Season 4 (2018)
Season 4 continues the transitioning era that started in Season 3 following. Filming for this make-or-break season began in November 2017 and ended on February 2018, airing from June to August 2018, and consisting of 17 episodes.
Matthew Frias, Enrique Sapene, Jason Caceres, Alastair Patton-Garcia, Rafael Luis Silva, Aiden Lee-Halley, and CJ Niner all return as main cast members, and they are joined by new main cast member Rudy Martinez.
And joining as the lone friend-of this season is Junior Rivera.
With the Sylmar Sinners finally gone, the show can kindly carry on. Several more cast members are on the chopping block, too. But patience is a virtue. Rafa doesn’t have to worry about David’s presence anymore, and he can happily forget about Alex Paredes like he normally does.
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In addition to working as a stable hand and exercise rider at the Sylmar-based Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center (where Alastair and Zachary Patton-Garcia’s wedding took place), Rafa has taken the opportunity to act in a new short film called “Narrator Syndrome (2018).” And we see Rafa in therapy in Episode 1 and learn that although he’s done a great job of setting boundaries with people who bring nothing but negative energy to him, he doesn’t know if he will truly get over what happened between him and David. Rafa doesn’t live in Sylmar; he lives in the City of San Fernando. But he *does* work in Sylmar because that’s where Monteverde Ranch is based, and he visits CJ who lives in Foothill. And as CJ confirmed about a month after David was reportedly fired from the show, David doesn’t live in Dronfield anymore, having moved back to Compton as he could no longer afford to live anywhere in the SFV. FBSF⛈️ - and more specifically David - was literally what put food on the table for David. Enrique didn’t do shit for David, but that’s kind of on David for always needing Enrique in the first place given their decade-plus-long relationship as sworn enemies. But because Sylmar is a small neighborhood and the City of San Fernando is a small town (literally), Rafa dreads the possibility of crossing paths with someone else connected to David at any point (especially when you consider that last season, Karlo and Tino spent an entire season hating on Rafa and lying on Rafa), and given what happens to him a few episodes later, he was right to be worried, which brings us to our first newbie.
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David may as well live on because a new storm cloud refuses to let Rafa take shelter: Rudy Martinez, born on July 8, 1985.
“Oh God, what is Short Shit doing here?” CJ says about Rudy on Episode 9.
Introduced through Enrique during the midpoint of Episode 1, Rudy is a close friend of Enrique, and therefore an automatic addition to the Bullies & Snobs circle (of course), replacing the now-ousted Alex Paredes with very little effort. He instantly gets along well with Jason and Aiden who find him to be a breath of fresh air. I assume that they mean that he's a breath of fresh air by *their* standards?
A lot can be said about Rudy in hindsight, but one thing that most viewers can agree on is that he's certainly not afraid to go for the jugular, no matter the consequences.
Right from the get-go, he clashes with Rafa after they meet in Episode 2 due to Rudy's own vulgar and insensitive personality – as Rafa puts it via confessional in Episode 2 – leading to Rudy giving Rafa two unfortunate nicknames: Blahfael and Blahfa. So, if you already thought Rafa was boring, you can thank Rudy for giving him those pitiful nicknames. He fails to make amends with Rafa, not that either party really cares.
And then past the midseason (Episode 9), there was the Granada Hills restaurant called the Odyssey. Enrique said that every main cast member is to attend, which The Amigos are not thrilled about *at all*. Before getting there, CJ whines about it, asking, “Do we really have to go? I’ve never even heard of the Odyssey. It already sounds bland.” Rafa - because it’s gift and curse to be a Silva - unintentionally foreshadows later events by saying, “We may as well. Knowing Enrique, it’s bound to be a brunch from Hell, so we probably won’t stay there for too long.” And surprise, surprise, Rudy pulls his usual antics with Rafa, Alastair, Matthew, and CJ, being super annoying physically and/or verbally (depending on the target), which can get you brutally popped by Rafa, if you’re not careful. Ain’t that right, Cory Zwierzunski? Rudy’s childish antics brings joy from Jason, Aiden, and Enrique – the last of whom is STILL in the main cast giving absolutely nothing. After Rafa finally yells at him to “KNOCK IT OFF!”, Rafa storms out of the restaurant, leading to Rudy (acting confused) to try and follow him and say, “What, man? 🤷🏾” Immediately, Matthew runs to Rudy and blocks him from following Rafa, telling him “Hey man, don’t follow him, okay? Don’t even think about it; just leave him alone.” So, instead, Rudy just yells out to Rafa, "YOU KNOW WHAT, RAFA? THIS IS WHY DAVID HATES YOU!"
Lord, why did Rudy say that? Everyone is shocked.
As soon as Rafa hears that, he walks back in Rudy’s face and dares him to say that again, which Rudy happily does with a smile on his face, and WITHOUT hesitation. This causes Rafa to grab a wine bottle and run to Rudy, but Alastair, Matthew, and CJ hold Rafa back, which does nothing to stop Rafa from THROWING THE WINE BOTTLE AT RUDY. That’s how Episode 9 ends, and then Episode 10 picks up where they left off with Rafa throwing the bottle at Rudy. We see that Rafa miraculously misses (barely), so Rudy got lucky. But Rudy was unphased, jokingly saying, "Oh so you do got balls! Shit, I guess David was wrong about you."
Rafa doesn't respond to that, but of course Enrique immediately pulls his usual anti-Rafa antics, telling him that he should be in jail for what he did (not caring that Rudy started it), as if Rafa gives a flying fuck about Enrique's opinion at this point. Rafa doesn't say anything to Enrique *yet*, but Alastair says, "Enrique... shut the fuck up, and go back to your little Chihuahua [referring to Rudy]." Another quotable moment from Mr. Alastair. 🤠
Rafa is a work in progress, but if you really have a death wish, make fun of his trauma and abuse. And he will zap you with a lightning bolt if you let him.
But why did Rudy mention David? Has he spoken to David? Does he know David? Is he friends with David? Is he dating David? Nobody knows. And Rafa doesn’t know either, nor is he interested in finding out. He just wants Rudy to stay the fuck away from him, or else.
And when Enrique tries AGAIN to get Rafa to talk him, demanding an explanation for his childish behavior (typical Enrique being a fucking hypocrite while still being a non-factor in his own show), Rafa finally gives in, and tells Enrique what he NEEDS to hear:
Rafa: Okay, let me get something straight with you, Enrique. I never came on to this show to be a punching bag. And since joining the show, it has been Hell. Your so-called friends, who you DO NOT like, have always been determined to take me down because they think I’m boring. But the truth is, they need me. And so do you, otherwise none of you have a storyline.
Enrique: *shakes head* No.
