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Episode Details

Episode Title: The First RTL Wedding
Originally Aired: February 7, 2025
Network: OWN
Director(s): N/A
Writer(s): N/A

Recap

My Kind Of Jawn: Angie, Deona, Kiara, Jay, Eddie, Wayne

The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has been graced with “Ready To Love,” trying to help a handful of its singles find their perfect match and, like for the last few seasons, rather than overwhelm everyone with 10 people of the opposite sex to meet and greet, there is only 5. From the start, it seemed some would do better than others, without question.

Kiara, who is very feminine, does a number on the men, as does Angie, whose story could bring a sense of heartbreak. For with her, she was engaged, on the way to the altar, but rather than something being said or done to end the engagement, the man of her dreams died. It’s a bit of a shock and a story that she hasn’t circulated amongst the men, just viewers, but it should create some interesting scenes ahead.

The last woman who seemingly is doing well is Deona. She is a firefighter, but while in a very masculine world and in touch with what is needed to thrive in such a world, she can switch it up. Thus allowing the men not to hit her with a homie vibe. But, she did just meet everyone so it could be too soon to tell how she is once comfortable.

As for the men? Eddie, with the good hair and height, seems to take a lot of the women’s attention, as does Jay and Wayne. Sadly, they don’t have an interesting anecdote as the ladies do, but not being too much or doing too little, staying right in the middle, has always been a good strategy for the men and women – so they are doing the right thing to stay.

Not A Serious Option: Will, Naeem, Sahara, Tru

But not everyone is finding the right balance. Some, like Naeem, who have five kids, get damned mostly for having a lot of kids, and three baby mommas, which of course, leads to conversations that put pee in the pool. As for Will? You know there is nothing women hate on this show more than a man they think can’t be serious.

You know, it is a double-edged sword. None want to be bored, but not to know if everything is a joke is a problem. However, one thing Will doesn’t seem willing to do is curb who he is, which maybe needs to be applauded. He isn’t alone in that either, as Sahara is very much a Philly girl with inner-city vibes. She wears this proudly, and while it seems most of the men are ready to write her off as a homie, she takes it in stride. Minus putting her middle finger up to the men when almost eliminated.

Which leaves Tru. It seemed in the beginning she was doing well, maybe got on Jay’s bad side because he raised a red flag by noting he was a player for 4 years. But, with the other men, it seemed she did okay. But, like with dating apps, things on “Ready To Love” can be a numbers game, and asking too many questions, especially that can put someone on the defensive, can make you a minus one.

Tommy’s First Curveball

But, even with Will and Sahara bound to leave, Tommy decides it is too soon to kick them off and gives them another chance. Neither seem ready or willing to change, and Tru definitely took offense to being in the bottom two, as did Naeem, but of the four, it seems Naeem might be the only one safe going forward.

As for everyone else? They seemingly will be heavily reliant on the second half of the cast to keep them on and give them to opportunity to show they are ready to love.

End Game

Next Eliminated (Women): I don’t see Sahara making it to the end. Tru may be too stern and judgemental, but some can take that seriousness and put a spin on it. The homie vibe has long been a mark of death on “Ready To Love,” so Sahara will probably be a mainstay at the bottom two until she is ultimately eliminated.
Next Eliminated (Men): Will being someone who is twice divorced, with both marriages lasting a year, alongside his personality, will be a problem. I can see the women trying to look past Naaem’s multiple kids, and if they don’t have any, it could work – especially if he doesn’t have primary custody of most if not all. But, Will seems ready and willing to be an ass, and that’s going to bite him in the ass.
End Game Couples: With only half of the cast and things still feeling rather superficial, it is hard to say what two people could make it to the end. I will admit I’m rooting for Deona and Angie, but I will admit until we see them have to compete for a man’s attention, it is hard to say whether this show may not be for them in their pursuit of love.

New Character Descriptions

Angie

Angie is a 40-year-old bartender from uptown, who is one of 11 with six brothers, and is on the show because her fiancé, unfortunately, died of a heart attack in his sleep.

