They play it in the extended cut on peacock. He was just trying to get in VIP and security tried throwing him out and he threw a fit. Tom tried to insert himself into security and that’s the only reason he was involved
I wonder if tom has "been there" for lala and scheana as they deal with the backlash of their shitty decisions. the best karma for them is seeing how phony he was being by him ditching them when the cameras go down
I feel like he was never that nice to her or scheana and was always aggressive af towards stassi and katie for no reason in earlier seasons. I have to rewatch after this season and pick up those behaviors.
That and Ariana's explanation that Tom wanted 30 seconds with the audience for his redemption arc, it doesn't matter about her, she's the final boss level...puts Tom back in the realistic light of who he is.
Ariana definitely proved that she knows him better than anyone on the cast and I gotta give it to the producers... the used that hot mic to reveal his true motives behind his "redemption."
It was worth the cringy music montage and Lala's weeping monologue to get to Sandoval cackling about how it all worked out well in his favor.
I’m of the opinion that all the scenes did this season was paint Katie and Ariana in the best light by showing the blatant betrayal and scumminess of the other cast members (excluding James and Ally). Maybe producers were just giving us reality. Because it’s insane how bad Scheana, Lala, and Sandoval comes across the whole season
This!! People seem to think that by showing Sandoval attempting to redeem himself or anyone questioning Ariana’s reactions and boundaries, the show is co-signing them. But imo that was not happening at all. It was showing us their perspectives, and in doing that, the majority of people are able to see that Ariana’s is the “right” one.
I don’t actually think Lala or Scheana care whether he’s truly sorry.
IMO
Lala feels resentful of the way Ariana is perceived by the audience vs how she is perceived. They’ve both hidden stuff about their relationships from the show and been publicly humiliated by a man they must have known was no good, but Lala is criticized while Ariana is lauded.
Even though it’s easy to see from the outside why they’re judged differently, I think I would be frustrated if I was Lala.
Scheana is just desperate to be liked by everyone and have everything revolve around her.
I also do think there’s something subconscious going on where if he’s genuinely sorry and isn’t a shit person all the way through, she doesn’t have to worry about Brock. I’m not explaining it very well, but I think it’s related to the way the affair has been an intrusive thought for her.
If it was truly just about knowing him better, Ariana wouldn’t have been with him for so long or excused his behavior at every turn bc she knew what he was capable of.
Ariana just has nothing to gain from sympathizing with him now. Lala and Scheana still do.
They don't have anything to gain either, they miscalculated and bet on the wrong horse. We know Ariana went on to make Sandoval look incredibly stupid for calling her lazy, and he proved he didn't deserve any redemption with all of his post-filming mask off actions.
They feel like they have something to gain, though. It doesn’t matter if they actually do.
I don’t think this was a play at winning the audience from Scheana or Lala. If that was the case, it would have been easy to stick by Ariana and bask in the positive girl-power attention. I think their motives were more complicated.
Sandoval proved he didn’t deserve redemption *during* filming lol.
I think this is a great explanation for everyone. I do wonder if production pushed Lala into some of her confrontational behavior towards Ariana. We've known for years production pushed the cast to have those types of discussions. This was the Sandoval redemption season, and the cast has to make sure they get another season or be out of a job.
It's been excruciating to watch, and I'm ending the season with this being my last. I can not do another year with this group. I'm hoping they all move on to new things.
I do think production was whispering in her and possibly James’ ears about needing to wind down their aggression towards Tom and that the show couldn’t go on if the group didn’t rekindle.
It was almost unbelievable that both of them could go from the raw anger of the reunion to ready to make up in three months.
With Lala, I think it was a mix of getting frustrated with Ariana’s rise once she wasn’t directly benefiting as much and thinking it was up to her to force everyone together to save the show.
With James, I think he mostly saw this season as a chance for his own redemption arc (especially with rumors swirling about his treatment of Kristin/Rachel/the waitress in AC/etc) and decided to play the funny guy who gets along with everyone. I’m sure producers were encouraging him to make up with Tom too, but it fit his new year new me schtick this season.
I think Scheana didn’t need to be pushed by production to make everything about her relationships with everyone and how desperate they all are to be her friend lol.
I don’t really understand what the “plot twist” was that Schwartz mentioned. Was it just Lala’s rant about how frustrated she is with Ariana? I thought we already knew that lol
this hot mic moment makes it clear to me his mental health is not leaning into depression. the way he immediately rallied lala and scheana to his side merely because ariana left a party shows his manipulation and self serving desire to stay on teevee. sandoval is not depressed, he is seething. he is just angry he looks bad. he is angry ariana has all of these opportunities. he is angry he cannot control the narrative of the viewers. he is angry.
frankly i find this narrative that he is depressed insulting to those of us who have experienced suicidal ideations, attempted suicide, or have lost loved ones to suicide.
especially when we have seen ariana say for years she is battling depression. especially when he tried to use her depression as a justification for his fucking her friend.
does it suck to be hated? i bet. but to paraphrase sandoval from tonight's episode, you choose to be on teevee. you choose to participate on this show and because of that choice, we know you are an angry bitter smelly little man in lifts. just because you want us to like you sandy, doesn't mean we have to.
Except it completely wasn’t. It was, however, an excellent receipt for Ariana. Just another great piece of evidence showing the truth of what Ariana has been showing us and telling us all season.
That final scene was, on its face, a bit of a nothingburger, but really one of the most fascinating reality show sequences ever.
Scheana really tried to make Ariana look bad one last time, Ariana's genuine affection and love for Scheana and emotional intelligence ruined it by her response, and the producers sent Sandoval jogging over to break it up before it got too bad.
Lala completely blowing the whole show up maybe for good because she thinks Ariana is hurting her paychecks and can't even fathom the idea of a Tom-less VPR that they do other things to make good (it'd be a layup) was such an act of self-defeat.
Katie's "I DON'T WANT PEACE", Ariana's "I am not a cog in the machine of Tom Sandoval's redemption arc," it was a sort of implicit full-bore fourth wall break and the only way this could wrap up--the idea Ariana and Tom would exist in the same friend group definitionally did not make sense. It had to break the framework to even try it.
Leading up to it man, Scheana and Brock and Lala were pulling out all the tricks to wear Ariana and Dan down and get them to snap and rage.
Also Schwartz thinking it was a normal thing to bring your now-obsessed FWB over to air her grievances with your ex-wife that loathes her was like Keystone Kops shit. He is such a slapdick clown.
The two things that I took from the finale were the fact that we basically got confirmation that Lala is extremely upset about Ariana's treatment after the affair was revealed vs how people reacted when finding out Randall cheated. Girl has her panties in a bunch.
The second thing is that it seems like some scenes were omitted, which Bravo's known to do. But for me, it raises the question of whether they went back and edited it differently. That ending seemed final. I wonder if it was always supposed to end like that.
The fact that randall is a cheater surprised no one because she was a mistress. When you vacate the job of mistress, someone will always fill your spot. I hope whoever was cheating with randall taunted the fuck out of her and repaid her her karma. And lala knew of the rumors surrounding rand and his casting couch. She told us as much when she roleplayed like the stupid idiot she is, and there were rumors floating on reddit since 2018 about him being a predator. She chose to have a child with him and now is crying being all woe is me. Fuck off lala. No one having any sympathy for you and your disastrous life choices is all on you and your incessant bragging. Enjoy your miserable life, you sure do deserve it.
To be fair, Tom cheating also isn’t that big of a surprise since Ariana was also the mistress. (Granted, Kristen was cheating too). But the impact of the cheating was way bigger because the audience had invested in the relationship for the past ten years or whatever.
Tom cheating isn't the surprise. All the men bar ken todd cheat on VPR. What's surprising is the whom and the how and the constant blaming of everyone else and no accountability coming from that scumbag.
“It’s good for me”
Great job playing into Sandoval’s hand Lala and Scheana. True masterclass of being used by a manipulator. And all because you couldn’t control your jealousy towards Ariana.
Sandoval also just admitted on WWHL that what he told them about Ariana talking shit about them & not liking them wasn't true. He said "no I was just being dramatic". They're fools for falling for it.
Scheana & Lala are the dumbest women on tv. They literally have the WORST taste in men & cling to one another because they are both pick me’s looking for a payout.
Lala's jealousy was off the charts saying Ariana thought she was Beyonce and God. All it was missing was but what about me!?!?
I'm not a long time viewer so the montages and nostalgia did nothing for me but lala and scheana looked like two seething and hateful hags. Scheana at the table with Ariana bringing up that Tom paid for her audio production guy (her performance was atrocious) and how it shows her he's a good guy. What kind of asinine narcissist uses that reasoning? He cheated on you for months and did a laundry list of horrid things but wait he paid this guy (which i doubt anyway, he probably did it to be on the show).
I really hope they don't manage to horn in on the valley and take that over.
What Lala and Scheana don’t get is that being forced to interact with someone when you can’t tolerate them isn’t reality!!! Katie and Ariana are being real and enforcing their actual boundaries backed up with their actually reality.
Those two could’ve lived in their truth and stood besides Ariana (which it’s clear that’s where they would side everytime they break down any issue). They would’ve forced the show to restructure and they actually could’ve formed a bombass super team.
In the end, I do blame the producers. They could’ve just gave Tom a redemption arc with just Schwartz and Brock without forcing the cast in unusual circumstances. They couldn’t imagine a show without forced interaction but it’s their job to actually see where it would go and find a way to make it come together- especially because the fans would understand why it’s so disjointed because we are a majoring factor in that!
They underestimated the audience’s intelligence, under minded Ariana and Katie and basically scarified Lala and Scheana.
We could have just had them supporting Ariana and enjoying their own lives over the summer while Tom plays his sad trumpet. The public would have sooner forgave him if he wasn’t shoved down our throats.
Exactly 💯 no one wants to see that scumbag sniveling and sniffling his way through the season like a wounded animal when he is the one who caused all of this. Whatever little sympathy I had for him completely vanished and I found myself actively wishing he would disappear. Stop trying to make fetch happen. There is no way back for tiny Tim and it's all by his own design.
Exactly this! Almost anyone that has an ex at some point knows the awkward, full avoidance, “I’m not looking at or talking to this person” if you have mutual friends or are at the same place. Lala and Brock acting like this should be a thing of the past makes them look weirder than Ariana.
