Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Flaming Bros San Fernando - Season 4 (2018)

 











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.

---------------------------

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.

------------------------------

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.

--------------------------------------

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.”

--------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------

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.

----------------------------

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.


Saturday, April 4, 2026

Flaming Bros San Fernando - ZAPG (2017)



Months after filming had wrapped for Season 3, Alastair Patton would get his own 3-episode wedding mini-series called "ZAPG" (named after their initials "Zach & Alastair Patton-Garcia"), which premiered in the Fall of 2017.

The main cast included in the miniseries were Alastair himself, alongside Rafael Luis Silva, Matthew Frias, and CJ Niner, pretty much hinting at where the main show FBSF⛈️ was going from now on, even with B&S outliers.

While you won't miss much context by skipping this miniseries, it's important to note that Alastair and Zachary (both of whom grew up Christian) talk about how lovely it would be if there was a church that they could occasionally attend and that actually accepts people of all sexual orientations.

His Texican Cowboy themed wedding with Zach happens on July 11, 2017 at the Sylmar-based Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center in an area away from the horses, with Rafael, CJ, and Matthew being four of dozens in attendance. No other FBSF cast member was invited, nor do they appear.

Congratulations to Alastair Patton-Garcia and Zachary Patton-Garcia! 👨🏽‍🤝‍👨🏾🥳💍

Flaming Bros San Fernando - Season 3 (2017)

 











Season 3 (2017)

 

Season 3 was filmed from December 2016 to March 2017, aired from May to July 2017. It is known for being a much shorter season than the last two, due to only having 14 episodes, which was probably for the best, if you ask me.

 

Filming would've occurred earlier, if not for David's aforementioned comments about Rafa at the KIIS FM interview with Ryan Seacrest. And as a result of David’s actions, Season 3 is best remembered as the most segregated season to date.

 

Returning to the main cast this season are Enrique Sapene, Jason Caceres, David Ty Reza, Aiden Lee-Halley, Alastair Patton-Garcia, and Rafael Luis Silva.

 

Two newbies who join the main cast this season are Sylmar resident Courtney-Jai Shane Niner (or CJ, as his friends call him) and resident of the City of San Fernando, Matthew Frias. These two end up becoming just as essential to the show as Alastair and Rafa, going forward.

 

Joining the show as friend-ofs are Karlo Shigeo Ishibashi and Valentino “Tino” Padilla.

 

NO MORE CORY!

BYE BITCH!

 

--------------------------------------

 

Season 3 Episode 1 opens with Alastair and Zachary in their final months as fiancés. It’s a quiet Saturday morning in early December and Zach asks a worn-out Alastair (who is making coffee for both of them) about Rafa’s current whereabouts, and Alastair says to him, "Right now, he's still keeping a low profile focusing on his work and education, and heading straight home." And Zach says, "Okay. I just hope nobody's bothering him about you-know-who." Alastair doesn’t say too much, except, “Me too. That’s the last thing he needs right now.”

 

Alastair's Confessional

Alastair: Rafa hadn’t seen or spoken to David since we filmed the reunion. He needed his space. He was really burnt out and needed to put himself first. But shortly after the reunion had aired in the summer, David was on KIIS FM talking to Ryan Seacrest. When Ryan asked David about Rafa... you know, "Where do you guys stand? Is everything okay?" and all that... David basically let the world know that he never liked Rafa, called him bitch, said that all he does is cry like a baby and is not a man... and said that Rafa is a shitty friend who… *voice breaking* who shouldn’t be trusted. When I saw the interview myself, I just said... "It's over." David was never Rafa's friend. He used him.

*Flashbacks to David and Rafa's first interaction in Season 1 Episode 2*

Alastair: A lot of us had things to say to David about what he did and we did not hold back.

*collage of social media posts from Alastair, Zachary, Christian, future cast member Calvin Seabrooks, and reunion host Ross Matthews, respectively, all expressing their support towards Rafa and disgust with David*

Producer: Before filming began, when was the last time you spoke to Rafa?

Alastair: Um, about 2 days prior to filming. We didn't talk about what happened, or David, or anything like that. And I didnt wanna pry. *deep breaths* But I know that he was, um..., he wasn’t just hurt. He was embarrassed. He was angry. And he was done... with everybody. Especially David.

*Flashback to the Season 2 reunion; Rafa saying that he shouldn't have to babysit David, who is 12 years Rafa’s senior.*

Alastair: *inhales, cries* I'm not trying to treat Rafa like glass or anything. You know, this is someone that I met when I was in grade 12 and he was in grade 10, and I've seen him go through Hell and back as a Brazilian in a predominantly Mexican town that he always respected... even when its people were so horrible to him. *takes another deep breath.* I just want him to be okay. Because... *voice breaks* he's... my best friend. He's a brother that I was blessed to have. And I never want that to change.

 

Back in their kitchen, Alastair says to Zach, “I really wish things were different, you know?” Zachary says, “I understand, babe,” and hugs Alastair.

 

Alastair’s Confessional

Alastair: All I know is, this show - as it currently stands - cannot go on like this. Not anymore. Something's gotta give.

 

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Most of Episode 1 is *BORING* as the main focus is on the Bullies & Snobs going blah blah blah. Rafa is not in the episode. And we haven’t met any of the four newbies yet. Alastair is literally the only good thing about Episode 1; from the opening confessional where he is literally crying for his chosen brother via confessional, to the San Fernando Mall get-together during the last 30 minutes of the episode. Speaking of which…

 

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David: Hey man, how ya doin’?

Alastair: Well, I’ll be better once I never have to see you again.

 

That little exchange between David and Alastair during the Season 3 premiere get-together held at the San Fernando Mall (also attended by fellow cast members Enrique, Jason, and Aiden) tells you exactly what you need to know about David’s relevance in Season 3: without Alastair and (especially) Rafa, and as long as the B&S gang don’t rock with him, David has no place in the show; he can’t even buy a damn storyline. Not that he really had one outside the group, looking back.

 

And during their conversation, Alastair makes it very clear to David that the radio interview between David and Ryan Seacrest confirmed one thing: "You never wanted Rafa as a friend; you wanted him to be a yes-man. And that’s not who he is." David asks, “So why does he always agree with everything *you* say?” And Alastair says, “He doesn’t. And I don’t make him do anything. That’s what you did, and you know it.” David says nothing against that accusation, but silence does NOT equal denial.

 

Alastair takes his scathing conversation with David further by saying, “The fact that you used both of us makes you the real shitty friend who shouldn’t be trusted. For someone who claims to keep it real *because you’re from Compton*, you are the fakest piece of shit I have ever met in my life. And you’re the one who needs to grow up.”

 

It doesn’t take a genius to notice that David was offended by that, because he looked really pissed at Alastair. The last thing that David says to Alastair, very softly, is, “Alright,” before saying in his normal voice, “Well, next time you see Rafa, tell him I wanna talk to him alone.” Alastair’s response, “I’ll tell him that he can talk to you *if he wants to*.”

 

What else goes on during the premiere party at the San Fernando Mall is... NOT IMPORTANT. But Enrique has this lovely thing to say about Rafa via confessional: "You know, it's really typical of Rafa to not show up to this event because he knew that I would be hosting. Like, seriously, I invited you and you don't show up? You can’t hide from us forever. Either suck it up or get out of my show." Enrique, button your mouth and get over yourself. And yes, Rafa absolutely CAN hide from you forever if he wants to, so I wouldn’t jinx it.

 

Also, isn’t it ironic that the event is taking place at the San Fernando Mall – the VERY place where a then-unemployed Rafa was scouted for Season 1 back in 2014?

 

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Rafa would finally appear midway through Episode 2 (talk about a full circle, as his first appearance was on Episode 2 of Season 1), and naturally, he appears very grim (but thankfully all cried out, and he doesn’t cry at all the entire season – except for one time, but we’ll get to that when we talk about his much-needed vacation) when he visits Alastair who gives him a long overdue tight hug. When Rafa asks Alastair, “Have you seen David recently?” Alastair says, “Unfortunately, I did last night during some… cast get-together thing; it was all bullshit, you didn’t miss anything. Anyway *clears throat* David wanted me to tell you that he wants to talk to you.” Rafa sighs and rolls his eyes, saying, “Great…” Understandably, Rafa is annoyed. He does NOT want to speak to David ever again after that radio show stunt, but he already knows that he can't keep avoiding other cast members, or so he believed at first. Alastair also says, “But I told him that it’s *your* choice to talk to him or not. He’s not your master, Rafa.” Rafa asks, “What’s the catch?” Alastair mutters, “I don’t know, man,” and speaks up when he says, “He claims that he only wants to talk to you alone. But given that I was told the same thing last year, only to be ambushed, and David has lied to you multiple times, I wouldn’t be so quick to believe David, if I were you.”

