Amanda SchellerThis week on Peak Season: Episode Six

Episode six of Peak Season was, for lack of a better word, overwhelming. To clarify, take the best parts of the Real World, Twilight and Intervention, mash them together, and you’ve got an imitation of life in Whistler. Don’t let those serene snowflakes at the beginning fool you, that’s what some people refer to as the calm before the storm, and this episode was a level nine on the Richter scale.

What happens:

Matt and Elle: Adrenaline-Junkies.

On a coffee date, Elle questions the value of remaining in Whistler to Matt, while he sheepishly defends his actions at the club earlier. One thing I really like about the Australians is their lingo, which consists of talking how I did in elementary school. I mean, how can Elle even consider leaving after hearing how “sucky” it will be for poor Matt?

Fortunately, all it takes is accompanying Elle to a skills competition, consisting of jumps, backflips and your typical ring of fire. I half-expected a bearded lady to Allie Oop through the ring after the competitors. After this, they continue on to complete their couple bonding by tandem bungee-jumping off a bridge. I’ll give it to Matt, he certainly knows how to make unique apologies. These Canadian fellows need to step it up!

Matt continues his new gentleman act at the bar when the Australian posse meets up for beers. When Elle is hit on, he immediately gets defensive, which translates into standing on the bar and making faces at the perpetrator. The poor guy is already single, don’t you think he has enough problems? A bar fight ensues, where they end up sloppy-UFC’ing outside in slippery conditions. Elle cries, because that’s what girls do best when someone else gets hit, and Matt the manly man comforts her outside the bar. All’s well that ends well.

Lauren: The Head-Honcho of Blackout Promotions.

Lauren and Fabia visit Peak to Pear novelties, to promote Blackout Promotions and select costumes for a snowboarding video premiere event. After picking out the most elegant options in pirate-wear, she moves on to complain about the elusive Steph Weber, who won’t answer her cellphone.

Later on, at Lily’s boutique, the two model their costumes (or lack, thereof) for the night to follow, and apparently that consists of skull tattoo’s on your boob for Fabia. Lauren then demonstrates what Whistleronians do best: fight on speakerphone (with Steph). This ensues in an awkwardness between the two pirates at the event later on, and a bit of a temporary downfall for their relationship. Hopefully the two work it out, they go together better than tequila and lime.

Amanda: The estrogen-pumped Chris Brown.

I think Amanda’s role in this episode would be much better explained in discovery channel mode:

It is commonly believed that the species, “Amanda”, attack mainly smaller, lip-pierced specimens, while this is not actually the case, and DJ’s in their prime are often stalked. Amanda’s have little stamina, and will usually get up close to the prey before charging. In about 10 per cent of kills, the prey is ambushed. The Amanda’s final charge is usually made from as close as 10 metres, seldom exceeding 20 metres. Attacks are best orchestrated under poor lighting conditions, wherein the victim (in this case, the species “Andreas”) will be unable to see and fend off the vicious female.

After this engaging display, Amanda is physically escorted from the bar. I remember this game I used to play with my 6”4, 200 pound father, where I would grab hold of his leg and he would obligingly drag me around the house. Imagine Dre as the father, and Amanda as my former eight-year-old self, and you’ve got the perfect reenactment of my youth.

Dre: Apparently this makes him the Barbadian victim.

After witnessing the bruises and scratches on Dre’s arm, I was surprised he didn’t call 9-1-1, but then I realized that it’s probably one of his friends on a snowmobile with a siren and a first-aid kit.

I wonder if he found anyone to lick his wounds after the attack. If not, it was certainly on his mind during his boys-bonding moment shoveling the drive. He contemplates his female options in the city, which admittedly, must be excessive. Then again, maybe it’s time for Dre to take a break from the dating game, and focus on his bros. Their touching snow-flinging shovel fight is reminiscent of female pillow-fighting fantasies. It doesn’t seem like a fair trade in the fantasy game, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

Ian: The perfect picture of innocence.

