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Erin It Out
Dive deeper than the drama. We’re breaking down your favorite reality shows, Bravo moments, and pop culture phenomena through a social, political, and psychological lens that will change how you watch forever.
Erin It Out
Justice for Janet! Part 1
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In Part 1, the Erins want more from the ladies of RHOC. Is this asking too much after only two episodes so far this season? Who's to say! They continue to be disappointed & bewildered by the cast of Love Island USA. And the men of the Valley are still in need of some work.
Hi, I'm Erin, and I'm Erin. It's time to air it out.
SPEAKER_01Episode four. We're here. We're here. We're excited. It's 9 16 p.m. on a Friday.
SPEAKER_02This is called Making It Work, okay?
SPEAKER_01What was that from? Is that was that a that's a project one runway, yes? Um Make It Work. Make it work, Tim Gun.
SPEAKER_02It wasn't, but I'll pretend it was.
SPEAKER_01Oh, but that is something he said, yes? Oh yeah. Okay.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_01I think so.
SPEAKER_02I don't like Christian Siriano as much. Tim Gunn was amazing.
SPEAKER_01Right. I mean, objectively, I like Christian Siriano, but Tim Gunn is the iconic mentor of all mentors.
SPEAKER_02I know. Yeah. How was your week? Um, my week was great. It was Felix's birthday party. Oh yes. And we had visitors last week, and um, by the end of the week, I was very sleep deprived. I was in the trenches, but we're doing great. We're doing great. Yep. We have um a very over-the-top. It was over the top. Now it's just a little bit over-the-top floral arrangement because 'tis the season right now for flowers. And something about me is I love gardening and I love flowers. What's going on this week here at my house? So we have a nice hydrangea, actually, two hydrangeas. She grew these. I grew these. And then the first um really big dahlia of the season. So you're welcome. Um, yeah, that's been my week pretty much. We're enjoying the garden. Have your week been.
SPEAKER_01It was an amazing week. My cousin was in town. She lives on the other side of the country, so it's always great spending time with her. But the reason why she was in town is because we went to see Hilary Duff live.
SPEAKER_02How was the Duff Live?
SPEAKER_01Some would say what dreams are made of. Yeah. She was perfect. Sing all the hits. I'm a cancer girl myself, so the nostalgia that flowed into my being, my soul was everything I could have ever wanted. Um, obviously dressed up in early 2000s core, um, had butterfly clips in my hair. I took inspiration from myself, my fourth grade school picture. I also have butterfly. Yeah. I mean I was awesome. And I still am awesome. Obviously. Thank you so much for agreeing. But um, big, big reality TV week, as always. A doozy. And I do believe you're finally caught up on Real Housewives of Orange County. Caught up. Okay. You rectified your the error of your ways last year. The error of my ways, exactly. Okay. Big mistake not watching.
Real Housewives of Orange County Recap
SPEAKER_01Why don't we just launch into it?
SPEAKER_04Hold on, we go. Here's sand. How do you walk on it? It's like your shoes on. Rocks. Hello. This is Grabby. Get your pesos back. I went to the banco. Went to Bonko? I went to the Bonko. Oh, you went to the bank next door at Light Isla? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01What are your thoughts? I feel like the OCI had less notes. Same. Because it's episode two. Yeah, we're definitely not in the thick of it yet. But we were were both cracking up via text because of Shannon's antics. Just always. The general.
SPEAKER_02We are Shannon Storm's Bador fans. Shannon Storm's Bador. I love Shannon Storm's Bador. She is our favorite OC for sure. Yeah. One of the top. For me, one of the top. Top of the morning. Top of the moon. Yes, she loves that. She loves to dabble in a physical activity but fail at doing so. And I just love her spirit. And I think she's just a great person and fun and funny. And um, I have enjoyed watching her character growth as well. She pulls it together for me on the OC. Um, I think we share this opinion, but a lot of I struggle with a lot of them. I'm glad Gretchen because she was my number one struggle with number one op. We can usually separate, but we have some pretty severe political differences between myself and them and just lifestyle and the way that they live. But on lighter notes, Gina's party. I thought it was a perfect theme. I loved it. That's so funny. I had the opposite reaction. Because I was like, how are you gonna have a party and be the youngest one and throw a party where four like 60-year-olds and be like, everyone dress old, aka just dress how you would look without Botox and hair dye?
SPEAKER_01But they wouldn't look like that without Botox and hair dye. Like they were like nursing home level dressed up. It was comical once it happened. Yeah, the comedy of it all is what I left.
SPEAKER_02Comedy was great. Yeah. Oh, one more. And dig on Emily. Oh my god, now you're the hottest one because everyone looks old. And I wanted Emily to look really hot. I'm like, is this what we have to do? Right. Is she not hot otherwise? Everyone has to look decrepit and morose and it des Dorf.
SPEAKER_01Morose. Good word. What are you thinking about Carmela, the new housewife so far?
SPEAKER_02I'm never interested in new people usually unless they really catch my eye. She's just one of them for me that's kind of like passing, and maybe she'll stick, maybe she won't. She's nothing interesting. That's that's how I feel. That's how I usually feel. Yeah. Exceptions being Bose from what two seasons ago at Beverly Hills. Yep. And there's been a few, a handful of others that have had the more of a spark for me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, I don't think she's super sparkly, knock out of the park home run yet. But from what I've seen so far, I think I like her. Yeah. I like the energy that she's putting out. I can tell that she's going to butt heads with the OG of the OC, Vicky Gendelson. We we have seen that in previews, but I just can tell. I also appreciate how open she's being immediately about her messy past and seemingly present. Um, I do wish she wouldn't stay with a boyfriend that has cheated. Then also typical Victoria Gunwilson fashion of bringing her kids into it and calling her life dysfunctional. Which when it seems like it works for them. So, like live and let live, you know? And whose life is dysfunctional in this situation? So, Vicki, we know you always have opinions, but yeah.