 

Rafa reluctantly decides to accept David’s invitation, "but just in case it *is* an ambush, I think you should come with me." Alastair says, "You got it, buddy."

 

And as the two chosen brothers would find out hours later, the "alone" invite to David's home was indeed a big fat lie. Because when Rafa shows up to David’s Dronfield apartment alone first, there's David alongside Enrique, which Rafa says, "I knew it. Well, if Enrique's gonna be here, so is Alastair," to which David says, "What? Why?" And Rafa says, "This is an ambush. And I'm not allowing that." So, Alastair who was waiting for Rafa in the car shows up, and says to David and Enrique, "I'm not gonna say anything to either of you snakes. I'm just here to support Rafa and that's that." And with that, he lets Rafa speak to David.

 

The conversation doesn't go well for David, miraculously. But for Rafa, it needed to happen, now, not later. David asks why Rafa blocked his number. Rafa doesn’t answer his question, and instead says *very carefully*, “You know why; I don't have to answer that question.” David is taken aback by what he thinks is Rafa’s stand-off-ish attitude; “Well if you’re gonna be a smart-ass, go right ahead. I’m just trying to be nice—” Rafa cuts him off, " Why did you put me on blast as a bitch, a crybaby, and a shitty friend who shouldn’t be trusted? Do you have any idea what I went through because of that? Of course not; you were never my friend. So, why would you care at all?" And David, in a déjà vu moment, chastises Rafa about not being there for him and always leaning on Alastair instead (confirming David's once-implied jealousy towards Alastair), and brings up the Vegas trip, AGAIN!

 

Eventually, Rafa snaps and yells, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FROM ME, DAVID?! DO YOU WANT ME TO DRAW BLOOD? SUCK YOUR DICK? READ YOU A BEDTIME STORY? FUCK, MAN! YOU ARE TOO GODDAMN OLD TO BE THIS STUPID AND IMMATURE! IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT NOBODY LIKES YOU!" Oof, that was cold, and I don’t care.

 

David attempts to argue, but couldn’t make it past, “Alright, you know wh—” because Rafa cut him off by saying, “No, *you* be quiet right now. I let you talk; now it’s my turn.” David scoffs and says under his breath, “And in my house…” Rafa lets it all out once and for all, “I am fucking tired, David. I’m tired of Las Vegas, I’m tired of fighting, I’m tired of crying, I’m tired of walking on eggshells, and I am SICK and tired of *you*. You are pathetic, manipulative, self-righteous, hypocritical, and annoying as Hell! And I'm not going to apologize for the damage you have caused. If you wanna dwell on the fact that you’ve lost me as a personal slave for the rest of your life, that's up to you. But you’re not dragging me into your bullshit anymore; I’m not having that. You don’t get to take your trauma out on me anymore." David – now heated and defeated – says to Rafa, "Well then you can take your long-winded speeches back to the farm."

 

Rafa calmly says, “Hmph. And you can go crawling back to Enrique,” while taking off his mic and throwing it on the floor so hard (breaking it as a result, with pieces hitting David and Enrique which leaves them in shock) that David and Enrique flinch instantly. And Rafa storms out of David's home and Alastair follows him, neither hearing Enrique's compliment to a shocked David: "Wow… you are one mean bitch, D. I like that." David and Enrique have the weirdest dynamic that we will never understand. But Enrique’s right. David will always need him, no matter how much the two hate each other.

 

Rafa makes the most meaningful anti-reality show decision via confessional: "I'm done caring about people who don't care about me." Rafa is literally the Boundary King. He has been through so much shit on this show in such a short amount of time, that nobody should care about or be offended by his shameless ability to set boundaries or even break the fourth wall.

 

For the rest of the season, Rafa and Alastair do NOT interact with David at all until the reunion, and that was their choice. And they do NOT participate in any group activities as long as they know that David will be present. So they’re mostly isolated from the majority of the cast.

 

Fans wonder if David is secretly intimidated by Rafa in particular. We may never know, but it’s not far-fetched at all, if you already understand David’s sloppily discussed past, how his brain works, and what Rafa is capable of. After all, when Rafa threw that mic, David flinched and was in shock, so there’s that.

 

Suddenly, Rafa’s earliest Season 1 compliment to David being unpredictable has a whole new meaning. One has to wonder if David was offended by the "unpredictable" compliment the whole time.

 

David is lucky that Rafa didn't put his hands on him and instead threw his mic at him. Either way, there's a lot of anger in Rafa. And while his fans are not mad at him, they are concerned. Especially since this is technically the second time that he's assaulted Enrique.

 

Either way, David's decision to publicly humiliate Rafa in that radio show leaves his fate on the show being a big question mark (but not really).

 

Seems like David was never destined to fit into either alliance. And that would’ve been fine if David was a neutral person who could somehow manage both sides while having his own views. But he was hated by B&S (and vice versa) and was a fake friend to Rafa and Alastair.

 

And in the beginning of Episode 2, he quickly burns bridges with newbies CJ and Matthew as quickly as they joined the show. And while it would've been annoying that it's another season of newbies hating on a non-B&S cast member, the BIG difference here is that CJ and Matthew actually HAVE a logical reason to dislike David: he’s a hateful hater. More on that later.

 

But until then, now seems like a good time to talk about the 2 new main cast members

 

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Let’s start with CJ, shall we?

 

YouTuber, refrigeration engineer, and future mainstay CJ (born March 14, 1995) is a resident of Foothill, Sylmar, having moved to the area from Auckland, New Zealand back in 2014 with his family. He is also mixed-race; being Indian (making him the first Asian main cast member to join the show), Italian, Irish, and English. 

 

He is the son of actor, producer, and singer-songwriter Antonio Niner, who is also of Indian descent and from Auckland.

 

In addition, he is also now the second youngest cast member this season being born in 1995, and a few months older than fellow newbie Matthew Frias, also born in 1995.

 

He's a comic book nerd and gaymer, which would NOT be a good fit for a typical reality series once built on nasty drama but is actually a welcomed addition to a show that desperately needed a transition.

 

But besides his race and background, what makes CJ stand out from the rest of the group is that he is openly bisexual and has a lovely and supportive girlfriend named April Burrows. And because this show was filmed from December 2016 to February 2017, his bisexual identity and heterosexual relationship make CJ a target for backlash among the gay viewers. And even David and B&S, respectively, question his identity time and time again.

 

CJ is often looked at as a semi-replacement of David, but greatly dislikes this comparison, and ends up disliking David even more as a result of this comparison, especially after David says, "You're basically a weaker version of me, dude," during the Bakersfield trip.

 

He also has a self-deprecating sense of humor which is very relatable, but becomes a source of contention with the Bullies & Snobs.

 

Outside the group, he's a caregiver for his younger brother who has Dextrocardia, and a babysitter for his much younger sister. But he brings an interesting storyline with the relationship between himself and his dad, Antonio, who a lot of viewers thought was CJ's boyfriend (because they're both attractive, admittedly, with Antonio sporting a nipple ring 🤭) until they saw Antonio's credits saying, "CJ's Dad" the first time. Oops lol! What's unique about their father-son dynamic as Indians is that CJ didn't grow up traditional because his dad didn't believe in the typical Indian traditions, including the need to have an arranged marriage, saying that he met his wife (CJ's Italian, Irish, and English mom from Rugby, Warwickshire) after he had stepped away from his parents' (CJ's grandparents') box. CJ maintains a healthy relationship with Antonio and the rest of their family, and was raised by both parents to always be open about his feelings. But this is still something that CJ struggles with due to his awareness of homophobia/biphobia within the Asian community, as well as the mental health being a taboo subject within that community. Underneath his fearless personality is someone who bottles things up for so long that it’s amazing that he has yet to explode, which concerns his parents. I'm sure a lot of millennial Indian viewers (and Asian viewers in general) who grew up in a strict traditional upbringing wish that they had this type of dynamic with their family.

 

What I really like about this season is how natural it feels when an outsider joins a reality show and manages to look like they’ve always been there from the beginning. CJ Niner may be new to us and to the cast, but the cast is certainly not new to him. Even if he didn’t know them personally, he knew of them from observations or word of mouth. As he and David are both Sylmar residents, CJ has crossed paths with David a few times after David moved to Dronfield in 2014 following being cast on FBSF⛈️. But David never came off as someone that CJ would care to talk to, as David always seemed a bit... rude, standoffish, and seemingly against the world, even from a distance. He wasn't sure if Rafa or Alastair would be interested in getting to know him following what they each went through the last two seasons. He had seen Jason and his husband Christian quite a few times, with and without Aiden. And whenever Aiden was around them, or (even worse) whenever it was just Jason and Aiden, it was "pretty weird," as he says via confessional in Episode 2. Every time he saw Enrique, it was comical; as he says in his confessional in Episode 2, "If Enrique thinks he’s living like the Kardashians, honey, he’s got another thing coming." And both CJ and Matthew attend San Fernando Fitness, where prior to the show, they were mainly acquaintances. So they don’t really know each other like that, but this show allows them to truly get to know each other outside of San Fernando Fitness.

