Teen Mom OG has started and I am just now getting to it. I also have MDLLA piled up on my DVR. I am trying to get to them as my health allows. I am excited to see what this season of Teen Mom has in store for us! Ugh but before we get to that, Banjo and I used to have multiple signals for him to let me know what he needs. But lately, all of those are out the window and he just sits and looks at me. So I get up and fix his dinner early and give him his water just to get it over with because I feel like shit. And here he is looking at me again. Apparently, he needed to go out. Is he really more annoying when I am under the weather or is it just my lack of patience?
My DVR starts with late due to another show that I will be recapping about later over lapping. I hate when I have to record a later viewing and somehow the times are all off. Can you tell I am crabby?
Backstage Footage From The Reunion
Anyway, we start in Chattanooga with Maci. I am so glad they just continued filming straight through filming the reunion. With Ryan driving to his wedding high on heroin, on the last episode we saw, it’s not a good time to stop filming. Unlike the real housewives, these girls all have serious storylines happening and no real scripting is needed, just a lot of editing. Maci is getting ready to go to NYC to film the reunion from last season, Mackenzie is going as well. Ryan won’t be able to make it because he is in rehab, thank God. Maci is a bit worried about seeing Mackenzie there.
Mackenzie is backstage in the holding area waiting to go out while Maci is talking to Dr. Drew. She appears to have forgotten to put her pants on, because that can’t possibly be a dress. Why don’t people going on reunions ever try their dress on and then sit down to see what it looks like? She needs a prayer cloth that covers her hooha and her hips. Maci is saying a lot of politically correct things about how this is a difficult time for everyone and she has not reached out to Mackenzie because she didn’t want to hurt her. Mackenzie does a lot of neck rolling and face pulling backstage.
Mackenzie comes out on stage with a handwritten script where she accuses Maci of letting everyone know about Ryan’s addictions to exploit his situation. Maci interrupts to say that she did not exploit Ryan. Mackenzie says that the trip to Puerto Rico where she sought advice from Amber over how to handle the situation was exploitation. I just went back to look at that post and at that time I wasn’t sure whether Ryan had an addiction problem or a psychological issue that was manifesting. Maci was crying worried about Ryan and how to handle the custody situation. Mackenzie starts to cry and is so upset that she storms off the stage without reading the rest of her lengthy manifesto. As she stomps off, it appears to me she seem to be wearing a romper. You can read more about what went down with Mackenzie on the show here.
The entire time, Amber is squirming in her seat backstage furious. She gets up to meet Mackenzie walking backstage and tells her she is a piece of shit and a fucking cunt for what she did. Amber tells the producers hovering around her that Mackenzie is so lucky that she has self control now, because she clearly wants to punch her. Maci tells Dr. Drew that she did not humiliate Ryan, Ryan did that. Truth.
Catelynn, Amber and Maci have a catty discussion back stage trashing Mackenzie who is apparently trying to go with the story that she didn’t know Ryan was an addict. A story that no one anywhere could possibly believe. Maci says for Ryan’s treatment to work, he needs to come clean and tell the truth, otherwise it will just be icing on a cake of lies.
Next we have Farrah. This is way better than the actual reunion. Farrah is having a birthday party. She has invited her mom, Deb, but not her fiancé or the other cast. She’s not sure whether she should go or not and she’s crying about it.
Amber and Matt are of course in a bad place. He is not even there. They are argue over the phone and I feel like I probably talked about their fights over money here. (I just remembered Becky J did these recaps last year) Currently, they are split up and she is hanging out with a former producer from Marriage Boot Camp. She’s also pregnant. But that doesn’t stop the rumors that they are both using. He has of course moved in to mooch off of her. As one does. You can read the full version of Amber’s time at the reunion, here.
Drama in NYC After The Reunion
The reunion part of the episode is over, but Farrah is staying in NYC where for some reason the reunion was filmed this season to throw herself a birthday party. She is putting more makeup than a Peachtree Streetwalker on Sophia because as everyone knows, a birthday party requires a red carpet entrance for everyone. This little girl is going to be so fucked up.