SPEAKER_02We don't always need to hear them. Yeah. But it is kind of entertaining to hear them. So the second I saw that man on the screen, her boyfriend, crawling out of whatever water closet he was hiding in, I was like, this man's trouble.
SPEAKER_01Yes. I do think kind of switching gears, and it just popped into my head. How have we not immediately talked about how Vicky was ripping on podcasts in the episode as we have our embarking on this journey? I know.
SPEAKER_02I was like, this is hilarious, especially because she's been on podcasts, and podcasts are like a reason that she stays relevant, is because of us.
SPEAKER_01She also has a podcast of her own.
SPEAKER_02I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_01It's called My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast.
SPEAKER_02She has a podcast. She has a podcast.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. It doesn't add uple time. It is wack-a-odle time. But her quote was who has time to listen to all these podcasts? Are they working? Just so classic.
SPEAKER_02She loves to be working.
SPEAKER_01Loves to be working. And for her, a podcast is work, but for other people not so much. No, exactly. I can tell you it's work.
SPEAKER_02Oh yes.
SPEAKER_01We're working. We're working. Okay. We might be getting paid one day, but we're working. Yeah. I mean, if you're a sponsor, a brand, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Anything.
SPEAKER_01Someone that wants to collab, let us know because our inbox is open. Our inbox is open.
SPEAKER_02Okay, link in bio.
SPEAKER_01Link in bio.
SPEAKER_02I don't know if that's true.
SPEAKER_01No, it's there.
SPEAKER_02Okay, great.
SPEAKER_01Perfect.
SPEAKER_02So I'm bored of Heather's parties.
SPEAKER_01Can I say that? I think you can. It's kind of the only thing that she brings every season is a glamorous party, and she talks about how much money it cost.
SPEAKER_02And how you didn't act a certain way that you were supposed to act because we're at this party and there's this thing you're supposed to do.
SPEAKER_01There's all those activity stations.
SPEAKER_02There's so many activity stations.
SPEAKER_01Although this is a crazy thing I'm about to say, but for her party in the premiere episode, it said like it flashed the cost on the screen, and it said $75,000. Why do I think that's a reasonable amount of money? For her it is for a fancy pants party.
SPEAKER_02I'm guessing some things were gifted.
SPEAKER_01Right. She knows how to work that sponsorship.
SPEAKER_02And so what we're paying for is the diamond. What the f I can't.
SPEAKER_01The real tattoo station? The real tattoo station. And she got the two tiniest lines.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02What is that? Fishing for diamonds. I'm ready for Heather to be broken down a little bit. I don't mean that disrespectfully. And I'm liking her bringing her mom in. I was just going to say this. There that I want to explore. Because I'm tired of the parties. I am bored. I don't think it's interesting. It's surface level. It's very, and that was my psychology note is on Heather for when we're done, you know, talking about these details. I'm bored with her.
SPEAKER_01And I'm irritated. And I think she has a facade. Like she knows how she wants to present herself to the world. And that's how she appears on camera. And I don't necessarily think it's just something that she's showing only on the Real Housewives of Orange County. I feel that it's probably how she moves in every aspect of her life. You know, how her and Terry are in social media, how they are on their own podcast, how she is when she's on other reality television shows, when she makes guest appearances unbotched, or when they went um real estate shopping. That's not a term. House hunting on Million Dollar Listing LA.
SPEAKER_02I don't even know what it's called.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they they definitely have a a persona that how they want to be perceived and they really stick tightly to that script. Um and I think that is related to what Jen was trying to get at. I don't think Jen landed the plane on she doesn't land a lot of planes. She sure doesn't. Um, but I don't disagree with her because I think that Heather not isn't necessarily afraid of Tamara, even though she did say in one of her side confessional interviews that Tamara is scary. I think we can all agree that when Tamara is angry or when that little one eye comes out, yeah, you've got to watch out. The evil eye. Um when he has an evil eye, I will take care of her. It's it's not pleasant, right? And I and I don't think Heather wants to be on the receiving end of that. They have been friends for so long. So Tamara probably knows some things about Heather, not necessarily bad things, but things that don't fit that persona that she's putting forward. And so I don't think she wants to get on Tamara's quote unquote bad side. So because of that, she is placating her maybe more than she would other people. She is kind of glossing over her real feelings because she doesn't want to awaken the beast, so to speak.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah. On that note, I'm gonna dive into my little psychological please because it's on this note.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So what I noticed in this episode is I was really fascinated by the dynamic between Heather and her mom. Yeah. And I think it was really telling. I think it was really telling on why Heather's a people pleaser. And I think it's really telling about how she values herself and self-worth. And then I went back and watched um an episode or a scene from an episode where um Gina, Heather, and her mom go out to lunch or dinner or whatever. And Heather's mom was very critical of the way the table was set and was telling the waiter do this, that, and the other. So Heather is trained and conditioned from a young age to think that that's her value in life. And it sounds like her mom, and this is what Gina said too, her mom's not very warm. She's not very motherly, and she seems very critical. Yeah. And it seems like Heather is always reaching for that perfectionism and obsessed with it because that's her value and that's her worth in the world. Yeah. I think she is probably a bubbly person. The persona she gives doesn't seem so far from who she is. It's not a complete fake thing. I think it's just she is so fearful of not being the authority on perfect. It's every little detail from head to toe for her, is very conventional. And it just gives me the vibe that that's the conditioning she's received from her mom. And that's why I'm kind of hopeful that her bringing her mom into it will expose that. Because I actually I I like her in in ways. I'm just bored with the surface for her, but I think that there's more there. Yeah. And I want to know more. I think Terry stays on the surface. I think he gives me the vibe of one who can't do anything but joke. She might have a little, I get the energy that she has a little more in there, but she's scared to say how she really feels and how she really thinks. And her and Terry, I'm sure they do get along and have good chemistry and everything as long as they stay on the surface.