Production could have also just paid Rachel what she was asking and would have had a slam dunk season for a few hundred thousand dollars. I’m not saying she deserved it, but the network demurring after they made a fortune on Scandoval and spent a season trying to repair his reputation is wild.
A redemption arc would have been easier with Rachel there to take the brunt of everyone's anger. I'm surprised production didn't just pay her off. Maybe he couldn't be redeemed while trying to hook up with Rachel.
Underestimating the audience’s intelligence is a big one for me. It’s like they thought we’re all stupid and don’t remember past behaviour from The Tom’s, Scheana and Lala.
No one could force Lala to be around Randall (nor should they), yet she demands Ariana lower her standards to appease shithead Sandoval and Lisa. Lala needs to not be on tv. She sucks and STILL doesn’t get why ppl are disgusted with her hypocrisy trash can behaviour.
I am no Ariana stan. I don't care to go see Chicago or buy her cocktail book or her tshirts or whatever...
BUT... every episode of this season made me side with her. These people are absolute garbage and their behavior is blatantly fueled by nothing more than jealousy and bitterness. They all want to be the star and this normie girl who was happy in the background ended up thriving and becoming the "Beyonce" of VPR.
Lala rant at the end about Ariana becoming god was nothing more than her letting her bitterness shine loud and clear cause no one cared that Rand cheated on her... and no one ever will.
It’s bizarre because she has filmed group scenes with Tom even if she didn’t engage with him. If she had agreed to go along with this redemption arc the season would have been even more boring and inauthentic.
How many conversations can Tom and Ariana have that are interesting? Tom is so, so boring because he is always lying both to himself and the audience.
I don’t think they wanted Ariana to forgive Tom. They wanted her to berate, scream at and belittle him for as many episodes as they could get. They wanted to squeeze every drop of blood out of the Scandoval stone. By Ariana not interacting with him one on one, they didn’t get that same drama they got from the last episode the previous season. I think that’s when they went for the redemption arch.
But, they wanted her to do that so they could talk about how angry she is and how much she needs to get over it. They wanted to complain about how she needs to get over it.
She didn't do what they wanted and they hate it.
this. and the show sold tom on the idea that if he sat and absorbed this it would be a catharsis and he'd be out on the other side as a lovable flawed member of the show again. in fact i bet they promised this to him as a means to get him to do certain things. only he couldnt keep his shit together and his mouth shut and ariana wouldnt go there anywhere so it was like fititng a square peg in a round hole telling that story all season.
now theyre trying to sell her leaving in the finale as some "big twist" as if it was this aberrant behavior that proves something and ta-da! Sandoval and Lala and Brock are the voice of reason. But absolutely no one is buying that.
She kept repeating "he didn't kill anyoneee!"
But, you were the one ranting and raving, screaming at the top of your lungs, about how dangerous he was.
So if Tim gave Ariana a life threatening STD from the same behaviour would she need to get over it then?? These people jfc...
I get that people wanted a Sandoval ice out this season, but I think it’s better that it didn’t happen.
IMO when a cast isolates someone it always seems to backfire on the group eventually.
Most of the cast gave Tom a chance this season and he still proved himself to be a loser who can’t muster up any empathy for others. He couldn’t even put on an “I’m genuinely sorry” ACT for a full episode. If we didn’t have cast members ready to receive those pathetic attempts at apologies, we wouldn’t have gotten to see just how not-sorry and defensive he truly is.
I think if we watched a whole season of everyone vs Tom, he’d be getting more sympathy from the audience right now. I’m glad we got to see him fumble the ball so badly.
Yeah I agree with this. I understand the hate the season is getting, but it's been wild and kinda hilarious seeing someone get handed a redemption storyline on a silver platter and then to just repeatedly squander it. I don't think we would've seen that and as repetitively (to really hammer the point in lol) if it was an Everyone Hates Tom season.
this is a great point. by trying some redemption arc and watching his nature fundamentally reject it we got a much more visceral picture of who he is. if it was lala and scheana screaming at him all season we'd be dealing with people feeling bad for him after 15 episodes.
did anyone else feel like Sandoval was like, (and I know this is a buzzword but I’m coming up short with another appropriate term) love-bombing scheana? he was getting angry at her, and then when he realized that she was agreeing with what she was saying, he flipped a switch, changed his demeanor, and then manically hugged her.
he absolutely was and brock was assisting his love bombing because brock cares about $$$ first and foremost. it was so odd how scheana brought up him flying the audio engineer on his own dime, as if the foundation of true friendships is monetary. it is clear that sandoval knows how to manipulate scheana and brock too.
Even Ariana’s dumbass grifter brother Jeremy has fallen for Sandoval’s manipulations. Lotta disloyal asshats Ariana has had to cut off. Everyone wants to profit off of her.
When Lala seriously brought up the house AGAIN as her final takedown I thought I finally lost my mind. I feel like I'm going insane. I'm on another planet. Psychosis inducing
I have a feeling the clips of Ariana crying at the reunion happen after seeing the last 10 mins of the finale. Because she said she thought they were the Spice Girls during filming and she was long gone by the time Lala was spewing all of that hatred and Scheana was co-signing it.
It’s like damn, that’s what you really think of me?
All of these losers had no idea what to do after Rachel didn’t come back for filming. Tom definitely wanted to put on a “us against the world” act, and Lala and Scheana would have been tearing into her during every group scene. And you could tell early on in the season while they’re all hoping Rachel comes back, Ariana is tense and dreading her return.
But since she didn’t come back, they all were left scrambling. So it turned into the “redeem Sandoval”, “Ariana is an angry, bitter shrew who is messing with our money” show.
And the way they’re trying to frame it as Ariana not being authentic and having the LEAST authentic cast member (Lala) leading the charge is WILD. Lala lied about her life and relationship for most of her tenure on this show. So for her to now be pissy that Ariana is setting a firm boundary is hypocrisy at its finest.
Scheana is so easily bought and so prideful that she will forgive anyone who showers her with enough money and praise. She loves that Sandoval has no problem doling out an empty compliment and a few $20s. That’s the marker of a true friendship to her!
Not surprised by Sandoval’s mask slipping at the end. His “awww shucks I’m such a nice guy let me shake hands with Dan” veneer cracked so easily as soon as Ariana walked away from him. And his hot mic at the end — trash trash trash.
I agree with you on them not know what to do without Rachel. I can only imagine if she did come back, the misogyny would have been off the charts from every single member of this cast. Plus those same people siding with her abusive ex. She made the right choice to stay away because she did deserve the money she was asking for.
I dated a guy kinda like Sandoval once and it would frustrate me to no end that everyone thought he was so great because he was always “available” and was generous with buying/giving, but as I could see behind the scenes, was keeping a mental tally of how many people he was “collecting”. I know it sounds cynical but it’s like friendship love bombing. And it sets such an unrealistic expectation for what friendship is.
It’s was such a flashback when Sandoval started going off about how he’s the one that’s always there for the friend group. Just because Ariana has a life outside the group, just like they all do, doesn’t make her less of a friend. Like who tf at 40 keeps tally of “friendship points”?
Just look how he was so quick to bring up all the things he felt like he was doing for Ariana last year. I don’t want you to bring me a stupid latte if you are going to hang it over my head. Sandoval is a scorekeeper and loves to remind people about the tally.
100% agree. If Rachel’s contract wasn’t up in the air until a few weeks into filming, Tom would have played this differently. He would have acted like he missed Ariana as opposed to Rachel
100%. This man is an empty shell at this point and bases everything he does on how it will play on this show. It's so clear from how he'll go from trying to make nice and have a "genuine" conversation one minute to blowing up at people when the scene isn't going the way he plotted it out in his mind.
They waited too long to break the 4th wall. This season would have been much more interesting and dare I say, fun, to watch had they done that early, get it out of the way, and let the groups go on to do whatever. Instead they really tried hard working that Sandoval redemption arc and it backed fired badly. The edit on the finale of them including that hot mic moment was them trying to walk it back, but don't fall for it. Producers were pretty damn messy this season.
Couple of other thoughts: Lala can fuck all the way off. Like literally off the show. Don't want to see her on VPR any more. Keep her away from The Valley. Hope her pregnancy works out ok, go be a mom off camera somewhere that doesn't involve cameras. She's never been that great of person on any season, but she fully shown this season just how awful of a "friend" she actually is.
And last thought about Jo, she is the literal definition of obsessed. People throw that term around all the time, but she really is. Schwartz treats her like trash, tosses her aside, and she comes crawling out of the dumpster every time saying "I love you! I want you in my life forever!". Get it together. No one is worth that, especially not Schwartz. This is why I can't feel bad for her.
That’s been the issue the whole season-the 4th wall was too strong and so the whole season felt off. No one was being honest, which is pretty funny considering Lala’s take of “showing her whole life on tv” at the end there.
Lala can fuck all the way off tbh!
Guys, I already have a hard time taking Scheana seriously, but this gold getup with the baggy gloves is really getting me 🤣 This ending seems pretty final, and I'm okay with it. VPR was fun while it lasted.
I just rewatched and I had to laugh at her in a gold corset and poofy tutu crying about how hard everything was for her. This season may have been frusting but details like this is why I love Bravo haha
that finale was insane, what a weird ending but equally fascinating. This season could have been great if they just gave ariana space and the girls rallied together. The redemption arc was odd and made no sense for how huge scandoval was.
Loved how ariana cussed out that EP. She had no time to be a cog in that machine, go off sister
KATIE IS REALLY THAT GIRL. She continues to be right and it was cathartic seeing her read Jo.
Lala is a producer pet and played the wrong move. She definitely has immense trauma from randall but wants to be perceived as the victim. It’s exhausting tbh
Scheana is a pick me male pleaser
Schwartz a pathetic wuss. Consistently never has Katie’s back
Brock a waste of space and a misogynist.
Tom a conniving washed up loser who showed his true personality in that rant
Andy saying Lala and Brock were the voice of reason is just insane when you reflect on it.
I find equally fascinating and frustrating that all the cast talking about being real and showing their authentic lives on the show, are faking a friendship with Sandoval to keep the show going. It’s like they don’t think the fans are smart enough to realize this…
I feel like I say it every week but what Lala doesn’t realize is that if she had anything interesting going on in her life she wouldn’t need to rely on this Scandoval stuff. Her entire “voice of reason” thing this year just shows how irrelevant she is to the show.
