Like every other season has proven, forcing a group of young adults to live with each other can result in calamitous consequences. The Real World is known for being scandalous from malicious fights to partying all night. AHS mathematics teacher Judy Fisher said, “I think [the Real World] gives the young people the impression that people really live like that. I think it’s very unrealistic…it should be called Dream World.”
Usually, the Real World takes place in a new city, such as Key West, New York, Cancun or Austin, for each season. The Real World’s 23rd season takes place in our very own neighborhood, Washington D.C. Senior Kirsten Morck said, “I think it’s really funny that it’s in the area. It makes more sense because I know the area that they’re in. I think it’s cooler.” According to The Examiner, the cast moved into a hip newly decorated pad “at 20th and S streets near Dupont Circle.”
The cast this season includes Josh Colon, Ashley Lindley, Mike Manning, Tyrell Ruff, Emily Schromm, Erika Wasilewski, Callie Walker and Andrew Woods, most of whom come from different states of the U.S.
But The Real World’s “Dream World” ends pretty quickly; a few cast members had already begun to clash before the first episode was even over. Tyrell Ruff, a strong atheist, and Mike Manning, a bisexual and faithful Christian, argued in a heated debate during dinner about religion and whether or not God exists. The episode also showed foreshadowing of future political conflicts between Ashley Lindley, a far left liberal, and suspected conservative, Callie Walker. In the first episode, Lindley said, “Hopefully she’ll [Walker] learn to go left. Because left is right.”
Andrew Woods is the stereotypical goofball of the cast. His sense of humor is unusual to many but he thinks he is really funny. When he met his first cast mate Emily Schromm, he lied about what his career was and what his hobbies were. Unsurprisingly, Schromm was annoyed to find out that her obnoxious “friend” had lied to her. Towards the end of the first episode, the entire cast, and some of the show’s viewers, became a bit annoyed by Woods.
Though some of the cast members are obnoxious or stubborn, moments like these expose to the audience that the cast is just like us. They feel strong about their beliefs and sometimes they have to deal with others who strongly disagree. Some of the conflicts they get into on the show are just like those seen here at AHS. The teen audience can relate to the Atheist, or the bisexual or homosexual, the devoted Christian, the stanch liberal or conservative, or even the confused member of the cast. It is no wonder this show has lasted for 23 seasons. Though, in the end, The Real World is a Dream World and the chaos within the house generally are overexagerated and would not happen in our amongst school grounds and between schoolmates.
Like every single season, “romance” quickly flourishes within the house. Josh Colon, a hip musician, and Erika Wasilewski, whom is a musician also, quickly became friends. Colon had even revealed that he has an attraction towards her because they share the same interests. However, Wasilewski has a boyfriend. But that never seems to be an enough incentive for previous cast members from hooking up with their roommates. In the second episode, Wasilewski and Ruff and Lindley and Manning have already hooked up. It is no wonder why Ruffs’ girlfriend had dumped him before he left his town to come to D.C.
Overall, this season has already proved to be like the other 22 seasons: full of drama, hook ups and partying. The highlight of this season is that it takes place in D.C. Thus, it is interesting to see the cast get ready to go out to Georgetown, visit the Smithsonian or drive by the National Mall.
So far, only two episodes have been aired and has already galvanized much hype as it becomes increasingly popular. Junior, Tyler Jackson, said that after seeing the first episode, “I thought it was a ridiculous show but very entertaining.”