SPEAKER_01I just had an epiphany. Heather and Terry DuBrot are the first class version of Seth and Meredith Marks. Yes. When you just said Terry stays on the surface, he only can joke. Seth Marks just flashed into my brain.
SPEAKER_02I believe that to be true. And and Meredith goes along with it because she knows that that's required. Yeah. And she's okay staying there sometimes, but actually has deep and she actually liked. Heather has causes that she cares about that I believe are genuine. Yeah. And she advocates for things that I believe in a genuine way. But I just think that she has been conditioned and the life that she lives now is very much like, don't break what we anything that we have.
SPEAKER_01Don't get too real. Totally. And I think this kind of was brought up in seasons past about that almost coldness or distance that she keeps. Um and she has chalked it up to being from the East Coast. It was very interesting your point when you juxtaposed Heather and her mom to Gina and her mom because Gina is also from the East Coast. And it's a very different vibe. I also think it could be a class thing because I also think Heather, we don't know for sure. I mean, she was saying to Vicky in the first episode that she didn't inherit money, but she obviously she obviously came from wealth.
SPEAKER_02She maybe hasn't inherited money yet. But she has probably been given money and help and payments and whatever away and stock and trust funds.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So interesting juxtaposition between that mother-daughter duo and then Gina and her mom.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. How do you feel about moving here? God created Los Angeles, but he lives in New York.
SPEAKER_01We are
Love Island USA Finale
SPEAKER_01going to take a step away from Bravo World for a minute and get into Love Island because Love Island USA is officially over. It's over.
SPEAKER_02Shocking winners.
SPEAKER_01Shocking. Thank God they won.
SPEAKER_02I would have been scared.
SPEAKER_01I did think for a split second that America was gonna go vote for Melanie and Sincere.
SPEAKER_02I think America thought they were gonna vote for Melanie and Sincere.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. That would have been upsetting, but not wholly disappointing.
SPEAKER_02And not wholly surprising. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Um we both listened to the episode of Kenzie on Call Her Daddy. Well, I listened to the whole thing.
SPEAKER_02I think I made it a solid 12 minutes. Okay. I said 20 earlier, and now I'm like, it was probably 12. 12 in a Google search because I could not get through it.
SPEAKER_01Okay. You were very passionate about this. I didn't know she was on Call Her Daddy. You texted me in a fury, and I was like, okay, I'm on it. I'm gonna I'm going to listen so we can recap. Um but I've been waiting with unbated breath to hear your thoughts. Because I listened to 12 minutes.
SPEAKER_02However, in my Google search, it seems like, and you can let me know if I'm wrong, I didn't miss much. Okay. But I could have, you know. Kenzie, first of all, I am not one to comment on someone's outfit choice in this way, but it was telling of how bizarre the whole thing was. She was in her underwear, right? I would say she was wearing the s a same outfit that I would wear postpartum in the hospital. Like great description. Is that correct? Like very um cotton comfy shorts, gray.
SPEAKER_01I think it was like they weren't loose shorts, they were tight and booty shorts.
SPEAKER_02Yes. Yes. Yes. And a little bralette that looked like it was like From the Discumbin at Walmart? Yes. $3.99 Target 75% off, which I have bought many for many times. It was very odd. And in the way that she was talking and how all over the place Kenzie was, Kenzie is absolutely unable to communicate, speak without being sexual. Every single thing that she said that I heard, and the whole Love Island, went to sexuality, went to all of this, every single thing. And then she contradicts it by saying, everyone views me this way, or whatever. So it was hard because it was like completely disjointed. I don't know what's going on with her, but she's like not in reality. Yeah, it was interesting to say the least. So as a person who actually listened and got through it, what were your thoughts?
SPEAKER_01It was like a roller coaster. She would have moments of I don't like to use the word erratic, but kind of erratic outbursts. Well, there's times when it is the word. I thought it was very odd when kind of the first thing she said was being so excited to be on Caller Daddy, saying Caller Daddy was the first podcast she ever listened to, and then confessed to Alex Cooper's millions of followers that she learned sorry, mom, how to suck dick from listening to Caller Daddy. That's what she said within one minute. Like those are inside thoughts, Kenzie. Like we we can edit ourselves a bit. I don't think she has insight thoughts. Right. But then listening to the whole episode, there were some times when she would answer a question really thoughtfully and would have a typical tone, tenor, pace to her voice. So it was I think maybe jarring was the right word for the episode in totality because it was like ebbing and flowing and giving me whiplash. Yeah. I don't there's something there, but I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what.
