Woohoo! Reality Tea has gotten our K1 Visa approved to recap everyone’s favorite TLC trainwreck of a show: 90 Day Fiance! I got sucked into this unbelievably addictive show last season, and am already yelling at my TV each Sunday night (don’t judge!) as we wade into the season ahead, which promises to bring us more true love stories mixed up with a healthy dose of delusion, disillusionment, and grifting (can anyone say: Mohammed from season 2?). Let’s meet our players for season 3: Melanie and Devar, Mark and Nikki, Josh and Aleksandra, Loren and Alexei, Fernando and Carolina, and Kyle and Noon. Each of these couples must go through the process of bringing their non-US citizen fiancé to the country on a K1 Visa, which gives them exactly 90 days to get married. Let the countdown begin!
In episodes 1 and 2, we were introduced to almost all of the couples (at least in part), with the exception of Fernando and Carolina, who we’ll learn more about tonight. But before then, we pick up with possibly the most disturbing duo of all: 58-year old Mark and 19-year old Filipino native, Nikki. Mark raised four children on his own after his ex-wife, also Filipino, abandoned them years ago. So, he’s looking for love again…with a girl woman who is younger than all of his children, and could even be his grandchild. Mark’s daughter, Elise, thinks he should have a problem with this small little detail. Because she sure does.
CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON FOR MORE!
Speaking of Elise, she’s been roped into a lunch meeting with Nikki, as orchestrated by Mark. Mark wants Elise to be a “team player,” which in Mark’s world means his 21-year old daughter will accept a 19-year old stepmom. Mmmkay. Elise walks in the the forced lunch meeting as if she is walking the plank, and the awkwardness hangs thick in the air as she and Nikki sit at the table together in absolute, total silence.
Cut to our next couple. We meet Fernando (39) a Florida resident who strangely does “pretty well with the ladies.” He was previously married, but cheated in the relationship. He’s had a “very active” dating life since then, but has now fallen in love with Carolina (22), a Medellin, Columbia, native on a trip there – when they were both on dates with other people, mind you. The lesson here: Fernando has a wandering eye. His parents live with him in FL, and Fernando foresees the power struggle to come between his new bride and his mother, who is the reigning matriarch of the household. His family is Hispanic (original nationality not mentioned), but he says Carolina will still experience a culture clash with his family when she arrives.
But right now, the only clashing Carolina is doing is with Fernando via Skype. She doesn’t totally trust him, having busted him texting other women after they got engaged. And she’s sick of him postponing her trip to the US…but whether this is in his control is questionable. Well, the trip, at least! (The texting, he’s gotta get a grip on, dude.) His K1 Visa has been delayed several times because of missing paperwork he needs to provide from his divorce. So, sounds like he is to blame (at least in part) for the Visa issue too. He promises he’ll be in Columbia in less than 2 weeks to pick her up, but she doesn’t believe him. Nor would I.
In New York, Loren (27) is awaiting word from Alexei (27), an Israeli, about whether his K1 Visa will be approved. She is sick with the thought that he won’t be able to come to the US. She notes that he doesn’t even want to move to the States, but is willing to do it for her. So, he’s not in it for a green card. Loren admits that getting a K1 Visa is tough though because that’s the assumption so much of the time. As she sits by the phone waiting on some good news, she breaks down in frustrated tears.
Finally, Loren gets a call via Skype from Alexei, who gives her confirmation that he got approved! Loren sobs happy tears now while Alexei apologizes that it took so long to call her. They trade I love you’s and Loren processes the fact that they’ll actually be getting married. She calls up her mom to deliver the good news, and tells us that all of her friends and family will be thrilled. One minor hiccup: Loren and Alexei will be moving to Florida to live with her parents while they plan the wedding – something Alexei is not too thrilled about, as mentioned last episode.
Next up: Melanie (33) and Devar (28). Since Devar’s arrival in PA a few days ago, Melanie says the toughest adjustments are still ahead of them. At the top of the list is Devar’s new relationship as stepfather to her son, Hunter. Devar and Hunter enjoy playing sports together so far, but Devar admits he knows being a father will involve much more than playing together.
The new family-to-be head out to dinner where Devar is introduced to good ole’ American fried cheese. #priorities They discuss the wedding, in which Hunter wants to be best man. He and Devar are both excited about this prospect, which makes Melanie smile. Hunter and Devar are hitting it off so far, but Melanie is nervous about Devar meeting the rest of her family: namely, her sister Beverly, who doesn’t trust Devar’s motives. They’ll be meeting Bev tomorrow for dinner, so we’ll see how this plays out soon.
