Ep 4. Cynthia/Ricky

Cynthia/Ricky is the fourth episode of the seventh season of Hoarders. The episode revolves around two different hoarders, Cynthia and Ricky, who both struggle with extreme hoarding tendencies that have gotten out of control.

Cynthia is a woman who has been living in her house for over 20 years. She has filled her home with an overwhelming amount of clothing, furniture, and household items to the point where she can barely navigate through her own home. She has even resorted to sleeping on a small twin-sized bed surrounded by piles of clutter. Cynthia's hoarding has become so severe that her two adult children are worried she is going to injure herself or become ill from living in such a space. They have reached out to the Hoarders team for help in hopes of getting their mother the support she needs to overcome her hoarding habits.

Ricky is a man who has been hoarding for almost as long as Cynthia. He has spent the last thirty years collecting a vast array of items, including car parts, appliances, and toys. He has amassed so much stuff that he can no longer park his car in his garage or even use his stove and kitchen counter. The sheer amount of clutter and debris in his home has become a safety hazard, with piles of items reaching up to the ceiling in some places. Ricky's family has also reached out to the Hoarders team, as they are concerned about his health and wellbeing.

As the Hoarders team arrives at each of the homes, they are met with a daunting task. The team works tirelessly to remove mountains of clutter and debris from the homes, including bags of garbage, broken appliances, and even a few dozen abandoned vehicles from Ricky's yard. They also work with Cynthia and Ricky to sort through items that they may want to keep or donate, helping them to learn how to make decisions about their possessions.

Throughout the episode, viewers are able to see the great emotional toll that hoarding takes on both Cynthia and Ricky. Cynthia is deeply ashamed of her living conditions, while Ricky is unresponsive to the help being offered, seemingly more interested in the items he has collected. The Hoarders team works closely with each hoarder to help them overcome their fears and anxieties about parting with their possessions, and to help them understand how their hoarding has been impacting not just their own lives, but the lives of those around them.

By the end of the episode, both Cynthia and Ricky have made great strides in overcoming their hoarding habits. Their homes have been completely transformed, with an abundance of space and light that they had not seen in years. The family members are relieved to see their loved ones living in safe and healthy environments, and the hoarders themselves express their gratitude for the help they received.

Overall, the Cynthia/Ricky episode of Hoarders is an emotional and moving reminder of the toll that hoarding can take on both individuals and families. By showcasing the struggles of two individuals with hoarding tendencies, the episode offers insight into how communities can come together to help those in need and how individuals can learn to overcome their fears and anxieties surrounding their possessions.