OK, I admit it. I got hooked on a reality show this summer, Outback Jack on TBS.
The premise of the show is that you have this hunky guy from the Australian outback, looking for a girl to possibly share his life with. He’s athletic and outdoorsy. So naturally, they drop in 12 pampered, high-society type, city girls to compete for his affections!! That should make for a match made in heaven right?
Now I totally misunderstood the premise of the game from the beginning. See, these ladies are put through a number of physical and emotional tests every day. First they have to jump out of an airplane (with professional sky divers to help them). Then they have to live in the outback with only “Jack’s” help. They have bugs galore, eat strange foods, go the bathroom in the jungle, and shower in a primitive shower set up. I mistakenly thought that the girls who were tough, who followed directions, who proved themselves worthy- would win! But week after week that didn’t necessarily turn out to be the case. In fact, the one and only girl, (Marissa) to get heat stroke in the first episode because she didn’t drink enough water is one of the last finalists!
During one of the episodes, they brought in The Adventure Girls. These were girls who worked out or were otherwise athletically inclined. They were there to challenge “Jack’s Girls” (because they had all been together for a few weeks by then) to an obstacle course. If the Adventure Girls won, one of them would become one of “Jacks’ Girls” and one of the pampered princesses would have to go. Of course, the Adventure Girls won and Jack chose Meri-De to be one of his girls. Meri-De was tall, blond, very capable of handling herself in the outback. She and Jack even seemed to click on their “date.” He even kissed her. But two weeks later she was gone while Natalie, the 21 year old who has whined through the entire experience from the beginning, was still there.
Uh… I was confused. Girls who were doing well in these challenges, like Meri-De were getting kicked off weekly and other lesser competitors, in my opinion, were staying. Jack (Vadim Dale) let the whole game go last week. He’s looking for someone to take care of! Someone to depend on him. Winning these competitions just worked against the women in Jack’s eyes.
So now that I can understand that, I see why Jack has been so smitten with Marissa from the start. I mean, who needs you more than someone lying on a stretcher almost succumbing to heat stroke! That was a slam dunk. I think only a compound fracture of the femur could have beaten Marissa’s lead. Natalie’s making it into the final two also is no longer surprising. She had to see that she could make it through the outback without air conditioning, curling irons, manicures, etc. and of course Jack was more than willing to help her. That is, after all what he likes to do.
I see two potential problems. Marissa, is not helpless, she is also not the dependent type. That heat stroke was just a lucky break! Jack needs to figure that out before he makes an idiot of himself. Natalie, although still in much need of help and guidance has done a lot of maturing and growing up in the previous 7 episodes. Does that mean she can eventually be a mature woman and helpmate instead of damsel in distress? and if she does will Jack still want her?
I’ve been looking for spoilers all week to see how next week’s finale turns out. I’m also wondering if months later, Jack and his intended are still together. Looking forward to next week’s episode!
Please feel free to leave a comment under the posting, or sign my Spiritbook (guestbook). You can chat with me on the tag board to the right!