SPEAKER_02It reminded me of when you're at a really you're at a carnival and you're on some kind of ride and the ride's really old and it kind of is jerking you around and you don't really know where it's gonna go. It's like a tilt-to-whirl. Yeah, but you never the the ride is is so it's not even that it it's kind of just going and never and then all of a sudden you're off and you're like, what just happened? Yep. That's how it felt. I I don't feel it is ethical to toss out potential diagnoses. I will say though, I am concerned for her in a way where it's I'm just a little worried.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I hope. And then it just especially with all the attention that these people get post and all the commentary on social media, good and bad, that would mess with any totally normal, well adjusted person. So someone that's kind of thrust into this that maybe seems I mean not as stable in in every single area.
SPEAKER_02Um well she had talked about her past too of oh, I got out of nursing school and then I and then I got a car and then I got my hair done and she was saying all the sort of like got her boobs done.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Yeah. The one thing that's consistently confuses me about her is that she was in nursing school. Like nursing school, a lot of my friends in college were in nursing school. I used to work in higher education. A lot of nursing programs are super competitive, and to graduate from nursing school, like there is some sort of depth and intelligence there. So I love that. But the pieces aren't all fitting together, and I don't I don't understand what's happening. I I don't think she understands what that honestly, I I don't understand what's happening a lot of times in general, anyway. So I will say, as a retired professional, I have to always have my commentary about hair.
SPEAKER_02Oh. I know what you're gonna say. It looks a lot better. We did some some AI investigating. I'm just saying, you know, brunette and or a much darker blonde. Okay, I'm just putting it out there. Yeah. I'm just putting it out there.
SPEAKER_01Kenzie. Have Aaron come out of retirement. Yep, do your hair. You won't regret it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you won't regret it.
SPEAKER_01Moving on from Kenzie. I don't know if you have been paying attention to any of the Islanders post post show.
SPEAKER_02I'm not. I was gonna ask you, because I know you're very um, you're always on the pulse of the concurrent.
SPEAKER_01I'm chronically online. Some would say that's good. Chronically online and just in different ways. Um two things that I noticed. One, my love and obsession with Carl will continue. I think this man is incredible. But when his parents picked him up from the airport, the shirts said, uh, I can't remember. It's the their couple name, like the combination of Carl and Anaya. I think it's like Kanaya, maybe is what the shirt says. So it said team Kanaya. And then the subheading uh was something along the lines of America's gotten votes wrong in the past.
SPEAKER_02Okay. I love so I think he's genuine. I've been watching for red flags. I've been like searching in the depths.
SPEAKER_01I don't see them. I think he's incredible. Yeah, I love that. The only other thing that I've seen post Villa is the pieces are starting to come together regarding Sincere for me. Because I think a lot of his family has made some questionable decisions and commentary, talking negatively about other islanders, posting it on social media, saying borderline racist comments about Anaya and other Islanders, female islanders. So knowing that that that family is so open and willing to say these things when they know all of these eyes and attention are on them, maybe explains why Sincere had the boldness to move the way he did, unabashedly.
SPEAKER_02But that's those are the only other things that I saw post Villa aside from the so unfortunate because Anaya was really the only outspoken person, especially one of the girls who had his back. Yeah. So, I mean, that's really unfortunate. Yeah. He's a lost cause to me, to be honest, unless anyone can change. Anyone can change if they want to change, but I truly believe he is the last, he is the lost cause. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Ariana said that the she said they're gonna regather for the reunion on August 31st. I don't know if that means it's filming on August 31st or it is dropping on Peacock on August 31st. We'll obviously recap the reunion here.
SPEAKER_02I hope it's not a live one.
SPEAKER_01No, that never works out. But I really hope that whenever by the time they film the reunion or when whenever it airs, that Melanie has gotten away from Sincere. I really hope that for her.
SPEAKER_02I hope that. I don't think it's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_01You're right.
SPEAKER_02I think she's very far that this was my psychological take. I think Melanie is very far into her delusion. I think she has very low self-esteem. Yeah. And unfortunately, I think this is an example of how toxic relationships begin. Exactly what happens. You have this cycle where you have this great connection and great synergy and all of this, and then you're looking for these scraps, and then you become further and further apart. And so then the person who is searching for those scraps of validation looks for smaller and smaller and smaller things. Did you notice how they did rock, paper, scissors for the massage?
SPEAKER_01Yes, it was like him making Melanie sleep in soul ties all over again. Like he won't give her anything. Like nothing you should be ha ha ha. It's like, no, it's actually not funny. He should be kissing the ground that she walks on trying to repair the damage that he's done. And he didn't immediately be like, Yes, let me give you the massage.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, because it's not natural for him to think outside of himself. Yeah. By the way, that place that they were at, first of all, the dates were so different. Kada and Zach had moldy sandwiches with bread. In the hot sun, I would have died. I would have died. So just take me back to the villa, please. Take me back out of the swamp.
unknownOh my god.
