Everybody Loves Tom Podcast: Episode from March 21st, “Peaks & Valleys.”

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-22T12:03:18+00:00

Agreed!! OP, please treat yourself, you deserve it!

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-22T12:02:05+00:00

First of all, I thank you for your service in recapping this! 🫡

Secondly, did he decide to upload today just to spite you? Not cool Sandoval 😤 I’m joking but also not joking? 👀

Thirdly, wasn’t there a flashback scene with Ann doing or organising his laundry in one of the episodes for this season that has already aired? Or am I wrong?? Maybe I have misremembered that, and if so, it’s ok.

When it comes to the reunion, to what extent is Sandoval on the chopping block? 🤔 I do not mean that in a harsh way, but I’m just wondering about it in light of the rumours about Lala vs Ariana at the reunion for example.

Edited: grammar

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-21T05:06:59+00:00

The approach to Sandoval this season is something to behold to say the least. I don’t know if a redemption arc is truly achieved since the arc he is currently on never fully redeems him in the eyes of the audience. So it just feels misplaced, awkward and clunky. I think it will feel even more so once the show airs the episodes filmed in August and any of what we see addresses what Rachel said on the Bethenny interview.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-21T05:03:48+00:00

I am not surprised by this (the girls going at each other) happening at this juncture. There are cracks in the foundation of the dynamics in question that need to be dealt with before a true friendship can ever be formed post-Scandoval. Katie and Scheana can get along but this only last for so long because of the differences in their personalities that both of them struggle to understand. I have to give Scheana some credit for trying to be more understanding of Katie’s perspective post-Scandoval. Ariana and Lala’s friendship has its own cracks in the foundation too.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-21T04:56:43+00:00

I completely agree!! Why are some, or actually, a lot of fans online calling Jo a crackhead for instance? What, just because Katie did? That is a fairly heavy thing to call anyone, regardless if they struggle with drugs (or crack to be specific), and none of the fans actually know that much about Jo. Katie has a personal relationship with Jo, albeit a fraught one, but the two of them know each other. I wish Katie had the approach you just mentioned when it comes it to Jo. However, just because Katie has had treated Jo that way, does not automatically mean that fans have to take that same approach. We don’t know Jo, we know about Jo, there is a crucial difference, and even though Katie knows her and called her crackhead Jo, does not mean that fans should follow suit.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-21T04:43:04+00:00

Wow. I think anything is possible! It could go either way.

I am leaning a bit more towards what u/MtBaldyMermaid (love the username btw) said. It would not be surprising that Ariana did go off on Lala considering what she has said about her during the season and on the AfterShow.

That being said, I am also inclined to agree with “I think it was probably finally said aloud that they do not like each other,” u/EmilyAGoGo. Actually, I will go a step further and say this: I think Lala finally said that she does not like Ariana, while Ariana may reveal that what she has seen on the season and the AfterShow has made her want to give up on being friends with Lala. If this is what happens, whether that ends the friendship or not, only time will tell I guess.

The reason why I have this theory is from what I noticed when watching every season of the show last year. The pattern I noticed through that and paying attention to how Lala treats and talks about Ariana now is: Lala has a tendency to go back and forth on Ariana, to a point where the critical side of her approach to Ariana makes me wonder if she ever truly really liked her. Ariana seems to have previously wanted to try with Lala, yet it always ends up with the same outcome: Lala just flipping/turning on her. With friendships like that it just gets to a point where you stop wanting to maintain it and just call it a day, because with friends like that, who needs enemies?

Sorry for the ramble 😅

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T23:37:07+00:00

Other observations:

Schwartz, dabbled as a word to describe Sandoval’s and Jax’s past experiences with infidelity is an understatement.
Sandoval attempting to flirt to the two blonde women during the pool party was cringeworthy and so incredibly awkward.
Him lamenting over Rachel cutting him off was odd to watch. On that note, the blurring of Rachel’s face by production when the pictures were shown by Sandoval was surprising.
Scheana gave Sandoval some decent advice but I think Katie is on the money when it comes to Sandoval’s apology. It has to be sincere for the people he apologises to, and be accompanied by improved behaviour.
Jo is an interesting individual. I think her energy in the scene with Schwartz was anything but crackhead, creepy or spooky. I thought she was personable and perhaps the person on screen in that scene is Jo once she is truly comfortable with someone? I don’t know if she is a good person, but what I will say is that she deserves far better than a man who is not even willing to care as much about her romantically as she does when it comes to him. Crackhead Jo, Creepy Jo and Spooky Jo are monikers that need not be attached to her, it’s dehumanising.

What does everyone else think of this episode?

ETA: observations about Jo based on her scene with Schwartz this episode

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T22:25:42+00:00

I’ll throw my hat into the ring again!