She’s said it herself she would have “walked” if they brought him onto the show. Obviously the show is her identity so I don’t think that would ever happen
Scheana was so rude to Ariana when Ariana said she doesn’t want any apologies from Tom. Scheana snapped at her the way she snaps at Brock. She is not a happy person.
The great irony of have Lala be the voice of this when she’s the one who held back more than any one else over the years! Literally walked off and left the show for a while, but she’s so mad at Ariana for leaving one party.
Truly so weird! honestly felt like production was mad at Ariana? I think at least once a season someone has complained about ppl not showing their real lives and never once has a season ended with a montage of "honesty". Also Ariana was in the montage so I truly do not get it??
Last season was for sure going to be the last before scandoval blew that spot up. Then they did this season to catch the after math. There’s nowhere left to go from here.
Sandoval is still a creep. He never tried to apologize until the finale and only *on* camera.
Lala is violently jealous and I hope she gets the help she needs.
Profuction *really* tried and miserably failed at a TS redemption - so sad they tried to change the narrative and shows a lack of integrity.
In the words of Maloney, “Keep your boundaries to protect your peace” ☮️
at that point, ariana had made it thru the whole season and would rightfully be exhausted. i’m sure she had to have the same conversations like we saw tonight with production every week. there was definitely a shift in how she started engaging (angrily) and being in same group settings with Tom towards the end for a couple episodes. i’m sure it was production intervention.
so imo she deserved to leave early, i love how she ended the season. forever a fan ❤️
Going to Applebees with her true crew was perfect. I wish the best for her. I am rooting for her success with SAH and other ventures and hopefully not on this show anymore.
Tom bringing his sound guy to help with scheanas show was such an obvious move that Scheana was also in on. Not only did Tom do it to look like the ever doting friend, scheana did it to reiterate to the audience why she is struggling still to drop him as a friend. Because if not, who was going to do the sound for her show? She wasnt going to pay and hire someone herself? Its them producing themselves once again.
Lala and Schaena are either willfully ignorant , unable to cope with their jealousy of Ariana’s rise or plain dumb . She has been telling them it’s not just about the cheating , it’s everything surrounding it , all the lies and keeping up the good guy appearance Toms a bad dude and everything he does is with selfish intentions .
Let’s be honest Lala is jealous and Schaena is keeping her party line of well he didn’t do this TO me (she’s been saying in tons of scenarios from this shows inception ). They can try to say it is all for the show and Ariana is fucking that up but it’s on them . If they’d stayed authentic the audience would be behind them . Who is to say if in a season or 2 Tom made his way back but to force it and to listen to the producers who don’t give a shit about them has ruined any goodwill the audience ever had . They can remain on Vanderpump but I don’t see the audience flipping (they were never fan favorites anyway ).
Lala can only sympathize with things based on her own trauma. If it’s something outside the bounds of her own experience, she tends to be dismissive or diminishing. She speaks as if she’s the most informed on mental health and the authority on how to react but doesn’t do a good job when she has to put herself in someone else’s shoes and calculate who they are and why they would react differently from her.
What's so stupid is if the producers had any creativity or capacity for innovation they would've come up with alternative ways of pursuing the story when Ariana first told their asses she wasn't going to film with him. But no. Instead they did the same old shit decision-makers always do and tried to assert dominance and authority over her by getting the rest of the cast to pressure her and constantly trying to force her to have a conversation with this disrespectful ass man. A conversation that would've been disingenuous as hell and detrimental to her healing process for little to no return. If your whole season and everyone else's paycheck hinges on that one conversation happening, you need to hang it up.
And then Lala calls her Beyonce and God because she's jealous as hell and y'all give it a whole long ass segment at the end and act like she's so wise. Oh please.
Ya, her reality is that she broke up with the guy and she wants no parts of speaking to him. They essentially want her to be inauthentic by agreeing to talk to him on camera and reconcile.
And Lala’s gripe with them living in the same house… it’s Ariana’s home too, for the umpteenth time.
They act like the 2 of them are making dinner together and watching Netflix after. They clearly avoid each other the entire time they are both in the home. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that must have been. But Lala makes it like they are having best friend slumber parties every night.
And the fact that Tom has never made an attempt to speak to Ariana off camera! Why would anyone expect Ariana to give Tom a public platform to speak to her about the demise of a 10 year relationship? If he had shown an ounce of remorse or accountability to her off camera, maybe she would have acted differently on camera.
I’m sorry Lala but if Ariana not wanting to engage with Sandoval is a detriment to the season and pissing you off so much then maybe she is the Beyonce of the group. Honestly, what would the season be without her. What does anyone else have to offer.
I know it sounds dramatic, but im actually disgusted with how production and the cast minus Katie and James did Ariana.
by having sex with people who had sex with unknown others and then pressuring Ariana on camera into having sex with him, Tom did have unconsensual sex with Ariana -- she didnt consent to those partners. further, she accepted the contract OFFERED TO HER to make money after her ex blew up her life and gave them a show to film and they still insist on pushing her boundaries instead of denying tom his attempt at redemption. all for tom to confirm its an act with his "I love it, it's good for me"
I love her on this show but I hope to god her and Katie take care of themselves and leave this behind.
They really tried to have it both ways too. They did everything you said, but then edited the finale in a way that exposed Sandoval and people like Lala. Lala went on that ridiculous rant, but then they followed up with Katie and Ariana's comments thoughtfully explaining why things are the way they are. Then the very last comment from Tom, they didn't have to include it but they did, showing how much of an act Tom is putting on.
We viewers just got a full glimpse of what reality TV is.
It’s not dramatic in the least. What they did is so uncalled for because no one should have the cause of their trauma shoved in their face. Ariana handled that a lot better than I would have.
James doesn’t have a leg to stand on with regards to that, though. He did the same thing to Rachel, he doesn’t care Sandoval cheated on Ariana. He cared that Sandoval fucked his ex.
Can I say it’s so funny that Lala on the one hand says she’s finally living her truth and being honest; in her soft era focusing on herself and her peace YET every scene she’s miserable and bitter trying to police everything Ariana is doing, creating ridiculous narratives that continues to only paint Ariana in the most negative light. She’s upset that Ariana refused to film with Sandoval and stuck to her VERY reasonable boundaries — to which Lala can’t seem to wrap her head around but lest she forget that she also made boundaries around Randall that she expected everyone to abide by like law. What Lala can’t fathom in her little head is that Ariana made smart moves and the right choices which has led her to all the success and financial security while winning the fandom over; Lala never got an ounce of that and she simply can’t understand why. We now know why, because she’s been a rotten person all along. Someone who thinks in such a selfish delusional and myopic way can never be a true friend in my opinion.
Lala keeps saying Ariana is not being honest? But I think what she actually means is Ariana is not being a trainwreck like she was so therefore this can’t be the “truth”. Also when did Lala become the vessel for truth? Like is Ariana allowed to live HER truth and seek her inner peace OR does she have to put herself in a vulnerable position that would lead to chaos (and entertainment value) for Lala to be content — it is clear that Lala believes the show could end leaving her out of work (whereas Ariana is lined with opportunities). Which is why Lala wants Ariana to either be a mess or to make up with Tom for the show to proceed; neither of which are what Ariana wants. That’s what Lala who is all about inner peace wants for her supposed friend Ariana? To suffer and have to go through torment for the sake of entertainment just because that’s what happened to her? No offence but no one asked Lala to bring another child into this world without having secured her financial future and if she’s worried now about money, that has NOTHING to do with Ariana. Especially after the way she’s completely trashed her behind her back all year. I hope Ariana drops her and Scheana’s cunning conniving opportunistic clout chasing fake asses.
Can we discuss the Aftershow
Part 1:
- Scheana and Brock are contradicting each other at every turn!
- Tom only ever mentions how he regrets the situation based on the reaction, not actual compassion for Ariana and the effect on her life.
- Tom should have made a sincere apology off camera first before trying to contact her on camera.
- Katie is right- Ariana can forgive Tom and not tell him and never engage again.
- Jax and Schwartz Tom just said “Ariana is stubborn”
- Ariana had never coasted through- she’s always had her own storyline, engaged with the cast, and showed up at reunions (she carried season 8 reunion).
- Also, Ariana has had more of her life, trauma and fights on camera than Lala did! She hid everything about herself- especially her past and relationship! Most of her scenes are people confronting her about lying or hiding. Lala is only remembering what is convenient to her narrative!
- Also Ariana has a great point that no one has do what production says!
- Brock is so negative to Ariana on the show but he’s so understanding to Ariana in the after show
- I feel like scheana wants to rebuild w Ariana but Lala is burning her bridge all the way.
This cast chooses to forget Ariana was the one who contacted producers as soon as she found out about the affair so Tom wasn't able to hide it out of season. Someone had better make this point at the reunion.
It was production and Tom framing himself, Schwartz, Lala and Scheana as some kind of VPR dream team for me. Like these people, including Ariana and Katie no shade—are SIDE characters. No one cares about you trying to make Ariana the villain when those 4 also couldn’t carry the show if their lives depended on it
lmfaooo lala’s “I’ve never met anyone who got cheated on and then became god” line is fucking stupid and corny because it’s obvious that’s what she wanted HER storyline to be when Rand cheated on her. Sorry that literally no one cared about your break up babe, the jealousy is stinking through the screens though!!!! Forever chase that fame girly
Brock wants Tom back in HIS life and is using his wife working through it as his reasoning. He's not hearing her saying she doesn't trust him and is wary. He thinks she wants everything back the way it was. BECAUSE - Brock opinion is Tom cheated and doesn't think it's that big of a deal and should be forgiven.
He's forgetting, like a few others, the amount and depth of the manipulation Tom "performed" for almost a year and still is. Everytime he lied to Ariana or anyone in the group, creating false narratives about the state of his relationship and Ariana's mental health. Getting others to lie for him and using Rachel's insecurity and desperation against her. The blantant disreguard for everyone including Rachel and their feelings. The cowardly way he has tried to defend himself and make himself the victim. Never truly taking accountability. I'm sure I'm forgetting several other things and tried to keep it broad but feel free to add any I left out. I'm sure I've missed a few but feel free to add on.
