This week, you will no doubt remember, up for the vote are Stephanie, frankie, and Ronnie. In a dramatic moment worthy of a Daytime Emmy Award, Stephanie is ejected from the competition. She is surprised and saddened, but appears to exit gracefully. Back at the house, the boys are thrilled to see their dudes return, but Holly has a moment of real sadness. She had become friends with Stephanie. It's Week 7 of the competition, and it's time for a "touch up" to their makeovers. Ready for a bombshell? They're cutting off frankie's hair. Why, God? WHY? Somehow, his short hair makes him look even more femme-y. Later, the models sit around discussing their worst fears. Holly's include needles, tarantulas, and butt cracks. Casey, on the other hand, fears snakes. Remember that. The next morning, at an ungodly hour, they are all picked up and driven to an airfield, where they find a huge tank filled with water. Niki explains that this week is all about the models' being pushed out of their comfort zones. So, their photo assignment will be to tackle an underwater shoot in the middle of winter. Oh, and they'll be working with a snake. A HUGE ONE. IN THE TANK. Casey tries to meditate himself out of his fears. On the boys' side, frankie and Ronnie do exceptionally well, while Ben disappoints. Casey is freaked by the snake, but looks great anyway. Holly is sick, and thus does not do a great job, and Shannon can't seem to stay under the water. On the catwalk, the models must work with huge, dramatic headpieces to complement their looks. Ah, but it won't be that easy. They also must walk with...farm animals. Really, really cute ones. Even Debbie can't help laughing when she tries to coach the models down the runway with their goats, ducks, and sheep. Casey's goat...you know, the goat is pooping all over the runway. This is officially the dumbest assignment of all time. Perry's pig, Elvis, gets stage fright and...poops on Perry. I can't even describe the rest of it, because it's too stupid. When frankie walks out with Nigel the duck, I almost die. Tyson acts like a dick during the weekly Q&A, busting Shannon's ass about having a not-so-good photo shoot. Ronnie is congratulated for finally having a good catwalk (with a sheep), and when they put him on the hot seat and ask who he thinks should be in the bottom three, he says BEN. There are not words to describe the utter shock of Ben's face when he hears his name out of Ronnie's mouth. The judges are tired of complimenting Perry week after week, so this week they suddenly dislike him. Seriously, the panel is vicious this episode, and the regular favorites are shocked to find themselves getting the bum's rush. In the end, Ben, Perry, and Jacki are up for the vote. It's getting tougher.
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So, y'all remember that last week, Stephanie, frankie and Ronnie floundered in various ways during their challenges. The three of them went up for the vote, and now must face the panel to learn their fate.
In their boudoir of love, Ben wakes Ronnie to go before the judges. "I wore this when I won immunity," Ben tells Ronnie, tossing over a necklace with a blue rock on it. Again -- good job, editors, explaining any of that immunity stuff or showing us this alleged necklace-wearing or whole portions of what could be a plot in exchange for the Ben/Ronnie faux-love story and your dumb little games designed to make these fools look like jerks. Wow...I'm mad all of a sudden. Ronnie says that if he goes home today, he's blaming Ben's little pendant. Then, sighing wistfully, he adds a "completely spontaneous" "I love you, Ben." It appears as though this declaration goes unheard, or at least unanswered. "I don't think you're going home," says Ben. He thinks it will, instead, be frankie. Meanwhile, Stephanie tells Holly that she feels pretty good about the day -- she doesn't think she's going home, but she's prepared to go, if she gets the ax. Holly is sad at the thought of this: "I'm gonna have a nervous breakdown."
In his lair, Perry tells Casey that he thinks Stephanie will be going home. "I'd like to see Ronnie get the hell out of here, too," he adds, bluntly. Casey, half-asleep, dreamily says that as long as frankie stays, he doesn't care who goes.
At the catwalk, the panel looks serious. I am really tired of the panel and their collectively pursed lips. America has decided that one of the contestants can't be made into a supermodel, and it's Stephanie. (I cut to the chase there, but trust that it took five minutes for them to announce it.) As close to vomiting as they look to us, imagine how these kids must feel, standing there being filmed. How long does that take, I wonder? Like, how much coverage do they have to shoot to get every bead of sweat and look of anguish? All the stopping and starting and repeating...it must suck so bad. That is why I have to hand it to Stephanie for handling the whole thing like a woman, hugging and kissing Ronnie and frankie goodbye and moving quickly for the exit. She says in a voiceover that she's really surprised and had totally fooled herself. Or, rather, I believe that's what she says, but you know, Stephanie talks really crazy. We see her ride out of New York wearing some bitchin' heart-shaped sunglasses, and it's a shame to see her go. I hope she lets herself eat some food, now, because girl is looking pencil-like.
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