How will this season of Vanderpump Rules be remembered? Coming off the hovering excessive of the Scandoval, Season 11 has been one massive hangover, neither matching the unrealistic expectations set by the scandal, nor sinking under pressure.
It’s been a haze, a real-time look into how a actuality present adapts to a very new world. It’s straightforward to neglect that the authentic Season 10 finale served extra as a swan track than a promise of many seasons to come back. Renewed consideration gave the present a second life, however what’s Vanderpump Rules with out SUR? Can the present efficiently spin off into a contemporary rendition of The Hills? Will good rankings maintain the gears turning, even when the forged stops?
After 15 episodes, these questions largely stay unanswered. VPR is caught in an unsustainable purgatory, additional difficult by the truth the present star of the present is holding it hostage. That’s how we ended up right here, at a season finale that wishes you to know manufacturing is able to blow every thing as much as transfer ahead.
The villain of this season isn’t Tom Sandoval, neither is it Ariana Madix, regardless of compelling arguments on each side of the fan spectrum. Rather, it’s actuality itself. And that leads us to the actual query the finale proposes: Is Vanderpump Rules damaged past restore?
The easy reply is sure. But if this season has proven us something, it’s to not toss the present into the rubbish, however to permit it to adapt naturally to its new surroundings. Despite a narratively unsatisfying arc, Vanderpump Rules has nonetheless turned out strong, if inconsistent, TV, and has surpassed the hardest hump in its historical past.
The season started with the story that appeared excellent on paper: The ladies united underneath the guise of hating these loser males, whereas Sandoval clocked into his shift as the neighborhood punching bag. Very rapidly, actual emotions and nuance obtained in the method of this hope, resulting in a finale during which Lala has defected from Team Ariana, whereas Scheana finishes her season-long arc strictly in the center.
Reality isn’t black and white, and actuality TV definitely makes use of each shade of grey. The finale surrounds Scheana’s efficiency at Kyle Chan’s occasion, however the actual plan is for Sandoval and Ariana to lastly have a one-on-one chat—besides, that doesn’t occur. As Ariana concedes the match, the swarming vipers lastly chunk, resulting in a shaky future for the head sandwich sister.
The episode begins with Lala already planning her escape, as she questions Ariana’s boyfriend Dan’s intentions to Katie, who shares none of the similar considerations, at the very least on digicam. Meanwhile, Scheana and Brock sit down to debate the difficult emotions Scheana has for Sandoval. Brock feels that, when push involves shove, Sandoval is the one who has been there for Scheana, not Ariana. Although Scheana disagrees, she doesn’t need to write off Sandoval, and he or she primarily says as a lot when the group goes out to lunch.
Here, we see the division between the two main ladies duos, as Lala and Scheana advocate for grace, whereas Katie and Ariana see issues rather more reduce and dry: Sandoval cheated on Ariana, so all her buddies ought to reduce him off. As is the case the whole season, there’s additionally a battle between the faction of women who really feel they must maintain the present transferring, and the different two, who would haven’t any concern letting it crash and burn.
What additional complicates issues is that Sandoval isn’t simply Ariana’s ex to Scheana. Having had separate bonds with each halves of the couple, Scheana’s understandably conflicted, and it’s odd to see everybody negate that, particularly as Katie and Ariana declare to advocate for Scheana. The whole Scheana/Ariana friendship is one thing that’s all inform, no present at this level. It’s laborious to see why Ariana would anticipate religious loyalty from somebody who she appears to search out bothersome most of the time, and it’s no secret Katie actively loathes Scheana.
It’s not that Ariana’s some machiavellian villain. She’s not that calculated or misleading, however moderately, laser targeted on her disdain for Sandoval to the level she has no real interest in purpose or technique. That’s one thing Lala hits at in a confessional, noting that Ariana has put up a wall so she will keep away from actually digesting this case. It’s a compelling path to take, little doubt, however one which distinguishes Ariana from the voice of purpose position she wanted in her years as a facet character.
It was straightforward to look like the perceptive ethical middle when Ariana sparred with Jax Taylor, but it surely’s a lot much less efficient as she takes the reins of the sequence. Case in level: Ariana declines to talk to Sandoval as she doesn’t need to assist out the “Tom Sandoval redemption arc.” But, in doing so, she has allowed Sandoval to seize the narrative and are available throughout as the larger particular person. Is Tom Sandoval the centered king of the excessive floor? Obviously not. He’s a raging fool with a ardour for locating new ranges of delusion. But he’s additionally somebody who understands his job.