 

CJ even talks about his coming out story via confessional. In 2014, at age 19, CJ came out to his family as bisexual. He had just come to terms with it, but realized he was bi when he was 13 years old. And in the 2000s it was still not a safe time to be queer (especially queer and Indian/Asian), and CJ was very sure that what he was feeling was wrong, disgusting, and abnormal because that's what he grew up believing. Eventually, at 18, he decided that he was tired of hiding and wanted to be honest about himself. And he did just that on his 19th bday on March 14, 2014, coming out to his mother first, and then his father (whose acceptance CJ prayed for, the most). Thankfully both parents accepted him, and CJ had never felt so relieved and happy to finally be honest with his parents and his siblings. He makes note that his dad started to understand the depth of CJ's feelings, especially regarding CJ's depression.

 

And we get even more insight into his experiences with his depression the next season, but we do know that he has struggled with it, and is an advocate for Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention.

 

With Cory gone, CJ becomes the new main target for Aiden, but it doesn't take long for Aiden to realize that CJ is a lot of things but is definitely NOT the one. CJ even says to Jason and Aiden, "This is why your own husband doesn't trust you *pointing to Jason* or like you *pointing to Aiden*!"

 

One interesting move - LONG before the Flaming Bros franchise ever launched - has a lot to do with CJ’s name. Up until 2009, the then-14-year-old CJ (while still living in New Zealand) had went by his first name Courtney-Jai since he was born. Meanwhile in Australia, there was an up-and-coming actor named Jai Courtney. When word started spreading about the actor, CJ was sure that the actor would become big-time famous one day, so Courtney-Jai eventually decided to go by his initials CJ to avoid confusion. So obviously, it was a personal choice to stand out, and boy does he ever, especially in this toxic-ass cast!

 

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And now for our quieter new addition.

 

Matthew Frias (21 at the time of casting) is another mainstay. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and is also the new youngest one in the cast, being born in August 18, 1995 and only being a few months younger than CJ. And he has a bit of an "adorably awkward" vibe, with his biggest defining features (other than his light Texan accent) being his religious trauma, and therapy.

 

Matthew is very sweet, warm, expressive, and eager to connect. He is also a recovering alcoholic. And we see for the first time, his complicated sobriety journey. Later on in the season, he also opens up to CJ about his strained relationship with his mother. It becomes clear (even to CJ) that Matthew is carrying a lot and was raised to keep things quiet.

 

Matthew was already acquaintances with CJ as they both attend the San Fernando Fitness gym. They were never friends at the time, and they don’t start off as buddies when we meet them in Episode 2. But they always managed to find their way back to each other, and by joining the show together, they eventually start getting to know each other, especially as the Bullies & Snobs continue to dwindle in presence and Matthew doesn’t know if Alastair and Rafa would be interested in getting to know him and CJ following Rafa and Alastair's previous negative experiences with the rest of the returning cast.

 

Matthew ends up having the most conflict with Enrique. In fact, Matthew becomes a target to Enrique's bullying out of jealousy, until Matthew baptizes Enrique's face with Enrique's champagne, getting Enrique's shirt stained. 🤣

 

Enrique's beef with Matthew is absolutely nasty as Hell, as Enrique takes on the bully role, leading the charge of hazing Matthew, unfortunately making Enrique a huge part of Matthew’s story.

 

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CJ and Matthew’s first appearance on the show is in the opening scene of Episode 2 outside San Fernando Fitness where they have a first real conversation after finishing a fitness session. It’s a little awkward at first because before they were cast on this show, they were just acquaintances and didn’t really know each other that well, but always got along with each other. Now that they’re both on a show together where the cast dynamic is basically shit, it remains to be seen if the two new guys will be against each other by the end of the season. Neither knows what to make of this journey yet, but they were both aware of the show (San Fernando and Sylmar are small towns, after all) – each having watched it in real time – and are WAY more than aware of what had transpired within the now broken trio of David, Alastair and Rafa, leading to and following David’s radio show nonsense.

 

“At this point, nobody likes each other. I don’t know if that’s gonna happen to you and me as well because… we’re both… literally stepping into a hostile situation,” CJ says to Matthew who says, “Yeah, like… I can’t promise that between you and me, it won’t be a ‘battle of the newbies’ kinda thing. But if your early impressions of David back in Sylmar are any indication, something tells me that neither of us are gonna leave this show liking him.” CJ, eyes open wide while side-eyeing on the floor inhales and says, “I think you’re right, dude.”

 

And of course, Matthew was indeed right. Because during that same episode, before Rafa and David’s mic-drop meeting, David is interrogating CJ and Matthew at CJ’s favorite place to play – the El Cariso Community Regional Park. David coldly criticizes Matthew's weight (at the time), asking “Yo, why you so damn skinny, dude? Do ya eat?” Matthew is taken aback by this insulting question, while CJ says to David, “Hey, uh, buddy? I’m skinny, too and so are you. So what?” Matthew calmly says, “And yes, I do eat, if you must know.” Although Matthew was always a skinny person and never a big person in terms of his weight, it’s clear to CJ that Matthew’s weight is a sore subject, so he never pushes it. He still didn’t know Matthew well enough to ask about it, and even when they got to know each other CJ still didn't bring it up because he didn't want to assume anything or accuse Matthew of anything. So basically, Matthew’s weight was never brought up again. It would be seasons before it was addressed, but fans nonetheless are rooting for him and hoping that he’s keeping himself healthy.

 

But back to that meeting. David also starts questioning CJ’s race saying, “If you’re Indian, why do you look White?” CJ bluntly says, “Because my Mom is Italian, Irish, and English. What’s next on your interview list of questions? Why I don’t sound Indian?” David: “Well… yeah. I mean… shit, you sound Australian.” CJ bluntly says, “New Zealand.” David immediately shuts down the race talk by saying, “Oh, my bad, man. Never mind,” nervously chuckling. CJ and Matthew look at each other like they're over David already. Matthew says in his confessional, “Ooh, sweet Mother Mary. Please help us right now. This bitch clearly wants a reaction from CJ.” But then comes the kicker: David starts questioning CJ’s logic about dating a woman while being gay. This shocks Matthew who says, “David!” CJ looks at Matthew and says, “It’s okay, Matt. He obviously wants an answer, so he’s gonna get one.” He looks back at David and say, “I’m not gay, David. I’m bisexual. Always have been.” When CJ and Matthew first started crossing paths at San Fernando Fitness, Matthew was already aware that CJ was seeing April Burrows, who CJ was clearly in love with. So, when both CJ and Matthew were cast on the show, that’s when Matthew figured that perhaps CJ was bi or pan, or something else. It wasn’t until their conversation during the opening scene of Season 3 Episode 2 that CJ officially came out to Matthew as bisexual. David then says, “But how do you know that you’re bi?” CJ hits him back with, “How do you know that you’re *really* gay?” Poor Matthew is drinking his water bottle like it’s tea. Matthew says in his confessional, “Woah… the new guy firing back at a has-been. Get him, CJ. Get. Him.” Back in-scene, David tries to defend himself with oldest and most inaccurate excuse in the book, “I’m sorry, man! I ain’t know nobody who’s bi or whatever.” CJ monotonally says, “Yeah, I don’t believe that. That’s like saying you don’t know anyone who’s gay, even if they don't say so. Because newsflash, David: queers who are not gay are *everywhere.* Just like pathological liars, like you.” That was a dig at David's fake friendship with Alastair and Rafa. David opens his eyes wide at the dig, and Matthew calmly says between David and CJ, “Boom.” CJ takes it a step further when he asks David, “So, tell me, David: what was it like fuckin’ around on the DL in Compton? Even without Grindr, it still must’ve been some hot and heavy teenage years, huh?” This triggers David who says to CJ, “Excuse me?” and CJ says while staring at David, “You’re excused. Bye,” while waving at David. Matthew holds in a laughter at CJ’s response. David is not impressed and says, “You know what, fuck this I’m-I’m done. I got somewhere to go *referring to his mic drop meeting with Rafa*.” CJ shrugs and says, “Cool.” CJ says in his confessional, “Normally in interviews, we stretch the truth because we need a job. In this case, however, you ask, I answer. And I will *not* tell you what you wanna hear. From one Sylmarite to another, don't come for me, David, because I *can* show you *ACTUAL* realness."

