NY INK Update: 1 step forward, 2 steps back
Again, the “reality tv” trappings have thrown this episode to the ground and just curb-stomped it.
A client came in to get a tattoo (I literally just watched the show and I’ve already completely forgotten what she got… think it a kid on a cloud above a city, or something) Anyway! The client was a social worker for inner-city kids. They, as in most cases, shine brightest in art/music classes so she asked Ami if she could bring some kids to the shop like a mini field trip to talk with the tattoo artists and just check everything out.
The tattoo artists were worried because these were possibly “no good” kids and didn’t know if they could be the type of role models these kids would like to talk to.
The kids came in, were broken up into groups with each artist the head of the group and they all got along really well. It was a nice “feel good” moment which this show needs because they always tend to bring in sob-story clients getting memorial tattoos who inevitably end up (unfairly) crying on camera.
Then right at the end of the field trip, the artists asked the kids if they had any final questions and one said: “Do you have any advice for us?” Robear, the floor manager at the shop who at best is a glorified side-character said: “Be cool, stay in school.”
SIDEBAR: If a tired, hackneyed cliché is the only thing you can possibly think of to say to young, impressionable minds - then you should just shut the fuck up.
Without missing a beat, Tim Hendricks made a joke and told the kids to not listen to that. Everyone laughed, the kids left the shop, all was good.
Here is where the “reality tv” produced drama comes in and Robear began an argument with Hendricks, for mocking him in front of the kids. Tim didn’t see the problem with it, he even apologized for it, but Robear wouldn’t accept the apology and their conflict continued for the rest of the episode (and looks to run over into the next)
In another moment, Wooster Social Club castaway Chris Torres tattooed half a heart onto his little brother’s ring finger, and the other half a heart onto his little brother’s brand new fiance. This was actually a nice moment compared to how they always (and it’s getting monotonous now) portray Torres on this show. They kicked him out of the shop - STOP talking about it, the show’s producers should stop telling him to bring it up. It’s over. Everybody move on.