SPEAKER_02They put some decals on the side of a freaking boat for the first two, and they were so impressed. And that's all they got. Yeah. Melanie and Sincere do make their own food. No. Um, and not get a massage from another person. This is a good one. Why would they have to get by side note? I've been there to where they're at. Melanie and Sincere. Okay. So that when John and I did our honeymoon in Fiji, and that I forget the name of it, but it's a bar and it's truly in the middle of nowhere. It's in the middle of the ocean. Wow. It is horrendous. Oh. It was. Oh no. For me. Okay. As me. If you know me, you know why. It's just, it was like, I'm trapped on the island. Okay, I understand. In the sun. The music was so loud, and the it was like the the sound. The speaker was blown out. Ooh. Oof. The pizza was good. Did you make your own pizza? We did not make our own pizza. That's what confused me. Is this place is fully staffed. We also went during a kind of a stormy day. And so the thing was like, oh god. And it was just a bunch of drunk people, and I don't drink. And I think John had a good time, or maybe he was pretending to have a good time because we had it was a whole day excursion that we did, and it was the my least favorite day of the whole thing. It's all my nightmare items in one. I'm sure if if I was a different type of person, I would have liked it. But the fact that they're on this thing and they don't have someone to cook and you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Like give me a masseuse. Yeah. Also, I would have been really upset if I was in the middle of this beautiful blue ocean and I couldn't swim. Why didn't they swim? I think it's because of their mic packs. Oh. But also Bryce and Trinity were on a boat. They didn't swim either. They also never, they also never get into the pool.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I I personally, as a water sign, just would be offended that I couldn't get into that water.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Like, don't stick me in the middle of the ocean and not let me dive in and swim with the fish, you know?
SPEAKER_02Well, so when John and I were there, we got swept out to sea, basically, at that place. So we tried to snorkel, but it was stormy. But thankfully, we had they make you take a buoy with you. Because we were out there and it was so we were like drifting and drifting, and one of us was had to rescue the other one essentially. Nightmare. And I'm and I have issues with seating, okay? Yeah. That little island does not have good seating. So you're on this wet, perennially wet thing. And then you have uncomfortable seating. There's not a seat back to be seen. That's rough. And the upstairs is kind of a refuge from the sun because it has tent kind of things. But it's just plastic-covered mattresses. Plastic. On the top mattresses. So we are just laying on the top.
SPEAKER_01On plastic in the hot Fiji weather. I was shocked. I was in tears almost. No.
SPEAKER_02So that's what they did for Melanie. I mean, it's beautiful to look at. Yeah. But then you get there and you're like, I'm in heaven.
SPEAKER_01Production has made some missteps this season, and I need them to step it up next year.
SPEAKER_02It was terrible.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02No dates.
SPEAKER_01No dates, no bombshells.
SPEAKER_02Was it not beyond bizarre? No dates, no bombshells. It's weird. No barely any hideaway.
SPEAKER_01We barely got to know the couples. Yeah. This really, this season of Love Island USA was my dissertation for why we all should just revert back to UK. Because the UK this year. That was yeah. It's so good. Have you started it yet?
SPEAKER_02No. This is gonna be um probably in a month from now we'll start.
SPEAKER_01Okay, great. If you're not watching Love Island UK, we're obviously at the tail end. There's probably like two weeks left, maybe. It's so good. And USA take notes. Otherwise, you're gonna lose me next year.
SPEAKER_02I was just trying to do my patriotic duty, okay?
SPEAKER_01I don't blame you. I blame them.
SPEAKER_02I signed up for the draft when I was 18. Wait, did I?
SPEAKER_01No, you didn't. No, she's she's no.
SPEAKER_02I thought we all did that. No, that's not a thing. Scratch that. As a woman, you don't do that.
SPEAKER_01As a man, I don't think as I don't think you do that anymore. Oh my god. We should we should have info.
SPEAKER_02I vote and I watch Love Island USA. Okay. I thought I was doing something for this country. I thought I was helping bring this country together, but it I think it brought us apart even more. I'm happy to be done with it though. Oh, for sure. But you know what? I do love the fact of everyone's watching it. Yeah. Cozy at night. I actually love that. And so that's why it was such a bummer for me that the season just kept not progressing.
SPEAKER_01That's true. We're back. We're back.
The Valley Recap
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna jump back into Bravo. Yep. Steer us back on course the valley. This is the season's long. I think next week is gonna be episode 17 or something. Dark and stormy. Um I we said it last week. We sung his praises. He saw us on social media. Continue to love Zach.
SPEAKER_00I'm sure Jasmine probably wants a more understated dress. She needs to have that like royal poof. I want it all. No, it's not good enough. I want poof. I want huge hair. I want, like, you know, Princess Diana. We'll take this one.
SPEAKER_01If I ever went wedding dress shopping, he would be the first person that I would invite.
SPEAKER_02He was cracking me up at the wedding dress shopping, acting like he was a bride, talking about how she needed this princess moment, which is like not her vibe.
SPEAKER_01Not her vibe at all. And one of the bridal consultants at the shop was showing Jasmine some gowns and said, Oh, this dress is from the Game of Thrones bridal collection. I that made me stop in my tracks because who needs to make a Game of Thrones wedding anything? I didn't catch that. That is so funny. I needed to rewind it. I was like, did I hear that correctly? And I did. And that would make me say goodbye. I don't need that at all.
SPEAKER_02That's actually the opposite. I don't, I've never once watched Game of Thrones, but I just know that that gown is not for me.
SPEAKER_01I rebuke that energy for the day that I am betrothed.
SPEAKER_02What would your um can we take a side note? What would your dream wedding dress be? Are you a wedding dress person? Are you a wedding person?
SPEAKER_01That this is something that I've literally never thought about.
SPEAKER_02But the only thing you know is no game of thrones.
SPEAKER_01No game of thrones. Got it.
SPEAKER_02That's all I need to know. Where were you on the Game of Thrones bridal spectrum?
