MTV Real World: Ex-Plosion Episode 7 Review

The episode opener summarises what I expected would happen in this episode, a frustrated Cory says, "Basically, Lauren says she was hooking up with some other dude back home."

"I'm embarrassed, I'm scared... I didn't want this to happen," Lauren says as she tries to piece her life together on national television.

Meanwhile, Doug shows up with flowers.  You know Doug, that guy who Jenny brought home one of the first nights and the two of them hung out in the hot tub while Cory hooked up with Ashley.  You know Ashley, the former roommate who couldn't handle her alcohol and went on blacked-out rampages throughout the house.

Brian surprises Jenny by acting calm, cool, and collected when she tells him about Doug's flower drop off.  Brian shows Jenny that he's not as jealous as he once was and he wants to prove it to her while they work on their relationship.

Meanwhile, the whole house sympathises with Lauren and Cory's situation.  Lauren is in a tough spot, but she is undecided with what she's going to do.  Certainly Cory isn't being a shoulder to lean on, which is a surprise because Jenny even makes a point to comfort Lauren.  

When confronted about his neglecting ways, Cory says to Lauren, "I cared about you and you know how prideful I am."  

What doesn't help the situation is Lauren's bomb-drop statement.  Lauren initially said she used a condom with the unnamed man, but finally admits she used Plan B not a condom.

The Cory/Lauren pregnancy drama is all foreshadowed event from the couple's past.  When Cory was in college on a basketball scholarship, a girl he had been seeing forged documents saying she was pregnant.  Cory has to drop out of school and move back home, but Lauren stood by him.  When Lauren pushes this history at Cory with their present situation he said, "I'm sorry, I'm not like you."

The house then goes to the club and Cory hits on some other girl all night.  Cory then is surprised that Lauren, who is pregnant, gets mad about his pursuit of another woman in front of her.

Again, Cory pushes the all-about-me card and says, "Who got hurt, you or me?  Deal with the consequences."

Everyone in the house admits that Cory and Lauren were probably going to end up together at the end of this circus, but Lauren's pregnancy with another man could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Meanwhile, Jenny and Brian celebrate their fifth year (not a solid five years) anniversary.  The two talk about the future and what they picture their lives to be together: house, kids, and BBQ.  Making brownies together, the two share laughs and memories and rekindle their romance.

Lauren and Cory go on their own date to talk about their issues and the pregnancy.  He's disappointed and hurt, but he wants to show her his support.  The next day, Lauren leaves the house on a good note with Cory.  "She will always be a part of my life," Cory says.

Arielle and Ashely have their own problems, mainly Ashley preferring Arielle to dress more girly and act more feminine.  "I know you, I've known you for two and a half years," Ashley says.  "Do your thing, babe."  

When Arielle shows Ashley her secret stash of boyish clothes, their bickering match explodes into a full-blown fight.  "I would hope at some point in two and a half years I would know who you are."

The sun rises the next day and the two admit that they need to be more open and honest with each other.  Arielle then brings her gay and trans-gender friends to the house to talk about whether or not Arielle should be offended about being called "Trans."  The accusation came from the Internet speculation about Arielle being a possible first trans-gender cast-mate for the Real World.

The house has a discussion about acceptance and being comfortable with identities.  Arielle closes the segment with, "My identity as a gay woman has nothing to do with what the outside world has to say."

The episode closes with a split of the sexes.  The house divides for a Guy's Night and a Girl's Night.   What ends this week's episode can only bring trouble for next week: Brian kisses a sexy female at the club during Boy's Night.