Welcome to the Vanderpump Rules Season 11, Episode 1 recap. Turn on your galaxy light and raise a glass to life post-Scandoval. When we last saw the crew at the Season 10 reunion, insults, and f-bombs were flying as Tom Sandoval and Rachel Leviss answered for betraying Ariana Madix. This week’s episode, titled, “Notes On A Scandal” catches up with the group just three months after Scandoval went nuclear. Here’s everything that you need to know about the Vanderpump Rules Season 11 premiere!
Something About Her seemed promising
VPR’s new opening showcases Ariana and Katie Maloney’s sandwich shop, Something About Her. Everything was going great for the business partners.
It is awkward to know that all of this momentum came to a halt because of permit problems. The sandwiches sound delicious, I love the vibe, and I want these ladies to succeed and best their exes.
Domestic hell
Ariana is still residing in the same home as Sandoval. He isn’t even in this episode as he was shooting Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. Did you miss him? Nope!
Sandoval’s bedroom looks like beige sadness. Ariana’s room looks like a three-room apartment crammed into one. The piles of clothes made me concerned that Ariana might be featured on Hoarders.
Sandoval wanted to buy out Ariana and continue to reside in the home. But Ariana isn’t moving out since Sandoval was the one who ruined her life. She is standing her ground. And Sandoval and Rachel are still in communication.
“She even sent a postcard with lightning bolts all over it. Like, get a new bit already,” Ariana said. Although Rachel opted not to return to Pump Rules, I’m sure we will be hearing a lot about her.
Meanwhile, Sandoval and Ariana only communicate through his assistant, Ann. I hope that woman is making a ton of money for being in the middle of this mess.
James Kennedy is adulting
James Kennedy bought a house. And he and Ally Lewber are stoked about it. Just as James was touting how quiet it was, a plane roared by. The DJ’s love nest is near the airport. Well, you can’t have everything, right?
James has also stopped drinking, but this time not because he was issued an ultimatum. Ahem, Rachel. James is meditating, working out, and is “California sober.” So, he smokes weed every day. All day. Maybe.
James met up with Tom Schwartz. Schwartz brought James a plant as a housewarming gift and a candle that smells like “citrus puss.” Classy.
Tom Schwartz feels the chill
Schwartz is struggling amid the Scandoval fallout. His bar with Sandoval, Schwartz & Sandy’s, is suffering because of the scandal. The staff were being harassed, and some quit. The number of reservations was down. All thanks to Sandoval’s inability to keep his penis holstered.
Schwartz shared Sandoval’s half-assed apology with James. “I’m sorry that I put you in a f*cked up position and that I essentially used you as a shield for my affair,” Sandoval said. Schwartz told his bestie that he had better spend the rest of his life with Rachel because of all the damage that they caused. Sandoval messed up that love connection, too.
Schwartz felt like he was being iced out of the group because of Sandoval’s misdeeds. Of course, James knew that feeling all too well. He was pushed out by Sandoval and was hurt that his friend cheated with his ex-fiancée, Rachel.
Sandoval blocked Summer Moon
Scheana Shay and her husband Brock Davies reached out to Sandoval after one of his best friends passed away. Sandoval didn’t respond to Brock. But he blocked Scheana, her podcast Scheananigans, and Scheana’s daughter, Summer Moon Davies. What kind of a monster would block a toddler on social media? And why does Summer have her own social media?
The singer is also dealing with her OCD diagnosis. She is no longer drinking or smoking weed. However, the stress from Scandoval caused her anxiety and OCD to go next level.
Ariana returns to TomTom
James had a DJ gig at TomTom, and everyone was going. Ariana wanted to go, but the last time that she was there, she looked at her boyfriend’s phone and found out that he was banging her friend.
Ariana called her new boyfriend, Daniel Wai, because she was anxious. He is a bartender and personal trainer who lives in New York City. He gave her a sweet pep talk, and Ariana decided to go and make new memories.
While Scheana doesn’t think that Ariana has dealt with the trauma from her ex-boyfriend’s twisted behavior, she knows that Daniel is a major upgrade. Still, Ariana met her new man just 10 days after she found out about Sandoval’s infidelity. Daniel seems very supportive of Ariana, so I’m rooting for them.
Everyone is at TomTom, including Lisa Vanderpump. Schwartz spoke to Ariana twice, but she ignored him. It was painful to watch Schwartz bumbling around the group. Afterward, he asked the bartender for a hug. Oh, Lord.
Schwartz desperately wants to make amends with Ariana, but she isn’t swayed. The last time she communicated with Schwartz was after his infamous appearance on Watch What Happens Live. You know, when he asked people to hug Sandoval. So, she sent him a sweet text. “F*ck you. Blocking your number. Go choke on Sandoval’s dirty ass dick,” Ariana wrote. Then she blocked him.
Lala Kent reaches out to Rachel
Lala Kent and Lisa chatted about Rachel. Lately, Lala has been very emotional. She was finally dealing with the trauma surrounding her split with Randall Emmett, and their custody battle over their daughter, Ocean Kent.
Randall won’t give Lala full legal custody because he wants to prevent his daughter from appearing on Pump Rules. But he will give Lala the final say on health and education, which is all Lala wants. Lala’s mom lives with her to help her raise Ocean, and her brother, Easton, moved into the same complex.
Lala confided in Lisa that she feels empathy for Rachel. Lala sees parallels between her relationship with Randall and Rachel and Sandoval’s love affair. During the final moments of the Season 10 reunion, Rachel said that she had no one except for Sandoval. And that clicked with Lala.
So, Lala left a message for Rachel, asking how she was doing and if she would be willing to have a conversation. This softer side of Lala was unexpected, especially because she was so brutal to Rachel and Sandoval.
Girls’ night out
Ariana, Lala, Katie, and Scheana met up for a girls’ night out. Katie told Ariana that Schwartz misses her. Lala asked to play “devil’s advocate,” and Ariana immediately bristled. Lala pointed out that Schwartz has endured years of “mental abuse” from Sandoval. Ariana explained that she wanted to get closer to Katie for a long time, but Sandoval warned her off. At this point, Sandoval has gaslighted everyone on the cast.
For some reason, Lala decided to tell everyone that she left Rachel a message. Katie’s eyes widened like she was in a cartoon. Ariana was … confused. She said in her confessional that if she was chatting with Randall’s mistress, Lala would rage.
Ariana wants Rachel to get the help that she needs but doesn’t want anything to do with her. Rachel knew that Sandoval and Ariana were in an actual relationship, and it made no difference to her. And lest we forget, Scheana was also traumatized by Rachel and that temporary restraining order. Finally, Katie explained to Lala that while Lala’s feelings might be the same, the situation, and the people, were different.
Ariana made it clear that there is no path forward for Rachel in this group. Then Lala and Ariana hugged it out. Meanwhile, Sandoval arrived home to his silent house and entered his gloomy room.
You can catch Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules on Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT PUMP RULES SEASON 11, EPISODE 1? ARE YOU SURPRISED BY HOW EMOTIONAL LALA WAS? WILL SCHWARTZ BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE BACK INTO THE GROUP?