Rafa: Don’t you shake your head at me, old man, because you know I’m right.
Enrique: *Gets closer to Rafa* Hey, watch it--
Rafa: Or what? You're gonna fire me? You can deny it all you want, but without me, you wouldn’t have a show, period. But nothing that you and your minions have done to me compares to what David has put me through. I thought he was my friend because at the time, he was always nice to my face. And I got so much hate for sticking up for him and trusting him despite his behavior; people still hate me to this day for not noticing his ulterior motives. I’m still paying that price today, just so you know.
Enrique: *bored and monotone* Well, I’m glad you’re finally owning your shit for once—
Rafa: I’m not done. With Rudy, who he is, as a person, made no sense. And yet, the way he’s been acting was strangely familiar, but louder. I took David’s bullshit for three seasons, and I’m not gonna do it again with Rudy. If you wanna keep being around Rudy, that’s your right. But starting now, you will not make me co-exist with him ever again. Have a nice day. *walks away*
Rafa has criticized Enrique’s questionable role before (calling Enrique garbage at the Season 2 reunion comes to mind quite often), but this was the first time he demanded anything specific from Enrique, and it was very satisfying to watch, despite what it took to get to that point.
There is one thing that fans are left wondering: if Rudy IS friends with David, what would that do to Rudy’s friendship with/alliance to Enrique, Jason and Aiden? Because they do NOT like David AT ALL, and the feeling is certainly mutual. If there is any connection between Rudy and David, it’s left unexplored. But one thing is definitely for sure: Rudy is a “team player” type of person. So, if he is indeed friends with David, then that makes him more of a replacement for David than that of Alex Paredes. And David (even off-screen) would end up having what Jason had in Season 1: too much power, which I and so many fans *DO NOT WANT*, for the sake of The Amigos, especially Rafa who has been through too much.
Anyway, Rafa does not engage in any conversation with Rudy for the rest of the season, which is probably for the best. And Rudy starts fading into the background, almost to the point of me forgetting about him until he reappears and it’s like, “Oh… you’re still here?”
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In Episode 4, after so many rumors about Jason and Aiden’s friendship (dating all the way back to Season 1, in which David accused Jason of cheating on Christian (“single white female much?”) – or even the 2013 sizzle which visually made things even more clear, Jason and Aiden FINALLY come clean to their respective husbands that they were indeed not just best friends, but also friends with benefits. In fact, they first met in person via Grindr in early 2012, while Jason and Christian were already boyfriends, and Aiden and Z Halley were already engaged. I mean, really...
And apparently, they never stopped their one-on-one escapades, despite the fact that Jason and Christian were already seeing each other in 2011, and Aiden and Z were already engaged. Aiden knew that the other was taken but didn't care. Christian was never aware of Aiden and Jason's little encounters until the filming of this season. But we viewers called it from Aiden's debut in Season 2. And in retrospect, we had already put two and two together when Aiden came into the show and David said that something was oddly familiar about Aiden. And now we know that in Season 1, David was talking about Jason cheating with Aiden, before David even knew who Aiden was. We still don’t even like David, and we can honestly say that the (thankfully) former cast member was right about one thing: Jason is unfaithful, has always BEEN unfaithful, and does NOT care who he hurts as long as it’s not him OR Aiden.
And anyone behind the scenes who watched the sizzle will tell you that this is why they didn’t want Aiden on the show.
Man, for such a reality show, I can’t help but say, “Talk about a fucking telenovela!” Right, Enrique? But Televisa has nothing on these horny bitches.
And the whole time we’re finding this out, we can’t help but feel bad for Christian, a nice person with a horrible husband, who was initially a horrible boyfriend and fiancé. If Jason’s off-screen family (parents and brother) were aware of what Jason and Aiden were doing behind Christian’s back, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were all for it given how much they didn’t care for Christian.
But at least Jason and Aiden are getting their overdue comeuppance.
The only question remains: do they care that Christian feels betrayed?
I think the answer is almost assuredly “no.”
Because, believe it or not, there's more to Jason's complicated relationship with Christian than what we were barely allowed to see in the past 3 seasons. And Season 4 documents the two at their worst.
After Jason comes clean to Christian about having an affair with Aiden, Christian is torn on how to move on from this. He even says to Jason in Episode 7, "Your parents and brother always found me boring and not spicy at all. Did you always feel that way about me, too?" Jason hesitates to answer but eventually says no.
Christian wants to try and make their marriage work. It's clear that he really, REALLY loves Jason, but as the now-invisible David said in season 1, Jason doesn't care about Christian; never did, never has, never will.
Throughout Season 4, after many glimpses in previous seasons, we really start to see (or get confirmation of) how controlling Jason really is to Christian, often critiquing Christian’s clothes in Episode 1, shading his artsy appearance in Episode 12, and ironically complaining about his interactions with Rafa (yeah, we’re back to that) on Episode 2.
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The breaking point between Jason and Christian occurs during Episode 16, which is the season finale, in a car ride on their way to Enrique's house, where a finale party is taking place. The core four is not invited, of course, just Jason, Aiden, Rudy, Junior, Enrique’s brother Carlos, and Enrique’s husband Danny. But Aiden’s not able to come to the party. Jason is driving and doesn't look like he's in the mood to talk.
Christian: *timidly* So, um... I- I know that Aiden can't make it to the party, so what better time than now to talk about what's been going on between you and me?
Jason: *rolls his eyes, clearly not in the mood to talk* Where should we begin?
Christian: Um, well um... is everything okay between us?
Jason: *says coldly* Well, I sure hope so. Unless there's a problem? *Christian looks like a deer caught in headlights*
Jason via confessional: *sighs* Oh my God, I already knew where this was going. And all I wanted to do was just shut it down. But I guess that’s not an option, so here we go.
Christian: *carefully and softly* Well, it's just... that... a lot people have been talking about you and Aiden. And I never really liked that he would openly flirt with you, even when I'm right in front---
Jason: Oh, okay, you've been talking to David. Okay, that's fine.
Christian: *looks down to his feet* I— I don't talk to David. He was always very mean to me.
Jason: Well, whatever. I know you've been talking to your friends about me and Aiden. You think I don't hear your friends say how much they think I'm a bad influence on you? How about how I feel? Does that matter at all?
Christian: *in shock, speechless, and confused* I'm sorry. But, Jason... you have to admit: we haven't been communicating properly or getting along. And I think it's gotten worse since you let Aiden come between us. And uh... *softly inhales* whenever we do talk, your parents, your brother, your friends, or... *voice breaking* and Aiden... get involved. And I end up looking... stupid.
Jason: Alright. I'm sorry if they make you feel that way, but I don't know what you want me to do about that.