Cut to New Orleans, where Noon (25) has flown to be with her American love, Kyle (28). Noon is experiencing a bit of culture shock, having been planted square in the center of French Quarter madness, not to mention Kyle’s roach infested apartment – complete with sometimes-naked-roommates! Noon is a good sport meeting roommate Bryan, although he’s clothed for now. So. We’ll see. Kyle made an effort to decorate his apartment with Thai tapestries, but the filth factor is still off the chain. Noon is also informed that the roommates must walk through each other’s bedrooms to access the kitchen and other parts of the house, which doesn’t sit well with her. The Roach Motel factor is also off putting, as Noon witnesses Kyle smack a live roach scurrying across the kitchen wall just before he opens the fridge, which is disgustingly littered with carcasses of fallen roaches past. (Excuse me while I dry heave for a moment…) #FREENOON!
Back in Baltimore, Nikki and Elise feebly attempt to chat. Mark joins them to facilitate the total nightmare, while I think Elise should be given a trophy for simply showing up to this sh*t show. Nikki doesn’t think Elise likes her. Mark reports that he and Nikki shared a “wonderful sunrise” together this morning. A conversation starter? Not really. Elise asks Nikki what she’ll be doing here, as her suspicions indicate she thinks Nikki is simply here to live off of her dad. Are they planning a wedding? Not yet, says Mark. “She’s gotta get to know the real me,” he explains. Like the real him who yells at you when you touch his car window? Good times!
In New York, Loren is getting ready for her move to Florida. She packs up the last of her stuff and loads her dad’s car for the long ride ahead. She’s given up her job and apartment to be with Alexei, which her dad doesn’t totally understand. But for now, he trusts his daughter to make the right decision. In Florida sometime later, Loren and her parents drive to the Miami airport to pick up Alexei. She’s emotionally charged waiting for him, but it’s all worth it when he walks through customs into her arms. (Are you all rooting for this couple? So far, I am!) Alexei is sad to leave his family back in Israel, and is not happy about moving in with Loren’s parents, even temporarily. But he’s willing to sacrifice.
Meanwhile in another Florida household, Fernando is packing to leave for Columbia. His mother is shocked that he’s leaving so soon, not to mention that he’s actually thinking of marrying the 22-year old Carolina. Uh oh. Carolina is walking into the lion’s den with Fernando’s mama waiting for her back on American soil. His mother doesn’t want to rock the boat of their happy household, but what’s really bothering her is the suspicion that Carolina may come to the US for an “exciting” adventure, but eventually grow tired of the reality of marriage and regular life. Fernando doesn’t know if his relationship with Carolina will survive if she and his mother don’t get along. Well, perhaps that’s true. But Fernando should be more worried about his relationship surviving his playboy ways.
Back in New Orleans, Kyle and Noon are exploring Bourbon Street. Noon didn’t want to leave her family and friends in Thailand, but is willing to make New Orleans her new home because of her love for Kyle. She had no idea how crazy Bourbon Street was, and was never a drinker or partier back home. So she’s out of her element here, and a little bit scared. Noon is more interested in meeting Kyle’s friends and family, but Kyle’s parents are divorced and have been somewhat estranged from him for awhile.
Kyle does bring Noon to meet some friends for dinner, though, who ask if Kyle’s parents know he’s getting married. No, they don’t. Kyle hasn’t seen his dad in 5 years nor his mom in 10, so he hasn’t reached out to them to deliver the news. Noon hopes Kyle opens up to her about his estrangement with his parents, but for now she’s left in the dark. She tells his friends it’s important for her to meet Kyle’s family if she’s to be his wife, so it looks like Kyle’s got some tough emotional work ahead of him.
Traveling north to PA again, we catch up with Melanie and Devar as they face the much-anticipated dinner with Melanie’s overprotective sister, Bev, and her husband. Before dinner, Bev tells the cameras that she absolutely doesn’t trust Devar. She thinks he’s simply using her sister for a green card. At dinner, stiff hugs are traded, and Bev puts on her best stink face as Devar flirts with Melanie and smooches her over drinks. Bev tells Melanie and Devar she was shocked to hear her sister fell in love – and got engaged to! – a lifeguard while on vacation. Bev accuses Devar of coming to the US for the “American Dream,” not for Melanie. She asks him how Melanie is supposed to know that Devar hasn’t been sleeping with other vacationing singletons “every other day” while working at a resort? Ouch! Shots fired!
Well, we’ll have to wait until next week to see how Devar answers that question, and to catch up with our other couples. So far, the stage is set for plenty of love and heartbreak all around, it seems.
TELL US: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS SEASON’S 90-DAY FIANCE SO FAR? WHO WILL MAKE IT TO THE ALTAR? AND WHO IS DOOMED FROM THE START?
Photo Credit: TLC