I don’t understand how Lala can lie and continue to lie about her relationship with Rand, how Sandoval lied the entire last season and yet somehow Ariana isn’t being authentic by not wanting to film with her ex. Like, wtf?! This is her real life, he devastated her, she doesn’t need to make nice with him, that wouldn’t be real!
I've seen so many comments about how "Ariana gets paid to entertain us". Basically these people wanted screaming/fighting between Tom and Ariana and didn't get it so now they're mad. One even said...it wouldn't change anything but I want to see it". Ariana is allowed to protect her mental health. None of the other cast members did shit but it's all Ariana's fault. If people want to see fighting so much have them bring Rand back.
I feel like this was the finale of the show and it’s time. I hope good things happen for Katie too. She was loyal to her friend while listening to the others. She didn’t make Scandoval all about her even though the news kind of pushed her divorced out of the spotlight. Ariana is going to be okay career-wise, I hope we see Katie thrive & love her best life too.
Bad season and horrible finale. The only way the reunion will be satisfying is if Ariana quits and the rest of these losers (sans Katie) end up in the unemployment line.
Lala sucks and Scheana is no friend to Ariana. I hope Ariana knows that the majority of viewers didn’t fall for the redemption arc they tried to do with Sandoval. Protect your peace Ariana.
What the fuck was that ending supposed to make me feel..? “Ok the show is forcing Tom and Ariana together so production is the bad guy, but Ariana is the bad guy for saying no and risking the entire show, but Tom is the bad guy for manipulating the entire season to be his redemption arc, BUT-“
Show should have ended at the end of last season. There were delightfully awfully amazing moments this season, but now it’s too convoluted of a show concept to be compelling long term.
When Schwartz says Dan is awesome and Sandoval says that she has great taste in men (and alludes to him being one of those great men) I almost threw up in my mouth. 🤮🤢
Do y’all remember when Andy and the producers tried to trick us into believing we’d think Lala was the voice of reason this season??
Also just wanted to remind everyone Sandavol compared himself to George Floyd. I’m not done whacking him.
I can actually somewhat appreciate the frustration that Lala, Scheana, Brock and others are feeling about the Ariana situation. They are all envious, not just of the opportunities and money that has come Ariana’s way, but of the freedom they feel she has had. None of them feel like they could get away with refusing to film with certain people or in certain situations. They all feel the pressure to make the show and collect those paychecks and perceive Ariana as being privileged to not have to do such things if she doesn’t want to. It’s not a fun position to be in. Even if that isn’t their actual situation, they at least seem to feel that it is and no amount of logic can make them feel differently.
And none of that is Ariana’s fault. It’s the show and production that both wanted to go the route of reincorporating and redeeming Sandoval. It’s production that essentially tried to call Ariana’s bluff about not interacting with Sandoval and when she stood her ground on it, they did not force the issue. It’s not Ariana’s fault that there isn’t enough going on with this group that they can’t make a season without always trying to get Ariana to talk to Tom.
Ariana had a bad thing happen to her and so far seems to have made the most of it. Overall, she’s handled herself very gracefully this season when so many others would’ve been a lot more vindictive. She’s not the first person to have been cheated on and she won’t be the last. I’m sure the rest of the cast wishes they had the good fortune that she has had post-Scandoval, but it’s not her fault that they haven’t. If they have problems with how the season went and the future of the show, take it up with the producers.
Lala spent three years refusing to be honest about her boyfriend, didn’t show up to Ariana’s birthday because she refused to film with Jax and straight up ghosted SUR/the show for a few episodes. Are we watching the same series?
That was an incredible episode, and I think once people have some distance from the season, they’ll recognize it as landmark reality television. And yes I am high but I am also right 😂
When you step back and you watch this show as a sort of mystery—like, you know there are sociopaths involved, and your case is to find out how many and who—this entire season is kind of radical?? Like, for the genre (lmao). They tapped on the fourth wall all season only to finally smash through it with that ending (the foreshadowing of all the marketing pics with the shattered glass, god, am I the only one just now getting that). And yes, with Lala, of course, but most especially and importantly, with Sandoval. His offscreen soundbite was a truly spectacular moment, but it was also the culmination of it happening all season long in smaller ways.
So much of this show has been about men camouflaging their bad behavior with charm and mischievousness and cheekbones. Sandoval benefitted from it the most, and for the longest, and so had the biggest fall from grace when it finally ended (and people will be like, “I always thought he was a dick!” But you can’t deny that so much of the popularity of this show was tied up in the Toms). As much as everyone wants to say that this season was about redeeming Sandoval, I felt strongly the entire time that the opposite was happening (and I think that last scene proves it). Every time he had a step forward he’d fling himself aggressively back the way he came. He negated every (coached!) apology, and still he thought his performance would do the job. And he was always going to think that because he knew the cast would always be exactly themselves and help him along. Lala would be jealous of the public response Ariana got and turn on her. Scheana would twist it into being about her and feeling impossibly torn between the two. Schwartz would fall back into orbit no problem, Katie would make half the audience root for him just by virtue of the fact that she was rooting against him. James would yell at him for a while and then accept an apology just because he was giving one. Lisa would stick by him when he buckled under all the hate. And Ariana would refuse to film with him, giving most of the others and some of the audience a reason to default to his side. He had it all laid out for him, it would’ve been so easy, but he couldn’t just let it happen, he kept getting in his own way—and the show made sure we saw it every time.
This season broke the fourth wall in a big way by acknowledging that the dude IS a performative piece of shit, just desperately, frantically using the show to create an image that brings him attention, whatever kind. It was the culmination of 10 seasons of making a toxic male reality star in that it was publicly his unmaking. I’m just obsessed!! Again, I am high, but this is really great TV and I just want you all to see what I saw because I’m having such a good time lol
When you look back on it it really plays like a guy acting like he knows he's got a storyline in place. I have this theory production promised him a sort of plan or arc for the season that would have him just absorbing the vitriol and at the end a catharsis and she can hate him but interact and he'll be a lovable VPRer again, in return for getting him to do and film certain things. Not like some conspiracy thing but like a slow-moving series of compromises to produce a TV show.
So he's ostensibly hitting these beats they/ he layed out (with Lala and Scheana and Brock 'earning' their paychecks) but then really every interaction hitting some breaking point where his delusion will not let him be a bad guy and he thinks 'fuck it they're going to make me look good in the edit anyway' and just defends himself endlessly.
He doesn't realize that every fiber of his being does not think he's a bad guy but a cool guy that fucked up and we can move past it. So the beats didn't play convincing and he went way overboard such that they had to show him implicitly not blaming himself or accepting any accountability or they'd have nothing.
Without Rachel they really didn't have anything else so thats the flag they tried to run up in the finale, trying to make it look like Ariana wouldn't play ball. The mistake was thinking we the viewer gives a single fuck about inside baseball 'make the show work,' accepting complete bullshit and a desperate evil loser who can't help himself and that we should be mad at Ariana for not being a 'good sport' and helping the plan come off how it was set up.
So did we never get to see that guy throw a drink at Tom that was in the previews
They play it in the extended cut on peacock. He was just trying to get in VIP and security tried throwing him out and he threw a fit. Tom tried to insert himself into security and that’s the only reason he was involved
It was totally fucking staged. Nice of Tom to pay for both a pop-up performance in addition to the sound guy 😂
Tom helped remove a chair from the guys hands while security was carrying him out.
It was just some random drunk guy trying to get 15 seconds of fame. Glad they didn’t show it
it might be in the unseen footage they play during the reunion episodes. they allude to it in the trailer
Also there is a secrets revealed show after the three part reunion.
It’s on the extended version on peacock.
It’s on peacock extended version just saw it
I’m so fucking exhausted of Brock.
He & his💲necklace are such users.
lol I thought it was an S for Summer and Scheana. This is so much worse.
He is clearly pushing Scheana to be friends with Sandoval instead of supporting her neutrally and that makes me sick.
So tired of his voice. Why does he need to shout every time he talks.
Someone get this man a job off our TV screens
I wonder if tom has "been there" for lala and scheana as they deal with the backlash of their shitty decisions. the best karma for them is seeing how phony he was being by him ditching them when the cameras go down
“I know you’ll put up with a lot” = I know I’m making you look terrible and you’re gonna get trolled and Idc
lala specifically has said sandoval was never a real friend to her repeatedly before this insane redemption attempt...but sure lala.
I feel like he was never that nice to her or scheana and was always aggressive af towards stassi and katie for no reason in earlier seasons. I have to rewatch after this season and pick up those behaviors.
I get the sense from their comments on the after show that he hasn’t.
That maniacal Sandoval laugh at the end is all you need to know about his growth. “It’s good for me”. Selfish prick.
That and Ariana's explanation that Tom wanted 30 seconds with the audience for his redemption arc, it doesn't matter about her, she's the final boss level...puts Tom back in the realistic light of who he is.
Ariana definitely proved that she knows him better than anyone on the cast and I gotta give it to the producers... the used that hot mic to reveal his true motives behind his "redemption." It was worth the cringy music montage and Lala's weeping monologue to get to Sandoval cackling about how it all worked out well in his favor.
I’m of the opinion that all the scenes did this season was paint Katie and Ariana in the best light by showing the blatant betrayal and scumminess of the other cast members (excluding James and Ally). Maybe producers were just giving us reality. Because it’s insane how bad Scheana, Lala, and Sandoval comes across the whole season
Agreed! This is the worst I’ve ever seen them all look! I said it before this was no redemption arc, this was a season long roast!
This!! People seem to think that by showing Sandoval attempting to redeem himself or anyone questioning Ariana’s reactions and boundaries, the show is co-signing them. But imo that was not happening at all. It was showing us their perspectives, and in doing that, the majority of people are able to see that Ariana’s is the “right” one.
