Another party, but maybe this one signifies a change in Matt?
Has Courtney played Matt right into her clutches? From the looks of the edit tonight on Most Eligible Dallas, Matt might be moving away from “friend” Courtney to “something more” Courtney after all. After six hours of pack dates, serious flirting with single mom Neill Skylar and flippantly dealing with jealous Courtney’s ire, something shifts as Matt gets closer to the charity event he’s started with his family’s company, Nordico. A leadership charity, Matt’s taken this initiative under his own wing and he’s more excited about it than anything he’s ever done before. He says as much to Courtney at brunch and then invites her to join him at the event as his date. Courtney mentions her South African beau Mark is heading back home, which Matt seems to like. She then suggests that Matt should let Neill down as everyone in their social circle is starting to assume that they’re dating. Matt seems non-plussed and he realizes that he’s not ready for everything Neill offers, i.e. a built in family, less partying, etc… So he sets a date with Neill to talk about what they are, or are not.
At a Dallas modern art museum the Matt and Neill wander around and then Matt finds a quiet room to chat about how he’s not looking for a relationship. Neill says she’s not either and that their friendship is just that – with no expectations. In a camera confessional, Neill also adds that Courtney can have him and she’s fine being solo. Later we see a sweet moment where she reads her little boy a story before bed and while it’s a little bittersweet, Matt really isn’t the kind of guy she or her son needs right now, so it looks like that chapter is closed.
The rest of the gang doesn’t get a lot of face time this week. Glenn says goodbye to his hot ex, Rebecca, as she flies back to San Fran. He’s not sure he’s ready for super serious right now with anyone but he looks a little misty when she leaves.
Tara is trying to determine if older beau Jody is really the man for her. At a rock wall climb, Tara’s ex, John, tells her he doesn’t think she’s thinking too clearly about Jody because he has too much baggage (previous marriages and older kids) to be a serious boyfriend. She seems a little offended by that and wants to find out on her own what’s right for her heart. Later at a dinner date with Jody, the older man admits he’s in love with her and doesn’t want to screw this relationship up. Tara isn’t as overtly besotted as Jody is but she seems happy-ish with him. She admits that with her three previous fiancés, she could never muster up the courage to see a priest which was her indicator that each of them weren’t the right guy for her. Is Jody priest worthy? We’ll see.
In far more serious territory is emotional wreck, Drew. He admits to his friend Daylon that at a party he kissed another man, who had been heavily pursuing him, right in front of his boyfriend, Cody. Devastated, Cody went ballistic and Drew has been giving him his space ever since. It’s a screw up of sober, epic proportions. Drew finally musters the courage to call and apologize to Cody, who rightfully unloads on Drew. The wronged boyfriend calls Drew out on his self-victimization issues and narcissism and hangs up. Ouch, but a deserving ouch.
Otherwise, Courtney says goodbye to Mark from South Africa. They kiss and she considers what could be with him…but not really. We know she’s all over Matt. And as for Matt, he decides to collect his friends for a pool party to prep for the charity event. It’s like a Real World house party replete with booze and tiny bikinis. Matt and Glenn love it, but Tara and Courtney are offended by all the cheap, ho booty in their faces. Now I actually never agree with anything Courtney says, but her mini rant about girls that wear bikinis and heels was kind of brilliant. You can pick one but not both, otherwise you’re in skank territory; so true.
The episode rounds out with Matt’s event. Of course, Courtney runs hideously late and arrives just as the soiree begins but Matt is all mushy as soon as he sees her and she’s forgiven. He grips her knee as the program unfolds and after she coos how proud she is of him. Matt goes all doe-eyed and invites her to take a trip with him to his family’s new ranch. She accepts and plays it cool but you know she’s working on her bridal registry in her brain the whole time. Oh Courtney, you may have played Matt at his own game the right way all this time. Or maybe Matt was just drunk.
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.