Christian: *softly speaks* Just... have my back.
*Jason says nothing*
Christian: *sniffs while fighting back tears* I love you. I've always loved you.
*Jason stays silent*
Christian: *shakingly inhales* And it's... not just your family or friends who talk about you and Aiden, or laugh at me. A lot of people in this town keep telling me that they feel sorry for me or that I'm dumb or desperate for staying with you.
Jason: Well then, that's the problem. You're basing your doubts about our relationship on what people think about us. And the real problem should be the fact that *you* never have *my* back.
Christian: *confused* What? Of course I do. All the time.
Jason: Okay, fine, whatever. You're not getting it.
Christian: Jason... you can't keeping shutting me down. This is why we don't communicate. I just want you to respect me the way I've always respected you.
Jason: *loudly* Oh, really? Really? You really wanna talk to me about respect?
Christian: Jason, please, don't yell. Just tell me what I've done to make you think that I don't respect you.
Jason: Oh, well, let’s see. Whenever I have conflict with someone and they react, instead of having my back or defending me, you tell me to stop provoking someone. First of all, I don't provoke. I don't make people react. They choose to react, and that's their own fault. Not mine. And I know you still talk to that *fucking* Rafa behind my back when you know that I don't like the bitch at all.
Christian: *defeated and tears fall out of his eyes*
Jason: So don't talk to me about not giving you respect, or having your back, or defending you, because you have never done any of that for me.
Christian: *crying and voice breaking* So every time I apparently don't treat you right, that's your queue to sleep with Aiden? Consistently since 2012?
Jason: *shocked* Wow. You really went there.
Christian: *looks away, shakes his head and says nothing during the rest of the ride to Enrique’s house, wipes his tears*
After finally making it to Enrique’s neighborhood, Christian and Jason get out of their car, but Christian clearly does not wanna go to the house. He contemplates just walking back home, but Jason stops him, by whispering, "Hey hey hey, wha- where are you going?"
Christian: I shouldn't be here.
Jason: Christian, don't be dramatic, okay?
Christian: *inaudible whisper, voice breaking* Jason...
Jason: *pulls Christian into a hug* Look, I shouldn't have snapped at you, okay? I was mad.
*Christian starts crying*
*When Jason breaks the hug, he notices that Christian is not wearing his ring*
Jason: Where's your ring?
Christian: *looks down at the sidewalk, not giving Jason eye contact* I left it at home. I haven’t worn it all day. *inaudibly says* It just didn't feel right.
Jason: *Sighs and mutters* Unbelievable. *in normal voice* Look, we're here now, so just make a scene, okay? Please? For me?
Christian: *another tears falls down as he softly sighs* Enjoy the party. *Starts walking away*
Jason: You're seriously leaving? What am I supposed to tell Enrique?
Christian: *stops walking, turns around and says the following* You can tell them whatever you want. I don't care anymore. *Turns away and walks away, leaving Jason annoyed and rolling his eyes*
Jason: Great. Just great.
This intense moment is a very raw, voyeuristic, and unfiltered look at a toxic marriage that we as an audience have known to be very one-sided. Christian loves Jason; Jason loves his ego.
Much later during the finale, Rafa gets a text from Christian, asking Rafa if he could meet Christian at the San Fernando Recreation Park because he doesn’t want to be alone and really needs someone to talk to, which Rafa does. When he sees Christian sitting on a park bench, crying, and looking like he should be at Enrique’s house by now (Rafa does know about the finale party, after all), Rafa is concerned.
Rafa: Chris? What's the matter?
Christian: *crying* My life sucks, man.
Rafa: *sits next to Christian* Why?
Christian tells Rafa everything leading to his argument with Jason in the car, and Rafa is heartbroken that Jason would make his own behavior Christian’s fault, causing Christian to walk away from him.
Rafa: My God... does Jason know that you’re here?
Christian: *shakes his head* No. I don't think he cares where I am.
*Rafa gives Christian a shoulder to cry on and is visibly angry with Jason.*
Rafa via confessional: Jason always wants to control things. That's why his own friend group is a revolving door, his friends can't think for themselves, his parents worship him like he's Jesus Christ, and his own brother has to depend on him financially. Christian never fell for Jason's mind games which is why his in-laws never respected him as an individual. Not even Jason.
Christian: *while crying* I don’t know what to do anymore, Rafa. I’m not even wearing my wedding ring. I don’t think couples therapy or marriage counseling will resolve anything. Jason’s made up his mind that I apparently don’t care about him. I’ve always tried to talk to him and tell him how I feel - *always* - and he just shuts me down and makes me feel stupid. And Aiden is no help at all. Jason knows how worthless Aiden makes me feel [an adjective that Rafa *hates* and remembers all too well] and just doesn’t care. And now that I know that they’ve been having an affair since 2012, it all makes sense why Aiden hates me so much. He’s been wanting to ruin my marriage to Jason this whole time. And I have no idea where to go from here. Every time Jason’s brother or parents show up, I lock myself in our bedroom or leave the house because I get anxiety or wanna regurgitate. And nothing I do will ever make them love me. *covers his face* I just… *inhales sharply*… I can’t live like this anymore.
*Rafa hugs him*
Christian: *buried in Rafa’s shoulder, whispering* I just want my life back…
*Rafa allows him to cry and let it out*
Rafa: *whispers* It’s alright. I’m here. *lets a tear roll down his face*
Rafa via confessional: *tearfully* This is ridiculous… here we are arguing about stupid shit, and one of my friends is suffering in silence. All I can allow myself to say at this point is, “Fuck Jason. And fuck Aiden.”
As of this season, Rafa is still the only Amigo that Christian has ever communicated with. Rafa’s also the only person who knows about Christian whereabouts, post-season finale.
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While Rudy is a bully from head to toe, our next newbie is just a straight-up dick.
Let's talk about the lone friend-of for Season 4, an army vet and gay Jesus Jugs himself, Junior Rivera (born Raul Rivera Jr. on January 15, 1995), who makes his debut on Episode 5 and is introduced as a friend of Enrique. Despite his conservative ways making him a fish out of water within the slowly evolving dynamic, Junior is a slut in the City of San Fernando. He would ever admit it because he’s a God-fearing person, though of course Jason, Aiden, and Rudy would beg to differ.
Nobody really likes Junior. The Bullies & Snobs find him boring, and The Amigos always feel like they have to walk on eggshells when explaining themselves to him. Junior comes off as very rude and judgmental, having a tendency to fake-snore during what he thinks are long-winded stories (as he did in Episode 6, when Matthew was talking about his decision to participate in Muscle Mania), and demeaning others for basically living their lives their way with or without the guidance of the bible – or his bible, as he probably would've preferred.
