Vanderpump Rules Recap: Reunion Part 2 (Season 7 Episode 23)
On Vanderpump Rules Season 7 Reunion Part 2, Lala opens up about her drinking problem. Tom Sandoval takes Andy Cohen for a spin. Katie confronts James.
At this point, it’s painfully obvious there isn’t enough drama during Vanderpump Rules Season 7 to justify a three-part-reunion. There’s far too much time spent on beating up James. While he proves time and time again he’s his own worst enemy, it’s as if the rest of the cast has a case of the 50 First Dates.
There’s no doubt this is a kindler, gentler, less whore-ish cast than in the past. But it wasn’t that long ago they were the gorgeous, narcissistic, unrepentant twentysomethings we all fell in love with (thirtysomething in Jax’s case). Jax, in particular, is eager to let bygones be bygones when it comes to his own bad behavior.
Mad props to Sandoval for pointing out how hypocritical his friends are for bashing James and not expecting some turnabout. Every time Sandoval attempts to hold Jax accountable, Jax threatens to boot Tom as his best man. I’m guessing Jax has been using wedding party inclusion as leverage for just about everything these days.
Someone else who doesn’t like to own her stuff is Katie. She’s pleased as punch with herself for giving Lisa an ultimatum that results in James’ firing. Make no mistake, if James’ brand of misogynistic BS wasn’t so off-brand right now in the midst of Time’s Up and #MeToo, the outcome could have been very different.
Katie’s justifiably upset over the years of body shaming and James’ comments prove to be the final straw. But Katie forgets her non-stop bullying and slut-shaming of Lala. Katie chalks this up as a girl-on-girl crime, using it as an excuse while simultaneously claiming it’s not a good one.
Speaking of girl-on-girl action, we get the very juicy deets on the Lala-Ariana hookup. While Ariana was all for her boyfriend making a twosome into a threesome, somebody had to drive.
Lala was only interested in Ariana’s “cookie.” With the exception of Andy and Lisa, all those SUR ladies have either eaten a cookie or been cookie adjacent.
Lala’s equally open about her love-hate relationship with alcohol as she is about her love of Ariana’s vag. Lala stopped drinking in October 2018 after an especially eye-opening bender.
Lala has to answer for her nasty run-ins with Billie Lee this season, but Lala isn’t the least bit apologetic. Billie’s still convinced her exclusion from Katie’s first Girls’ Night In is inexcusable, despite Katie’s insistence she’s too busy too purposely go out of her way to make Billie feel bad.
There are still hard feelings on both sides since Billie uses the perceived slight to cry transphobia on social media. You can say a lot of things about this group, but they live and work in West Hollywood which makes them LGBTQ supporters whether they like it or not.
Lisa Vanderpump also resents the implication that any of her employees (past or present), her, or her businesses are anything other than tolerant and supportive of any and all lifestyles.
On a lighter note, Ariana and Tom Sandoval, Katie and Tom Schwartz, Jax and Brittany, and Kristen Doute are now all homeowners. They also all managed to secure housing just minutes from one another. Lisa’s thrilled to see everyone progressing, and it’s going to be a close call as to whether Katie or Brittany gets knocked up first.
These girls are going to look very strange with baby bumps under those skimpy SUR server outfits.
Sandoval offers to take Andy Cohen for a ride in the infamous sidecar of the infamous motorcycle. Sandoval even graciously secures a personalized helmet for Cohen. But like many of the Toms’ best-laid plans, the engine sputters and dies. A disappointed Andy heads back inside while Tom pushes the bike back to whence it came.
James can’t keep a low profile for long. After Andy questions the DJ about supporting his parents (he still does), the others pounce. Apparently, all of the Vanderpump Rules cast members are giving their respective families some financial aid — they just don’t go around bragging about it.
Lisa brings up a very interesting point: if we didn’t see this side of James, there’s really nothing else redeemable about him. But when it comes to James, there’s nothing like kicking a guy when he’s down. Kristen says she’s sorry James was raised by a##holes.
This is when James makes his exit, and if he’s smart, he won’t come back.
What did you think of this episode of Vanderpump Rules? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Vanderpump Rules Season 7, “Reunion Part 3,”airs Monday, May 20 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.