The White Knight.

Camps Bay Beach, blistering sun, blue skies and scorching bodies. The cast invites four girls to play mixed volleyball as episode 6 opens. This week explores romance, its interpretation, and whether the notion of a knight errant still exists.

Maurice asserts that men use romance as a means to an end, because during a particular phase of a man’s life, he wants to “have as much sex, for as little work [as possible].” He equates being in love to feeling weaker, more vulnerable, and getting excited, although Maurice can’t remember the last time he felt those butterflies, a feeling he craves. Trevor thinks that Maurice is probably an extremely selfish lover and, presently, very into himself.

Kaizer relates how his affection for girls forced him to confront an inherent shyness. He finds the simple approach of just introducing oneself and saying hi continues to work for him, and romance is something that happens by mistake. According to Kaizer, the movies have messed up our notion of romance, as a result, romance now equals money and extravagance, instead of making someone simply feel special. In light of Kaizer’s perception of romance, the cast head to DVD nouveau, in the hope of reeducating the disillusioned Kaizer, although it appears that his supposed mentors all have different notions of what constitutes romance.

Henri is happy to keep romance in the movies where he can connect with it, he finds dealing with romance in reality overwhelming. He knows women are looking for their “horse in shinning armor,” but in order to be intimate with someone, Henri likes to get to know that person first.

All the characters have dates this week. Trevor opts to take Almen to Muizenberg for a surfing lesson, the physical activity and sense of accomplishment paves the way for the couple to affirm their attraction. After a light lunch at Knead, Trevor knows he’s in store for some action.

Henri takes a starry-eyed Jenna on a spectacular horse ride along Noordehoek beach, insisting she ride “the fast, wild one, to go with her character.” Its Jenna’s x factor that entices Henri, he sees her as someone to have fun with, but not someone he’d consider marrying. Despite the idyllic setting, Jenna believes romance is dead, a consideration which seems irrelevant once the couple knock back a few sunset tequilas and Henri discovers what its like to kiss someone with a pierced tongue.

Kaizer and Maurice double up to take Claudia and Sherry into the Stellenbosch wine region. A scenic drive raises the topic of romance, Kaizer considers the inner warmth he creates for another person as romance. Maurice feels the giving of time rather than of material goods as a true mark of commitment and romance. As dusk settles the double date arrives at Moyo, toasting the romantic day and having their faces decorated with subtle paint patterns. Maurice is concerned that his date’s splendor might not match up to Kaizer’s date. Remarking on Claudia’s cleavage, Maurice notes the crippling effect she would have on his endurance, something along the lines of ‘Gone in Sixty Seconds.’ It transpires that Kaizer met Claudia through Henri, and Claudia, thinking Henri to be homosexual, allowed him privileges a heterosexual, or bisexual, man would normally forgo. While Claudia feels a little violated by Henri, Maurice thanks her for gifting him a new idea. Aside, Maurice asks Kaizer the rules on dating a mate’s ex, Kaizer is pragmatic about the question, “there are no rules because, where do you get a girl from? From another guy right?” Everyone enjoys the date, and it appears that Sherry is quite taken with Maurice, finding him a sweet romantic.

The cast perch on Signal Hill at sunset as the episode concludes. Trevor reckons conservative thinking needs to be changed, and just because he talks about sex all the time, doesn’t mean he has it all the time. He does however masturbate everyday, often turned on by his own reflection, as Maurice says, “what a cheap date!” Maurice continues, expounding a theory that longevity is inversely proportional to ejaculation, and this is why women out live men. Kaizer and Maurice mock Henri for his violation of Claudia, Henri adamantly denies any encroachment, claiming “that babe dances on my crotch like I should tip her afterwards.”