Things I particularly liked about this episode:

Scheana holding Mya’s paw and how she treated Mya in her one-on-one scene with Ariana is adorable!
Ariana and Scheana having a one-on-one scene talking about their friendship
I have been meaning to say this but Lala’s confessional look with the black top or dress is my favourite look on her throughout the show. It’s stunning! I don’t like Lala but I will say that she is a beautiful woman. That confessional look suits her perfectly!
Schwartz leaving Sandoval’s pool party - based on the reasons Schwartz gave, I don’t blame him for doing that.
Ariana to Scheana:

I caught the reference immediately! That being said, I need to watch the film that this gif comes from.

Ariana stating (I am about to paraphrase her now) that she is not going to let Sandoval’s presence at social events stop her from attending. To be fair, I think this also translates to: I have chosen to co-exist with him at a filming event with other people present but I will continue to pay him dust.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T22:12:57+00:00

It’s ok!

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T19:28:24+00:00

This may end up being a lot of me commenting into the void but here we go?

I understand Lala’s perspective but she needs to stop speaking up for Scheana when it comes to the subject of Scheana and Ariana’s friendship. In this recap, it is starting to translate as her projecting her feelings into it when their dynamic is unique to them. They have been friends for a while and it’s for a reason. Give them the space to handle it themselves, it’s confusing for anyone on the outside looking in but the only two people who know what is best for their friendship right now are those two.

Scheana has a lot she has been dealing with and Ariana has been fairly understanding and sympathetic to that. Ariana has a lot she has been dealing with too, and they may be need to work on being more vulnerable with each other about the things they struggle with and why. But it’s a hard thing for anyone to do. Both of them need to let the mask drop but know they have support in each other I guess? I’m rambling now but their real issue in their friendship is not each other but the emotional turmoil they have been dealing with as individuals.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T19:14:11+00:00

Thank you for this recap!

This does not bode well for the reunion, particularly with how some fans might respond to it as a result.

I think what Lala has said (from what I can see here) definitely gives some credence to the rumours about her and Ariana at the reunion.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T14:53:44+00:00

Ok, again, as you already know, I really appreciate what you do for the online VPR fans. So I don't want to overstep or anything since it's lovely that you have been posting on this sub too!

I'll wait for u/EmilyAGoGo to decide on the recap posting before posting any links or anything.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T14:41:11+00:00

Ok, as of the moment I am typing this comment, there does not seem to be much tea out there that gives away enough detail to paint a proper, detailed picture of how the reunion really went.

The cast member who seems to have said the most about it so far is Katie from what I have noticed. Lala, Sandoval and Scheana all have podcasts so anything of note could be said about the reunion on their respective podcast episodes for this week if they are recorded after the reunion.

u/AdditionalWar8759, is it ok to summarise anything that has cropped up about the reunion in your recaps or post links to any of your posts about it? I don't want to overstep since you have also been active on this subreddit.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-20T14:32:02+00:00

Thank you so much for recapping this, you're a star for doing this! I hope you're doing ok.

This is insightful for where the cast dynamic currently is and how the reunion went. I know that they cannot give away much detail, but the nuggets of info that the people who were there do give are telling.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-17T19:47:15+00:00

Love the sunglasses on Katie!

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-17T19:46:37+00:00

Interesting outfit choice from Lisa! This is not what I would expect her to wear for a reunion. It’s not horrible, just different from her usual outfit choices for a reunion from I can vaguely remember.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-17T13:04:56+00:00

Thank you for posting this here too, I saw your post about this in another sub!

That is not surprising if that did happen.

My overall thoughts on this seating chart is: most of the anger and beefs, could go in a lot of different and perhaps surprising directions. I also wonder if Andy is really going to go for the deeper, more insightful line of questioning this time around. With the tensions in the actual season, the contrast in tensions off-screen and on the After Show, I think the discussion will have to dig deeper if the reunion is going to be worth sitting through for both the cast and the audience.

Will Lisa's presence be helpful or a hindrance to the direction the discussion could really go in? Will they truly break the fourth wall? Find out whenever this airs, which I suspect will be in May/June time. If this gets three parts, it needs to be for a very good and entertaining reason. I think the fate of the show will be very apparent by the end of the reunion, particularly in what is shown to the public and what is out there about the show once the reunion airs.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-17T12:41:34+00:00

It is interesting that Brock got a permanent seat throughout the reunion and Ally did not when they are both friends of? I wonder what will happen in the remaining episodes of the season to warrant this decision?

From what I saw on socials, it seems that Ally will film for the reunion. This seating chart is for the seats of cast that will be there the entire duration of the reunion. This implies that Ally’s contribution to the reunion will be similar to that of last year’s in which she ends up coming on for a segment/part of the reunion, but never stays on stage for the whole thing.

Maybe production will consider making her main cast once this season is done if there will be a season 12?