 

After David leaves, Matthew says to CJ, “Well then… that went well. You really went there.” CJ, still on his clapback high, says, “Yeah, I… I did. I’m just surprised as you are, man. By the way, are you okay?” Matthew softly says, “I am. You?” CJ says, “Yeah. Look, um, what he asked you, I’m not gonna repeat it, and I know that you and I still don’t know each like that. So, I just… wanna say that… you don’t ever have to talk about anything in particular if you don’t want to or if you’re not ready. Sorry, I’m rambling, I know.” Matthew’s voice breaks as he says, “Thank you. I… I—I appreciate that.” And CJ says to him softly, “You’re welcome, Matt.” That’s the second time CJ referred to Matthew as Matt, but CJ’s also the only person who’s called him Matt. Normally strangers don’t refer to each other by nicknames, but because it came from CJ, who he’s seen almost everyday at San Fernando Fitness, it doesn’t bother Matthew at all.

 

CJ and Matthew both understand that it’s gonna take some time to trust each other, but they always find themselves coming back to each other because they have that mutual understanding.

 

They also want nothing to do with David *AT ALL*, and go out of their way to avoid David as much as possible. David, on the other hand, won't leave them alone. By the Bakersfield trip, Matthew and CJ are no longer hurt or humiliated by David; they're just ANNOYED with him.

 

And in the reunion (Episode 14), Matthew and CJ go off on David, with CJ in particular yelling, "I didn't fuck with you then, and I will NEVER fuck with you, EVER!"

 

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Back to David.

 

If you remember in Season 1 Episode 1, David was the first “amigo” that we met. But he never had a solo scene on his own; he always needed to share a scene with someone for some reason. And the first person was his sworn enemy Enrique, who brought David on the show, only to spit David out on Season 1 Episode 4 (yeah, remember that?). And then after Rafa showed up in Season 1 Episode 2, David stuck with Rafa and then Alastair. And since then, that’s just how David’s arc was defined: his dependence on somebody (and private mission to *use* that person). This gave us no room to truly know who David is without someone else.

 

I guess the producers had decided that David just wasn’t interesting enough on his own, because fast forward Season 3 Episode 3. Following his now infamous mic drop meeting with Rafa the previous episode, we see David with one of his so-called “real” best friends from Dronfield – Karlo Shigeo Ishibashi. Born on December 19, 1992, Karlo is another cast member of Asian descent, being half-Japanese and half-Mexican. He’s an actor, stripper, and go-go dancer. Do we see any of that onscreen? No. Does he have a Rafa-less storyline. Also no. Sigh… Karlo shouldn’t even be wanting to have a beef with someone, but evidently he does and has decided that Rafa will be his main target in spirit (even though Rafa’s not dead, but you know what I mean). Every time this go-go HO (lol, go-go ho) opens his mouth, I just wanna smack him upside the head. On Episode 4, Karlo tells David and fellow-friend-of Tino (and tries to convince us the viewers) that, “Rafa ain’t shit but a horny little trick,” which had me gasping. Karlo is determined to be the next baddest bitch, sacrificing likability, no matter how stupid his lies about Rafa are. He clearly has a death wish, and I am very convinced that he wants Rafa to beat his ass. That wouldn’t be such a bad idea, but dude, really?

 

And then there was Karlo and David’s fellow Dronfield friend Valentino Padilla, aka Tino (born David Leonardo Padilla on January 3, 1987), who also appears in Season 3 Episode 3. Y’all, Tino. Lord, that Tino. Hmm… This guy is a true definition of a desperate pick-me. So basically, Tino claims that Rafa was very mean and “condensing” (he meant “condescending”) to him, saying, “I ain’t never seen no soft-ass bitch like Rafa be so mean and condensing, or whatever the fuck the word is. Then he wanna cry about some fool pickin’ on him. Boohoo, bitch.” He alleges that Rafa called him a “never-was” actor. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Tino is an actor too. And a burlesque performer. Not that either of that matters. Yeah, so Tino is a lot, you guys; he is a straight-up looney tune in the dumbest way possible. He just sees red whenever Rafa’s name is brought up, and I’m like, “Bitch, what are you talking about?! *YOU* keep bringing him up like he owes you something.”

 

So, while Karlo and Tino may have apparently crossed paths with Rafa before (which Rafa denies during the reunion), they never appear in a single episode with Rafa or Alastair until the reunion. Until then this pointless duo appears alongside David as his true hangers-on, appearing with David on Episodes 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 14 (the latter being the reunion). And every time they get together, who do they talk about? Rafael Luis Silva. I mean, for real, you guys. They literally have nothing else to talk about. Y’all, I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired of hearing these three idiots complain about Rafa being this shitty person that they want him to be. Like, FUCK! Do they want Rafa to bow down to them and be their butler, personal slave, and babysitter? What the fuck is wrong with these guys?! It just screams to me that they are desperate for his attention, as if they truly believe that Flaming Bros San Fernando is the Rafa Show, and believe me: that is absolutely NOT what Rafa wants.

 

Child, those 3 niggas are crazy. I’m sorry. They’re not Black so why would I even call them that? But this is David, Karlo, and Tino we’re talking about, okay? And I’m Black, so whatever.

 

You can already see from a mile away why CJ and Matthew made the cut as full-timers, and Karlo and Tino did not.

 

In Episode 4, when a producer asks CJ if he's seen Karlo and Tino during his time in Sylmar, he bluntly says, "I've never seen them. You would *think* that I've seen them, since Sylmar is small as Hell, but... no.  Noooo... "

 

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Speaking of which, in Episode 6 during the Bakersfield trip, when Karlo and Tino arrive to the house that the group is sharing, CJ had this hilarious comment to make about Tino’s outfit via confessional: "So Tino comes in the house, looking like he had just wrapped up a cabaret or burlesque show . Hey, he can dress very well - better than me, I must say. The problem is that he's *overdressed*. Like, dude, what are you doing?! "

 

 

During this episode, Karlo and Tino have a field day with CJ and Matthew. Karlo calls CJ a “disrespectful cunt” for bringing up David’s past (a reference to the Episode 2 meeting between David and CJ/Matthew at El Cariso Community Regional Park). And Tino says to Matthew that he’s a “scary little bitch” for supposedly not having the balls to stand up for himself. SIDENOTE: it really irritates me when somebody says “scary” when they really mean “scared.” If they’re trying to say that somebody is a coward or afraid, the correct word is SCARED, not SCARY. But then again, this is the same Tino who said that Rafa was being CONDENSING, when the correct word is CONDESCENDING. Illiterate-ass bitch.

 

"Those two clearly learned from the best: David, spelled C-U-N-T," says CJ via confessional, Episode 6.

 

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Aiden and Jason are as ruthless (and dangerous) as ever, especially to the new guys; at this point, they are over David. They also love coming off sus to the viewers.

 

Christian…????

 

In the season premiere, we see trouble in paradise really start to begin between Jason and Christian, after gossip blogs, reports, and chatrooms allege that either Jason is having an affair with Aiden, or Christian and Jason have an open relationship with Aiden and Aiden's husband Z Halley (who we don't see this season), depending on the source. In the words of RHOC's Brooks Ayers, consider your source.

 

Either way, viewers are not shocked to hear about these rumors because Jason and Aiden always seemed to have a friendship that always felt more FWB-ish than platonic. Plus, as mentioned in Season 1, Jason always had a reputation of allegedly getting around in San Fernando. And Aiden never seemed to care that he was flirting with someone else’s man. Neither did Jason, who hypocritically dislikes Christian's friendship with Rafa (Rafa never appears in a single scene with Jason this season until the reunion).

 

Even Zachary and Alastair on the Season 3 premiere (after discussing Rafa's absence) are just wondering how Christian is putting up with being a third wheel in that dynamic, just as the dorks in love are months away from getting married themselves.

 

And now, the gossip duo that is Jayden/J&A/Jay&Aidencito is being bombarded by these rumors. KARMA. Still, no matter how Jason made Rafa feel, Rafa chooses not to speak of the "open relationship" controversy when asked about it on his Season 3 Episode 11 confessional - "All I'm gonna say is that it's not true, and I'll just leave it at that. Christian trusts me with his life. And whatever he tells me, I just keep to myself. Because... it's his story to tell... not mine."

