The Charm Offensive

Jules, Parisa, Dev, and Charlie arrive in Cape Town, South Africa. Dev continues to struggle with his depression, and Charlie does everything he can to support Dev. Parisa insists on remaining with Charlie longer, and because of this, Dev and Charlie must share the primary bedroom.

Charlie nearly experiences an anxiety spiral while climbing into bed with Dev. Dev notices, and when he asks Charlie how he can support him, Charlie starts kissing Dev. They kiss passionately for several minutes before attempting to separate. Charlie suggests he take Dev on a practice date; Dev agrees, highlighting that the date will be for practice only. They try sleeping on their sides of the bed, but eventually, Dev asks Charlie to hold him while they sleep.

Charlie and Dev discuss their families while exploring Cape Town, and Charlie confides that his family was unaccepting of his mental health struggles. Dev and Charlie meet Parisa and Jules for dinner. When Jules and Parisa want to attend a party, Charlie claims exhaustion, realizing he and Dev will have the hotel suite to themselves. Charlie and Dev quickly become intimate in their hotel room. Charlie confesses to Dev that he has no sexual experience, explaining the panic he feels at the thought of being vulnerable with someone else. When Dev reassures Charlie that they don’t need to do anything sexually, Charlie clarifies that he desperately wants to be with Dev. Dev manually stimulates Charlie, washing his hands and retrieving wipes for Charlie afterward. Charlie cries, touched by Dev’s thoughtfulness. Charlie manually stimulates Dev, and then Dev orally stimulates Charlie. Afterward, the couple holds each other while talking. Charlie tells Dev details about himself he never previously shared with anyone.

Parisa asks Charlie about his experiences with Dev the following morning. Charlie realizes Parisa understands him more than he gives her credit for. When Dev appears, Parisa subtly suggests she knows about Dev and Charlie’s building relationship. Charlie reassures Dev that Parisa just wants him to be happy. Charlie regrets his position on Ever After, wishing he could be with Dev publicly.

Charlie notices cameras and producers set up to film a scene. A contestant enters and attempts to seduce him, while he notices signs of stress in the woman as another contestant enters and the women begin arguing. Charlie’s anger grows as he watches the producers stand silently, allowing the women to berate each other. He dismisses both contestants from the show by telling them he’s not interested in dating anyone a producer can manipulate.

Charlie and Dev fight about Charlie’s decision to call out the producers. Charlie brings up Dev’s depression, asking him how he can ignore the fact that Ever After exploits the mental health issues of the contestants. When Dev reveals that he doesn’t speak to a therapist for his depression, Charlie strongly urges him to consider treatment, stating he cannot be in a relationship with someone who isn’t healthy. Dev responds by telling Charlie they’re not a couple. Charlie realizes that Dev doesn’t fully reciprocate the vulnerability that he shows Dev. He leaves for a run in the middle of the night.

Charlie never returns to bed. He doesn’t speak with Dev the following morning. Jules consoles Dev and reassures him that he is deserving of love. At a filmed dinner, Charlie produces a card, formally inviting Charlie and a contestant to spend the night together in a private location. Believing Charlie is unprepared for an intimate encounter with a contestant, Dev confronts Ryan. Ryan informs Dev that Charlie consented to the overnight date. Heartbroken, Dev briefly makes eye contact with Charlie before agreeing to grab drinks with Ryan.

Alone with the contestant, Charlie confesses he’s not interested in having sex. Charlie explains his mental health diagnoses and the contestant confesses she’s not in love with Charlie. At the bar, Dev attempts to fight Ryan about Ryan’s lack of emotional support during their relationship. Ryan accuses Dev of pushing him away during a depressive episode, and never wanting to speak with him about therapy. Dev’s recent experiences help him understand Ryan’s perspective.

The production team announces the cast will attend a concert instead of a crowning. Arriving at the concert, Dev notices cameras on him, not the contestants. Dev realizes Charlie organized the concert and knows he deeply loves Charlie. He apologizes to Charlie for pushing him away. Dev plans on finding a new therapist. Charlie and Dev spend their remaining days filming Ever After as a couple, not just practicing.

Maureen’s story notes to the editors instruct the deletion of an entire scene after Charlie’s overnight date. Maureen instructs the editors to expand on contestant rivalries.