As for an individual who does not perceive her job, Katie’s season-long flop coalesces into her greatest episode but, as she lastly will get an opportunity to spar with Schwartz’s situationship, Jo. Formerly dubbing Jo “rat girl” (the funniest insult you can ever give an individual), Katie’s not sorry, neither is she able to make good.
When Jo tries to apologize, Katie cuts her proper off. “It’s weird. You’re weird,” she bluntly says. Katie is so dry and stank in her power that she cuts proper to the core. She’s at her greatest when she has a great sparring associate, and I hope Katie remembers how enjoyable it’s to be imply and stops coasting subsequent season. Making Jo cry is, someway, Katie’s most charming second of the season, despite the fact that I’m a Jo apologist. Please Bravo gods, carry Jo again subsequent season. We love rat women!
As the episode involves an in depth, each Ariana and Sandoval make their instances to Scheana earlier than the occasion wraps. You can name me delusional for claiming Scheana is at the narrative core of the show, however there’s no higher proof than the final 10 minutes of the season. The one true wildcard, Scheana’s allyship actually issues to each Ariana and Sandoval, they usually’re every vying to maintain her on their facet.
The dialog between Ariana and Scheana hits some bumps as Ariana asks her to cease discussing Sandoval in her presence, to which Scheana questions if Ariana actually means her “no contact” coverage. Although the two hug it out in a real heartfelt second, it’s clear there’s a disconnect, one which has little doubt grown since filming wrapped. Still, it’s certainly one of Ariana’s greatest moments of the season, and the real stakes of their friendship lastly present themselves after a season of apathy.
That emotional second is interrupted by Sandoval, main Ariana to dart proper in the route of an government producer, who catches the brunt of Ariana’s wrath. She won’t now, or ever, willingly movie a one-on-one with Sandoval, and he or she’s not backing down on that.
The most persuasive factor she says can also be the most complex. Ariana feels that Sandoval’s option to pursue a dialog on digicam solely reveals he’s inauthentic, and in some ways, she’s proper. It’s genuinely perceptive to notice that Sandoval desires to work the viewers greater than he desires to apologize to her. Yet, Ariana ignores that her personal method this season has totally hinged on appeasing her followers despite the high quality of the present. She additionally ignores that having that dialog would solely assist her social cache, because it’s very straightforward at hand Sandoval a rope and ask him to hold himself.
It’s this bull-headed method that leaves Ariana stranded at an Applebees as the season wraps, whereas the forged encompass Sandoval in the last moments. Finally snapping in the last moments, Sandoval drops the facade and tells Scheana and Lala that Ariana is duplicitous. But it’s Lala who actually unleashes, letting out all her venom.
“I’ve never in my life experienced someone who gets cheated on and suddenly she becomes God,” Lala shouts, earlier than condemning Ariana for leaving the finale occasion. As the episode wraps, Lala tearfully admits she “finally” broke. It could appear odd to see her say that after a season of poking at Ariana’s unwillingness to play ball, till you notice that that is Lala’s first time saying that in the second.
Lala is concentrated on the bottom-line, and the bottom-line is that Ariana’s a horrible coworker. It’s a product of a bigger concern that any season of TV would ever be positioned in Ariana’s palms, and I believe she’d agree with that. She merely was by no means meant to be the star, however when you have got hundreds of thousands of recent followers on the heels of the Scandoval who see Ariana as the focus of the present, how do you accommodate that?
Interestingly sufficient, the season itself made an excellent case for pivoting the present away from Ariana, particularly given she clearly hates filming. With a renewed run in Chicago, limitless endorsements and a internet hosting gig on Love Island, Ariana actually has positioned herself impeccably—for now. But, she’s going to little doubt obtain a contract if and when the present returns for Season 12, and it’s not one I anticipate her to refuse. Just as she’s finished with the home, she’d moderately stay in distress than permit Sandoval to really feel like he’s received. That’s genuine pettiness, at the very least.
The query stays, although, of what the present will seem like when it returns. It’s nearly unfathomable to suppose Bravo would actually throw in the towel given the present’s rankings, however the recap at the finish of the finale positive does scream “series finale.” Is this the finish, or just a brand new starting? Season 11 leaned very laborious on fourth-wall breaks and pivoting the present past its preliminary route, whereas additionally making the aware selection to not add new regulars.
With time, I predict the season shall be reappraised as a wierd but fascinating time capsule, and one which rode the Scandoval momentum as greatest it might. Whether Season 12 introduces a plethora of recent regulars, ditches certainly one of Ariana or Sandoval, or ceases to exist altogether, there’s little doubt we received’t get a repeat of this season. Vanderpump Rules could also be damaged, however the powers that be will merely create new guidelines, as they at all times do.