 

Remember when David said in Season 2 that there was something oddly familiar about Aiden? And remember when back in Season 1, he accused Jason of cheating on Christian with someone who sounded and acted like Jason (“single white female much”)? Well, as soon as David heard about this tea, he felt vindicated. Of course he did. This is probably the only time any logical viewer was on David’s side, not because they like David (I mean, he literally spread the word about Jason’s alleged cheating via Grindr on Season 1), but because a lot of viewers have suspected this. Even people who watched the 2013 sizzle remember Jason and Aiden’s friendship being rather… well… too playful. Not that Christian ever saw the sizzle himself.

 

Christian, who was often too scared to speak out against Jason or Aiden's questionable behavior, is now at the center of Flaming Bros drama, something that he never asked for. I gotta be honest: I feel bad for Christian having to deal with the backlash. He married Jason because he was in love with him and wanted to spend the rest of his life with him. And now there are plenty of people who clown him for marrying someone as controlling, vicious and manipulative as Jason, with one not-so-anonymous tweet saying, "Christian, you're adorable. But you are also fucking stupid!" Ouch!


The only cast member who does not talk about Jason and Christian's relationship drama is Rafa. In fact, during a confessional in Episode 11, when asked by a producer about the rumors of Jason and Christian having an open relationship with Aiden and Z Halley, Rafa had this to say: "I'm actually not gonna talk about that, except to say that it's not true that they're having an open relationship. Certain things that Christian tells me, I already assume that it's private and just keep it to myself. He trusts me with his life. And I'm not gonna ruin that." 

 

One memorable moment between Christian and Jason happens in Episode 5. Jason is annoyed that Christian won’t come to the Bakersfield trip with him. His whole thing is, “Rafa won’t be there, so I thought you’d be able to pay attention to me.” Of course, Jason. Police Christian while you get to freely play around with Aiden, allegedly. Christian, being the only reasonable B&S-adjacent element who makes sense, looks at him when he makes that selfish comment, and carefully says this to Jason: “I’m gonna let that slide. But Jay, I can tell when I’m not wanted. In case you haven’t cared to notice, your friends don’t like me. So, why would I go? And also, I don’t even think you guys like each other, so why are *you* going?” And of course, Jason doesn’t have an answer to either question, though many viewers are right to assume that he’s going because Aiden will be there. And it’s not like Christian HAS to go on the Bakersfield trip anyway because he’s not a cast member (though somehow, that doesn’t stop Enrique’s brother Carlos or Enrique’s brother Danny from tagging along, so whatever). Without saying so (because he knows Jason will jump to conclusions), he’s following Rafa’s example of avoiding people who bring nothing but drama, negativity, toxicity, stress, anxiety, gossip etc.

 

Also, notice that Christian referred to Jason as “Jay.” That has apparently never happened before until Christian reminded Jason, “I can tell when I’m not wanted.” We’ve always thought that Aiden was the only one who called Jason “Jay.” Jason even cringed when Christian called him “Jay,” but when Aiden does it, it’s a totally different mood, as if Aiden makes him feel special (and maybe even aroused). Yeah, I’m starting to see why Jay and Aidencito never have any scenes between the two of them during the Bakersfield trip; they are always with somebody else. That’s the best producers are *willing* do. This is why Aiden never should’ve joined the show, even if he was a better addition than Estuardo.

 

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Let’s talk about Bakersfield.

 

When the majority of the cast (Enrique, Jason, David, Matthew, CJ, Karlo, and Tino), as well as “non cast members” Carlos (Enrique’s brother) and Danny (Enrique’s husband), go on the trip to Bakersfield (which lasts Episodes 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10), much of the on-screen focus is on the bonding between CJ and Matthew. Normally, cast trips are meant to bring cast members together for bonding and activities, and so far, no one is really doing that with each other, or even with CJ or Matthew. So, in a way, the two main newbies are pretty much iced out, which would've made for a miserable trip for both of them. David’s friend group is rude as fuck, and Enrique’s friend group is messy, but even CJ says in his confessional, “What’s the fuckin’ difference?” But actually, without those toxic groups constantly in their ear, CJ and Matthew are able to get to know each other, for real. By this point, the two newbies were not exactly besties, but always found their way back to each other. They just understood each other in a way that no one else did, which made communication between the two easier by the time they went to Bakersfield.

 

Episode 7 is where the two open up to each other in a room that they are sharing together, while the rest of the already-fucked up group is doing God knows what. CJ is very heated after David had just called him the weaker version of David, and Matthew checks up on him. The episode marks the first time CJ (and we, the viewers) learns about Matthew’s strained relationship with his mom. According to Matthew himself, growing up, he has always had a lack of motivation, direction, or control, "as if I couldn't do anything right," which put a strain in his relationship with his mother Lori Frias, who he hasn't seen or spoken to since leaving Dallas, Texas and moving to the City of San Fernando in 2015. He has never met his father to this day, and none of his mom’s past boyfriends have ever been nice to him; in fact one of them was actually physically abusive towards him when he was 12 years old. But Lori would always take their side because she couldn’t stand the thought of losing another boyfriend. Although Lori always saw Matthew as the real problem in private, she always paraded Matthew as this perfect golden child in public, which he struggled to maintain for her. The stress over that became too much for Matthew, that at one point he had a panic attack, which she saw as him being "dramatic as usual." And when he was 14 years old, he told his mom was that he was gay, which she did not take well. And he knew that he couldn't control how his mom felt (and apparently still feels as of 2026). He actually started drinking when he was 17 years old to cope with his religious trauma and abuse trauma, and feeling like a disappointment, and went to rehab months later during the Spring 2013 semester of his senior year in Dallas High School. He’s been sober since then, but still attends meetings in Northridge, and still finds it hard to fight the temptation in 2017. He’s still trying to figure out his purpose in life. He's not very consistent as an actor, and wonders if he was just doing it for the fame. He didn’t have friends back in Dallas, and he didn’t have any friends throughout his short time in the City of San Fernando, but the many rare times he’d speak to CJ at San Fernando Fitness prior to their casting on FBSF gave him some hope.

 

That same episode, Matthew (and we, the viewers) learns about CJ’s first love and heartbreak, which he experienced with a childhood male friend. He met this person at age four, and they grew up together, sharing many memories and a deep connection. Their relationship evolved from friendship into physical intimacy and emotional exploration, where they planned a future together. Despite their strong bond, they never explicitly labeled their relationship as "boyfriends," but CJ considers him his first boyfriend because of the depth of their connection and shared experiences. The relationship ended when his friend started year 11 (which is 10th grade in the United States) and the friend’s new friend group disliked CJ, leading to him being pushed away and bullied by the friend. The heartbreak culminated in a distressing incident where his friend physically pushed him down and verbally abused him and called him a faggot. CJ explains to Matthew that experiencing this heartbreak while closeted was particularly difficult, as he was still in the closet and couldn't share the true reason for his sadness with his family. He had to "bottle it up," and believes this contributed to him being in denial and in the closet for a long time and refusing to be with the same sex ever again, as he didn't want to feel those feelings for real. CJ admits that even though he never hid from April that he is bisexual, he doesn’t feel comfortable talking about men (or his experiences with men) with her because of the negative stigma that comes with being anything other than straight or gay. Still, he never felt love again until he met April, who CJ refers to as the best thing that ever happened to him; female, male or non-binary (the latter being a term that wasn’t regularly used in 2017).

 

Episode 7 is when CJ and Matthew start exploring Bakersfield without the rest of the group (who mainly just stay in the house all week), and it’s really refreshing to see just the two of them away from the others. In his confessional, Matthew says, “If we stay in the house all day, all we’re gonna do is fight with the others, and we already did that last night. We need fresh air, damn it.” The visit the Flight Adventure Park, a trampoline park that they instantly find irresistible! And boy do they have a blast!

 

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Now, if you thought I had a bad case of APML, you are absolutely wrong. But it means that you noticed that I did not mention Alex Paredes  at all when I mentioned earlier who’s in, who’s out, and who’s returning.

 

So, if – for whatever reason – you’ve been wondering where the Dumb Pussy has been since storming out of the reunion last season, look no further.

 

Starting in Episode 7, Alex Paredes is back, and y'all, Alex is still Alex. Just boring. Just blah. Just a blank sheet of paper. Just nothing. Just hateful. Just full of shit. Just gullible. And just a dumb pussy who STILL refuses to think for himself.

 

Still sticking with Jason's story about Alastair wanting to have sex with Peter (for the last time, that is NOT what Jason said), while the viewers simply DO NOT care about or believe the accusation at all.

 

Seriously, nobody cares about that stupid story. Even Jason has moved on from that story. Fuck, so has Alastar, who does not share a single scene with Alex P this season.