SPEAKER_01Zero meaning never a chance. Never a chance. Ten meaning yes. Negative three. Got it. Yeah. I would say I'm the same. As everyone should be. Getting back on track. Yep. I loved the wedding dress scene aside from the shenanigans and hijinks of it all. Seeing Jasmine's mom and sister. Yes. The way they love her so much. I did tear up, obviously, because I am me. But also, I think having Jasmine playing a more central role in this season is so important on so many levels. Just everything that she represents and the intersectionality of all her identities is often something not represented not only on television, but on reality television. And especially on Bravo. Like I think it's definitely a conversation that has been gaining more traction probably since 2020. But in general on Bravo, there's um a diversity problem. Like there are pockets of shows, obviously, like Real Houses of Atlanta, Married to Medicine, um, when they tried to do Southern Charm New Orleans or um Martha Summer House like Martha's Vineyard. Um so I love Jasmine, the fact that she has a more central voice to this season, and that that we're seeing all of those facets of her and it's being celebrated, and not necessarily the fact that her queerness is the forefront thing, but just that it's her relationship with Melissa is being celebrated for what it is, um a beautiful love story, and how Jasmine talks about how Melissa makes her feel safe. And I can imagine that's what anyone wants when they want to marry someone, right? I had the same thought.
SPEAKER_02And I loved seeing her mom. And I also think J I I like seeing Jasmine more center stage as well, just because I think she's fun and interesting as well as all of those other important things. I think she's funny and has funny commentary. I I want to see more of her.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that was great. Um, and then it was a jump scare to immediately going from the wedding dress, shopping, and the sentimentalness of that all to Kristen and Luke. I started to air this out last week. Oh no. Luke Danny, we don't like Danny, right? Obviously, done, done and dusted. My disdain for Luke is quickly approaching my level of disdain for Danny.
SPEAKER_00Let's go.
SPEAKER_01And I think maybe it's because I don't think that that's the general consensus so far in in public. But again, going back to the comment of him doubling down on saying that they shouldn't be planning a wedding, I'm sorry. Kristen was never actively planning a wedding. Like she was very much where? Who? She was very much like, yes, we're engaged, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But herself admitting that she's actively in the depths and the throes of sorting everything out postpartum. I think their daughter's still three, maybe four months old. Luca's making it seem like she's going to menu tastings and putting together a color palette and like, dude, stop. Like, that's not at all what's happening. It's a misrepresentation, and you're weaponizing that against Kristen to kind of quote unquote snap her out of whatever she's going through to make him feel better. And I hate that.
SPEAKER_02I hate that too. I also noticed he said something that I think cleared up his point of view to me a little bit, not in a good way, but just made me understand it a little bit more. When he said he something about he didn't like himself at this point right now. And I was like, oh, he's projecting all his self-hatred onto Kristen and blaming her and saying she needs this, she needs that. She is having a mental health crisis. Yeah. Um, they have a newborn baby, and that is really hard. And Kristen's gonna Kristen. I'm sure Kristen's version of a mental health crisis, as anyone's would be, but especially Kristen, is difficult. I'm sure she does have a sharp tongue. Um I'm sure it is hard to be around her, but it would be hard to be around anyone in that situation because it's just a hard time. Yeah. And you're just in the throes of it. And and for him to say something that the the thing that really pissed me off was him saying something about um, I didn't expect it to be like this. Be like what? Right. Like it's I mean, they have it pretty good as far as I mean, she's having a an issue, but like and he what thought that's This is very normal, actually. The issues she's having unfortunately are normal.
SPEAKER_01And he thought that having a new baby was gonna be a walk in the park? Like what I'm so confused. Like, what do you what do you mean it wasn't gonna be like that? You're like what? What was the vision? Yeah. He didn't have one, that's the problem, because he wasn't thinking about it. No, because that's not um sorry I'm generalizing, but a man's immediate thought that they're gonna be bearing the brunt of these things, right? Kristen did come around and said something at the end of that they're starting to go to therapy, and that she brings, she says to Luke, I know that therapy isn't your thing. Big red flag. Hate that. Like anyone anyone that thinks they are above therapy or above needing an objective outsider's opinion or guidance is I'm gonna just take a beat because I can really get on my soapbox about that. I totally understand there are a lot of cultures where therapy is a taboo and you don't want to talk to an outsider, you don't want to air out those things. But Luke, I'm sorry, you are on a reality television show. Your your partner, Kristen, is someone that has definitely talked about therapy and is kind of aware of these things. Right. You need to get on board or shut up. I'm so sorry. And yeah, but also Kristen, going back to something that you said, I think last week, that Kristen, even though we've seen her growth journey, still is very much a male-centered person. Um, she was placating that him in that conversation, that decision. Like she was saying, oh, like it's okay. Like I know therapy's like not your thing. And I think that also lends itself to how she, quote, doesn't see the issues with Danny. Yeah. Because she is still in a lot of ways centering the feelings and opinions of the men in her life, maybe more so above than what she truly thinks herself independently.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I had the same takeaway. I also had realized in this episode, I think I want to give I was feeling really angry towards her in this episode. And then I had, yes, and anyone who was perpetuating this thing about Janet not telling the truth, whatever, what have you. I realized I'm gonna give her a little grace in Leeway because I think she's in survival mode of I need this to work out with my partner right now. I need to be on his side, me, the baby, everything depends on it. So I'm just gonna agree. I don't actually think she's taking in. I think she's kind of blocking out real life, which is not a good sign, but it's also I get it. But I'm just pissed at most of them on this cast right now.