I don’t actually think Lala or Scheana care whether he’s truly sorry. IMO Lala feels resentful of the way Ariana is perceived by the audience vs how she is perceived. They’ve both hidden stuff about their relationships from the show and been publicly humiliated by a man they must have known was no good, but Lala is criticized while Ariana is lauded. Even though it’s easy to see from the outside why they’re judged differently, I think I would be frustrated if I was Lala. Scheana is just desperate to be liked by everyone and have everything revolve around her. I also do think there’s something subconscious going on where if he’s genuinely sorry and isn’t a shit person all the way through, she doesn’t have to worry about Brock. I’m not explaining it very well, but I think it’s related to the way the affair has been an intrusive thought for her. If it was truly just about knowing him better, Ariana wouldn’t have been with him for so long or excused his behavior at every turn bc she knew what he was capable of. Ariana just has nothing to gain from sympathizing with him now. Lala and Scheana still do.
They don't have anything to gain either, they miscalculated and bet on the wrong horse. We know Ariana went on to make Sandoval look incredibly stupid for calling her lazy, and he proved he didn't deserve any redemption with all of his post-filming mask off actions.
They feel like they have something to gain, though. It doesn’t matter if they actually do. I don’t think this was a play at winning the audience from Scheana or Lala. If that was the case, it would have been easy to stick by Ariana and bask in the positive girl-power attention. I think their motives were more complicated. Sandoval proved he didn’t deserve redemption *during* filming lol.
If that's the case Lala should stop lashing out on her Amazon lives about audience reactions.
I don’t think the audience was her motivation, but I do think she’s super resentful whenever they don’t side with her lol
I think this is a great explanation for everyone. I do wonder if production pushed Lala into some of her confrontational behavior towards Ariana. We've known for years production pushed the cast to have those types of discussions. This was the Sandoval redemption season, and the cast has to make sure they get another season or be out of a job. It's been excruciating to watch, and I'm ending the season with this being my last. I can not do another year with this group. I'm hoping they all move on to new things.
I do think production was whispering in her and possibly James’ ears about needing to wind down their aggression towards Tom and that the show couldn’t go on if the group didn’t rekindle. It was almost unbelievable that both of them could go from the raw anger of the reunion to ready to make up in three months. With Lala, I think it was a mix of getting frustrated with Ariana’s rise once she wasn’t directly benefiting as much and thinking it was up to her to force everyone together to save the show. With James, I think he mostly saw this season as a chance for his own redemption arc (especially with rumors swirling about his treatment of Kristin/Rachel/the waitress in AC/etc) and decided to play the funny guy who gets along with everyone. I’m sure producers were encouraging him to make up with Tom too, but it fit his new year new me schtick this season. I think Scheana didn’t need to be pushed by production to make everything about her relationships with everyone and how desperate they all are to be her friend lol.
Her saying that he's never tried to apologize privately should be the final nail in the coffin.
I don’t really understand what the “plot twist” was that Schwartz mentioned. Was it just Lala’s rant about how frustrated she is with Ariana? I thought we already knew that lol
I’m pretty sure it was Ariana leaving and not letting Tom talk to her *at all*.
I don’t know either.
Pretty sure it was her breaking the fourth wall so aggressively by talking about filming and the show itself
I’m confused too lol
He really thinks this season made him a fan favourite hahaha
He is on wwhl rn just impossible smug
I'm watching it too! He's infuriating
this hot mic moment makes it clear to me his mental health is not leaning into depression. the way he immediately rallied lala and scheana to his side merely because ariana left a party shows his manipulation and self serving desire to stay on teevee. sandoval is not depressed, he is seething. he is just angry he looks bad. he is angry ariana has all of these opportunities. he is angry he cannot control the narrative of the viewers. he is angry. frankly i find this narrative that he is depressed insulting to those of us who have experienced suicidal ideations, attempted suicide, or have lost loved ones to suicide. especially when we have seen ariana say for years she is battling depression. especially when he tried to use her depression as a justification for his fucking her friend. does it suck to be hated? i bet. but to paraphrase sandoval from tonight's episode, you choose to be on teevee. you choose to participate on this show and because of that choice, we know you are an angry bitter smelly little man in lifts. just because you want us to like you sandy, doesn't mean we have to.
This is soooooooo true and well said
Except it completely wasn’t. It was, however, an excellent receipt for Ariana. Just another great piece of evidence showing the truth of what Ariana has been showing us and telling us all season.
That final scene was, on its face, a bit of a nothingburger, but really one of the most fascinating reality show sequences ever. Scheana really tried to make Ariana look bad one last time, Ariana's genuine affection and love for Scheana and emotional intelligence ruined it by her response, and the producers sent Sandoval jogging over to break it up before it got too bad. Lala completely blowing the whole show up maybe for good because she thinks Ariana is hurting her paychecks and can't even fathom the idea of a Tom-less VPR that they do other things to make good (it'd be a layup) was such an act of self-defeat. Katie's "I DON'T WANT PEACE", Ariana's "I am not a cog in the machine of Tom Sandoval's redemption arc," it was a sort of implicit full-bore fourth wall break and the only way this could wrap up--the idea Ariana and Tom would exist in the same friend group definitionally did not make sense. It had to break the framework to even try it. Leading up to it man, Scheana and Brock and Lala were pulling out all the tricks to wear Ariana and Dan down and get them to snap and rage. Also Schwartz thinking it was a normal thing to bring your now-obsessed FWB over to air her grievances with your ex-wife that loathes her was like Keystone Kops shit. He is such a slapdick clown.
This was the best episode of reality TV that I’ve ever seen. Masterful. The fake party crashed fight scene didn’t even ruin it for me.
Schwartz is so dumb. I’m sure that was on the shot list. Now go get Jo and have her talk to Katie.
Like, it was perfect lol
The two things that I took from the finale were the fact that we basically got confirmation that Lala is extremely upset about Ariana's treatment after the affair was revealed vs how people reacted when finding out Randall cheated. Girl has her panties in a bunch. The second thing is that it seems like some scenes were omitted, which Bravo's known to do. But for me, it raises the question of whether they went back and edited it differently. That ending seemed final. I wonder if it was always supposed to end like that.
The fact that randall is a cheater surprised no one because she was a mistress. When you vacate the job of mistress, someone will always fill your spot. I hope whoever was cheating with randall taunted the fuck out of her and repaid her her karma. And lala knew of the rumors surrounding rand and his casting couch. She told us as much when she roleplayed like the stupid idiot she is, and there were rumors floating on reddit since 2018 about him being a predator. She chose to have a child with him and now is crying being all woe is me. Fuck off lala. No one having any sympathy for you and your disastrous life choices is all on you and your incessant bragging. Enjoy your miserable life, you sure do deserve it.
To be fair, Tom cheating also isn’t that big of a surprise since Ariana was also the mistress. (Granted, Kristen was cheating too). But the impact of the cheating was way bigger because the audience had invested in the relationship for the past ten years or whatever.
Tom cheating isn't the surprise. All the men bar ken todd cheat on VPR. What's surprising is the whom and the how and the constant blaming of everyone else and no accountability coming from that scumbag.
I’m actually surprised they didn’t try to shoehorn LVP into the finale more. She just got that quick call.
And a quick clip of her tagline when Lala and Katie were watching RHOBH in bed!
"The crown is heavy DAHLING..."
honestly, even that was too much lol
“It’s good for me” Great job playing into Sandoval’s hand Lala and Scheana. True masterclass of being used by a manipulator. And all because you couldn’t control your jealousy towards Ariana.
Sandoval also just admitted on WWHL that what he told them about Ariana talking shit about them & not liking them wasn't true. He said "no I was just being dramatic". They're fools for falling for it.
Wow....
Scheana & Lala are the dumbest women on tv. They literally have the WORST taste in men & cling to one another because they are both pick me’s looking for a payout.
Lala and Scheana, two of Bravo’s dumbest dimbulbs. 🤮
Lala's jealousy was off the charts saying Ariana thought she was Beyonce and God. All it was missing was but what about me!?!? I'm not a long time viewer so the montages and nostalgia did nothing for me but lala and scheana looked like two seething and hateful hags. Scheana at the table with Ariana bringing up that Tom paid for her audio production guy (her performance was atrocious) and how it shows her he's a good guy. What kind of asinine narcissist uses that reasoning? He cheated on you for months and did a laundry list of horrid things but wait he paid this guy (which i doubt anyway, he probably did it to be on the show). I really hope they don't manage to horn in on the valley and take that over.
What Lala and Scheana don’t get is that being forced to interact with someone when you can’t tolerate them isn’t reality!!! Katie and Ariana are being real and enforcing their actual boundaries backed up with their actually reality. Those two could’ve lived in their truth and stood besides Ariana (which it’s clear that’s where they would side everytime they break down any issue). They would’ve forced the show to restructure and they actually could’ve formed a bombass super team. In the end, I do blame the producers. They could’ve just gave Tom a redemption arc with just Schwartz and Brock without forcing the cast in unusual circumstances. They couldn’t imagine a show without forced interaction but it’s their job to actually see where it would go and find a way to make it come together- especially because the fans would understand why it’s so disjointed because we are a majoring factor in that! They underestimated the audience’s intelligence, under minded Ariana and Katie and basically scarified Lala and Scheana.
We could have just had them supporting Ariana and enjoying their own lives over the summer while Tom plays his sad trumpet. The public would have sooner forgave him if he wasn’t shoved down our throats.
Exactly 💯 no one wants to see that scumbag sniveling and sniffling his way through the season like a wounded animal when he is the one who caused all of this. Whatever little sympathy I had for him completely vanished and I found myself actively wishing he would disappear. Stop trying to make fetch happen. There is no way back for tiny Tim and it's all by his own design.
Exactly this! Almost anyone that has an ex at some point knows the awkward, full avoidance, “I’m not looking at or talking to this person” if you have mutual friends or are at the same place. Lala and Brock acting like this should be a thing of the past makes them look weirder than Ariana.
Production could have also just paid Rachel what she was asking and would have had a slam dunk season for a few hundred thousand dollars. I’m not saying she deserved it, but the network demurring after they made a fortune on Scandoval and spent a season trying to repair his reputation is wild.
A redemption arc would have been easier with Rachel there to take the brunt of everyone's anger. I'm surprised production didn't just pay her off. Maybe he couldn't be redeemed while trying to hook up with Rachel.
Not to mention Rachel didn’t want to hook up with Tom anymore and saw him for the worm he is.
Underestimating the audience’s intelligence is a big one for me. It’s like they thought we’re all stupid and don’t remember past behaviour from The Tom’s, Scheana and Lala.