“It’s my dying desire to put these bitches in check,” says Junior via confessional. And boy does he fail miserably in that department.
Junior basically has this “I’m perfect; everything is great” façade that nobody buys (cast and viewers), which is so boring.
The person he has the most conflict with is Alastair, a fellow Christian army vet.
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Big Daddy Al returns to the show in Episode 4 after having his lovely honeymoon phase with husband Zachary Patton-Garcia. He starts off the season much lighter and having a new outlook on life. Their homelife together gives lighthearted sitcom which is always great and needed. He and Zach really bring the whack factor together, and I’m always here for it. His main arc begins in Episode 5, and largely focuses on his and Zach’s journey of finding a progressive church, which proves to not be very easy in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles is a liberal city, but certain areas in San Fernando Valley can lean more conservative. It’s a relatable story for a lot of people who grew up religious, conservative, or both, especially for those who didn’t grow up knowing that progressive churches actually exist. And there’s a reason a lot of people don’t know about progressive churches: as Alastair explains in his Episode 5 confessional, “Progressive churches are often looked down upon by conservatives and traditionalists primarily due to deep theological, cultural, and political disagreements.” But he and Zach are determined to find something, even if it has to be outside the City of San Fernando.
There’s one point in Episode 6 where after Zach finds a Porter Ranch-based megachurch called Shepherd Church that he was told by Pastor Dudley Rutherford to be an inclusive one, he tells Alastair and they check it out the very next day. And boy, were they in for an unpleasant treat. During the sermon, Pastor Dudley is saying, “All you idiots need to repent. Get on your goddamn knees and repent before it’s too late. Obey God by obeying me. I am your God in this church, and you all must do as I say and as I do.” Alastair is in a state of horror as he looks at Zachary, who looks just as shocked. When they look back, they see Pastor Dudley slap a white teenage male churchgoer in the face while saying, “May the Devil set you free, boy. It is time for you to see the light. Alastair’s confessional just makes you wanna rescue him and his husband: “Wow, um… clearly Pastor Dudley’s way of, uh… ‘preaching’… is not for the faint of heart. And I’m more than happy to be the faint of heart, and I know Zach is, too. *nervous chuckle* Security?” The pastor continues, “Hell is your destination if don’t obey our lord and savior. That’s the end of today’s sermon, brothers and sisters. Have a heavenly afternoon!” The married couple are more than happy to get out and never come back. Later that day, when they are back home, Alastair says, “Well, honey, um… *chuckles* that was, uh… an interesting church.” Zach is embarrassed as says, “I’m sorry, Papi, he literally told me that Shephard Church was a progressive church. Maybe I shoulda done my research before running it by you, I don’t know.” Alastair stars laughing and kisses Zachary, and says, “Say… is it bad that I kinda wanted to laugh during that sermon?” which gets a loud laugh from Zach. Alastair continues, “Pastor Dudley sure was something good and crazy; I feel bad for that kid who got slapped though.” Zachary says, “Yeah, that was very alarming. But I guess that Junior dude deserves a slap his damn self.” Alastair sips his water like it’s tea and says, “You said it, not me.”
Socially, this is the first season where Rafa becomes Alastair’s protector instead of the other way around, mainly when a reviled friend-of by the name of Junior tests Alastair’s patience and sanity.
The conflict between the two is defined by Junior’s constant need to antagonize Alastair for the simple fact that Alastair is a liberal Christian instead of a conservative Christian. In fact, the friction begins almost immediately when Alastair meets Junior later in Episode 5, he realizes that Junior is a royal pain in the ass. Who else is dumb enough to jokingly(?) ask someone that they *JUST MET*, “Are you a ho? Because you kinda look like one.” Junior does, apparently. He’s clearly trying to get airtime and it’s embarrassing. “I’m sorry, but when I see you and your husband, I find you guys to be very… revolting. You guys just don’t seem like the wholesome type of family to me,” says Junior. Alastair is caught off guard by Junior’s… everything, and says to him, “Oh… but hooking up with churchmates in your congregation IS wholesome?” OOP!
Via confessionals, Alastair says, “I knew I wasn’t gonna like this guy. What I didn’t know was that this was going to be a ‘Battle of the Christians’ type of beef. Like, what is wrong with you dude?”
And one morning, in Episode 8, when the group is dining at James’ Restaurant, and Alastair is talking to the Rafa, CJ, and Matthew about how he sometimes pictures himself and Zachary as parents (they’re both already dog dads), and gives them an update on his and Zach’s quest to finding a progressive church within/around the City of San Fernando, Junior overhears the conversation and starts yelling “BORING!” at Alastair, “Read a bible, dude!”
That’s when Alastair finally reaches his breaking point with Junior. He demands that he and Junior speak outside the restaurant, “*NOW*.” Once they go outside, and Alastair asks, “What the Hell is your problem?” Junior immediately insists that he was just joking and that Alastair needs to “stop being so serious and have a fucking sense of humor for once.” But Alastair has literally had it and is scolding Junior, saying, “I don’t have *YOUR* sense of humor, okay? You were clearly trying to be mean and nasty. And you think that was funny? It was not, okay? You are just being very rude and fucking annoying, and you need to stop. TODAY. Now go twerk for Jesus already and leave me alone." That advice becomes yet another quotable moment from our Quote King Alastair! And all Junior can say when rolling his eyes and walking away from Alastair is, “Oh my God… you are so damn sensitive. I can’t do this anymore,” and chuckles while walking back into the restaurant. He says to Rafa, “Hey Rafa, you might wanna check on your friend, ‘cuz he is fuckin’ crazy.”
Rada does just that, but not before side-eyeing Junior. He leaves the restaurant to find an emotionally exhausted Alastair.
Alastair: *desperate tone* What is wrong with him? Why’s he always heckling at me?
Rafa: Basically, he thinks that you’re not a “real Christian.”
Alastair: *voice breaking* Why?! Because I’m not a Republican? Because I don’t live a conservative lifestyle? Who cares? I don’t tell him how to live his life. Like, what is the point- what- wha- *covers his face takes deep breaths, and then uncovers his face to reveal that he’s crying*
Rafa: *puts hand on Alastair’s shoulder* Al… I'm starting to think that he's not bothered by what you do or how you live. He just wants someone to bully because his life is that boring.
Alastair: *crying* God, this is ridiculous. Like, why won’t he just leave me alone? I’m just sitting here having a normal conversation with y’all and having pancakes. And now I lost my freaking appetite.”
Rafa: *smiles and tries not to laugh at that*
Rafa via confessional: Alastair and Junior are at odds for two TOTALLY different reasons. Alastair is fed up with Junior’s attitude, bullying, hypocrisy, and superiority complex. And Junior just wants somebody to pick on, even if he truly believes that Alastair is this 'fake Christian', or whatever, for being liberal.