 

But on Episode 7, he appears out of nowhere, making us viewers go, "Woah, where did you come from?" And during that episode, on the group trip to Bakersfield (remember, Rafa and Alastair do not attend) – which could be described as Bad Boys Club when the attention is off CJ and Matthew – tensions are at an all-time HIGH when Alex P confronts Jason about the allegation, wanting to know if Jason was telling him the truth or not, this is Jason’s response:

 

“Well, I didn’t actually say that Alastair wanted to have sex with Peter, I just said that Alastair *tried to make a move* on Peter. You just assumed what you wanted to assume, and I didn’t say yes or no.”

 

Well, damn, Jason! Just petty! 😜🤪

 

And on Episode 10 (the final day of their Bakersfield trip), a game of "Q&A" with the trip attendees turns physical when Alex P calls Jason a liar for telling him that Alastair wanted to screw Peter (ALEX! That's not what fucking said!).

 

Alex P: "YOU'RE A FUCKING LIAR, JASON!" Jason: "HOW AM I A LIAR?!"

 

Well, Jason, you did make up a lie about Alastair trying to make a move on Peter. WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS?! AND ALASTAIR'S NOT EVEN ON THE TRIP WITH THEM (nor does he ever interact with or share any scenes with Alex P)!

 

Anyway... this vicious exchange of words leads to a fight where Alex P breaks a glass on a table and goes toe-to-toe with Jason and Aiden. And Matthew and CJ (who just had their own aforementioned bonding moment in their room away from the group earlier) are just so flabbergasted by the brawl and everyone's behavior that they just stuck with each other for the rest of the trip. But rest assured, they were ready to go home lol.

 

The LOUD AND DEAFENING argument between Alex P and J&A becomes so heated; they are at each other's faces YELLING AND SCREAMING AT EACH OTHER, and Alex P pushes Aiden down spits at Jason face. Matthew gasps when witnessing this, and CJ is just in shock. This foolish act, provokes Jason to run to beat Alex's ass. But of course, the security doesn't let that happen, and all Jason (with all his Miami energy) can say to the guards is, "GET THE FUCK OFF ME! LET ME GO!"

 

Alex P is quickly removed from the trip and fired from the show immediately. And he doesn't even show up to the reunion.

 

Wow. Talk about a short-lived stint as a friend-of. Just four episodes (episodes 7 through 10), and that’s it.

 

Bye, Dumb Pussy!

 

Moments after witnessing all that chaos, and while everyone else is calming down, Matthew and CJ are back in their room. Matthew says to CJ, "Hey, we're getting out of Bakersfield alive, together." CJ - still stunned by the fuckery they just witnessed - says, "Good 'cause I don't wanna fight you, dude." Matthew: "Deal." And both chuckle and shake hands.

 

The beginning of a long-running dynamic duo.

 

And what were David and Enrique doing this entire trip? Beats me. Who cares?

 

I guess you could say that for only four episodes (7-10), Alex P was only brought back into the show to semi-replace Alastair and Rafa, and I agree. But did it need to happen? No.

 

 

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And by Episode 8 everyone minus CJ and Matthew can’t stop talking about Rafa. There was a lot of tension within the B&S cult, as well as tension between B&S and David’s group… the Sylmar Sinners (thanks for the name, fandom lol). But rest assured, the Bullies & Snobs are always gonna get along when they complain about Rafa’s absence, how Rafa is a drama queen, how Rafa is boring, how Rafa runs away from his problems, how Rafa should stay off the show because he’s ghetto and violent. Meanwhile you got the Sylmar Sinners (which CJ wants NO part of) who complains about how Rafa is fake, how Rafa is a coward, how Rafa is mean, how Rafa is a terrible friend, how Rafa can’t get a man…

 

I was just like, “OH… MY… GOD!”

 

You guys, if CJ and Matthew didn’t go on this Bakersfield trip, I would not be discussing the events that go on during the trip. I hope y’all realize how much I love y’all. But even CJ and Matthew have had it with these people. “This is why CJ and I almost didn’t go on this trip,” says Matthew via confessional, “Every time we turn around, nobody else is truly bonding until Rafa’s name comes up. I realize that I’m not the right person to be bringing this up, because I don’t know Rafa at all. But everything they’re saying about him just sounds SO made up because they *have* no substance. They are nothing without him. Why can’t they just say that and be done with it?”

 

CJ rolls his eyes when they start complaining about Rafa again. In his confessional, he says, “If these bitches start complaining about Rafa one more time… I mean… WHAT IT WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?! WE’RE IN BAKERSFIELD FOR A WEEK! WE SHOULD BE HAVIN’ A GOOD-ASS TIME AND BONDING AND WHATNOT. Instead, we got Jason complaining about Rafa, Aiden complaining about Rafa, Enrique complaining about Rafa, David complaining about Rafa, Tino complaining about Rafa, Karlo complaining about Rafa… I don’t know why *Alex* is complaining about Rafa, since Rafa doesn’t even remember that recycled-ass bitch. And Karlo and Tino don’t even *know* Rafa. It’s literally just me and Matthew who are trying to have a good time. All these other people? They are so obsessed with Rafa, it’s kinda scary. Or, I’m sorry, the word is *scared*, you know, if you speak the *Tino* language. *rolls eyes*”

 

Luckily, CJ and Matthew don’t stay in the house for too long because they take tours of the Fox Theater at Downtown Bakersfield, visit the Bakersfield Museum of Art, and go to the BLVD for dinner and bowling. And again, they just really enjoy each other’s company

 

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But Episode 9 starts off stressful, and here’s why:

 

When CJ, Matthew, Karlo and Tino (basically all the Season 3 newbies) are sitting down in the living room the next day, there is a lot of tension. Basically, when CJ asked Karlo and Tino, “So are y’all ever gonna explore Bakersfield or are you just gonna stay in this house all day like you’ve done for the past three days?” Tino says, “Well there ain’t nothing in this city that I wanna do.” CJ side-eyes that response while Matthew says, “Well, um, CJ and I traveled and went to all these different places like, the BLVD, Museum of Art, and Flight Adventure Park. It was really fun and we got to stay active during those few days.” CJ adds, “Yup, and we also went on a walking tour of the Fox Theater at Downtown Bakersfield; it was so surreal. I think everyone in this group would’ve enjoyed those activities. Great distractions, if you ask me.” Karlo gets a bit negative when he says, “Hmm, maybe. Although Alastair and Rafa would probably be sulking.” CJ covers his and lets out a muttered, “Oh my God…” Matthew says via confessional, “Yeah… I think CJ and I both know what – or rather *who* – Karlo and Tino are gonna be *talking* about for the rest of this trip. So much for bonding.” CJ wastes no time expressing his frustration via confessional, “Here we go again. I mean seriously. I can’t stand this group anymore, and I know Matt feels the same way. But at least he and I are making an effort to see what Bakersfield – a city that we’ve never been to – has to offer for tourists. And least Enrique was paying for this trip, so thank you, Enrique, for making yourself useful. That doesn’t happen very often, mind you.”

 

CJ asks Tino and Karlo, “So you guys are just gonna stay here and be moping all day about Rafa and Alastair? Is that what it is? Because I know one thing: I did not come into this trip to be moping about drama that has absolutely nothing to do with me.” The rest of the group shows up just as CJ says to Karlo and Tino, “You guys and, really, *everyone else* – not you, Matt – have been going on and on and on about Alastair and *especially* Rafa. It is driving. Me. Crazy. Talk about something else! Talk about Donald Trump being our next president, for all I care. Just anything will do; anything but the same ol’ drama that you’ve been whining about since you got on this show. Please! Because this shit is getting ridiculous, I’m sorry.”

 

David butts in and goes the misogynistic route by saying, “Man, calm down. You on your period?” CJ quickly says, “No but I know you’re on *yours*,” which shocks David and gets an “OOH!” from Matthew. CJ is not intimidated by David’s posturing the way a few others have been.

 

Matthew says, “Look the point is, Rafa and Alastair are not here. So, stop talking about them every five seconds.”

 

In his confessional, CJ shakes his head and says, “I can’t wait till Rafa and Alastair to see this for themselves. Lord, have mercy.”

 

Matthew looks at Enrique and challenges him by asking, “What do you think Enrique? Hm? You’ve been encouraging this behavior for three years now. And now none of your so-called friends can go a single minute without talking about two people who’ve refused to film with y’all.”

