The Real World: Brooklyn - Episodes

Episodes

Episode 1. "Brooklyn Bridging"

Premiered January 7, 2009

The cast assembles at Pier 41 for the first time. Ryan, sensing that there is something "definitely different" about Katelynn, speculates that she is a trans woman. The women, especially Devyn, notice how attractive Scott is. Ryan's drinking causes concern for the others when they enjoy a night out together. He later discusses the effect of his time in Iraq, and how he channels it into his journal and music. J.D., who is gay, bonds with Kat, causing further conflict with Ryan, who perceives them to be excluding the others. Kat does not perceive Ryan to be the type of person who would be accepting if she came out to him, but because of the painful experiences that both she and J.D. experienced, they form an emotional rapport.

Episode 2. "The Outs And Ins of Brooklyn"

Premiered January 14, 2009

Kat comes out to Sarah and Baya. Ryan takes umbrage with some of the topical discussions among the others. The housemates take issue with Chet's pranks, but when J.D. talks to Chet about Chet having gone through his belongings, Chet denies the accusation, and is offended at the others talking about this outside his presence. Baya pursues her dance aspirations. A trip to a gay bar proves interesting for Chet and Ryan. The cast enjoys a visit from Chet's family. J.D. deals with the identity theft committed against him by his father. Comments about immigrants from a drunken J.D. lead to a heated argument with Chet, and a subsequent discussion about family.

Episode 3. "The BFF-O-Meter"

Premiered January 21, 2009

Ryan pursues his professional musical interests, making contacts at a bar owned by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy. Kat deals with the difficulties of her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend, Mike, and looks elsewhere for companionship. Devyn and Scott, who regard each other as "BFF"'s, express their mutual attraction through flirting, but Devin is frustrated by what she sees as mixed signals by Scott, and questions regarding whether or not he is single. Baya, Chet and Ryan meet with an agency named Crush Management in order to further their aspirations. Baya and Ryan flirt with each other, and he joins her and the other girls in a pole dancing workout class, but they have different ideas about their relationship.

Episode 4. "Daddy Dearest and the Dueling Divas"

Premiered January 28, 2009

Devyn pursues her acting and music aspirations, but not without complications. Chet explores his romantic opportunities with a woman named Alex, even though they may conflict with his religious beliefs. Sarah discusses the childhood sexual abuse she suffered the hands of a teacher and inappropriate behavior from her father, to whom she hasn't spoken in eight years, an issue that becomes more immediate when she receives unwanted phone calls from him that greatly disturb her. A drunken J.D. outs Katelynn to Chet, and insults Devyn, offending all three of them, and leading to an impromptu sing-off between Devyn and another female singer at a club.

Episode 5. "Friends and Enemies"

Premiered February 4, 2009

Scott, in the aftermath of the breakup from his girlfriend, Marissa, sees a number of women, inspiring gossip and parody among Devyn and the others. Ryan's pranks lead to a retaliation by J.D., and a heated argument. Chet pursues his aspirations of being a TV host, and receives some constructive criticism, a disappointing surprise when he visits the filming location of Total Request Live, and an interview with Pete Wentz. The suicide of one of Ryan's Army friends gives him cause to discuss the posttraumatic stress disorder that afflicts some of his fellow soldiers, his own traumatic memories of the Iraq War, and how the September 11 Attacks led to his enlistment. He also discusses the effect on him of the seventh anniversary, ceremonies for which he plans to attend.

Episode 6. "Battle of the Sexes"

Premiered February 11, 2009

Kat's expression of her newfound comfort with her body causes discomfort for her housemates, including Ryan, who learns of her transgender status by eavesdropping on her during her confessional. Kat, J.D. and Sarah participate in Braking the Cycle, a charity bike ride from Ryan's hometown of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Brooklyn to raise AIDS/HIV awareness. The entire cast goes to Gettysburg to support the trio and to meet Ryan's family, but conflict is generated by the girls' tardiness, Kat's behavior at a restaurant, and Chet's behavior at the event's opening ceremony. This also leads to a heated argument between J.D. and Devyn. Kat comes out to Devyn, but is still ambivalent about doing so with Ryan, who wonders why she has not done so yet, and decides to pursue the matter more directly. Kat is honest with him, but later is angered by both his and J.D.'s indiscretion.

