Ep 19. Mike & Joey

Mike & Joey are the focus of the 19th episode of season 7 of Catfish: The TV Show. Mike is an artist from New Jersey with a large following on social media. He has been messaging Joey, who is 18 years old and lives in Texas, for over a year. The two have developed a close friendship, and Mike even offered to fly Joey out to New Jersey to meet him.

As the episode begins, Mike expresses his excitement to finally meet Joey in person. Nev and Max, the hosts of the show, join Mike in his home to help prepare for Joey's arrival. However, when they search Joey's social media profiles, they find very little information about him. Nev and Max are worried that Joey may not be who he says he is.

When Joey finally arrives in New Jersey, things take an unexpected turn. Joey admits to Nev and Max that he has been using a fake name and photos to talk to Mike. He reveals that his real name is Danny, and that he's been pretending to be Joey because he didn't want Mike to know his true identity.

Danny says that he began talking to Mike as Joey because he was going through a difficult time in his life and needed someone to talk to. He never expected the friendship to continue for as long as it did. Danny is nervous to meet Mike in person, fearing that he may be disappointed once he sees that he's not who he said he was.

Once Mike learns the truth, he is understandably upset. He admits that he feels betrayed by Danny's lies, but also acknowledges that their friendship was important to him. Mike and Danny sit down to talk and air out their grievances. They both express their disappointment in the situation, but ultimately decide that they want to continue their friendship moving forward.

Nev and Max weigh in on the situation, emphasizing the importance of honesty and communication in all relationships, both online and in person. They also talk to Mike about staying safe on social media, reminding him to be cautious about who he communicates with and to never share personal information with strangers.

As the episode concludes, Mike and Danny say their goodbyes, promising to stay in touch and work on their friendship. The experience has taught them both the importance of honesty and communication in their relationships, and they're both grateful for the opportunity to have met each other in person.

Overall, the 19th episode of season 7 of Catfish: The TV Show offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of social media and the importance of honesty and communication in all relationships. It's an emotional rollercoaster as Mike and Danny navigate their feelings and try to reconcile their friendship.