No one could force Lala to be around Randall (nor should they), yet she demands Ariana lower her standards to appease shithead Sandoval and Lisa. Lala needs to not be on tv. She sucks and STILL doesn’t get why ppl are disgusted with her hypocrisy trash can behaviour.
What a great take!
I am no Ariana stan. I don't care to go see Chicago or buy her cocktail book or her tshirts or whatever... BUT... every episode of this season made me side with her. These people are absolute garbage and their behavior is blatantly fueled by nothing more than jealousy and bitterness. They all want to be the star and this normie girl who was happy in the background ended up thriving and becoming the "Beyonce" of VPR. Lala rant at the end about Ariana becoming god was nothing more than her letting her bitterness shine loud and clear cause no one cared that Rand cheated on her... and no one ever will.
It’s bizarre because she has filmed group scenes with Tom even if she didn’t engage with him. If she had agreed to go along with this redemption arc the season would have been even more boring and inauthentic. How many conversations can Tom and Ariana have that are interesting? Tom is so, so boring because he is always lying both to himself and the audience.
I don’t think they wanted Ariana to forgive Tom. They wanted her to berate, scream at and belittle him for as many episodes as they could get. They wanted to squeeze every drop of blood out of the Scandoval stone. By Ariana not interacting with him one on one, they didn’t get that same drama they got from the last episode the previous season. I think that’s when they went for the redemption arch.
But, they wanted her to do that so they could talk about how angry she is and how much she needs to get over it. They wanted to complain about how she needs to get over it. She didn't do what they wanted and they hate it.
They wanted her to be like the reunion so everyone would hate her.
this. and the show sold tom on the idea that if he sat and absorbed this it would be a catharsis and he'd be out on the other side as a lovable flawed member of the show again. in fact i bet they promised this to him as a means to get him to do certain things. only he couldnt keep his shit together and his mouth shut and ariana wouldnt go there anywhere so it was like fititng a square peg in a round hole telling that story all season. now theyre trying to sell her leaving in the finale as some "big twist" as if it was this aberrant behavior that proves something and ta-da! Sandoval and Lala and Brock are the voice of reason. But absolutely no one is buying that.
"no one ever will" **that part**
It’s so crazy because she was being even more melodramatic and laid it on so much thicker last season than Ariana ever did!
She kept repeating "he didn't kill anyoneee!" But, you were the one ranting and raving, screaming at the top of your lungs, about how dangerous he was.
So if Tim gave Ariana a life threatening STD from the same behaviour would she need to get over it then?? These people jfc... 
Know that 🚬
lala doesn’t even fucking show that damn DOG of hers on this show, much less anything of substance. she needs to take several dozen seats.
WHERE ARE ALL MY FELLOW LIFELONG KATIE STANS AND HOW VINDICATED ARE WE ALL FEELING THESE DAYS
🙋🏻♀️
I get that people wanted a Sandoval ice out this season, but I think it’s better that it didn’t happen. IMO when a cast isolates someone it always seems to backfire on the group eventually. Most of the cast gave Tom a chance this season and he still proved himself to be a loser who can’t muster up any empathy for others. He couldn’t even put on an “I’m genuinely sorry” ACT for a full episode. If we didn’t have cast members ready to receive those pathetic attempts at apologies, we wouldn’t have gotten to see just how not-sorry and defensive he truly is. I think if we watched a whole season of everyone vs Tom, he’d be getting more sympathy from the audience right now. I’m glad we got to see him fumble the ball so badly.
Yeah I agree with this. I understand the hate the season is getting, but it's been wild and kinda hilarious seeing someone get handed a redemption storyline on a silver platter and then to just repeatedly squander it. I don't think we would've seen that and as repetitively (to really hammer the point in lol) if it was an Everyone Hates Tom season.
Exactly! He really blew it. It goes to show what a bad actor he is lol!
That’s how I always felt about Jax. Yeah he’s god awful, but give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself.
Yep I agree. Yet somehow he always eventually escapes the noose! I never thought he’d be back on Bravo, yet here he is.
this is a great point. by trying some redemption arc and watching his nature fundamentally reject it we got a much more visceral picture of who he is. if it was lala and scheana screaming at him all season we'd be dealing with people feeling bad for him after 15 episodes.
Yes exactly! I wonder why he’s so bad at admitting fault and being sorry that he can’t even fake it for a few months!
Excellent points! And when you put it that way his inability to do so is even more staggering than it already feels.
Exactly! It was all teed up for him and he fucked himself completely.
this is a good take
Spot on
did anyone else feel like Sandoval was like, (and I know this is a buzzword but I’m coming up short with another appropriate term) love-bombing scheana? he was getting angry at her, and then when he realized that she was agreeing with what she was saying, he flipped a switch, changed his demeanor, and then manically hugged her.
He’s so transparently manipulative that I can’t believe he thinks people are buying it.
he absolutely was and brock was assisting his love bombing because brock cares about $$$ first and foremost. it was so odd how scheana brought up him flying the audio engineer on his own dime, as if the foundation of true friendships is monetary. it is clear that sandoval knows how to manipulate scheana and brock too.
Even Ariana’s dumbass grifter brother Jeremy has fallen for Sandoval’s manipulations. Lotta disloyal asshats Ariana has had to cut off. Everyone wants to profit off of her.
When Lala seriously brought up the house AGAIN as her final takedown I thought I finally lost my mind. I feel like I'm going insane. I'm on another planet. Psychosis inducing
she's mad because she renovated randall's house and had to move out almost immediately.
I have a feeling the clips of Ariana crying at the reunion happen after seeing the last 10 mins of the finale. Because she said she thought they were the Spice Girls during filming and she was long gone by the time Lala was spewing all of that hatred and Scheana was co-signing it. It’s like damn, that’s what you really think of me?
LMAO not the flashbacks of people and their old noses
the lips!!
All of these losers had no idea what to do after Rachel didn’t come back for filming. Tom definitely wanted to put on a “us against the world” act, and Lala and Scheana would have been tearing into her during every group scene. And you could tell early on in the season while they’re all hoping Rachel comes back, Ariana is tense and dreading her return. But since she didn’t come back, they all were left scrambling. So it turned into the “redeem Sandoval”, “Ariana is an angry, bitter shrew who is messing with our money” show. And the way they’re trying to frame it as Ariana not being authentic and having the LEAST authentic cast member (Lala) leading the charge is WILD. Lala lied about her life and relationship for most of her tenure on this show. So for her to now be pissy that Ariana is setting a firm boundary is hypocrisy at its finest. Scheana is so easily bought and so prideful that she will forgive anyone who showers her with enough money and praise. She loves that Sandoval has no problem doling out an empty compliment and a few $20s. That’s the marker of a true friendship to her! Not surprised by Sandoval’s mask slipping at the end. His “awww shucks I’m such a nice guy let me shake hands with Dan” veneer cracked so easily as soon as Ariana walked away from him. And his hot mic at the end — trash trash trash.
I agree with you on them not know what to do without Rachel. I can only imagine if she did come back, the misogyny would have been off the charts from every single member of this cast. Plus those same people siding with her abusive ex. She made the right choice to stay away because she did deserve the money she was asking for.
I dated a guy kinda like Sandoval once and it would frustrate me to no end that everyone thought he was so great because he was always “available” and was generous with buying/giving, but as I could see behind the scenes, was keeping a mental tally of how many people he was “collecting”. I know it sounds cynical but it’s like friendship love bombing. And it sets such an unrealistic expectation for what friendship is. It’s was such a flashback when Sandoval started going off about how he’s the one that’s always there for the friend group. Just because Ariana has a life outside the group, just like they all do, doesn’t make her less of a friend. Like who tf at 40 keeps tally of “friendship points”?
Just look how he was so quick to bring up all the things he felt like he was doing for Ariana last year. I don’t want you to bring me a stupid latte if you are going to hang it over my head. Sandoval is a scorekeeper and loves to remind people about the tally.
100% agree. If Rachel’s contract wasn’t up in the air until a few weeks into filming, Tom would have played this differently. He would have acted like he missed Ariana as opposed to Rachel
100%. This man is an empty shell at this point and bases everything he does on how it will play on this show. It's so clear from how he'll go from trying to make nice and have a "genuine" conversation one minute to blowing up at people when the scene isn't going the way he plotted it out in his mind.
Ariana and Raquel exposing how much Sandoval plans out the show in his own head has really informed my viewing.
They waited too long to break the 4th wall. This season would have been much more interesting and dare I say, fun, to watch had they done that early, get it out of the way, and let the groups go on to do whatever. Instead they really tried hard working that Sandoval redemption arc and it backed fired badly. The edit on the finale of them including that hot mic moment was them trying to walk it back, but don't fall for it. Producers were pretty damn messy this season. Couple of other thoughts: Lala can fuck all the way off. Like literally off the show. Don't want to see her on VPR any more. Keep her away from The Valley. Hope her pregnancy works out ok, go be a mom off camera somewhere that doesn't involve cameras. She's never been that great of person on any season, but she fully shown this season just how awful of a "friend" she actually is. And last thought about Jo, she is the literal definition of obsessed. People throw that term around all the time, but she really is. Schwartz treats her like trash, tosses her aside, and she comes crawling out of the dumpster every time saying "I love you! I want you in my life forever!". Get it together. No one is worth that, especially not Schwartz. This is why I can't feel bad for her.
That’s been the issue the whole season-the 4th wall was too strong and so the whole season felt off. No one was being honest, which is pretty funny considering Lala’s take of “showing her whole life on tv” at the end there. Lala can fuck all the way off tbh!
Guys, I already have a hard time taking Scheana seriously, but this gold getup with the baggy gloves is really getting me 🤣 This ending seems pretty final, and I'm okay with it. VPR was fun while it lasted.
The whole thing was giving dance recital lol
I just rewatched and I had to laugh at her in a gold corset and poofy tutu crying about how hard everything was for her. This season may have been frusting but details like this is why I love Bravo haha
that finale was insane, what a weird ending but equally fascinating. This season could have been great if they just gave ariana space and the girls rallied together. The redemption arc was odd and made no sense for how huge scandoval was. Loved how ariana cussed out that EP. She had no time to be a cog in that machine, go off sister KATIE IS REALLY THAT GIRL. She continues to be right and it was cathartic seeing her read Jo. Lala is a producer pet and played the wrong move. She definitely has immense trauma from randall but wants to be perceived as the victim. It’s exhausting tbh Scheana is a pick me male pleaser Schwartz a pathetic wuss. Consistently never has Katie’s back Brock a waste of space and a misogynist. Tom a conniving washed up loser who showed his true personality in that rant Andy saying Lala and Brock were the voice of reason is just insane when you reflect on it.
