Ep 1. Red & Jalissa

Red & Jalissa is the first episode of the eighth season of Catfish: The TV Show. The show, which follows the journeys of people who have been duped into romantic relationships by catfishes, is hosted by Nev Schulman and his co-host Kamie Crawford.

The episode begins with Red, a 22-year-old personal trainer and musician from Oklahoma, reaching out to Nev and Kamie for their help in uncovering the truth about his online girlfriend, Jalissa. Red and Jalissa have been in a long-distance relationship for over two years, and despite their emotional connection, they have never met in person.

Red admits that he has tried to video call Jalissa multiple times, but she always gives excuses like working late or having a poor internet connection. In fact, during their entire relationship, Jalissa has only sent him pictures, but refuses to send him a video of herself. Red is suspicious and worried that Jalissa may not be who she claims to be, and he fears that he is being catfished.

Nev and Kamie start by doing their usual online investigation. They backtrack Jalissa's account and find some alarming details. They learn that Jalissa has two different profiles on different social media platforms, with both accounts showing conflicting information. One profile lists her real hometown, hobbies, and friends, while the other profile is completely fake, with a different age, location, and interests.

After some more digging, Nev and Kamie find out that the pictures Jalissa has been sending Red are not hers. They are actually stolen from a model's account. The two hosts are confident that Red is being catfished and they set out to help him uncover the truth.

In an emotionally charged scene, Nev and Kamie finally meet Red face to face. He explains to them how his relationship with Jalissa has helped him through some tough times, but now he feels betrayed and hurt. He is hopeful that they can finally find out who Jalissa really is and move on with his life.

Finally, the moment of truth arrives. Nev and Kamie arrange a meeting with Jalissa at a park in Oklahoma. As they wait for her to arrive, Red is a bundle of nerves. He cannot believe that he is about to finally meet the person he has been in love with for over two years.

When Jalissa arrives, there is a tense standoff as Red, Nev, and Kamie confront her with the evidence of her lies. Jalissa is taken aback and initially denies everything. But as Nev and Kamie continue to push her for answers, they eventually get to the bottom of the deception. The reveal is a shock to everyone involved.

In the end, Red is heartbroken but relieved to have the truth. He admits that he needs time to heal and move on from the experience. Nev and Kamie offer him some helpful advice for how to begin the healing process and encourage him to stay optimistic about his future relationships.

Catfish: The TV Show season 8 episode 1, Red & Jalissa, is a dramatic, emotional rollercoaster that highlights the dangers of online relationships and the importance of truth and honesty in romantic connections.