Welcome back to Charleston! When we last saw the Southern Charm cast, they were still reeling from that love triangle. Austen and Shep had other issues in their friendship after the latter’s BravoCon incident, which also angered Craig. JT, who professed his unrequited love for Taylor, proposed giving Austen a “f*ckboy exorcism.” Despite her major role last year, Olivia Flowers didn’t return for Season 10, but she’s now happily engaged. In fact, all parties in that love triangle/square have new love interests. But the wounds from the Season 9 reunion haven’t totally healed. That tension was on display in Southern Charm Season 10, Episode 1, titled “Raising Cane.”
What happened in Southern Charm Season 10, Episode 1?
The Southern Charm cast got back together to start the season at the Carolina Cup. Madison threw a party, introducing us to her pal Molly O’Connell, who has some romantic connections with this group. Shep’s friendships with Austen and Craig are still on the fritz. But he insists Ayahuasca therapy in Costa Rica made him a changed man. Taylor, who has a new boyfriend named Gaston, doesn’t want to hear it. Austen also has a new girlfriend, Audrey. But did he really change his ways?
JT also had a life-changing Costa Rica experience, spending the episode with his new accessory, a cane, after an ATV crash. He hands out canes as olive branches and tries to make “we’re all o-cane” happen. Neither attempts are successful. Instead, we might get insight into why he quit the show.
Southern Charm cast prepares for the Carolina Cup
While we start out in Charleston, the Southern Charm cast quickly makes their way to Camden. Craig insists on driving to Shep’s family farm house. Austen makes a stink about it, but Craig has a very important reason – his friends are always too drunk! Very glad Craig sees safety as a priority. Even if he did leave the trunk open as they started to drive away.
JT and Venita go shopping for Derby duds. Acting as his stylist, Venita recalls they became close after last season’s Jamaica trip. JT says they have chemistry, but I don’t see it. And not just because JT spoiled his own storyline and revealed he has a new girlfriend who is not a cast member. For now, Venita seems more interested in him than Taylor was. Meanwhile, he hasn’t talked to Austen since proposing that f*ckboy exorcism at the Season 9 reunion.
As Shep arrives in Boykin, he repeatedly gushes over the Ayahuasca in Costa Rica. He describes it as “three years of therapy in four days,” which … we’ll see. Regardless, kudos to Shep for realizing something had to change after BravoCon. However, Ayahuasca didn’t magically heal the strain in his friendship with Austen and Craig. For his part, Craig laments how things became “surface level.” Cut to a montage of them in the gym, solely exchanging “wassups.”
Meet Molly O’Connell
Madison goes shopping with her friend Molly O’Connell, one of her “favorite people in the world.” Molly is already iconic to me as the recipient of Tyra Banks’ most infamous makeover ever on America’s Next Top Model. I imagine that’s what she referenced as “trauma from my past weaves” in the episode. She’s kept modeling in the years since, and Madison used to do her hair and makeup for photoshoots.
The two go shopping and spill some tea. Molly used to sext Craig, but insists she’s not trying to steal him from Paige DeSorbo. Craig also claims Paige finds their sexting history “hilarious.” Madison is shipping her with Whitney instead, as Molly laments dating at 36. “I’m a jealous psycho,” she says, to which Madison agrees and adds, “cheers to that.” Never change, Madison.
We get a peek at Molly’s jealous side when Whitney shows up with a very young-looking date. I’ve personally never understood Whitney’s appeal, but all these seasons later, he’s still juggling models.
Shep, Austen, and Craig unpack BravoCon
BravoCon is causing a lot of drama throughout our shows! Craig says being associated with Shep’s behavior at the panel could’ve affected his business. As we saw, Sewing Down South had a booth at the convention. Shep accuses Craig of being hypocritical, mentioning the business owner’s history of drunken outbursts. Yes, but the point is that Craig is trying to change, Shep!
Craig mentions how Paige motivated him to stop drinking. We know from the Season 10 trailer that this will lead to issues with Craig and his buddies. If Shep and Austen really think antagonizing Paige is gonna work out for them, they’re very unaware of the Summer House star’s huge fanbase in the Bravo community.
While Austen came to his own breaking point with Shep, he also thinks Craig’s boundaries are too harsh. Things get real heavy when Shep mentions having a vision of Austen and his sister, Kyle, who passed away. Shep said the vision lead him to forgive his friend for the Taylor situation. While Austen is receptive, Craig appears more skeptical.
We’re off to the races in the Southern Charm Season 10 premiere
Madison shows up in a polka-dot look that references Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Austen matches her in a pair of polka dot pants. When Madison brings up JT and his cane, Austen insists he’s not gonna pull an Angie Katsanevas on RHOSLC and make fun of impairments.
In JT’s party bus on the way over, Rodrigo says he met Austen’s new girlfriend last summer. Leva drops that he was still dating other girls at that time. So, Austen might not be as much of a changed man as he claims. JT is maybe too excited to hear his exorcism didn’t work.
When they meet at Madison’s party, JT claims he’s happy to hear about Austen’s new relationship. He hands Austen a cane as a gift for “turning over a new leaf.” Austen takes it, but snarks that JT is a “weirdo” in a confessional.
Meanwhile, things are as awkward as you’d expect between Taylor and Shep. In a confessional, she admits she blocked him. Guess she won’t hear about his vision of her as a bird who kept flying into windows?
Towards the end of the episode, we meet new cast member Ryan Albert. Introduced as Patricia’s friend, he shows up with his husband, Dr. Eddie. Patricia is less excited to see JT, especially when he offers her a cane. Madison speaks for everyone when she asks, “What the f*ck you doing?” To quote Pretty Woman – big mistake. Huge.
Is this why JT left Southern Charm?
Patricia is “genuinely offended” by JT’s gift and asks, “what’s next, a wheelchair?” JT’s new confidant can’t defend him on this one. “You don’t give a woman past a certain age a cane,” Venita says, adding, “even if it’s bedazzled with jewels from Harry Winston!” Madison, sipping champagne, remarks, “He’ll learn his lesson.” Patricia promptly leaves the party.
JT sees this as some grand statement on the South. “Everyone can be huggy, lovey, kissy, cheeky, but there’s the surface, and there’s the layer underneath. It looks safe, but it’s not safe. It’s like a charade.” That may generally be true. But I’m pretty sure giving a woman Patricia’s age a cane would be offensive in any other place on earth.
Cut to two months later. We see JT insist he never called Patricia the b-word after she rejected the gift. But Craig says he did. Madison asks someone about an affair. Venita breaks into tears. The montage ends with Craig walking off, shouting “F*ck you guys, man.” And with that, the Season 10 premiere ends. Guess things are not o-cane after all.
Southern Charm Season 10 airs Thursdays on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF SOUTHERN CHARM SEASON 10, EPISODE 1? ARE YOU SHOCKED BY THE FLASHFORWARD?
