By Rachel Lu
We’re onto the third week and… drumroll….the L-word has been dropped. Yes, Sam N. said he is starting to fall in love with Jenn.
The entire circumstance is hilarious to say the least. For the first group date this week, the men are invited by a card from Jenn that reads: “I’m looking for a love down under.” Spicy. Turns out, it’s a Thunder Down Under themed date where the cast teaches the men to strip, do the body roll, and basically embarrass themselves while half-naked on national TV.
Don’t worry, Devin (who said he’s insecure about not having abs), it’s the personality that counts.
Unfortunately for Sam N., who looks like he stays up all night replaying every embarrassing thing he’s ever said since second grade, he not only breaks his finger during rehearsal but is also nervous that he might become the first “Persian to strip.”
So, after all the other guys rip their shirts open, do the worm, while Jenn and the audience gasp and whistle, Sam N. decides to use this moment for some spoken word instead. This segment is all about personality, right? He professes to Jenn that he is starting to fall in love with her.
What is truly appalling for me is that Thomas N. is basically non-existent in this segment, even though he too is on this date! All the other men have their moments in the spotlight, whether it’s humping on an astronaut helmet or exposing your entire blurred-out back side to the audience, for better or for worse, they had their moments.
Except for Thomas N., whose character is “sexy nerd,” which looks like a pair of glasses and some suspenders. At least let the only Asian man flex his sex appeal on stage when that is the entire point of the segment. Perhaps being sexy is not Thomas’ strong suit but showing that he can be playful and bold on stage adds depth to his character. Editing the segment out only contributes to the reserved, nerdy Asian stereotype, which is frankly all we are getting from Thomas at the moment.
Such desexualization of Asian men is reinforced by mainstream media, Hollywood movies, and television shows like the Bachelor franchise. The prototype for a desirable male figure is White, charismatic, and dominating, whereas Asian men are overwhelmingly portrayed on screen as submissive, timid, or caricatures with broken English and funny behavior.
However, it seems like Thomas isn’t doing a favor for himself either. While the other men vie for more time to talk about themselves with Jenn, Thomas chooses to gossip in the garden with Sam M. about Sam N. ‘s L-word confession. The two of them find it so unbelievable that Sam N., who said he’s never been in love before, claims to be in love with Jenn.
At the end of the episode, Aaron tells Jenn that he must pull out of the show for a career opportunity, but before he leaves, he says that some men are not here for the right reason but would not say who they are. Side note, if anyone still thinks that only women are capable of being “catty,” I will happily direct them to this episode to witness an entire roster of catty men.
Let me remind everyone that the last time we’ve seen Jenn sit down and talk to Thomas about himself was the very first episode. So when the rose ceremony came, I was once again sweating for Thomas. As Jenn is trying to weed out the men that Aaron claims are not here for the right reason, I’m starting to think maybe Thomas is here to network and gossip, rather than find love with Jenn.
To my surprise and relief, Thomas made it through to the next week. A word to the producers, please, please, please show us more of Thomas, the only Asian man you casted should not be edited into a cardboard cutout of a person. As for Thomas, help me help you help yourself, do everyone a favor and just talk to Jenn, please and thank you.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All donations are tax deductible and can be made here.
Our 10% sale ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. to purchase your tickets to our fundraiser Up Close with Connie Chung, America’s first Asian American to anchor a nightly network newscast. The in-depth conversation with Connie will be held November 14 at 7:30 at Columbia University’s Milbank Chapel in the Teacher’s College. All proceeds benefit AsAmNews.