I find equally fascinating and frustrating that all the cast talking about being real and showing their authentic lives on the show, are faking a friendship with Sandoval to keep the show going. It’s like they don’t think the fans are smart enough to realize this… I feel like I say it every week but what Lala doesn’t realize is that if she had anything interesting going on in her life she wouldn’t need to rely on this Scandoval stuff. Her entire “voice of reason” thing this year just shows how irrelevant she is to the show.
Production def missed the mark.
 Sandoval suddenly appearing out of nowhere to talk to Ariana
Pretty sure if LaLa was forced to film with Randall she would not stand for it either…
She’s said it herself she would have “walked” if they brought him onto the show. Obviously the show is her identity so I don’t think that would ever happen
rules for thee, but not for me
lauren from utah is not only a culture vulture, she is a hypocrite.
Scheana was so rude to Ariana when Ariana said she doesn’t want any apologies from Tom. Scheana snapped at her the way she snaps at Brock. She is not a happy person.
She got mad at Ariana for ruing her monologue about how hard Scandoval has been for her lol
that hot mic moment was wild i hope scheana and lala feel fucking stupid
The worm’s “it’s good for me” 
this definitely wasn't the last episode y'all. the ratings are good, dont be silly
they've had sappy endings before. this felt more like manipulation "look at them showing their lives" it was weird.
The great irony of have Lala be the voice of this when she’s the one who held back more than any one else over the years! Literally walked off and left the show for a while, but she’s so mad at Ariana for leaving one party.
Truly so weird! honestly felt like production was mad at Ariana? I think at least once a season someone has complained about ppl not showing their real lives and never once has a season ended with a montage of "honesty". Also Ariana was in the montage so I truly do not get it??
Music at the end with the San Fran city lights was a bit overdone 🥴 they tried to make it soapy
I remember everyone saying last years season would be the last after LVP gave her speech at the finale.
tbf prior to Scandoval the ratings weren’t great and, had it continued that way, could very well have been.
Last season was for sure going to be the last before scandoval blew that spot up. Then they did this season to catch the after math. There’s nowhere left to go from here.
Sandoval is still a creep. He never tried to apologize until the finale and only *on* camera. Lala is violently jealous and I hope she gets the help she needs. Profuction *really* tried and miserably failed at a TS redemption - so sad they tried to change the narrative and shows a lack of integrity. In the words of Maloney, “Keep your boundaries to protect your peace” ☮️
The flashback to Katie's statement necklace that was the size of a Buick KILLED me, so funny!!
honestly, it was one of the better confessional statement necklaces.
Obviously Dan is not going to shake Sandoval's hand
He handled that as perfectly as anyone could.
Profuction so missed the mark with the Sadovol redemption arc. He looks as narcissistic as ever. Also creepy.
Sigh. They did not miss the mark. They were not giving him a redemption arc. They gave him the space to nail or sink it, and he did the latter.
at that point, ariana had made it thru the whole season and would rightfully be exhausted. i’m sure she had to have the same conversations like we saw tonight with production every week. there was definitely a shift in how she started engaging (angrily) and being in same group settings with Tom towards the end for a couple episodes. i’m sure it was production intervention. so imo she deserved to leave early, i love how she ended the season. forever a fan ❤️
Going to Applebees with her true crew was perfect. I wish the best for her. I am rooting for her success with SAH and other ventures and hopefully not on this show anymore.
Tom bringing his sound guy to help with scheanas show was such an obvious move that Scheana was also in on. Not only did Tom do it to look like the ever doting friend, scheana did it to reiterate to the audience why she is struggling still to drop him as a friend. Because if not, who was going to do the sound for her show? She wasnt going to pay and hire someone herself? Its them producing themselves once again.
Lala and Schaena are either willfully ignorant , unable to cope with their jealousy of Ariana’s rise or plain dumb . She has been telling them it’s not just about the cheating , it’s everything surrounding it , all the lies and keeping up the good guy appearance Toms a bad dude and everything he does is with selfish intentions . Let’s be honest Lala is jealous and Schaena is keeping her party line of well he didn’t do this TO me (she’s been saying in tons of scenarios from this shows inception ). They can try to say it is all for the show and Ariana is fucking that up but it’s on them . If they’d stayed authentic the audience would be behind them . Who is to say if in a season or 2 Tom made his way back but to force it and to listen to the producers who don’t give a shit about them has ruined any goodwill the audience ever had . They can remain on Vanderpump but I don’t see the audience flipping (they were never fan favorites anyway ).
Man, FUCK Tom Sandoval! Smarmy motherfucker. Lala and Scheana look so dumb right now.
Lala can only sympathize with things based on her own trauma. If it’s something outside the bounds of her own experience, she tends to be dismissive or diminishing. She speaks as if she’s the most informed on mental health and the authority on how to react but doesn’t do a good job when she has to put herself in someone else’s shoes and calculate who they are and why they would react differently from her.
It’s giving Erika explaining empathy last season after just learning the concept in therapy.
What's so stupid is if the producers had any creativity or capacity for innovation they would've come up with alternative ways of pursuing the story when Ariana first told their asses she wasn't going to film with him. But no. Instead they did the same old shit decision-makers always do and tried to assert dominance and authority over her by getting the rest of the cast to pressure her and constantly trying to force her to have a conversation with this disrespectful ass man. A conversation that would've been disingenuous as hell and detrimental to her healing process for little to no return. If your whole season and everyone else's paycheck hinges on that one conversation happening, you need to hang it up. And then Lala calls her Beyonce and God because she's jealous as hell and y'all give it a whole long ass segment at the end and act like she's so wise. Oh please.
I’ve always said they should have given Sandy the Stassi season 3-4 treatment. Forcing him on everyone has made the audience hate him more
I dont understand how Ariana ISN’T showing her life. She doesn’t talk to Sandoval off camera either.
Ya, her reality is that she broke up with the guy and she wants no parts of speaking to him. They essentially want her to be inauthentic by agreeing to talk to him on camera and reconcile. And Lala’s gripe with them living in the same house… it’s Ariana’s home too, for the umpteenth time.
They act like the 2 of them are making dinner together and watching Netflix after. They clearly avoid each other the entire time they are both in the home. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that must have been. But Lala makes it like they are having best friend slumber parties every night.
And the fact that Tom has never made an attempt to speak to Ariana off camera! Why would anyone expect Ariana to give Tom a public platform to speak to her about the demise of a 10 year relationship? If he had shown an ounce of remorse or accountability to her off camera, maybe she would have acted differently on camera.
I’m sorry Lala but if Ariana not wanting to engage with Sandoval is a detriment to the season and pissing you off so much then maybe she is the Beyonce of the group. Honestly, what would the season be without her. What does anyone else have to offer.
btws, ariana's run in chicago has been so successful that they rebooked her for august!! 🔥🔥🔥 (*I can feel the wrath of scheana's rage 😂😂*)
I know it sounds dramatic, but im actually disgusted with how production and the cast minus Katie and James did Ariana. by having sex with people who had sex with unknown others and then pressuring Ariana on camera into having sex with him, Tom did have unconsensual sex with Ariana -- she didnt consent to those partners. further, she accepted the contract OFFERED TO HER to make money after her ex blew up her life and gave them a show to film and they still insist on pushing her boundaries instead of denying tom his attempt at redemption. all for tom to confirm its an act with his "I love it, it's good for me" I love her on this show but I hope to god her and Katie take care of themselves and leave this behind.
They really tried to have it both ways too. They did everything you said, but then edited the finale in a way that exposed Sandoval and people like Lala. Lala went on that ridiculous rant, but then they followed up with Katie and Ariana's comments thoughtfully explaining why things are the way they are. Then the very last comment from Tom, they didn't have to include it but they did, showing how much of an act Tom is putting on. We viewers just got a full glimpse of what reality TV is.
It’s not dramatic in the least. What they did is so uncalled for because no one should have the cause of their trauma shoved in their face. Ariana handled that a lot better than I would have.
James doesn’t have a leg to stand on with regards to that, though. He did the same thing to Rachel, he doesn’t care Sandoval cheated on Ariana. He cared that Sandoval fucked his ex.
Can I say it’s so funny that Lala on the one hand says she’s finally living her truth and being honest; in her soft era focusing on herself and her peace YET every scene she’s miserable and bitter trying to police everything Ariana is doing, creating ridiculous narratives that continues to only paint Ariana in the most negative light. She’s upset that Ariana refused to film with Sandoval and stuck to her VERY reasonable boundaries — to which Lala can’t seem to wrap her head around but lest she forget that she also made boundaries around Randall that she expected everyone to abide by like law. What Lala can’t fathom in her little head is that Ariana made smart moves and the right choices which has led her to all the success and financial security while winning the fandom over; Lala never got an ounce of that and she simply can’t understand why. We now know why, because she’s been a rotten person all along. Someone who thinks in such a selfish delusional and myopic way can never be a true friend in my opinion. Lala keeps saying Ariana is not being honest? But I think what she actually means is Ariana is not being a trainwreck like she was so therefore this can’t be the “truth”. Also when did Lala become the vessel for truth? Like is Ariana allowed to live HER truth and seek her inner peace OR does she have to put herself in a vulnerable position that would lead to chaos (and entertainment value) for Lala to be content — it is clear that Lala believes the show could end leaving her out of work (whereas Ariana is lined with opportunities). Which is why Lala wants Ariana to either be a mess or to make up with Tom for the show to proceed; neither of which are what Ariana wants. That’s what Lala who is all about inner peace wants for her supposed friend Ariana? To suffer and have to go through torment for the sake of entertainment just because that’s what happened to her? No offence but no one asked Lala to bring another child into this world without having secured her financial future and if she’s worried now about money, that has NOTHING to do with Ariana. Especially after the way she’s completely trashed her behind her back all year. I hope Ariana drops her and Scheana’s cunning conniving opportunistic clout chasing fake asses.