Farrah’s hired porno friend is so incredibly awkward in the role of friend. You can tell she doesn’t know Farrah at all and just sort of trails behind looking a bit sedated. Deb goes to the party with Dave after all. Farrah doesn’t appreciate it. After tons of drinks, things go quickly downhill. Farrah tries to be cordial to Deb but clearly doesn’t want her next to her. In on of the few staged scenes of the evening, Michael and Dave step off to the side and Dave asks Michael if he has any question for him. Micheal says not questions, just advice. Dave gets his hackles up and says he is not interested in any advice from him. Michael says if he continues to talk to his daughter the way he does, he’s going to need something. Security comes to keep things from escalating and both of them, and the security guard set outside to finish their dick swinging contest. Dave tells Michael that he needs to get Farrah into therapy which is a great idea, but then he starts blaming Michael for Farrah being the hot mess she is and that is not conducive to helping at all. Plus they are both wasted.
Later, in Austin, Michael talks to Farrah about the encounter. The scene was one of two teenagers gossiping and twisting the truth and “being all whatever.” But I do have to say that under Farrah’s mask there is someone there who has to be terrified. She knows there is no one there for her. Her parents are both nuts, as his the new man in Deb’s life. She sees Dave’s manipulations of her mother and she blames both of her parents for the route they took to make her the very damaged soul that she is. In this scene, I realized that Farrah gets it and is just handling it the best was she can. Basically, she is exploiting herself and making her own money and being her own pimp. It’s sad. But it is her survival mechanism.
Amber stays in NYC for a few days two because she doesn’t want to go home and deal with Matt. Amber cries and says she feels stupid for getting into a relationship with Matt. And yet, she got right back into another one. And did I mention SHE IS OFF HER MEDS NOW BECAUSE SHE IS PREGNANT? But the rumor is that she and the new guy have some nasty habits.
Catelynn
Catelynn and Tyler are worried about Butch. Butch is off parole and they haven’t seen or heard from him lately. After getting off of parole, he began having panic attacks. Tyler thinks the panic attacks are from using. I think they might be from not using and having to one to hold him accountable anymore. Perhaps he doesn’t trust himself to stay clean without a parole officer.
Catelynn has decided to buy a horse to help with her anxiety. I think this is a great idea. Especially since the horse will be staying on the ranch at least until they can build a barn on their new farm. Catelynn is in some sort of residential treatment for suicidal thoughts at the moment. I hope they get her on, or perhaps off the right meds. They also have an adorable baby goat. Butch comes over lately and he seems really good. He says he is going to church the next day to “get his spirituality together.” Tyler asks if he has been doing good, Butch says no. Butch says he hates himself. He seems to be really struggling with staying on the straight and narrow. It’s sad to see. I’m pulling for Butch.
Mackenzie
Mackenzie is in Dallas to visit Ryan in rehab. She is doing this on camera. One might say she is exploiting Ryan for camera time. It looks like she has rented a really nice apartment and a mustang (?) to drive around in as if she is going to stay in Dallas to visit him in rehab. She has a friend with her there to talk to about Ryan on camera. She tells her that Ryan said he was using three times a day spending $10,000 a week. She also said that she had a therapy session with Ryan and his therapist. He asked her what she thought Ryan’s triggers were. She said “Maci” and Ryan blew up right away. Basically, he said that he feels like he never got any credit. He clearly blames MTV production. Seriously, he’s been on drugs and his parents took all his visitation and he rarely bothered to show up. What does he expect credit for exactly? Mackenzie is furious with Maci and says that Maci would never answer Ryan’s texts. Could that be because he was ON HEROIN? I’m sorry, but you married a man so high on heroin on the way to your wedding that he nearly killed you and other innocent people on the road. Then he was incoherent at the wedding and could barely stand up. AND YOU MARRIED HIM ANYWAY. Nothing you can say now will be taken seriously. Especially pretending like you didn’t know your man was high all day every day.
Gary
Gary is very concerned about Leah. Matt has relapsed and he refuses to allow Leah to be in a car with him. Also, Leah is old enough now where she is hearing things at school. Things like her mother went to jail for beating up her father. That’s said.
