Episode 8, Part 1: The Problems with Politics

When should you protect your family and when should you turn them in?



The political race in which Tripp Van der Bilt is running is taking place, and Tripp appears to be losing. Nate’s Grandfather talks to Nate and it seems like he is planning something to make Tripp win. Then Nate, Tripp, and Vanessa are walking along near the water and a man in the water appears to be drowning. Tripp dives in and saves him and Vanessa films the incident. Nate wonders whether or not his Grandfather planned the incident. When Vanessa watches the tape back she sees the man who appeared to be drowning jumped in the water on purpose. She tells Nate that she thinks his Grandfather is behind it, but she is still selling the tape to New York 1. Nate tricks Vanessa and cancels the NY1 contract, then sends someone else to pretend to be the NY1 journalist to meet with Vanessa.

I completely understand why Vanessa wanted to send the tape to NY1. She should sell the tape because it was morally wrong for someone to set the incident up, and it will further her career as a film maker. However, I know that family is very important and if I was Nate, I might do the same thing to protect my family.


In the end the tape was released and Tripp won the election. After the elections, allegations about the a setup were announced on TV. Nate took the blame on national television to protect Tripp’s name, saying that Tripp didn’t know it was a setup and is still a hero. The person who set the whole thing up was actually Tripp’s wife! She is so sneaky and power-hungry!