It’s clear that Junior broke something in Alastair.
Alastair via confessional, “I grew up conservative, believing that homosexuality was deemed unacceptable and immoral. And I've been grateful to get away from that mindset because I'm not the same Christian that I used to be. I've come a long way from having internalized homophobia, which almost led to my first suicide attempt when I was 14, and actually led me to leaving the church I attended when I was living in Texas. And It’s people like Junior who make it difficult for queer people to maintain… some sort of relationship with whoever they believe in.
Rafa pulls Alastair into a hug and Alastair cries on Rafa's shoulders.
In Episode 9, Alastair’s conversation with Matthew lets us know the dynamic between Alastair and Junior. Matthew asks, “So, while your issue with Junior is his attitude and rude behavior, he thinks that you’re attacking his beliefs?” And Alastair says, “Pretty much. And don't get me wrong - Junior's hypocritical as Hell. But I grew up conservative, too, and I'm an army vet, so his stance isn't anything new to me. But you're automatically an easy target for him if you’re an agnostic, an atheist, or just anyone who doesn't follow *his* word, not God's word.”
In Episode 13, when the group (Rafa, Alastair, CJ, Matthew, Enrique, Jason, Aiden, Rudy, and Junior) goes on a cast trip to North Hollywood, Junior is mostly in his own world but makes time to bother the Amigos and put the B&S to sleep. And in the next episode (Episode 14), when everyone is at the gay nightclub Club Cobra, Junior is seen flirting with and making out with some random white guy. Let’s hope the random guy doesn’t attend the same church as Junior.
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Outside the group, throughout Season 4, we see Matthew (with help from CJ) embark on a high-stakes mission to compete in the Muscle Mania fitness competition, which begins in Episode 1. Throughout the season, viewers see Matthew try to attempt more self-discipline than usual as he navigates social gatherings with Tupperware meals while his castmates indulge. The journey reaches its climax in the season finale when Matthew finally takes the stage, not needing a spray tan (which he was thankful for) but rocking the fire-themed swim trunks. Despite the physical toll and the emotional strain of his sobriety, he secures first place in the Junior category.
"I've never been this committed to anything. I wanna at least try to stay motivated this time and stay committed to this competition." Matthew softly says to CJ in Episode 3.
While Matthew is training, Enrique is still on his "I Hate Matthew" era. Matthew has never been a fan of Enrique, and for good reason: the so-called EP is a bone collector who is still – as confirmed by Matthew via confessional – “bitter about the fact that ‘his show’ is never going to be about him, no matter what he does.”
Enrique has always been dismissive of Matthew’s feelings, often mocking Matthew’s sobriety and fitness journey, claiming in Episode 1 that all Matthew talks about is his sobriety and fitness – “How many journeys do you have?! Shit, it’s all you talk about!” But actually, that is not true. It’s actually Enrique himself and the rest of the B&S gang who bring it up constantly and won’t stop talking about it, and Matthew reminds him that. The two openly hate each other and can hardly be in the same room together without a verbal spar erupting.
The friction primarily ignited last season when Matthew criticized Enrique for encouraging everyone to complain constantly about Rafa. And Enrique never got over that. The tension famously peaks in Episode 14 when the group goes to the North Hollywood based Club Cobra during their trip to North Hollywood. After Matthew is constantly being mocked about his decision to drink a soda instead of alcohol by Rudy, Jason, and Aiden, Matthew has had it and argues with them, and when Enrique catches him, Enrique retaliates with a series of not-so-classy insults, leading to a screaming match between Enrique and Matthew where Enrique shouts, "Honey, you're such a boring twig! Get out more!"
This comment is particularly cutting as Matthew is spending this season training for the Muscle Mania fitness competition. The insult sets the stage for a season-long feud, fueled by Enrique's need to provoke Matthew “the way he did me when we were in Bakersfield. Yeah, don’t think I forgot about that, you little bitch.”
If Enrique’s threat to Matthew in Bakersfield last season and his tattle-tale behavior towards Rafa in Santa Clarita in Season 2 gave away anything, it’s this: the classy EP façade that Enrique has been shoving down our throats since Season 1 never existed. And if it did, you’ve been watching the wrong show. But I’ll be nice to the B&S stans and just say that if the classy EP façade was ever existent, it’s officially *GONE* from now on. He doesn't even bring up that EP credit the whole season.
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In Episode 2, our Kiwi sweetheart CJ is stressed out. Prior to filming, his father Antonio was rushed to the hospital recently due to a severe infection caused by a bite that spread to his bloodstream. He spent over a week in the hospital, and although he is now out, the experience was a very scary time for the family. And if that wasn’t enough, his mother Susan Niner, who has previously battled and beaten cervical cancer twice, gets a cancer scare.
Meanwhile, CJ is going through his own inner battles. Despite being a genuinely confident person, as we’ve seen in Season 3, that wasn’t always the case growing up, and CJ describes the profound loneliness and self-doubt he experiences as a perfectionist, feeling that everything he does isn't good enough and constantly puts himself down. He struggles with feeling like a failure in all aspects of his life (and we see later this season the burnout that comes with being a caregiver).
Antonio (who’s recovering from an accident, more on that later) starts noticing a familiar pattern with CJ when CJ returns to a point his life where he is once again unable to speak his mind for the first time in a few years. It gets to a point where in Episode 4, Antonio, very carefully, reminds an exhausted sleepless CJ, “Back in New Zealand, you would come home crying and always you to just tell me and your mom what was wrong.” He reminds CJ how much he loves him and worries for him every day. He practically begs CJ, “If you can’t tell me or your mom or April what’s on your mind, then *please* just write it down and I’ll read it. You used to do that a lot, remember?” And CJ – because he doesn’t want to complain about how overwhelmed and overworked he feels – insists in a sad tone, “Dad… there’s nothing I need to talk about. I’m just tired. But other than that, I’m fine,” Antonio doesn’t believe him but doesn’t want to argue with him and just whispers, “Okay.”
That’s when we see the reverberation of this on the way CJ handled his depression in the past and expressed himself last season starts to make more sense. So, he’s fighting the side of himself who always wants to shut everything down, while also wanting to let out the part of him that feels deeply. He’s a sweet, compassionate, funny guy with a “fuck your feelings” side that’s only given to anyone who deserves it. Which unfortunately adds to the David comparisons, which CJ absolutely hates. Not even his career in refrigeration engineering or his love of comics and video games is enough to get him out of his funk.