Meanwhile, in NYC, Amber says, “I don’t know what to do with my relationship with Matt. So before I go home, I’m going on a podcast with psychics.” As one does. Le sigh. One of the psychics mentions a second child. Another mentions lots of toxic energy around her current man. The third says she feels like she is going to get married to him.
When Amber finally comes home, Matt is there. Matt rants to the camera that he relapsed this year and basically low-key blames MTV just like Ryan did. The producer asks if he is off drugs now. He says he dumped them all in the toilet. Amber points out that it was actually her that did that. She seem to feel like he is still lying. Amber says that the whole wedding situation needs to be totally scrapped. Matt is fine with that. Then she calls of the engagement and he starts to freak out a bit and we end things there.
This recap took forever and ended up being over two thousand words. This was one of the most dramatic episodes I’ve seen in a while. We are off to a very interesting season.
I really liked this episode. Definitely off to a good start.
Wow! I didn’t even know they were back. I HATE spectrum. I know you love them, but I cancelled them and buy all my shows by the season on Amazon.
I can’t even fathom how anyone can be upset with Maci when she’s went above and beyond with Ryan and his family.
Caitlyn likes animals, but not enough. They are a lot of work. Petting and riding them is good and fine, but the taking care of them part and being responsible is a huge part.
I’m guessing Cate will lose interest in that horse just like she lost interest in the $3,000 “miniature” pig. LOL!
That was a very straightforward look into the lives of these young mothers. I felt compassion for each of them. This season is indeed going to be quite compelling if the first episode is any indication of the way things go.
Thank you for a heartfelt recap Tamara. I hope you feel better soon. I will add you to my prayer list tonight.
My little dog stares at me and moves his mouth like he is going to bark but nothing comes out. I call it his inside bark.
Thanks Marsha.
Banjo’s food and water bowls are kind of in a doorway in the kitchen and tonight we were trying to move past each other and he wagged his huge tail right into the water bowl and broke it. We’re having trouble with communication today
Mackenzie was aware of Ryan’s drug use along, how could she not. She is the one exploiting Ryan and his addiction. The only reason to knowingly marry an addict who is on a Reality t.v. show is the fame and the money, not love.
All of these grown women are so effed up! All that money, all that adulation, and it has made them monsters. They all terrify me. Okay, not Macy, as much. She drinks too much, and Ryan is a huge albatross around her neck, but she seems happy in her marriage and her kids are okay. I’m afraid of what Cait, Amber and Farrah could do to themselves someday. So much opportunity, and it’s all been squandered.
I thought they all looked worn out, despite make up. And Deb.. is looking super worn out.
But this should be an interesting season.
Really appreciate the recap!
Tamara, I would love a description of Banjo! He sounds like a good one..
I had labs and their tails were great at clearing off low tables and smashing things
Banjo is an 80 pound rescue. He is mostly sharpei so he has the wrinkles but he is mixed with something much bigger that is also a cold weather dog. He has a red coat in winter and he’s a strawberry blond in summer. He has never broken anything before in his entire life. It was probably mostly my fault.
Mackenzie and Ryan got married a week ago and both Maci & Bentley (and Taylor) were in attendance, I hope that means things have turned around for them.
I just love Gary.
Mackenzie should be ashamed of herself, firstly for letting things get this bad with Ryan, secondly for actually getting into a car and letting him drive knowing full well he could have driven off the road, into oncoming traffic and not too mention the lives he could have taken with him. I have a feeling Mackenzie would just turn it around and blame it on Maci anyway, and what is up with Jen and Larry? Jen should be saying to Ryan that Maci has every right to keep him away from Bentley until he passes at least 3 clean samples, and his parents should be thanking their lucky stars they have her as their grandson’s mother. We had to sit by and watch when Larry couldn’t stand the site of Ryan and now all of a sudden Ryan can do no wrong, looks like his responsibility went out the drivers side window while Ryan was driving. I just look up and am so thankful that Bentley wasn’t in the car with Ryan at that time or any other time for that matter, he is and always has been a selfish young man. I hope he cleans up his act, and he should be thanking his lucky stars that Maci has proven to be a great mother to all 3 of her kids.