Vanderpump Rules Recap: A Decent Proposal (Season 7 Episode 1)
On Vanderpump Rules Season 7 Episode 1, “A Decent Proposal,” the gang at SUR is back, and some of the main players are reeling after personal losses. Meanwhile, bad blood is brewing between Jax and James.
The SUR crew — both past and present — appear to be getting older, wiser, and a bit more chill. Brittany has successfully housebroken bad puppy, Jax. The two are living in full-on domestic bliss. Jax even makes his lady-love a turkey sandwich as she prepares to spend hours readying for another long shift.
Jax is apparently now a stay-at-home boyfriend after quitting his bartending job last season, and he’s past modeling prime, so they must both be squeaking by on Brittany’s tips, and their D-list, reality show “star” salaries.
During the Vanderpump Rules Season 6 reunion show, Jax reveals his father recently passed, and in spite of being a lying, cheating, D-bag, Brittany stood by her man in his time of need. Well, the long-suffering Brittany is about to get her handsome reward — Jax plans to propose.
Jax, along with the two Toms, picks out a huge rock for Brittany. This little bauble costs $70,000 dollars! Jax decides to blow the entire inheritance left to him by his father on the engagement ring. If anyone deserves such an extravagant token, it’s Brittany.
Tom Sandoval questions if Jax’s decision to tie the knot is due to Brittany’s devotion in the wake of Jax’s father’s death. Not realizing this might not be the most solid logic behind making a lifelong commitment, Jax confesses it’s much it’s his sole motivation.
It’s virtually impossible for any member of this group to keep a secret, so in addition to Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz, Jax reveals his plan to pop the question to Stassi, and her new love, Beau.
Yes, Stassi is no longer with Patrick who chose to unceremoniously dump her on their fourth anniversary. Stassi rebounded well. This Beau guy isn’t exactly man candy, but he does come across as normal and well-adjusted which is exactly what Stassi needs.
Also in love and feeling free to disclose it on national TV is Lala who is now also a brunette.
Throughout Vanderpump Rules Season 6, Lala’s boyfriend was a mystery known only, according to Lala, as “my man.” But Lola’s main squeeze is now divorced, and while he won’t be appearing on camera, we at least learn his name is Randall.
Lala is grieving the recent passing of her father who died in a car crash following a stroke. Lala gets some words of encouragement from Lisa Vanderpump who is dealing with the recent suicide of her only brother, Mark.
The tone of the Vanderpump Rules premiere might sound a bit somber for the trashy, guilty pleasure, but there’s still plenty of silly drama to go around.
James, who is still working as a DJ and fancies himself a white Kanye, finds himself in hot water. During one of his See You Next Tuesday extravaganzas (yes, I thought it was the other C as well), James decides to do a little rapping, and the lyrics focus on Jax’s cheating scandal from Season 6 (the debacle isn’t caught on film).
It’s unlikely this would have become Vanderpump Rules Season 7″s first major scandal if Brittany wasn’t front and center when James decides to do his freestyling. Sweet Brittany shows up to lend James some support, and he humiliates her in return. Never mind it’s her boyfriend who provided the material for James’ lyrics.
Nobody messes with Brittany. As Katie, Lala, and Kristen get incredibly painful looking ear piercings, they discuss James’ antics, and Kristen swears she’s going to take James down. At least Kristen is moving on from torturing Tom Sandoval.
Jax is also heated by the incident, and storms into SUR to threaten James, setting the stage for some nastiness ahead.
Exacting revenge takes a back seat to the big event — Jax’s proposal. He and Brittany head to Neptune’s Nest, a low-rent looking seafood place in Malibu (turns out this was one of Jax’s dad’s favorite places to eat with his son). Brittany thinks it’s just a normal date night.
At Katie and Tom’s, Kristen and Katie suspect something is up, and Stassi struggles — and fails — to keep Jax’s secret. Luckily, the wheels are already in motion, so when Jax gets down on one knee, Brittany is understandably shocked.
Getting a proposal with the smell of dead sea life in the air and surrounded by tourists in flip-flops and cut-offs might not be every girl’s dream come true. But this is Brittany, and since her idea of the perfect guy is Jax, it seems appropriate.
Of course, she says yes.
Is Jax really a changed man? Will these two make it down the aisle? Will Kristen leave a rabbit on James’ hot plate? Only time will tell.
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What did you think of this episode of Vanderpump Rules? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Vanderpump Rules airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.
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Jennifer Lind-Westbrook
Jennifer has been working as a freelance writer for six years, contributing to BuddyTV, Screen Rant, TVRage, Hidden Remote, Gossip On This, and PopMatters. She prefers binge-watching old episodes of The Office (British and American versions) to long walks on the beach. She's still holding out hope that Happy Endings will get a revival.