Big Brother 18 has offered up several showmances and flirtmances so far this season but one that’s seem to be caught in limbo is an interesting pairing between Natalie Negrotti and James Huling. Is it real or is it strategy on Natalie’s part?
James is ridiculously girl crazy and just like we saw last season when he followed Meg around like a puppy dog we’re getting it again this summer with him and Natalie. After a brief stint with Victor, which Natalie continues to obsess over, we’re now seeing her focused on James and making lots of comments on the situation.
Natalie speaks well of James when he’s not around as she’s told Bronte and Bridgette how grateful she is to have him watching out for them. She’s also mentioned how she likes “chubby guys” and she’s more interested in caring, sweet personalities then traditional “good looks”. So is she being sincere with James or is it a game move to keep her going in the house?
Last night on the Live Feeds, Flashback to 3:14 AM BBT 7/12 (get the Free Trial to watch), Paulie, Zakiyah, and Paul were discussing what was going on here between James and Natalie. Paul wonders if they’re going to have a problem when it comes time to get rid of Natalie. He mentions how James becomes fully occupied when Natalie enters the room.
Paulie and Zakiyah discuss how Natalie explained the ways to flirt and how she’s now doing those very things with James. Paulie says they’re going to have to split that up before it drags James down because they like James and don’t want him to get hurt.
Paulie explains that if James is so distracted by Natalie then he won’t see someone coming after him until it’s too late. So if they want to keep James fighting with them they need to end what she’s doing to him.
All three agree that Natalie would use James to further her game in a pinch, but he would never “throw her under the bus” to help his own game. Yeah, I’d at least have to agree with the latter. Whether or not Natalie is sincere in her interest, I do see this as potentially damaging to James’s game.
Paul believes the real danger is for them as she could use James’s infatuation to control him and convince him to take shots at her targets just by suggesting it to him.
What do you think of all of this? Did Natalie really make the leap from Victor to James? She does spend a lot of time with James and I’ve yet to hear her disparage him in private, but it does seem suspicious and opportune at times for her to be taking advantage of this situation. I can’t quite decide. Can you? Vote in our poll below and share your thoughts on the James & Natalie showmancing.