And his sexuality plays a part in his inability to express himself the way he wants to. Even though Matthew, Rafa, and Alastair have no issue with CJ talking to them about April, CJ is still not too open to them about her, because he already knows that typically gays don’t really want to hear about straight couples, even if it's from a queer male’s perspective. It also has a lot to do with the show's ignorant biphobic audience. CJ became the show's very first bisexual cast member when he joined in Season 3 and immediately received a lot of backlash on his first appearance in Season 3 because he identified as bisexual instead of gay, with the most common responses from harsh viewers being, “Nah man you gay!” And even the non-queer Indian/Asian community were especially harsh on him. Bisexuality was still being treated as gimmick, trend, or entertainment trope rather than a sexual orientation. CJ is literally bisexual representation done right, which is a reminder of why he does not (and should not) fit in with trash reality TV's values.
Of course, in Episode 5 Aiden talks to Jason, Enrique, and Rudy about noticing CJ’s so-called “mood swings,” saying to them, “Who knew that CJ was such a Debbie Downer like Rafael?” Yeah, Aiden is not done messing with CJ.
During a dinner from Hell between B&S and the Amigos in Episode 11, the B&S are on CJ’s ass about how he’s been unusually quiet, with Aiden saying, “You would always run your big-ass mouth about us supposedly always talking about Rafa, and now you wanna get quiet because your Mommy and Daddy had an accident? Bitch, it doesn’t work that way.” CJ quickly defends himself by saying, “Aiden, don’t mock my parents. And I’m not Jason’s robot unlike you; my mood changes, that’s just what it is.” Aiden in particular goes in on CJ, calls him a bitch every five seconds, to which Matthew, Alastair, and Rafa are talking over Aiden in CJ’s defense. CJ – not wanting to have a meltdown – raises his voice to Aiden when saying, “Aiden, *stop* calling me bitch! What the fuck is wrong with you?” Aiden’s response? “Bitch. Bitch. And more bitch, bitch,” which had the B&S laughing. “You want me to respect you, CJ? I will, when I feel like it. How about that?”
And to the shock of Aiden, CJ goes OFF on him, banging on the table as he shouts, “WHAT?!” Uh-oh “Excuse me? You’re going to respect me when you feel like it? You know what? You don’t have to like me, because you’re too stupid to like me at all. But you *WILL* respect me if I have to kick your ass to make you respect me [FORESHADOWING].” The B&S are shocked by CJ’s threat, which is another reason for them and haters to compare him to David. “You are NOT gonna keep calling me ‘bitch, bitch, and more bitch,’ and expect me to not say or do anything, okay?! FUCK YOU and your homewrecking ass! *accidentally knocks over a glass when he says 'homewrecking ass'* We’re done here.” And CJ walks away along with Rafa, Alastair, and Matthew. Enrique gets up and blocks CJ, and says, “Uh, no we’re not.” CJ gets in Enrique’s face and says, “Uh, *yes*, we are. I dare you to fire me, ‘EP’! You ARE an EP right? RIGHT?!” Using air-quotes when calling Enrique an EP the first time. Enrique appears tough but looks slightly nervous. “Don’t test me, Enrique, or you *will* end up needing physical therapy. If you’re lucky.”
David would have *never* had the balls to threaten Enrique at all (especially not the way CJ just did), which is how CJ and David are different. And Predictably, things don’t get better between CJ and Aiden.
CJ says to Matthew in Episode 12, “Aiden’s not gonna push me out. Nobody is. I’m here for a reason, and if that bothers anyone who wanna hate on us, they can leave.” Little does CJ realize, only one of those haters ends up staying on the show.
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On the cast trip to North Hollywood on Episode 15, Aiden can no longer contain his anger with CJ. And when Aiden and Jason find him sitting by himself in the patio of the
coffee shop (located adjacent to the LA Metro North Hollywood Station), CJ says, “Oh my, God, what do you guys want now?” That is when Aiden takes it upon himself to get verbally aggressive towards CJ. “Alright, CJ, Courtney, whatever the fuck your name is… I’ve been holding this in. I was gonna leave you alone let you be your boring-ass self as always, but the “high road” shit is not working for me today. So, I’m just gonna make it clear for you so you can understand. When you threatened me and Enrique that night and called me a homewrecker, I had never felt so embarrassed and disgusted with your behavior. And you need to think real hard before you open your mouth. Because you don’t even know a damn thing about me. So, for you to call me a homewrecker, bitch, you may as well be cheating on your girlfriend, with your fake bisexual ass.” This hits a nerve in CJ who says, “Excuse me?!” Aiden goes, “Yeah, you didn’t like me saying that, did you? You’ve been free to state your own opinion but get so butthurt when someone talks about you being bi or your fake-ass depression. And let me tell you something: I’m not the bitch that you wanna start with.” CJ bluntly asks, “Are you done?” An enraged Aiden says, “No, I’m not fuckin’ done, bitch. And that’s another thing; I’m not gonna stop calling you a bitch, ‘cuz that’s what you are. And I’m gonna say whatever the fuck I wanna say to you. You need to respect who the fuck you’re dealing with. Nobody is gonna respect you because all you do is talk behind other bitches’ backs, talk big shit behind everybody’s back, and can’t say shit to nobody’s face—” CJ cuts him off and says, “Yes I can and I have. Especially to you. Multiple times.” Aiden gets even more threatening by saying, “Oh okay. Well, if you wanna go off on me right now, bitch, here’s your chance! You got two minutes. Go!”
CJ via confessional says, “When Aiden started talking to me with his attitude and moving his head around, trying to just be a bitch to me, I was just ready to get away from him, and bail on this trip. I can’t do it anymore; I don’t have the patience. He’s acting a fool, as always. And yes, I called him a bitch because clearly, he doesn’t believe in boundaries until it’s convenient for him.”
Jason’s confessional is very, um… well, I’ll let you be the judge: “Aiden is pissed the fuck off. CJ never should’ve taken him to that place by calling him a homewrecker and threatening him. You don’t get to call someone that name and expect them to stay quiet. It doesn’t work that way, CJ. Next time, keep your big mouth *shut*.”
CJ says to Aiden, “I ain’t got nothing more to say to you, Aiden, so you’re just wasting your time.” And Aiden yells over him, asking, “OH, SO YOU’RE GONNA LIE TO ME NOW?! NOW YOU’RE A FUCKING LIAR?! SO, I GOTTA CLASSIFY YOU AS A PUNK, A RAT, AND LYING-ASS BITCH ALL AT THE SAME TIME! YOU SCARED OF ME NOW?!”