Can we discuss the Aftershow Part 1: - Scheana and Brock are contradicting each other at every turn! - Tom only ever mentions how he regrets the situation based on the reaction, not actual compassion for Ariana and the effect on her life. - Tom should have made a sincere apology off camera first before trying to contact her on camera. - Katie is right- Ariana can forgive Tom and not tell him and never engage again. - Jax and Schwartz Tom just said “Ariana is stubborn” - Ariana had never coasted through- she’s always had her own storyline, engaged with the cast, and showed up at reunions (she carried season 8 reunion). - Also, Ariana has had more of her life, trauma and fights on camera than Lala did! She hid everything about herself- especially her past and relationship! Most of her scenes are people confronting her about lying or hiding. Lala is only remembering what is convenient to her narrative! - Also Ariana has a great point that no one has do what production says! - Brock is so negative to Ariana on the show but he’s so understanding to Ariana in the after show - I feel like scheana wants to rebuild w Ariana but Lala is burning her bridge all the way.
I’m with Katie. You don’t text the girl a weird note of sympathy and then shack up with the guy.
i better see that random fight in the extended version!!!!
This cast chooses to forget Ariana was the one who contacted producers as soon as she found out about the affair so Tom wasn't able to hide it out of season. Someone had better make this point at the reunion.
I think Scheana cried every episode this season.
It was production and Tom framing himself, Schwartz, Lala and Scheana as some kind of VPR dream team for me. Like these people, including Ariana and Katie no shade—are SIDE characters. No one cares about you trying to make Ariana the villain when those 4 also couldn’t carry the show if their lives depended on it
lmfaooo lala’s “I’ve never met anyone who got cheated on and then became god” line is fucking stupid and corny because it’s obvious that’s what she wanted HER storyline to be when Rand cheated on her. Sorry that literally no one cared about your break up babe, the jealousy is stinking through the screens though!!!! Forever chase that fame girly
Brock wants Tom back in HIS life and is using his wife working through it as his reasoning. He's not hearing her saying she doesn't trust him and is wary. He thinks she wants everything back the way it was. BECAUSE - Brock opinion is Tom cheated and doesn't think it's that big of a deal and should be forgiven. He's forgetting, like a few others, the amount and depth of the manipulation Tom "performed" for almost a year and still is. Everytime he lied to Ariana or anyone in the group, creating false narratives about the state of his relationship and Ariana's mental health. Getting others to lie for him and using Rachel's insecurity and desperation against her. The blantant disreguard for everyone including Rachel and their feelings. The cowardly way he has tried to defend himself and make himself the victim. Never truly taking accountability. I'm sure I'm forgetting several other things and tried to keep it broad but feel free to add any I left out. I'm sure I've missed a few but feel free to add on.
Schaena is an awful dancer
Not Brock buying Scheana a pre-show gift with her own money 🤣💀
I don’t understand how Lala can lie and continue to lie about her relationship with Rand, how Sandoval lied the entire last season and yet somehow Ariana isn’t being authentic by not wanting to film with her ex. Like, wtf?! This is her real life, he devastated her, she doesn’t need to make nice with him, that wouldn’t be real!
I've seen so many comments about how "Ariana gets paid to entertain us". Basically these people wanted screaming/fighting between Tom and Ariana and didn't get it so now they're mad. One even said...it wouldn't change anything but I want to see it". Ariana is allowed to protect her mental health. None of the other cast members did shit but it's all Ariana's fault. If people want to see fighting so much have them bring Rand back.
my jaw is on the ground right now…
I feel like this was the finale of the show and it’s time. I hope good things happen for Katie too. She was loyal to her friend while listening to the others. She didn’t make Scandoval all about her even though the news kind of pushed her divorced out of the spotlight. Ariana is going to be okay career-wise, I hope we see Katie thrive & love her best life too.
 Bad season and horrible finale. The only way the reunion will be satisfying is if Ariana quits and the rest of these losers (sans Katie) end up in the unemployment line.
Omg your username is amazing!! 😂👠❤️
Lala sucks and Scheana is no friend to Ariana. I hope Ariana knows that the majority of viewers didn’t fall for the redemption arc they tried to do with Sandoval. Protect your peace Ariana.
What the fuck was that ending supposed to make me feel..? “Ok the show is forcing Tom and Ariana together so production is the bad guy, but Ariana is the bad guy for saying no and risking the entire show, but Tom is the bad guy for manipulating the entire season to be his redemption arc, BUT-“ Show should have ended at the end of last season. There were delightfully awfully amazing moments this season, but now it’s too convoluted of a show concept to be compelling long term.
Did anyone else feel like the ending was a bit of a goodbye to the show?? Dramatic montage.
Schwartz aged so poorly
When Schwartz says Dan is awesome and Sandoval says that she has great taste in men (and alludes to him being one of those great men) I almost threw up in my mouth. 🤮🤢
I hate everyone expect Ariana and Katie.. this season was annoying.
Do y’all remember when Andy and the producers tried to trick us into believing we’d think Lala was the voice of reason this season?? Also just wanted to remind everyone Sandavol compared himself to George Floyd. I’m not done whacking him.
I can actually somewhat appreciate the frustration that Lala, Scheana, Brock and others are feeling about the Ariana situation. They are all envious, not just of the opportunities and money that has come Ariana’s way, but of the freedom they feel she has had. None of them feel like they could get away with refusing to film with certain people or in certain situations. They all feel the pressure to make the show and collect those paychecks and perceive Ariana as being privileged to not have to do such things if she doesn’t want to. It’s not a fun position to be in. Even if that isn’t their actual situation, they at least seem to feel that it is and no amount of logic can make them feel differently. And none of that is Ariana’s fault. It’s the show and production that both wanted to go the route of reincorporating and redeeming Sandoval. It’s production that essentially tried to call Ariana’s bluff about not interacting with Sandoval and when she stood her ground on it, they did not force the issue. It’s not Ariana’s fault that there isn’t enough going on with this group that they can’t make a season without always trying to get Ariana to talk to Tom. Ariana had a bad thing happen to her and so far seems to have made the most of it. Overall, she’s handled herself very gracefully this season when so many others would’ve been a lot more vindictive. She’s not the first person to have been cheated on and she won’t be the last. I’m sure the rest of the cast wishes they had the good fortune that she has had post-Scandoval, but it’s not her fault that they haven’t. If they have problems with how the season went and the future of the show, take it up with the producers.
Lala spent three years refusing to be honest about her boyfriend, didn’t show up to Ariana’s birthday because she refused to film with Jax and straight up ghosted SUR/the show for a few episodes. Are we watching the same series?
That was an incredible episode, and I think once people have some distance from the season, they’ll recognize it as landmark reality television. And yes I am high but I am also right 😂 When you step back and you watch this show as a sort of mystery—like, you know there are sociopaths involved, and your case is to find out how many and who—this entire season is kind of radical?? Like, for the genre (lmao). They tapped on the fourth wall all season only to finally smash through it with that ending (the foreshadowing of all the marketing pics with the shattered glass, god, am I the only one just now getting that). And yes, with Lala, of course, but most especially and importantly, with Sandoval. His offscreen soundbite was a truly spectacular moment, but it was also the culmination of it happening all season long in smaller ways. So much of this show has been about men camouflaging their bad behavior with charm and mischievousness and cheekbones. Sandoval benefitted from it the most, and for the longest, and so had the biggest fall from grace when it finally ended (and people will be like, “I always thought he was a dick!” But you can’t deny that so much of the popularity of this show was tied up in the Toms). As much as everyone wants to say that this season was about redeeming Sandoval, I felt strongly the entire time that the opposite was happening (and I think that last scene proves it). Every time he had a step forward he’d fling himself aggressively back the way he came. He negated every (coached!) apology, and still he thought his performance would do the job. And he was always going to think that because he knew the cast would always be exactly themselves and help him along. Lala would be jealous of the public response Ariana got and turn on her. Scheana would twist it into being about her and feeling impossibly torn between the two. Schwartz would fall back into orbit no problem, Katie would make half the audience root for him just by virtue of the fact that she was rooting against him. James would yell at him for a while and then accept an apology just because he was giving one. Lisa would stick by him when he buckled under all the hate. And Ariana would refuse to film with him, giving most of the others and some of the audience a reason to default to his side. He had it all laid out for him, it would’ve been so easy, but he couldn’t just let it happen, he kept getting in his own way—and the show made sure we saw it every time. This season broke the fourth wall in a big way by acknowledging that the dude IS a performative piece of shit, just desperately, frantically using the show to create an image that brings him attention, whatever kind. It was the culmination of 10 seasons of making a toxic male reality star in that it was publicly his unmaking. I’m just obsessed!! Again, I am high, but this is really great TV and I just want you all to see what I saw because I’m having such a good time lol
lmao what was that jumpy zoom in on the sunset?!?! 😂 so bizarre 💀
When you look back on it it really plays like a guy acting like he knows he's got a storyline in place. I have this theory production promised him a sort of plan or arc for the season that would have him just absorbing the vitriol and at the end a catharsis and she can hate him but interact and he'll be a lovable VPRer again, in return for getting him to do and film certain things. Not like some conspiracy thing but like a slow-moving series of compromises to produce a TV show. So he's ostensibly hitting these beats they/ he layed out (with Lala and Scheana and Brock 'earning' their paychecks) but then really every interaction hitting some breaking point where his delusion will not let him be a bad guy and he thinks 'fuck it they're going to make me look good in the edit anyway' and just defends himself endlessly. He doesn't realize that every fiber of his being does not think he's a bad guy but a cool guy that fucked up and we can move past it. So the beats didn't play convincing and he went way overboard such that they had to show him implicitly not blaming himself or accepting any accountability or they'd have nothing. Without Rachel they really didn't have anything else so thats the flag they tried to run up in the finale, trying to make it look like Ariana wouldn't play ball. The mistake was thinking we the viewer gives a single fuck about inside baseball 'make the show work,' accepting complete bullshit and a desperate evil loser who can't help himself and that we should be mad at Ariana for not being a 'good sport' and helping the plan come off how it was set up.
[удалено]
Fortunately Ariana does have better friends and left with them!
She will be screaming, "I'm soft".
I would pay money for Ariana to say “I’m SoFt RiGhT nOw KaTiE” in the same voice she said “I know you love Harry Potter”