So most of you who would actually care probably know by now that I've been way behind on TPIR for several months. I'm finally getting near being caught up, though, and I just hit this episode tonight. (I also just spoiled most of 7955K, which aired the day before this one, for myself by reading this thread, but that's my own fault.) I haven't been commenting in the recap threads since they've been dormant for so long, but given what happened in Plinko, I feel like this one merits an exception. So here goes:
Holy CRAP was Ryan a showoffy døuche. I can't remember the last time I saw someone try so hard to make himself stand out in such a negative light. The guy may know the show inside and out (which I honestly have to question a little bit -- someone who's really that obsessed with TPIR shouldn't have had to ask the audience whether or not 0 was the last number in Plinko), but once he got called, he obviously didn't care about anything besides drawing attention to himself -- seriously, who the hell starts a chant of their own name three separate times? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually a little bit glad I knew beforehand how much money he was going to win -- I'm not sure the nerd in me could have stomached watching him hit that center slot the third time without knowing it was coming.
In contrast, every other contestant on this show seemed much more normal and more deserving of winning anything that they won (and some other things that they didn't, given how their games turned out). I especially liked Stefanie, who had the grace to exclaim, "Oh, rats!" with a straight face when she went over on the Big Wheel. Speaking of the Big Wheel, I was actively rooting against Ryan in the second Showcase Showdown (and him intentionally spinning himself into the floor twice didn't raise my opinion of him any). I was so happy when Jacob got 95.
Seriously, guys, I'm not sure what most of you saw in this kid. Yeah, he set a record, but good Lord is that not the way I want people to think of our community.
Oh, and on a less shouty note, one of the guys sitting to the left of Contestants' Row looked remarkably like Scott. It wasn't him, but the resemblance was strong enough to make me go back and check his name tag.