 

Enrique has heard enough and says, “You know what, bitch? You and CJ don’t even know the story to be having an opinion about this?” Matthew argues back, “Neither do Karlo or Tino. And the only reason you’re not saying anything about them is because they don’t like Rafa or Alastair either. Don’t be a hypocrite.” Enrique says, “Well Matthew, I’m getting really tired or you and CJ complaining about what we do, when you two didn’t even have to come here with your foul attitude, okay? We were doing just fine whenever you weren’t around, and I don’t appreciate you questioning my role as the leader of this show.” Matthew says, “The fact that we weren’t around when you have your conflict with Rafa is irrelevant when you allow outsiders - who weren’t there either - to share your opinion on Rafa and agree with everything that you say. That’s not fair.” Enrique deflects by saying, “Well, look, if you don’t like our ‘behavior,’ then I suggest you do something about it before I do. Okay?” Matthew is taken aback by this threat and says, “Really? You wanna go there?” Enrique yells, “YOU DAMN RIGHT I WANNA GO THERE!” Matthew says, “Girl… I mean if we’re gonna talking about things that happened when we weren’t there, I’m reminded everyday of why Rafa said that you were garbage. Because that’s exactly what you are.” Enrique angrily looks at Matthew and says, “Bitch, you wanna get smart with me? You wanna do that to me? ‘Cuz I can do much worse to you, *and more*. Alright?!” While CJ is visibly disgusted with Enrique’s threat, Matthew laughs out of disbelief, and softly says to Enrique, “Now who’s ghetto?” Oooh… Enrique is ANGRY.

 

Don’t worry, CJ and Matthew excuse themselves out of the house to see what else they can find when in Bakersfield. Matthew was right to say in Episode 7 that they needed air. And they end up going to the entertainment park MB2 Entertainment, in which they got to play mini golf and arcade games, but most excitingly laser tag and go-kart race against each other. They’re having so much fun that they almost don’t ever want to leave. But this is where their competitive edge really shines and they can forget for a few hours that they’re still filming a show.

 

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Until the reunion, the Season premiere (Episode 1) is the only episode where Alastair shares a scene with Jason and Aiden (the San Fernando Mall cast get-together where Alastair talks down to David). And Episode 2 is the last episode he films with David and Enrique until the reunion. He also never appears in any scene with Alex Paredes (who doesn’t attend the reunion). And he never meets Karlo or Tino until the reunion, but hears so much about them from CJ and Matthew, of course.

 

While Matthew, CJ, B&S, and the Sylmar Sinners are at Bakersfield, and while the B&S and Sylmar Sinners are struggling to make us care for them this whole season, we see Alastair and Zachary go through so much ups and downs that come with the last few months as boyfriends/fiancés.

 

In fact, the whole season, it’s a new misadventure for the two – from their sill banters throughout the season, to learning how to domesticate themselves. From the horror stories of cooking for themselves instead of eating out all the time in Episode 5 (Alastair's not that good at cooking or baking, letting you know that Zachary is definitely the future wife in the relationship lol), to signing prenups much to their respective families’ devastation in Episode 6. From drunkenly and horribly singing Selena's "No Me Queda Mas" to each other in acapella in Episode 12, to getting their marriage license early in Episode 13.

 

What's even crazier (yet freaking awesome) is that later during the season finale (Episode 13) (where the Sylmar Sinners and B&S gang do NOT appear), the two lovebirds (along with Rafa, Matthew, and CJ) go streaking in their neighborhood in the middle of the night, as suggested by CJ. You know, like frat brothers, but queer, funnier, and more likeable. During that finale, while still naked and hiding behind a tree, the fiancés even ponder how they might have met, if not for Instagram, imagining a bar scenario, where Zachary would've made his move first.

 

This is also the first season we meet Alastair's sisters Tiffany and Amanda in Episode 7, and they are absolutely hilarious.

 

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Now, you’re probably wondering where Rafa fits into this season.

 

Well at first, he doesn’t. And that’s okay. After his final interaction with David in Season 3 Episode 2 (until the reunion), Rafa made it crystal clear that he was not filming/interacting with David ever again. And half of the production who wanted messy drama was annoyed by this, but they had no choice but to just respect his boundaries.

 

And the OTHER half of production respected this and had absolutely no respect for David (or even the rest of the Sylmar Sinners or the B&S brats). So, when the four likable cast members (Rafa, Alastair, Matthew, and CJ) refused to engage with David (all for different reasons), David’s screentime was limited. And when Rafa (as well as Alastair) chose to stop being around the Bullies & Snobs this season, that alliance struggled to carry on without their punching bag and couldn’t even put on a united front, except when Rafa was constantly talked about, especially while they were in Bakersfield. It was literally a lot of infighting within the B&S group (as well as between B&S and the Sylmar Sinners), proving Rafa’s Season 1 accusation of them not liking each other to be true.

 

So, he never has any scenes with Jason or Aiden prior to the reunion. And he never shares a scene with Alex Paredes (and therefore didn’t even know that Alex P would be back on the show). And he only has one scene with both David and Enrique during the mic drop meeting at David’s home in Episode 2.

 

While Alastair eventually does connect with CJ and Matthew during Episode 5 before the two newbies leave for Bakersfield the next episode, Rafa has a slightly cold response to them in the beginning of Episode 3 by saying very little and giving them the cold shoulder. He’s still in survivor mode after being bullied and attacked by nearly every cast member, so he’s just simply not ready to trust any cast member other than Alastair.  

 

After his intense-yet-necessary mic drop meeting with David in Episode 2, Rafa’s main arc this season is focusing on putting himself first, or at least trying to. Initially, he was doing whatever he could as the future best man for Zachary and Alastair, alongside fellow best man Bailey Garcia, Zach’s younger brother. But while Alastair appreciates this, he can see that Rafa’s heart was not really in it the way that Rafa wanted it to be, and that Rafa needed to take a break and just focus on himself. “Better yet, I think he needs a break from the entire San Fernando Valley. He deserves it,” Alastair says via confessional.

 

That’s when we see Rafa’s brother Dominic visit him at his equestrian job in Episode 3. Also thinking that Rafa needs a break from San Fernando period, he invites Rafa to a trip to Belo Horizonte to visit their extended family, and Alastair thinks it would be good for him. He reluctantly accepts the invitation, and even Jason’s husband Christian thinks it's a good idea. And in Episode 4 when Rafa and Dominic are finally back in Brazil, it ends up becoming exactly what Rafa needed. Not only does he visit his relatives, but he also returns to his roots culturally, as he is heard speaking Portuguese onscreen for the very first time in the show’s history. Until this point, we had only heard Rafa speak English and Spanish, but it was never a secret that he also spoke fluent Portuguese, his first language. In Episode 5, while still in Belo Horizonte, when Dom asks Rafa about his status on the show. Rafa admits that he is unsure; “I would like to still be there for Alastair, Zach, and Christian, definitely. But beyond that… I just know that I want things to be different. I don’t wanna be miserable anymore.” In the end of Episode 5, Rafa is seen sitting across a waterfall, saying absolutely nothing the whole time. He is just staying quiet, lost in his own thoughts, and even letting a tear roll down his face. Meanwhile, his confessional, he says, “Breaking out of that box that David and the others tried to put me in, working with horses, acting, helping Zach and Alastair with their wedding plans, taking Christian’s advice to avoid Enrique's alliance, and now coming back to Brazil just sparked this fire in me to make me know for a fact that being around Enrique’s alliance is not where I need to be. Nor do I need to be around David anymore. Still, I would like to start over with CJ and Matthew one day when I come back to San Fernando because I don’t wanna be the guy who dislikes new people. I was a new person once on this show. So… this is not the end of my run as a flaming bro. But it *is* the end of my era as the punching bag.”

 

And just like that, Rafa is absent during Episodes 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 because he had actually left the series indefinitely, needing to take a mental break. So, we don’t hear from him at all during the Bakersfield trip. However, during those five episodes, during Alastair’s scenes, Alastair keeps us updated with Rafa’s time away from the show. During those off-screen times after coming back from Brazil to the City of San Fernando, he returned to his job and education, resumed his best man duties with Bailey, and acted in the short film “Unpaid Interns.” He’s been able to concentrate on his studies at CSUN. And of course, he’s still working with his beloved horses, so the man has kept himself busy during his time off the show. Leaving was the best thing he could do for himself. But little did he know until his first episode back (Episode 11) that he mortal enemies have been talking endlessly about him and sometimes Alastair while in Bakersfield, and both CJ and Matthew had to put up with that for a whole week.

 

When he finally comes back onscreen for Episode 11, he is much lighter and healthier, now that he’s avoided David, Enrique, Jason, and Aiden, and is ready to finally start fresh with Matthew and CJ.

 

Before his brief exit from the show, and following his final interaction with David, Rafa was not exactly interested in getting to know Matthew and CJ as he was very sure that they would be another group of people whose only sole purpose was to hate on him and Alastair. So, he mostly kept his distance from them. Matthew and CJ understood given their aforementioned knowledge of the group’s dynamic, so they weren’t surprised. Alastair didn’t even need to explain Rafa’s distance. But they did feel a little let down because of (again) the group’s already fractured dynamic. And even viewers were a little torn by Rafa’s distance from them, even if it was justified.