Episode 7. "Of Mice and Devyn's Men"

Premiered February 18, 2009

A mouse infestation disturbs the housemates and provides fodder for pranks. Devyn juggles calls and emails from a suitor named Jim, and a visit from David, whom she refers to as her "semi-fiancé", and at other times as a "friend" who is in love with her. They try to work on their relationship, but Chet does not approve of her seeing two men. Ryan's girlfriend Belle comes for a visit, causing Ryan to consider the unwelcome possibility of being recalled to Iraq. Devyn ultimately decides she's not ready to be in a relationship with David or anyone else.

Episode 8. "Angry Boys and Dirty Girls"

Premiered February 25, 2009

The men, particularly J.D., object to the women's refusal to help maintain cleanliness around the loft, as well as with other issues stemming from Devyn and Sarah's behavior, but the women refuse to accept the chores in question or agree to a house meeting. Ryan pursues his filmmaking interests, as does Sarah with the art therapy classes she teaches at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. The group's feud over cleanliness eventually escalates into heated arguments, and violence on J.D.'s part.

Episode 9. "Dilators, Dresses and Bow Ties"

Premiered March 4, 2009

Chet asks Kat about her transgender transition, but she is not appreciative of the disrespectful tone his questions take. Devyn pursues a job with a dress designer, and tries to help Sarah with a modeling job. Chet conducts an interview at Atlantic Records, and further pursues his VJ dreams, but all does not go as planned. Baya, who continues her dance training, explains why she did not accept the dance conservatory's offer, but the military-trained Ryan thinks that her resilience in the face of difficulty could use improvement. Kat launches a website to promote openness and awareness among the transgender community, sparking a more serious conversation on the topic between her and Chet.

Episode 10. "Pole Dancing and Pedro"

Premiered March 11, 2009

The cast is invited to a private screening of Pedro, a feature film about Pedro Zamora, the late AIDS activist and cast member of The Real World: San Francisco, and is asked to promote and host a screening for a larger group, but Chet is offended at the reasons given for why he should not be one of the hosts. Scott's family visits to celebrate his 24th birthday, along with his roommates, but Kat, who is broke, needs to work that night. This leads to a series of pranks by an offended Scott, and a heated argument. Kat eventually realizes that she does not have enough money to stay in the house, and resolves to leave, but Scott comes to her aid by giving her $1,500 to pay her bills.

Episode 11. "Saving a Private Ryan"

Premiered March 18, 2009

Ryan, whose experiences in the Iraq War have made him highly critical of its execution, hopes a Barack Obama victory in the 2008 United States Presidential election will preclude a return to Iraq. He attends a meeting of Iraq Veterans Against the War, where Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead, speaks. He also seeks help from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) for his knees, and for posttraumatic stress, from which some of his friends and housemates suspect he suffers, in part after seeing his short film, No More Tomorrow, in which his character commits suicide. On Election Night, Ryan, J.D., Kat and Sarah are elated at Obama's victory, but Scott and Chet, the lone Republicans and John McCain voters in the house, are offended at some of their behavior, leading to more pranks. Ryan and a war buddy march in the Veterans Day Parade, and discuss a fallen comrade. The housemates attend an IAVA gala. Ryan is crushed to learn he's being recalled to active duty.

Episode 12. "Atlantic City, Baby!"

Premiered March 25, 2009

Ryan and the others deal with the news that he has been recalled for a one-year deployment in Iraq. After Devyn buys a Yorkshire terrier she names Brooklyn, the housemates decide to bond prior to Ryan's departure with a group trip to Atlantic City, where their experiences include a stay at the Borgata Hotel & Casino, attempts at gambling that meet with mixed results, Ryan pondering his future with Belle, Devyn's attempt to have fun despite being too young to gamble, and an awkward moment when Chet tries to rouse a sleeping Devyn. Ryan begins preparations for his tour of duty, as do his housemates, who give him a journal to maintain in Iraq.

Episode 13. "Saying Goodbye"

Premiered April 1, 2009

The housemates prepare to move out as their stay in the house nears its end. Scott, Baya and Devyn plan to stay in New York, and move in together as roommates. Ryan prepares to report for active duty as part of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, but not before getting into an altercation at a bar. The women engage in one last war of pranks, with J.D. caught in the middle, and Ryan reacting with outrage. Despite the conflict, the group bonds one last time over Ryan's guitar music on their last night together, and enjoys some emotional exchanges as they each leave the loft the next day.