I kind of missed the ever-witty Ian in this episode. Fans were treated to his and Amanda’s shredding skills and high-pitched screams on the jumps (yes, both of them), and the east-coast stud showed that he’s worth more than his dirty texting abilities. After talking with Amanda about the biting incident at the Savage Beagle, I’ll admit he gives some pretty solid advice. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite hear it, as I was too absorbed in the disarming pom-pom on his toque. I’ll give him some credit this week, good choice of headgear, and top-notch behaviour points.

Steph Weber: The sad pirate.

It appears that Steph takes styling advice from Ian in this episode, as she proudly dons her oversized pink feathered pirate hat to Blackout’s first big event. It’s a battle of the wenches between  her, Fabia and Lauren, as she is told to surrender and set sail from the bar. In this case, I perceived the villain to be Fabia, who was (perhaps) a little too the pirate theme, and showed no mercy to the crying wee lass. All in all, it’s another bump in the road for Steph and Lauren’s friendship, but this busty blonde has staying power.

Best lines:

“Like, that’s going to be so sucky..like..yeah.” -Matt about Elle leaving.

“Just don’t bite him, ever again.” -Ian

“Keep your teeth to yourself.” -Amanda

“Is that your girlfriend? …That must be spectacular” – Random guy in the bar to Matt

“Just trying to import.” -Dre, in reference to city girls.

“Classy chicks don’t bone on couches, do they.” -Dre’s friend, Jason.

“You’re a f**cking liar, you’re a f**cking liar… kiss me.” -Amanda to Dre

Overall:

What an episode. Abusive relationships, bar fights and pirates are all in a day’s work for Peak Season. I wouldn’t recommend taking relationship advice from this show, you might end up picking skin of out your teeth for a few days. I have an almost-maternalistic pride for Lauren and her company, as though my watching has helped her mature from the world of cleavage shots into the world of business. In conclusion, not too sucky at all Peak Season, not too sucky at all!

andPOP insider interview with Amanda Scheller:

It’s about time we hear from this firecracker. Drama seems to encircle her like a hungry vulture. Read and see what she has to say about her life in Whistler.

Describe Peak Season in one sentence

“It’s just a group of 20-somethings, and we’re just living our life in Whistler.”

Did you have to audition for the show?

“No, I didn’t. I met the producers after they had all of their cast, and I guess they really liked me and Dre so I got on the show.”

What has been your favorite moment in the show so far?

“Favorite moment? Well (chuckles), the funniest moment is the date that me and Stoof went on with the boys. It was so funny to watch!”

What about least favorite moment?

“Probably the scene with me and Dre, and the little fight that we got into. That was the worst.”

When you re-watch the arguments between you and Dre, does it feel like you are living the fight over again?

“Actually, I’ve teared up a few times, because it was so hurtful.”

Do you think the show has shown all sides of you as a person yet?

“No. Not yet, there’s lots more to come.”

What drew you to live in Whistler?

“Well, after high school I came straight up to Whistler to snowboard because I did the whole-sponsored thing and I did contests and everything. Dre was living in Vancouver at the time, but I met him around then in Whistler.”

Were you dating Dre before you started working for his mom?

“Yeah, I was. I was dating him and then I started helping his mom out and got a job with the company. It wasn’t so much awkward between me and his mom, because it was on a professional aspect, but he would come into the office sometimes, and it was just super weird.”

Were you riding for anyone during this first season?

“Yup! I rode, and am still riding for Electric, Home and Forum, I was on the program. I think there’s a few more shots of me snowboarding, and there was that one already in the beginning with me and Dre. I’m sure there’s more shots.”

You also model, what led you to that?

“One of my friends is a photographer, and she just kind of set everything up for me, and was like ‘you should model.’ So it was just, ‘do this, and do that.’ I definitely think being in the show will help my modeling career, there’s a lot more in the show to come, so watch!”

Have you noticed a change in the public’s perception of you?

“Yeah, like being in Vancouver, a bunch of people stop me on the street, and they’re like ‘Oh my god, you’re from Peak Season, I love you!’. It’s so crazy and weird, they know me by name.”

Do you ever regret signing up for the show?

“No, most definitely not. No regrets at all.”

Is there anything else you want to let the Peak Season fans know?

“Thanks for the support! And, I just came out with a calendar, and the proceeds go to spinal cord research. You can get it on my blog at http://www.amandascheller.blogspot.com or my fan page.”






Related Stories: