Mark Burnett’s editors are doing a hell of a mind job on me. For weeks now, I’ve been convinced that Tana is hands down the most worthy person to become the next apprentice. And even last week, I still believed it, but this week’s episode totally changed my mind. That woman deserves to go back to her self-proclaimed “perfect life” and let Kendra take the job she’s so rightfully earned.
Why the change of heart? For as nice as everyone keeps saying Tana is, I saw a mean streak running through her as she handled her final task this week. And not only mean, but ineffective, disrespectful, and, ultimately, not what I’d want to see in a boss. I should have known the moment she asked George and Carolyn if she could trade her team of Kristen, Brian, and Chris after they left the boardroom. To be fair, I wouldn’t really want to work with such an abrasive group, either, but Tana set a tone of reticence that continued to grow as the task progressed. She called her employees the Three Stooges, idiots, knuckleheads, and generally spoke of them and to them as if they were incompetent. She continually nagged at them and brushed them aside when they came to her with questions. She even told one of the event helpers, “I’m gonna punch somebody,” after Chris made a decision she didn’t like. Not exactly a recipe for mutual respect, is it? No wonder they didn’t want to roll out of bed in the morning!
In a stroke of brilliant editing, Burnett highlighted the stark contrast between Tana and Kendra’s feelings about their respective teams. Tana ordered her staff to leave ahead of her, stating that it was more appropriate for the boss to remain separate from his or her employees. She stood hunched in the doorway of the parking garage, hugging a bowl of pretzels and muttering yet again about the worthlessness of her group. When she was certain they were gone, she finally walked out. Now, given the feelings that Kristen, Chris, Brian, and Tana all have for each other, I wouldn’t expect them to spend the night clubbing and reminiscing about the early days of Net Worth. But Tana’s insistence that her helpers run along home made her appear incredibly insecure about her position as their leader. It almost looked like she was a little afraid of them.
The lovefest among the members of Team Magna was beautiful to watch. Kendra’s tears of gratitude and happiness looked genuine to me. I respected that fact that she was able to look beyond some of the shortcomings of her employees and see them for who they really were: fallible but capable. Kendra’s attitude toward Michael, Erin, and Danny was a balanced one. She recognized that each possessed brilliance but that it needed to be channeled in the right way. The praise and thanks that she heaped on everyone during and after the task showed that she believed in her team, which is absolutely essential for success.
Some might argue that Tana was dealing with a more unwieldy group than Kendra, but I don’t think so. Trump selected these six to assist the final two knowing that all of them had a history of being difficult in their own way. The main difference between the two groups was that Kendra was able to let go of the past and make the best of her situation, while Tana continued to stew over her workers’ previous mistakes. I don’t fully understand why she resented them so much, since their errors ultimately made her look better by comparison and propelled her to a final two spot. Without their screw-ups, Tana might have been more vulnerable to getting fired herself.
I was disappointed by Tana’s cheap shots at Kendra in the boardroom. Tana aptly defended her choice to quit college, get married, and have children, but she appeared scornful of Kendra for not having a family herself. Cut the girl some slack, Tana, she’s only 26! But Tana went as far as saying that while she had a husband, two children, and wonderful life waiting for her back in Iowa, Kendra had nothing and nobody. That’s not only harsh, but inaccurate, since Kendra’s bio states that she’s currently in a relationship and has a very successful career. That sounds like a great success story and hardly the empty existence that Tana was trying to make it out to be. However, Tana’s criticism of Kendra probably had more to do with her defensiveness about not finishing college than any real flaw she saw in the way Kendra was living her life. I can’t believe that she truly finds fault in Kendra’s choice focus on her education and career rather than start a family.
Tana and Kendra both chose equally noble and admirable paths in life. I dislike the fact that Trump pitted these two against each other based on their personal choices in the boardroom, even though these choices represent some of the most fundamental dilemmas facing women today. I applaud Kendra for not dignifying Tana’s “You have no one” statement with a response, although I have to wonder if her lack of defense will hurt her in the end. The Donald cut Tana off mid-sentence as she explained that she left college to have children and he stated that children supersede education. I found this remark a bit confusing, since it could be interpreted two ways. Did he mean that the decision to have children was better than graduating from college? Or was he saying that once one becomes a parent, the children’s needs take precedence over everything, including higher education? I couldn’t tell, but if his intended meaning can be summarized by my second question, then I agree wholeheartedly.
While this episode certainly probed at some important issues, the fact remains that Mr. Trump needs to choose between these two very different candidates. He’s been making a big deal out of the merits of book smarts versus street smarts, but in the end, I don’t know that his choice will be much of a statement about the relative superiority of either. Due to her youth, it’s to Kendra’s advantage to have more education than Tana. On the other hand, Tana has a full decade of experience that would be impossible for Kendra to have attained at this point in her life. Then again, Tana might be a bit more set in her ways. The pros and cons of the two candidates balance fairly equally.
Honestly, I think Kendra will hear the words, “You’re hired!” Tana’s attitude toward her employees was very cold and, in the end, it will be her Achilles heel. While Kendra also made mistakes in her task, she appeared to have done a better job smoothing over any wrinkles that came up. She was respectful with everybody and actually appeared to be having fun. Tana, on the other hand, was complaining that no one was complimenting her as she tried to organize her event. Tana, I know you will dealing with the Olympic Athlete Challenge, but why did you expect a medal? She isn’t likely to get it from Kristen, Brian, and Chris next week at the finale. I can’t wait to hear what they have to say about her in Trump’s boardroom. No love for you, honey. It’s all going to go Kendra’s way.