Deona

Deona is a 35-year-old firefighter, born and raised in Philly, with over ten years at her job.

Kiara

Kiara is a 33-year-old insurance specialist from southwest Philly who loves the princess treatment. She is also a single mom of two boys, aged 14 and 7.

Jay

This 34-year-old in cybersecurity, despite his government name being John Jones, goes by Jay. He has primary custody of his daughter and a son. It is noted he was with the mother of his children for 11 years after they met at 19, and he has spent the last 4 years playing the field.

Eddie

Eddie is a 31-year-old general contractor with his own construction company, he is from uptown and was notably born and raised in Philly, where he is raising his 9-year-old daughter.

Wayne

Wayne is a 36-year-old project manager who has been in the Philly area for 3 years and is close to his mom.

Will

Will is a twice-divorced, 41-year-old biotech recruiter who has been single for five years, whose marriages only lasted a year, and sadly is now an orphan due to his parents passing around the time of both of his marriages.

Naeem

Naeem is a 42-year-old gym owner and a Saggitarius; he is also adopted. He also has five kids by three women.

Sahara

Sahara is a 35-year-old home healthcare agent who has been single for a year. She is very spiritual and often likes to joke that, despite her name, things are still wet.

Tru

Tru Jones is a 35-year-old who works in brand partnerships.

Review

Highlights

The Vibes Feel Different (But It Could Be Due To How Long It Has Been Since The Last Season) [82/100]

It has been almost a year since the last season of “Ready To Love,” making for one of the longest gaps since the show became one of OWN’s flagship shows. In many ways, it was necessary. While this episode has Kamil and Cornelius having a wedding ceremony, touted as the first married couple, as wonderful as that is, considering we have 9+ casts who haven’t reached that point yet – that’s a problem.

But, the new season, “Ready To Love,” finally left the South, and this means some universalities, like the ladies generally wanting to be more demure in their relationships, but some differences since they still are Philly girls. Granted, the range goes from Sahara to Deona to Kiara, but overall, there is hope that the new location means a true refresh and not the same nonsense in a different city.

On The Fence

Can A Homie Get Some Love? [74/100]

It seems like Sahara will be another type who gets that “Homie” label early on and is fighting to stay on for the rest of the season, with only one person liking what she has to offer. But, while it always sucks to see the casting people set up someone like her for potential failure, at least she wasn’t going down without two fingers up.

Now, granted, with Tommy’s curve ball, her giving the finger to the guys who determined she could leave could be to her own detriment. But, you have to admit that her audacity to do that in front of Tommy and half of the cast was refreshing – especially after being saved.

Familiar Red Flags [73/100]

Someone having too many kids, being too jokey, “homie” vibes, and treating dating like an interview are issues you hear about every season, and at this point, as noted with Sahara, there is a need to question why these people are being set up? I get the idea that diversity is a good thing here. However, with all the data of who ends up working and doesn’t on this show, you’d think they would try to move the needle a bit.

I mean, with the first half not featuring someone heavyset, the type who almost always has a notable challenge on the show, you can say there is some effort not to waste people’s time. However, with the recognition that once past 30, some things are a given, I think there may be a need to recognize people with too many kids, and the homie vibe may need to be next.

This isn’t to say I’m against them finding love, even in a format like this. But maybe “Ready To Love” needs to do a spin-off focused on those whose type goes beyond someone Black, and they start looking into the various aspects that can make dating a real challenge for someone. Be it in Philly, Atlanta, or wherever.

Trajectory

Trajectory (76/100): Plateau

While “Ready To Love” has moved to a new location, it feels way too soon to say this will lead to positive developments. Right now, it seems like same issues, different city, but with Black people not being a monolith, there is hope that on top of leaving the South, but going to a major, northern, urban, city, we can get something different – beyond the usual drama.

I mean, if Tommy can throw a curve ball so early, here is hoping other more positive things that “Ready To Love” has tried or made seasonal can be amplified and make the journey less messy and more insightful and productive.

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