Ep 9. Episode 9

What Would You Do? is a reality television show that premiered on ABC in 2008. The show's premise centers around social experiments, where actors are placed in contrived situations in public places to see how bystanders react. The show's host, John Quiñones, explains the premise of each experiment and then observes from a nearby location as the events unfold.

Season 13 episode 9 of What Would You Do? begins with Quiñones introducing the first scenario. A young couple, played by actors, are out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. The woman is visibly pregnant, but her partner is not the father of the child. The couple is discussing the pregnancy, and the man expresses discomfort with the situation. Quiñones explains that the scenario is designed to explore how people react to strangers discussing their personal lives in public.

As the couple's conversation becomes more heated, other diners begin to take notice. A woman at a nearby table seems particularly disturbed and eventually approaches the couple. She expresses concern for the pregnant woman and urges the man to be more supportive. Quiñones notes that there is an interesting gender dynamic at play, with the woman stepping in to defend another woman while the man stays silent.

In the second scenario, the show explores how people react to a friend who is struggling with addiction. Actors portray a group of friends out at a bar, with one of the friends noticeably drunk and struggling to keep up with the others. As the night wears on, the drunk friend becomes more belligerent and erratic, causing a scene in the crowded bar.

Quiñones notes that this scenario is particularly relevant to current events, as substance abuse has been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show wants to see if people will step in to help a friend in need or ignore the problem.

The third scenario is designed to test how people react to discrimination. Two actors, one black and one white, are out shopping at a high-end clothing store. The store's employees, also actors, greet the white actor warmly and offer to help him find clothes, while ignoring the black actor. Quiñones notes that this experiment builds on previous scenarios the show has done about racial profiling and discrimination.

As the black actor becomes more frustrated with the store's employees, other shoppers begin to take notice. One man steps in to confront the store employees and demand that they treat their customers equally. Quiñones notes that this scenario is an opportunity for viewers to see the impact of bystander intervention and allyship.

The final scenario is perhaps the most emotional of the episode. A young girl, played by an actor, is walking around a park with a sign that reads "Will you be my friend?" She approaches several groups of people throughout the day, but no one stops to talk to her. Quiñones notes that this scenario is designed to tap into viewers' emotions and explore the importance of human connection, particularly during difficult times.

As the girl walks around the park, a few people approach her and offer kind words or encouragement. One woman even offers to take her out for ice cream. Quiñones notes that this scenario is a reminder that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on someone's life.

Overall, season 13 episode 9 of What Would You Do? uses a variety of scenarios to explore human behavior in different social situations. From the importance of allyship to the impact of substance abuse, the show offers a thought-provoking look at how people react to the world around them.