CJ ends up leaving the patio despite feeling tempted to scream and Aiden and beat his ass. And even though CJ doesn’t admit it, he wants to cry. And as CJ’s walking away, Aiden yelling, “Why you wanna walk away from me now? You wanna stay calm and cool all of a sudden? You really *are* like David. One minute, you big and bad and wanna fight. Next minute, you wanna cry to your lapdog [referring to Matthew]. You know, why don’t you just kill yourself already, and leave us all alone?! I don’t respect you bitch! And I bet you won’t say nothing else, if you know what’s good for you. So go on and walk away, you fuckin’ pussy, And go back to Australia or wherever the fuck you came from.”
CJ says via confessional, “I have no desire to be around Aiden at all. But I can promise you this: I *will* see him again. He better stay ready.”
After CJ has disappeared from “Aiden-View”, Aiden says to his friends, “Can you believe that? All bark, no bite. Can’t even stick up for himself. *laughs* If he ends up leaving this trip early, good, because nobody wants him.” Jason approaches him, places his hand around Aiden hand (Oh, God, he’s not even hiding it anymore) and softly says, “Hey… you alright?” in a way that makes you go, “How come Jason is never this caring or affectionate with Christian?” Aiden shakes his head, and silently says, “No.” He starts crying and asks Jason, “Jay, what the fuck is wrong him? Why is he such a dick?” Jason pulls him into a hug and starts whispering in his ear, “It’s okay, it’s over now. I got you Aidencito.” Now, you would think that production would’ve destroyed this portion of the Groundwork patio scene. BUT… they did not. The fact that they kept this portion of the scene tells me that production doesn’t like Jason or Aiden, and that they were determined to make this toxic duo look as bad as humanly possible. That was enough to confirm to us that either they didn’t care that the cameras were rolling or they got so lost in each other that they forgot about the cameras. Either way, David was right. And that’s the last time I will give David any type of positive feedback.
Anyway, back to CJ. When Matthew, Rafa, and Alastair hear from CJ (who is now emotionally exhausted), they are devastated. He tells them that he is done with the trip and heading back to Foothil; “There’s no reason for me to stay here any longer. If Aiden wants to check that off his list, like, ‘Yeah, bitch, I made you leave the trip, hee-hee haha,’ and that makes him feel good, then I will give him that because I am *done*. With him and his buddies.” They decide to leave with him, too, as they don’t want him to have to go through anymore of this alone, and they’re tired of arguing as well.
CJ says in his confessional, “This trip has been a disaster for all four of us. Junior won’t stop attacking Alastair just because Alastair’s a liberal Christian. Alongside Jason, Rudy is the latest person to constantly complain about Rafa, who’s actually done a great job of not interacting with either of them this whole trip. And Enrique insists on bullying, berating, and disrespecting Matthew. There is no way that we can continue carry on like this. I certainly won’t accept that; I refuse.”
Rafa, who has miraculously managed to keep the peace, and be there for his friends say in his confessional, “Overall, this trip was a waste of time. We were supposed to stay for a whole week, and only managed four days. That’s how bad it was. But it’s a reminder that we don’t have to take any of that bullshit. But at least we’re only about nine miles away from home, instead of halfway around the world with people like that.”
And because the four most important people on the show left early, the cast trip is cut short for the rest of the Bullies & Snobs, because nobody cares what those monsters have going on, which is mostly nothing outside of Jason, of course.
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Season 4 Reunion Seating Arrangement
Left - Right:
Rudy Martinez (fourth chair) – Jason Caceres (third chair) – Alastair Patton-Garcia (second chair) – CJ Niner (first chair) – Ross Matthews (HOST) – Rafael L Silva (first chair) – Matthew Frias (second chair) – Aiden Lee-Halley (third chair) – Enrique Sapene (fourth chair) – Junior Rivera (fifth chair)
After Aiden’s dismissal
Segment One Left - Right:
Rudy Martinez (second chair) – Jason Caceres (first chair) – Ross Matthews (HOST) – Enrique Sapene (first chair) – Junior Rivera (second chair)
Segment Two Left - Right:
Alastair Patton-Garcia (second chair) – CJ Niner (first chair) – Ross Matthews (HOST) – Rafael L Silva (first chair) – Matthew Frias (second chair)
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One of the most ridiculous moments in the reunion is all thanks to the truly revolting Junior Rivera.
Junior: I mean, shit, Alastair, for a so-called "Christian," you really suck. You questioned me being a conservative.
Alastair: I did not question you being a conservative.
Junior: Oh really? You accused me of hooking up with people from my church and I had to leave my church because of you. Do you have any idea how painful that was?
Alastair: *monotone* Well I'm sorry, Junior. *normal voice* But karma is a bitch to bullies. I wouldn't have revealed anything about your escapades in your church, if you didn't start talking shit about my marriage, and accusing me and my husband of cheating on each other whenever I was deployed. First of all, I had never met Zach until *after* I was discharged, okay? So, you already got the timeline wrong; all the way wrong.
Junior: Man, you are *really* having a voice this season Alastair. And here I thought you were just Rafa’s bodyguard.
Alastair: *You're* gonna need a bodyguard your *damn* self, if you don't stop playing with me. Now, as I was *saying*--
Junior: You've said enough, political police.
Alastair: Okay! That does it. Since you've been wanting me to criticize you as a conservative gay guy all season, allow me to do just that: stop letting the bible tell you what to do - since there's so many versions - and use your brain for once in your Goddamn life. Satisfied?
The audience’s oohs were just deafening. And of course, Junior’s feelings were hurt.
Junior: Fuck you, Alastair.
Alastair: Yeah, okay.
And Junior stayed quiet after that, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that he really wanted to cry tears of pain, which is weird because he finally got what asked for: Alastair criticizing him as a conservative gay.
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One of the more shocking moments in the reunion is between Rafa and Jason.
We (and the cast) learn in the reunion (Episode 17) that Christian had separated from Jason indefinitely, and ran away without telling Jason anything, leaving the City of San Fernando. Strangely enough, the reunion is the only time we see Jason (who hasn’t seen Christian since the car ride to Enrique’s neighborhood) “caring,” freaking out over Rafa refusing to tell Jason where Christian is and only saying to Jason, “Just know that he’s okay, Jason.” But I’m convinced that Jason is trying to save face because he and Aiden had already received backlash for the way they’ve treated Christian for years. If anything, he’s not upset that his husband has ran away; he’s upset that personal punching bag has ran away. Rafa’s the only cast member who currently knows where Christian is staying and refuses to tell Jason.