SPEAKER_01The two people I'm surprisingly not pissed at are Lala and Janet. I feel like I am riding so hard for them. Again, big shock to a former version of myself. But I think the way that Lala is so easily able to articulate her through line of the issue with Danny communicating Kristen's hypocrisy to her, saying, like, oh, when it comes to Danny, you can say you don't see things because that's not your experience. But then Kristen expects everyone to understand why she has a problem with Janet. Yeah. You can't have both things, and that's really frustrating. Yeah. And then especially when Kristen was questioning why Janet's bringing up her past trauma now. It's like Kristen, A, that's gross. Yeah. B, you yourself went through a horrible experience of being manipulated by a man, Stand of all. And I don't think we named it abuse when she was with James, but something was going on there.
SPEAKER_02Sort of allegedly alleged that it probably happened because of things that have happened since.
SPEAKER_01And as that those things were actually happening, you were begging to be believed. So the fact that because you You are actively not liking someone, you are questioning why she's bringing this up now. I think she explained it very well why she's bringing it up now. She only seemingly recently disclosed that to her husband. If she only disclosed that recently to her husband, arguably, probably the closest person in her life to her, she's not gonna broadcast that for the rest of the world. No. Also, there's so much shame in experiencing that, even though you can objectively know something wasn't your fault. Yeah. Like that's not something you're gonna be willing and easily able to talk about. And then on top of that, she sees how the group reacts to her in general. It's not a safe space for her to bring that up. I obviously was really disgusted and annoyed when Jesse and Danny were questioning why Janet brought these things up, but it really made me disappointed in Kristen that that was even a thought that she considered okay speaking about.
SPEAKER_02I think she is in the throes of needing things to work out with Luke. I think she tends to be man-centered when facing adversity in her life. Yeah. Unfortunately. And I am disappointed in her as well. But I'm I'm just giving her a touch of grace just because I don't know if she has the bandwidth to really fully understand what's going on past what Luke's telling her behind closed doors and whatever. So in that way, I'm kind of like, okay, she's just in the thick of it. If she comes back a year from now and doubles down, then I'm really gonna double down on her. But right now I'm giving a little bit of grace for her. For for me. For me. That's nice to do. Why other I and I think it's because I had a baby a year ago. So I'm like, totally fresh. But also, it doesn't give you a pass, but it's still fresh.
SPEAKER_01Lala had a fresh baby, and she's able to see things for what it is.
SPEAKER_02I love Lala. Yeah. And I love her character growth. Her person, she has shown real change, and it's so nice to see on TV. Yeah. And it's so nice to see someone sober like myself who is having fun and participating and isn't sitting there going, oh my god, I wish I could drink. And I I think the reason that she's able to and so confidently believe in what she's saying is because she is not worried about her own relationship with alcohol being brought up. I think with Britney, Zach, and others on the cast, unfortunately, and I'm not here to say what their relationship with alcohol is, but they do like to binge drink. Yeah. And they do not want to stop binge drinking because it's part of their lifestyle. So what happens when you talk about someone's behavior drinking, they're automatically gonna come back on you. And I remember when I was drinking, I would feel almost discomfort being even being around people who are sober or who didn't drink much because I just didn't trust that they weren't gonna call me out or something. You're always kind of towing this line. And I think that's what's going on. And it's making, and I love Zach, okay. But he's getting, he's a little too neutral now. Yeah. For me. I I want him, and I I have faith that he's gonna watch things back and see I have room for that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And I'm not totally mad at him. I understand playing both sides, but in this moment, I'm like, there's right and then there's wrong. These are real things that are this is not, oh, you didn't post on social media about this issue or you didn't whatever. These are these are your friends. This is assault, this is right, this is wrong.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm very confused why he's not ready to just move on with Janet. Yeah. Like what is he still holding on to? Because I don't even remember the origin of his frustration with Janet. Like, what did Janet do to him?
SPEAKER_02Does he even remember?
SPEAKER_01I clearly not, because he's not able to articulate it.
SPEAKER_02Uh I think she just irritates him. Yeah. And he got caught up in all of it, and she kind of just annoys him because she's not cool or isn't much of a binge drinker, and she's kind of nerdy and a little bit irritating, and she just has one of those irritating personalities.
SPEAKER_01She's not irritating me anymore.
SPEAKER_02She's um Which is crazy. She you know what she's like? She's like Lena Dunham. She has the Lena Denham effect. Oh my god. Is that a good comparison? That's a good one. That's excellent. Perfect. Perfect. And you don't know why you're annoyed with her, but you want to be annoyed with her, and you're gonna find a way to be annoyed. Because I'm annoyed with Lena Dunham. I have also experienced annoyance with her. Yeah. And then I listened to a podcast with her and Amy Polar recently, and I was like, oh, okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Maybe I've it's kind of that same thing where I was like, what do I why was I annoyed? I can't be going through a metamorphosis on my opinions on her, too. It's a lot.
SPEAKER_02It's a lot. Again, but we'll put that on ice. Okay, please. I can't even go down that rabbit. And she says in either that podcast or it's some, I think it was that podcast where she says, frankly, I've always annoyed people my whole life. When I was a kid, I annoyed people, and so it doesn't bother me because I can respect that. There's something about it. I don't know what it is, but it's just maybe it's just she's living her own life and she, you know what like I don't know what it is psychologically, but I think it's a good comparison. And I think Zach, thanks. I think Zach is is kind of caught up in that moment where he is just like, I don't really like her. She kind of just like, ew, yeah, she doesn't dress well, she doesn't whatever.
