Vanderpump Rules Recap: PJs on the PJ (Season 7 Episode 12)
On Vanderpump Rules Season 7 Episode 12, “PJs on the PJ,” Stassi gives Kristen unsolicited relationship advice. Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval question their roles at TomTom. Lala’s depression over her father’s death deepens.
The girls’ trip to Solvang continues, and never have two days felt longer (three episodes to be exact). The morning following Kristen’s drunken meltdown, she’s remorseful about her bad behavior. The only person we actually see her apologize to is her roommate Katie, who chose to crash with Scheana — of all people — than deal with her bestie.
What the cameras didn’t catch (or Bravo chose not to show) was Kristen acting like a lunatic the entire night: knocking on doors, threatening to leave, and other attention-seeking antics.
Kristen swears to Katie that James’ continued presence in their sacred inner circle was the catalyst for her nonsense, but Katie still thinks Kristen’s actual problem is her live-in boyfriend, Carter.
The chickadees spend their last few hours in Solvang at a winery and a ranch. Lala still isn’t drinking because she promised her boyfriend Randall she wouldn’t. Compared to day one, the rest of the trip is a pretty low-key hang.
Stassi lectures Kristen about knowing her self-worth and not putting up with a lay bout, loser boyfriend, Carter. Stassi — in case you didn’t know — is mildly less psychotic because she’s managed to find a boyfriend who isn’t a sociopath. All Stassi wants is for Kristen to find her own Beau. Kristen deserves better.
I agree no woman should put up with nonsense, but Kristen has done her share of seriously effed-up stuff, so she’s not really in a place to get the pick of the litter (if you know what I mean).
Kristen feels compelled to defend her man because “It’s not s****y all the time.” Kristen likens Carter to having a teenage son who plays too many video games. Kristen thinks Carter is hot, but his lack of ambition is becoming an increasing turn-off.
Another relationship showing signs of sinking is Lala and Randall’s. Lala confides in Stassi that she’s in a serious funk over her father’s death. It’s pretty touching to see Stassi reduced to tears because of her empathy for a woman she once thought was a massive whore.
Lala’s struggle to accept that her father isn’t going to be around to walk her down the aisle or to meet his grandchildren is a harsh reminder that the Vanderpump Rules cast is growing up. These aren’t kids in their early 20s anymore. Some are starting to deal with the deaths of a parent and other unavoidable events.
Adulthood is really about milestones. Everyone makes it past the post-college drinking and drama and begins to settle in for those sobering years before the mid-life crisis hits.
Most of us who are watching Vanderpump Rules are emotionally invested in these people now. Even though we love their trashy bad behavior, it’s also nice to see some genuine moments (or ones not so obviously staged).
The girls climb back on the pj (private jet) and return to “work” at SUR and their significant others. The boys are hurting too because they realize they aren’t able to drink copious amounts and rally anymore.
The two Toms face another hurdle when it comes to their involvement in their namesake bar. Lisa is bringing in a mixologist, Sly, to train everyone and evaluate the cocktails the boys have spent months developing.
For most of us, a craft cocktail is a raspberry mojito or an overpriced variation on old standards, but in some parts of the country, particularly the oh-so-trendy WeHo, alcohol is a serious business. Trends are born and die in the same day.
We all know the Toms haven’t brought a whole lot to the table when it comes to TomTom. Sure, they threw a hundred grand in the kitty, but that’s the equivalent of putting a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas. Schwartz is less put off by Lisa bringing in a ringer than Tom Sandoval.
There’s a very real possibility that Sly won’t be a fan of their concoctions, and not one will end up on the menu. For Sandoval, that’s a deal breaker. Schwartz lacks Sandoval’s conviction about walking away, but he does wonder if there can be a TomTom minus one Tom.
Sly knows her stuff, and while she’s got plenty of bar-related wisdom to share, she’s a fan of most of the Toms’ drinks — 10 to be exact. So, we will never have to find out the horror of living in a one-Tom world.
What better way to get over a collective hangover than head to another party? The gang gathers for a BBQ, and this is where Kristen decides to confront Carter about the problems in their relationship. The biggest problem is that Carter doesn’t think he’s the problem.
The other news is that Lala is drinking. After abstaining for two days in wine country, Lala is back on the bottle. She confides in Katie and Brittany that Randall didn’t keep up with is end of their no alcohol pact.
When Lala returned from Solvang, she came home to one drunk boyfriend. The icing on the cake is that Randall blames his lost weekend on Lala’s withholding behavior. Pardon the girl for being distraught over her deceased dad.
Lala decides she needs to take a “break” from Randall. She reassures Katie and Brittany that she can pay for her own rent and car (insert sigh of relief here), but her future private jet excursions may come at a steeper price. Don’t worry, Lala has no problem giving a bj for a pj.
Spoiler alert: Lala and her man are currently engaged, so this breakup is just a blip. As distraught as Lala seems at losing Randall, she comes across as far more upset about losing access to his wallet.
What would an episode of Vanderpump Rules be without James? He shows up to DJ an event at Pump and demands to know when Lisa’s going to rehire him. I mean, he’s been sober and going to therapy for a few weeks now (reality TV time feels like dog years).
James’ preoccupation with the whole See You Next Tuesday thing is confounding. It’s a cute play on words, but it’s hardly worth bursting into tears or flipping out over every episode.
James can throw all the tantrums he wants, but Lisa Vanderpump does what’s best for Lisa Vanderpump. If and when the time is right to let James back into the SUR fold, she’ll let him know.
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.