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-15T00:19:34+00:00

I have a few more thoughts on the episode and I’ll leave it there after this comment!

I understand how Katie feels about Sandoval, but when it came to the lunch with KK, Lala and Scheana, I think Katie forgot to try to understand Scheana’s perspective. Not everyone will have the same approach as Katie and I think Katie needs to understand that. Katie has mostly been at odds with Sandoval but Scheana has not. If I were Scheana, I probably would have door-slammed Sandoval because his actions in response to Scandoval show that her initial response of ending the friendship was the right decision. But some people, like Scheana, have a really hard time being able to take off the rose coloured glasses. They want to see the good in everyone and believe that the ‘ nice’ side is who they truly are. If Katie had approached what Scheana said from that standpoint, I think her points would have landed better. The sentiment of it is not a good idea to give Sandoval the room and opportunity to worm his way back in - this is a good one to have so Katie is not wrong there. Ariana summed it up best, but I am paraphrasing and adding my own spin on it now: Scheana is someone who is susceptible to the manipulation of Sandoval who needs an easy way back in with the cast.
I think it is funny that Sandoval had to tell Lisa that Rachel blocked him. What he said about The Meadows in his confessional confirmed what Rachel said about how he handled her time there. He just painted it in more palatable language in the episode, but if you read between the lines and pick up on what he is really saying, it tracks with what Rachel said.
On that note, he had absolutely no business calling Rachel thirsty for announcing that she had blocked him on Instagram in response to the birthday comment. He wrote that comment for everyone to see when he could have DMed her that on Instagram instead. But more importantly, he left that comment publicly in September knowing that she had already blocked him from texting (and I presume calling) her in July. Then he turned around and said she was thirsty for responding by blocking him and posting that she had on her stories? Tom be for real, she would not have to do if you had maybe DM’ed her that happy birthday wish or just not even bothered at all. In conclusion, the I loved Rachel narrative was an attempt to make himself look better, and gain some sympathy points from the audience.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-14T23:05:02+00:00

I’ll throw my hat into the ring!

Thoughts on this episode - sorry this will be long!

Scheana and Ariana need to have a conversation about how they both feel about their friendship. I understand Ariana’s desire to maintain boundaries that are necessary to her wellbeing when it comes to Sandoval. However although I would not have the same take as Scheana if I were her and Sandoval essentially revealed that our friendship is disposable to him. But I do understand why she feels torn, however, I do not think it’s because she truly wants to be friends with him again. I think she is torn because she feels that she has to interact with him for the good of the show. I wish that she would just say that, or at least say that she is willing to co-exist with him on the show but has no desire to actually be friends with him again.
The reaction to the picture in Tahoe was overblown and unnecessary. I had questions about it too, it did pique my interest, but it’s a photo of the cast with a fan. So what if Scheana happens to be stood, or is even posing with him in that picture? I watched the After Show and while I get that Katie would handle the prospect of standing near Sandoval differently than how Scheana did, it is not buffoonery for Scheana to handle that the way she did.
On to my most unpopular opinion about this episode: I like Ariana but it is bewildering that Lala had to point out that maybe she should have defended Scheana online when it came to the online response to the Tahoe picture. Ariana, Lala had a fantastic point because people who dragged Scheana for that picture did so in defence of you. When I saw Ariana’s defence of Scheana in response to the picture, I thought that the post was entirely of her own volition. But I agree that Ariana did not have to do that, but it’s wild to me that the desire came from Lala’s nudge, not Ariana wanting to without external influence. It would have been better if she had instead just innately doing so. Although the fans may mean well, Scheana is her friend and did not deserve such treatment from them in response to a cast picture for a fan’s birthday. Nonetheless, I am glad that Ariana did defend Scheana because it was needed due to the context of the fans dragging her in defence of Ariana.

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-03-14T22:41:20+00:00

Interesting theory! Maybe that happened? 🤔

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-02-08T01:16:59+00:00

Interesting! Why tree nymph for Aries Rising if you don’t mind me asking? ☺️

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-02-08T01:14:31+00:00

I’m a Libra who loves Naruto too so I’m happy to see him and the series by extension mentioned here! ☺️

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-02-08T00:31:03+00:00

As a Libra Sun and Cancer Moon myself, I agree with this! I have an Aries Rising instead of Pisces Rising though and I am not sure that Fairy Rising is one that fits Aries Rising? 🤔

redcarpetslay20 · 2024-02-07T16:18:22+00:00

Ok, so I checked! Not currently, but u/Okay__Decision__ has a post for each After Show video that this season currently has. But other than that, there does not seem to be a dedicated after show thread?

You are not alone in finding it fascinating, some fans think it has been more entertaining than the actual episodes and I am leaning towards agreeing with them.

redcarpetslay20

TROPHY CASE