Vanderpump Rules Recap: Trouble in Lala-Land (Season 7 Episode 15)
On Vanderpump Rules Season 7 Episode 15, “Trouble in Lala-Land,” Tom Sandoval continues to stick up for James. Scheana invites the girls to her new place. Lala loses it during Billie Lee’s brunch.
Some meltdowns are too big to be contained to one episode of Vanderpump Rules, so lucky viewers get to wait an entire week and pick up mid-temper tantrum from the jump. James, who loses his mind over being disinvited to Mexico on the final moments of “Tom vs. Tom,” continues to throw a toddler-sized hissy fit on the opening minutes of “Trouble in Lala-Land.”
It’s up to Lisa Vanderpump and Tom Sandoval to try to talk James down off the ledge. Lisa has extensive experience dealing with small children and divas, so she’s perfectly equipped to handle James. James may view Katie as a she-devil, but Lisa reminds him he’s accountable for his actions as well.
Lisa also wants James to understand that Sandoval is the guy wearing the white hat in this scenario. It’s Sandoval who keeps pushing for James to get a second chance (or is it his third, fourth, or fifth?).
Just like a child who throws a fit in the checkout line because his mommy won’t buy him all the candy he wants, James calms and negotiates for one piece — he still wants to DJ Billie Lee’s brunch.
Shockingly, Lisa, even after watching James continue to be his own worst enemy, agrees to let him return to DJ at SUR.
In less exciting news, Stassi realizes that writing a book is actually hard work. Being quippy and clever over the course of eight chapters is brutal. Stassi finds herself battling deadlines and writer’s block.
Her solution is to ask for an extension. She gets it because Stassi always gets what she wants, and because it’s highly likely the powers that be at this publishing house have kept their expectations very low.
Low expectations are an ongoing theme in this episode as Stassi, Katie, and Kristen head to Marina del Ray to visit Scheana. All the hostess has to do is promise enchiladas, booze, and basically beg these basic b***ches to please, please come over.
Scheana also invites her FWB, Adam, so he can mix drinks. Scheana can’t do anything without a man, and this feels like a way to announce she’s banging her “bestie” (Adam suddenly replaced practically every female cast member as Scheana’s latest closest pal). None of the girls are surprised, impressed, or even interested.
Scheana’s gathering is just an excuse to put Katie, Stassi, and Kristen in the same room. The threesome haven’t been hanging out much since Katie and Stassi have gone public regarding how much they hate Kristen’s boyfriend’s guts. Kristen resents their meddling, even though she’s the one who turned Carter from the Dr. Jekyll of boyfriends into the Mr. Hyde.
Kristen admits she started the pile-on Carter club, but he’s not all bad. In fact, he’s even making an effort to be a better boyfriend. All Katie wants is for Kristen to be happy (and likely to just not deal with this drama anymore), so everyone kisses and makes up.
Well, we have yet to see Katie and Stassi play nice with Carter, but there’s always Mexico.
The bulk of “Trouble in Lala-Land,” focuses on Lala’s increasing emotional instability. Grief does strange things to people, and in Lala’s case, it’s made her become truly vicious towards James and Raquel. So, when they’re all brought together for Billie Lee’s big weekend brunch event, things get nasty quickly.
First Lala comes for Billie, who is a formidable opponent, and while Billie doesn’t exactly back down, she lets Lala have the last word. This likely has more to do with Billie not wanting her event to go the way of the dodo like James’ See You Next Tuesday.
Less equipped to deal with Lala lashing out is Raquel who is dumb enough to tell one of Lala’s friends that the grieving daughter is using the dead dad card as an excuse to behave badly. Lala overhears, confronts Raquel (who mainly stands doe-eyed and open-mouthed), and is dragged away by Brittany.
Tom can’t help but draw comparisons between James’ behavior and Lala’s. James calls Katie fat, and he’s headed for the soup kitchen, but Lala repeatedly verbally abuses Raquel without facing any repercussions.
Even Ariana thinks Lala may be taking things way too far. Ariana’s own father passed away five years ago, and she didn’t use her tongue as a verbal guillotine. It’s time for Lala to wake up and realize she’s not the only one with issues.
Lala can’t see beyond her own grief as she unloads explosive verbal diarrhea all over sweet Brittany. James has no choice but to come to Raquel’s defense which means facing down the beast wearing a knock-off couture dress.
James gets some credit for not going off, especially when every word that comes out of Lala’s mouth is an insult. Realizing the good Lala has been indefinitely replaced by evil Lala, James surrenders and retreats.
James does try to get a jump on the fallout by going to Lisa. James has the truth on his side this time, but Lisa just saw him lose his cool a few days prior. The truth will come out in the wash, Lisa V. That’s what reunions are for.
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.