When Jason accidently lets it slip in the reunion that he hasn’t seen or spoken to Christian since Christian walked away from him, Rafa is confused and asks, “Well have you tried calling him?” Jason says, “Well no, I wanted to give him his space because he clearly needed to calm down.” This shocks Alastair, CJ, and Matthew (and even Ross Matthews). They don’t know Christian like that, and even they’re thrown off by Jason’s revelation. Rafa is hit with the realization that Jason has apparently not tried reaching out to Christian. “Wait… you mean you never *wanted* to try?” Jason stammers when he says, “No, I—I mean, YES! But, uh- I—” Rafa, in shock, asks, “Not even social media? I don’t have social media anymore and even *I* know that that’s another way to stay in touch with someone.” Frustrated, Jason says, “Rafa, listen, just stay out of my relationship—,” which angers Rafa even more, to the point where he says, “DAMN IT, JASON! Do you *not* care at all that your husband – who clearly loves you – ran away?!”
Jason demands one more time that Rafa tells him where Christian is, Rafa says, "I'm not telling you," and reminds Jason, "Christian loves you, Jason. But you will lose him sooner or later. If you *really* care about Christian as a person and as your husband, reach out to him. And stop worrying about what I do.”
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Another frustrating moment is when Enrique was trying to gaslight his way out of his beef with Matthew. But luckily Matthew was not going to let him change the narrative.
Enrique says, “Matthew here’s the thing. When you were in Bakersfield, you were being so rude and disrespectful to me—” Matthew starts talking over him, loudly repeating multiple times, “No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t! No I wasn’t!” And as Matthew is repeating saying that, Enrique blows up, yelling, “MATTHEW SHUT THE FUCK UP, AND LET ME TALK! FUCK!” But Matthew does not stop, so Enrique yells, “MATTHEW LET ME FINISH! YOU TALK SO FUCKING MUCH! SHUT THE FUCK UP!” And still, Matthew doesn’t stop, leading to Enrique to admit defeat for once, saying to Ross, “Alright, you know what? I’m done. I’m not answering anymore questions about Matthew.” And Matthew says, “You better not.”
Yikes lol
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But what stood out the most in the reunion was definitely CJ vs Aiden. CJ makes it very clear that “anyone who mocks someone’s mental health struggles is dead to me. And for you to tell me to kill myself because I refused to talk to you, that says everything about you and zero about me.” Aiden is quickly on the defense, saying, “Whatever. You already made that situation completely ugly between us. I will say this—my delivery in North Hollywood? My bad. That was very disrespectful and I shouldn’t have gone off that way. But the message, I’m not apologizing for because I don’t like you and you don’t like me.” Host Ross Matthews, who – without saying so – is mentally done with the Bullies & Snobs – says under his breath, “Well that was a pretty lame apology,” which made the audience laugh and the Amigos crack a smile. CJ says to Aiden, “If that’s how you apologize to people that you don’t like, apology not accepted. Stop apologizing while you’re ahead.” Aiden deflects and gaslights by saying, “Okay, fine. You don’t wanna accept my apology? I don’t give a fuck. Why don’t you start acknowledging what the fuck *you* have done… okay? I would’ve not reacted the way I did if you didn’t call me a homewrecker.” CJ says, “Well that’s what you are. Jason, too. You’re both cheaters and homewreckers. And everyone in Los Angeles has said or thought that before I did. The bottom line is, you are an insensitive bully.” Aiden argues, “No, the bottom line is, I am *not* a bully, and you are not going to label me as such—” CJ cuts him off and says, “Too late. I already did. Now what?” which gets and “ooooh…” from the audience. Aiden hits below the belt when he says, “Well, maybe you feel bullied because your mind has been playing tricks on you since the day you were born.” CJ gives Aiden a chilling message when he says, “You have one more time to make a comment about my mental health.” Aiden starts rambling, “Well, bitch, at least I know how to speak my mind when I’m upset, and if you wanna call me a bully, go right ahead. I’ll be the bully all day, and I’ll look good being your bully. But that’s not what I was being in North Hollywood. I was emotional because of you. I was hurt because of you. But I was not a bully, you were.”
While Aiden is saying, “But I was not a bully, you were,” CJ is seething and says, “Bullshit.” Aiden says, “It’s not bullshit, honey, it’s the truth.” CJ can’t take it anymore and yells, “You are a lying sack of dogshit!” And immediately, the two are yelling and screaming at each other, it is so hard to hear what each person is saying, but you can hear CJ yelling out “YOU ARE FUCKING TRASH! YOU’RE TRASH!” and you can hear the hurt in his voice. A few “fuck yous” from both men. And Aiden yells “YOU MAD BITCH?! THEN GET OUTTA HERE AND SUCK ON YOUR DADDY TIDDIESS!” The audience is shouting in shock from that insult. And that insult did it for CJ who gets up and walks to Aiden who gets up too (and yells, “WHAT, BITCH?! WHAT?!”) and the audience is screaming. The security is trying to separate them, and the rest of the cast gets up from their seats. And Matthew, Rafa and Alastair are trying to pull CJ away, but CJ has had it; he is not calming down. CJ manages to run around the security and lunges at Aiden, beating the living SHIT out of Aiden (remember that foreshadowing, when CJ demanded respect?). A tormented and bruised Aiden starts shouting swear words at CJ while being taken backstage, and when the cameras stop rolling during commercial break, the audience is asked to leave.
The last 10 minutes of the (thankfully 1-part) reunion is... grim. One segment has Enrique, Jason, Rudy, and Aiden. And the other segment has Alastar, Rafa, CJ, and Matthew. Aiden (after getting his face checked out) was dismissed from the reunion immediately following the fight with CJ.
When the Amigos are asked back to the stage, CJ is understandably unsure of how to cope with what just happened. While fighting back tears, CJ says to Ross, “It just hurt me so deeply because, like… I’m still dealing with so much. Everyone knows about what I’m going through with my parents, and my siblings, and my mental health. And all I want to do is make everyone proud of me. I never wanna give anyone a reason to dislike me. The fact that someone could be so heartless and evil, it’s just… *sighs* I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”
Ross asks CJ, “Is there anything that you could say to Aiden to make him understand where you’re coming from?” CJ softly says, “No. He’s made up his mind. He’s stuck in his ways, and that’s just how he’s always gonna be. At this point, he should worry about his marriage falling apart.” When CJ says that, the other Amigos and Ross have an ‘oop’ face over that funny shade.
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Like I said, y’all: work in progress.
Season 4 was another strong season for the core four, which is now referred to by fans as 🥁🥁🥁 The Amigos. But it’s another bad season for the dark clouds better known as the Bullies & Snobs.
The only complaint from fans was that David Ty Reza's name was brought up a lot. Even David sarcastically said on social media, "I love that my name keeps getting brought up, and I ain’t even on the show no more. Crybaby still needs me," as if Rafa was the ONLY one who brought him up. But to fair, considering a lot of events happened this season, and Rafa is asserting his independence and safety, it makes sense that David's name was brought up.
And fans of the mess who wanted more toxic drama are in for quite a rude awakening.