SPEAKER_01Going back to Lala and how she's able to perfectly articulate her thoughts and feelings. Do you remember what she said about Nia when she was talking to Kristen? What'd she say? Oh my god, the prairie. She blocked me like she blocked me like if she were a fucking lineman in a prairie dress.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna put that in the No, it's literally like little Danny was back there. And then Nia was like in the middle, like with her collection of she must have a subscription to Hill House Home. Yes every month. Mm-hmm. I've never seen more prairie dress. I I get she's postpartum, so those are very forgiving for the butt there's other clothing.
SPEAKER_01There's so much other clothing.
SPEAKER_02Like I've never seen more prairie dresses. But you know.
SPEAKER_01She's beautiful, but I'm just saying there's a lot of prairie dresses. Speaking of beautiful, it makes sense why she's going to judge the Miss USA pageant. Yep. I wanted to throw the remote at the television when Danny was talking about you know what I'm gonna say, of her being gone, and he generally wasn't worried about his recovery from his surgery because Nia takes care of everything, but he was worried that the space that he quote needs to recover has been taken away because Nia's not gonna be there.
SPEAKER_02Yet Nia says, She's like, I got childcare for you from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Could this man not have figured that out on his own? Clearly not. Absolutely not. And if he did, it would he would have made a big problem for her. But so you just have to do bedtime.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god.
SPEAKER_02And she's probably gonna be gone for like what three days if that and that is it.
SPEAKER_01And I think I don't I don't know if Danny and Nia have the editors and producers of this show in their back pocket because they showed Danny kind of cleaning up the house, straightening up before all the guys came over for their bon voyage to his whatever testicles party. I don't I don't think the whole testicle leaves the building, but I think you know, but I'm like the vibe. We we don't need to show him being helpful in any capacity because we know he's not. So like sprays like two sprays on something, he's like he dusts the corner of a coffee table.
SPEAKER_02As if he's ever once done that one time.
SPEAKER_01Ew.
SPEAKER_02And he would only do it for men coming over. You know that's true. The only situation.
SPEAKER_01I that whole party obviously annoyed me. The only takeaway, positive takeaway from that is when they were all talking again about Janet, bringing up her trauma. Jesse and Danny were questioning it, and Schwartz was essentially like, guys, we we gotta shut up about this. Like we have to stop questioning it. Shut, we have to shut up and listen. And I was like, Schwartz, good job. Finally. Finally, you you stuck up for something, you had a bit of backbone, and you were on the right side of Hirstry. Yeah, for once. For once.
SPEAKER_02I'd say he could have had a little more um gusto. Yeah, but you know what, for him, that was gusto, so I'll take it. It sure was. And he doubled down on the confessional, which I um appreciated. Yeah. But it's the same, it's what has classically happened for centuries and since humans have been around and since patriarchy existed, women or people who have been sexually assaulted, but that is unfortunately mostly women, have it you you hear about a sexual assault and you instantly think, oh, are they telling the truth? When in reality, the vast majority, and we're talking, I don't know the percent, I I've heard it before, it's in the 90%, it's in the very, very high. Is it's very rare that someone lies about sexual assault because the repercussions, the reputational damage, people will do that, especially if they're having a psychotic episode or they're having a mental health crisis or a really strong manic episode. That can happen, but that's pretty much it.
SPEAKER_01If it like people don't just lie about that, it you why would you ever no that's just not something you You know the repercussions, you know the repercussions and also to that severe kind of that would be a severe kind of munchhausens if you think that that type of experience is going to get you and garner the attention that you would want. So yeah, it's just it's not something that happens.
SPEAKER_02So and it it's not something that happens, and the other thing is way more that happens is things go unreported and untalked about. Yeah. And that happens so much more than we could ever hear about one out of a hundred people telling a lie. Right.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01So justice for Janet, yet again, yet again, and I can't wait to see how this wraps up. But I really hope that, like you said, once Kristen is a bit more removed from the struggles of immediate postpartum, she's able to reflect, watch some of the stuff back, that she's able to see how things have played out more objectively and give Janet a fair shake and hold Danny accountable.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm hopeful. Um, I don't I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen though. Unfortunately.
unknownI know.
SPEAKER_02Can we talk for a second real quick? I have a psychological note about the valley real quick, but I want to say why does Lala's brother have dreadlocks? The dreadlocks.
SPEAKER_01That was a note here. I I glazed over it, but I yeah, a white person in dreadlocks in 2026 is always a problem.
SPEAKER_02Always. Guys, don't do it. That's all. I just had to point that out. We can't talk about I mean, the brother was in the episode. I can't we have to say it. Um, okay. Can I mention some psychological notes about the valley? I can only imagine what's about to happen. So yes. Well, I had two whole slides, so I'm gonna I'm gonna keep it brief because two slides, people. Two. Okay. I went down a rabbit hole today. I went into academic papers. I went onto my school's library academic resources. Should you open up to find the DSM? I did not open up the DSM. Because we're not diagnosing here. Thank you. Because we're not diagnosing. Although I'm sure I could have if I wanted to. Well, surprise to no one. We ended up making this a two-part episode because it turns out we were very passionate about some of these topics. So if you'd like to hear more about our recap on the valley and the psychological takes we have, our recap of In the City, as well as a little fun palette cleanser at the end, go ahead and go to part two.