I HAVE TO SAY…

Okay, I just have to get this out because I have seen so much commentary on Vanderpump Rules (Season 11) airing on Bravo recently.

I’m new to this franchise. I’ve spent the past few months binging it as I physically heal, and it has been one of the messiest reality shows I’ve ever seen, in the best way possible. (I watch a lot of reality television).

BACKSTORY

In the beginning, the people on the show, who were originally waitresses or bartenders at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR in WeHo, love to party and are chaotic, mean, and generally don’t give a shit. The show follows them and their interpersonal drama.

Over time, everyone stops working there, but the show remains. After Season 8, the show fired the three people that made it as chaotic, funny, and messy as it was: Jax Taylor, Stassi Schroeder, and Kristen Doute. From my understanding, remember I wasn’t watching in real time and it isn’t talked about on the show, they were fired for some racially insensitive comments made about their old coworker, Faith who had made some appearances. (Honestly, this isn’t surprising at all. Most of them seemed to carry unconscious biases).

After they left, season 9 came out and was easily the most boring season of the series as evidenced by the cut in number of episodes.

This brings us to Scandavol, Season 10, that revived the show. Scandavol, refers to Ariana Madix finding out her long term partner, Tom Sandoval, cheated on her for seven months with her close friend Raquel (Rachel Leviss), ending their ten or year so relationship, in which they’ve bought a house together.

The season leads up to this reveal, showing how people were suspect of Tom’s and Raquel’s relationship and how trusting of Tom Ariana was. They even showed talks between Ariana and Raquel, some of which about Ariana and Tom’s relationship. This scandal became so big that newscasters and late night shows were talking about it. From the outside looking in, it was a crazy but I didn’t fully understand the complexities until watching the show from the beginning.

RANTING: BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL

So, Season 11 is the aftermath of the situation. Ariana has gotten brand deals, was on dancing with the stars, hosted a few episodes of Love Island, is lead in the musical Chicago, and gained sympathy from millions.

The others on the show, Lala Kent and Scheana Shay have since gotten a lot of heat for being unsupportive and jealous. On Twitter and Tik Tok, people ride so hard for Ariana and, in my opinion, are harsh when it comes to Lala and Scheana.

Understandably, Ariana doesn’t want to film with the man that cheated on her, (multiple times). The season is being filmed three months after the reunion, so everything is pretty fresh, especially since she still lives with him (at this time).

However, these people are being produced. This is how a majority of them earn a living and have built a brand that they promote on the show and have found ways monetize. Ariana and Katie Maloney are opening a sandwich shop. Lala can expand her makeup line. Scheana can discuss her podcast. Because of this, some have chosen to listen to production.

Production wants to redeem Tom Sandoval while also creating tense moments between Sandoval and Ariana. Lisa Vanderpump has a business with him, branded around him and Katie’s ex husband, Tom Schwartz, called Tom Tom. So if production says Sandoval has to be included, I don’t think Scheana and Lala are at fault for including him or getting over it, and I get why they’re frustrated with Ariana. They want the show to get renewed. They have children to care for.

And while watching Season 11, I can’t imagine what Season 12 will be like. It’s not as entertaining as it was in the past and if half the cast is refusing to film with the other, what can production put together? I honestly can’t watch another season of Sandoval moping, taking no accountability though I could understand how depressing it’d be to have the whole world hate you. I can’t watch another season of forcing Ariana and Tom together or even talking about Scandoval in general.

I will admit that Lala has been going on a hate tour, speaking poorly about Ariana, however Scandoval aside, their relationship has been rocky before. And a part of me thinks she’s creating drama for the possible next season. When you really think about it, what Ariana went through was truly demented, by no fault of hers, but it is so strange how big this whole scandal became. A sociologist should study it.

They have all cheated and lied to different extents and though I don’t think Ariana knew what happened, or at least the extent of it, I wouldn’t be surprised if some day it comes out that she knew or suspected, despite what she has said.

At the end of the day, they’re filming a reality show and though we see snippets of their real life and exaggerated drama they’re experiencing, we don’t know them or what their relationships are like in real life. We don’t know how much truth is behind what they say.

People keep comparing Lala not wanting to film with Randall to Tom and Ariana, but Randall was never a series regular. Tom has been there from the beginning. Though what Tom did was wrong, it wasn’t illegal. Randall has been accused of dangerous and illegal things.

I think it’s ridiculous to expect everyone to shun Sandoval on a show that has favorited him.

Are the others jealous? Maybe. But I think it can be frustrating for those on the show with her to see how easily Ariana was able to pivot (business wise at least) after being cheated on, which is something many people experience. I think it’s interesting that no one faults her for getting into a relationship with a known cheater, but faults Brittany Cartwright, Jax Taylor’s wife separated from him, for doing the same thing.

If you take a step back, and objectively look at how all this played out, it’s strange.

Anyway, I might make a post or change my mind after the reunion. We will see.