challenge for a couple's dating show, it was a brilliant choice for this chapter. It really let us see Kim's relationship with each of her fellow cast members. Her approach with catching each of them was different, as were their reactions to being caught.
Kim clearly loves that Monica enjoys how small and helpless Kim makes her feel. She's been playing with Monica for a while now, so her marveling at being able to pick Monica up one-handed feels like a natural progression. Kim feeling Monica up with her thumb was so fucking hot, too! And like a tease, Kim ends up cooling Monica off with that 10-foot drop into the pool.
The continuing inner conflict with Monica is so enthralling. She's terrified and wants Kim to stop, but she also loves it. Her hoping that Kim wouldn't listen to her and violate her is about the most Monica thought she's had so far.
It looks like Darren is sick of Kim being in charge of the relationship, and that played out here. Kim seemed legitimately playful and lighthearted with him at first, but Darren's annoyed attitude at being manhandled and forced into a kiss ruined her mood. Kim knows something is wrong here, which is why she asked Valerie to talk to him. I think it's interesting that Kim wants to preserve that relationship. I would think that staying on the show isn't an issue anymore with Charlie calling the shots. Maybe she's just frustrated at the prospect of being dumped again? She's trying to take control of her love life, and being rejected is the opposite of that.
Valerie and Kim are so cute together. In a different world, they'd be able to match together, as they have the most chemistry. Kim loves to play with Val, and Val is desperate to be played with. Cal not really hiding was fucking adorable! Unfortunately, the rules of the game, Kim's determination to get revenge for every wrong she thinks was done to her, and her insatiable sex drive combine to keep Kim from focusing on Val too much.
Jacob and Candace coming up with a plan together was awesome! It was never said that they couldn't work as a couple to get that date. But Candace being too scared of Kim to follow through fits her relationship with Kim so well, as did Kim pretending to be friendly but letting Candace know she hates her. Very well done here! And Kim dismissing Jacob's concern in the tree is pretty common for her at this point. I think Jacob just put himself on Kim's radar with that hard on, plus the sarilltisfaction that Kim would feel from stealing Candace's man like she did hers.
I came away from the Thomas segment thinking that Thomas has faded a bit on Kim's shit list quite a bit. He seems more like an annoying afterthought at this point. She liked chasing him and enjoyed dunking him, but she didn't seem particularly vindictive like she was when she made them compare heights every day. Thomas has benefitted a little from Candace being a man stealer and Aaron standing up for himself, it seems.
Poor Aaron. Kim is still hurting from being rejected by him. I know she got more physical with him because Charlie told her to, but her making him massage her feet made me believe her both when she said she missed him and that she could trust him enough to take him back. I think she really thinks he'd go back to her if he could. That ominous "I don't think I want you around anymore" was scary as shit.
It was sad to see Aaron so terrified. It was smart to hide by the out of bounds boundary. Kim really wanted to get him, though, which, again, shows how in her head he is. Reading him just saying and doing whatever it takes to survive made me feel so bad for him. I highly doubt it, but I really hope he finds salvation with that blinking red light.
But Kim was fucking fantastic throughout the chapter. I loved the way she took apart the railing to get Darren and was taking coconuts to the face from Jacob. Her playful approach throughout the chapter was so fun yet a little frightening, and I love that vibe! It's so unique!
Awesome job with this one! I'm on the edge of my fucking seat to see what Kim does next.