 

Alastair, on the other hand, did eventually work up the courage to get to know CJ and then Matthew (during Episode 5 while Rafa was already in Brazil), and realized that he really enjoyed their company and fresh dynamic. And when the duo returned from Bakersfield and told Alastair all about it, Alastair even asked how they were able to survive that trip (and even shaded Alex P’s short-lived return; “Talk about a freaking jump scare,” Alastair says via confessional). Alastair tells Rafa, “I think you’ll get along well with CJ and Matthew. They both came on this show pretty nervous because... well, nobody likes each other. In fact, they told me that two other new guys... Karlo and Tino were just... unbearable during that Bakersfield trip. I don't wanna say that it's because they're David's best friends. But just a heads up: every time they would get together with David, all three of them talk about is Y-O-U and sometimes me. To which Rafa says, “Oh, no… Well, they better hope and pray that they’ll make it to the reunion. But yeah, I’d still like to talk to CJ and Matthew, if they’re interested.”

 

Luckily, Matthew and CJ were. And Rafa apologizes to them for his attitude towards them. He explains what he was going through at the time, and that he didn’t feel right about icing them out; “I took it out on you guys, and that wasn’t right. And I’m really, really sorry. The truth is, I was just scared.” CJ and Matthew understood this and genuinely forgave him. And throughout the rest of Season 3, Rafa, Alastair, CJ, and Matthew started to feel less separated, and viewers say that this half of the cast really started to feel like a cast with actual chemistry and stakes, as if they really didn’t need the rest of the cast.

 

Together they became newly dubbed by fans as The Amigos. And going forward, the show ends up being anchored around them as the stable foundation, something that B&S and Sylmar Sinners failed to achieve because they refused to grow and stop making everything about Rafa.

 

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Season 3 Reunion Seating Arrangement

 

Left - Right: Karlo Ishibashi (fifth chair), David Ty Reza (fourth chair), Enrique Sapene (third chair), Matthew Frias (second chair), CJ Niner (first chair), Ross Matthews (HOST), Alastair Patton-Garcia (first chair), Rafael Luis Silva (second chair), Jason Caceres (third chair), Aiden Lee-Halley (fourth chair), Tino Padilla (fifth chair)d

 

 

David Ty Reza (aka David Lie Reza, as Rafa calls him during the reunion) wears a pink shirt under a blue jean jacket, black pants and black converse shoes. Enrique has a white shirt with the American flag on it, blue jeans, and brown dress shoes. Matthew wears a black tank top, khaki short shorts, and brown crocs and Nautica Men’s Double Buckle Sandals. CJ (the first newbie to get the first chair in a reunion) wears a bisexual flag shirt, black jeans, and brown vans shoes. Alastair wears a University of Texas shirt, gray sweatpants, and green running shoes, along with his signature dog tags around his neck. Rafa has a Brazilian flag shirt with blue shorts, and green tennis shoes. Jason is wearing a white shirt with red stripes, brown pants, and white Nikes shoes. Aiden is wearing a white shirt with red polka dots, brown pants, and white Nikes shoes. Of course he is.

 

 

 

CJ and Matthew verbally end David's relevance once and for all.

 

And there was a funny moment from our Brazilian sweetheart Rafa that fans adored and will never let him live down.

 

Ross: We invited Alex Paredes to the reunion, but he had declined to come. But before we get to what happened at Bakersfield, Rafa...?

 

Rafa: Yes.

 

Ross: Do you remember who Alex Paredes is?

 

Rafa: Yeah, Jason's brother, right?

 

Alastair: Oh, my God... *facepalms and laughs, along with CJ, Matthew, and Ross. Rafa looks a little embarrassed and tries not to laugh*"

 

*Jason and Aiden try not to laugh, too, and just shake their heads. Enrique and David just roll their eyes while David mutters, "Stupid..." Shut up, David.*

 

Ross: Nope. Not that Alex.

 

Rafa: "😦 OH! Right. The dumb pussy. Yeah. 😶"

 

The reactions from the audience are just priceless!

 

Honestly, after 2 seasons of babysitting the very people who did him SO damn wrong, Rafa deserved the break from that group and let them crash and burn by themselves, even if it meant that he had to actually leave the show. Also, I don't believe for a second that Alex P was actually invited to the reunion. If anything, that was just PR talk for, "He wasn't invited, but we're just trying to be nice."

 

The fact that Rafa did not have a first chair this season garnered a mixed feedback. But when you consider his need to take a mental break from the show so he could stop being the main focus, it makes sense that he didn't have a first chair, and I don't he cares about not sitting closer to the host. It is what it is.

 

 

This reunion marks the only time Rafa and Alastair see Karlo and Tino. Rafa denies ever interacting with them, but they stick with their story like it’s their life’s mission to do so. But unbeknownst to Karlo, Tino, or even David, Rafa did what pro-David production failed to do: a background check on the newbie friend-ofs. And he let’s everyone in the reunion know that Karlo and Tino don’t live anywhere in the San Fernando Valley.

Rafa says to Ross Matthews, “When I watched their scenes the same time as everyone else, I could tell that they wanted to be on the show so bad that they were willing to do whatever they needed to do. I think it’s very clear that they just wanted to use me and David as an excuse to be on the show and expose themselves as a couple of disrespectful clowns that they are. But Karlo lives in East Los Angeles, and Tino lives in Crenshaw. They do not live in Sylmar, Pacoima, or anywhere in the San Fernando Valley.” Karlo cuts Rafa off to ask, “Why you gotta say that? That ain’t true!” Rafa quickly and calmly says, “Yes it is. Every confessional scene was done in your East LA home.” Karlo cuts him off again to say, “Lies, bitch. Lies.” Tino says, “Yeah man, we live in Sylmar. Check your fuckin’ sources.” Rafa says, “I did. And I made sure that it was all legit, which it is.” Tino says, “Well you dumb as fuck, bro.” Rafa says, “Yeah, fine, says the guy who says I’m condensing, but don’t worry, I won’t correct you on that.” Hahaha Damn, Rafa!

 

The bottom line this: David was not being honest about his two minions. As a matter of fact, three seasons in row, and David is still not being honest, or clear about who he is, who he was, or what his intentions were when befriending Rafa. And now he’s not confirming or denying his alleged role in grooming Karlo and Tino to lie about Rafa. He’s already shown himself to be a user and a liar! And at this point, I am sick and tired of David. He refuses to do better, so there is no need for him to come back next season. And most fans of the show couldn’t agree more. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ross Matthews had the same opinion, because this is just ri-damn-diculous.

 

 

 

 

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Overall, despite how Season 3 started, it ended up being an overdue improvement. And although the season had an overbloated cast of villains not enough tolerable people, it feels slightly more balanced than it ever was, with Rafa, Alastair, Matthew, and CJ being top tier, especially when they finally came together as one.

 

I will say this: it's actually at its strongest when the show focuses on Alastair, CJ, Matthew, and Rafa. Showing us a reality show that it has every potential to be.

 

Rafa's absence really hurt David and B&S this season, but honestly, they deserved it. It was an unfortunate loss for fans of the Amigos dynamic, but Rafa’s lack of involvement became B&S’s and David’s karma. And unfortunately for B&S, they do not get any better next season. It’s clear that they need Rafa or they risk being irrelevant, but Rafa is no longer playing that game with them. That alliance's downfall keeps getting worse and worse, it's actually satisfying.

 

David, Jason, Alex P, Enrique, and Aiden really HAD to work for their spots on the show. But we already knew that Alex P wasn’t gonna last much longer, and Enrique was not willing to do anything special.

 

It's actually pretty organic how the new dubbed Amigos - Rafa, Alastair, CJ, and Matthew - started this season somewhat separate and then came together after Rafa returned to filming and CJ and Matthew returned from Bakersfield. A lot of it had to do with the lack of trust (from Rafa and Alastair being used by David, leading to Rafa initially not wanting to give CJ or Matthew a chance, to CJ and Matthew themselves not trusting each other just yet until they had no one else to talk to during that first half of the season). Alastair was literally the only one consistently remaining in the City of San Fernando throughout the entire season while Rafa was in Brazil taking time to himself and newbies CJ and Matthew were truly getting to know each other while in Bakersfield.

 

Fans, who were ready for something different, deem this the beginning of the soft reboot era; the start of the rain lighting up. All 4 likable cast members brought something essential so that everything wasn't just about Rafa this time, and I know Rafa was *RELIEVED*.

Flaming Bros San Fernando - Season 4 (2018)

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