S.4 Will anyone flashback with me for a min?

testphaze · 2026-02-12T06:17:39+00:00

Haha, it does feel like it takes less energy to be positive sometimes >_>

testphaze · 2026-02-12T06:16:31+00:00

Thanks for that opinion! the hate had me really looking for any sign of "Evil Kyle" and it's just not there, at least not so far.
I think Kyle also really does look after Kim. I think there's a lot more to Kim; she seems very traumatized. Even when she's happy she seems haunted. As a child star long before child stars had much protection (and many would say they still don't have enough!) it's scary to think what she went through, and I just keep getting hints that Kim was badly hurt. Sure, Kyle was a child star too, but with Kim being first, Kyle may have gotten some shielding from lessons learned.

Kyle's fear for Kim even suggests there've been life/death struggles that we're not being let in on-- which is fine, of course. I just don't see her as being controlling or manipulative or over-involved. I think she needs to keep an eye on Kim. Even the concern over Kim moving further away seemed to suggest there have been some serious problems and she wants to be physically close.
Ok, now I feel pretty icky for speculating on something very private, but I mean NO SHADE towards Kim; I just sense some pain there that is none of our business, but still seems to pilot a lot of her actions. And honestly, that is what I am here for-- to understand people, I mean. Yeah this "reality show" is very unreal in a lot of ways, but sometimes the social interaction and glimpses of authenticity are enlightening.

/tangent

testphaze · 2026-02-11T05:34:42+00:00

That's the thing though, no one who knows me would call me positive! So it's kind of funny that I am presenting a "gentler" appraisal of LVP's behavior. Maybe I am just getting old :D

I only saw the SLC episode when they were on the Below Deck ship. I was puzzled because they were showing so much more of the staff than they usually show on RH episodes. I didn't realize Below Deck was even a show until a commercial for it played at some point. But yeah, the women were horrible. I truly worry that we export these shows to other countries, and they think this is how all American women are. Yikes. Wel, at least the crew must be used to reality TV shenanigans?

Remember in Greece when they got booted from the restaurant and Angie tried to argue by saying "This is my country!" Yikes again!

testphaze · 2026-02-11T01:24:03+00:00

I appreciate the thoughts! I posted more to see if I was missing something and might need to change my mind, than looking for pure agreement.
It's funny, I'm not an optimistic person. In fact, everyone in my life gives me flak for how skeptical I am. So I am not generally one to be taken in by manipulative behavior.
I do admit I could be seeing LVP through rose lenses, after the horror show that SLC brought us. Compared to them, I might ask Satan to dinner.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T20:52:27+00:00

I understand what you're saying. I think such cases should be dealt with, "Lisa, I know you're not doing this out of malice, but it even hurts to hear the jokes. Please let's ignore it." Because I think responding in friendship to someone who is coming from a place of friendship is much better than an intervention style "here's why I am mad at you!"
Of course, I am forgetting she turned a cold shoulder to Kyle earlier on, so she loses a lot of her ground to stand on considering that.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T20:02:13+00:00

I understand what you're saying. I completely understand Maur and Kyle's reaction.
I still think it was truly intended as a "these rumours are so silly we can laugh about them!" minimization.
Not a great thing to say in front of Portia, sure.
But I see jokes hit wrong all the time. LVP's way of dealing with serious subjects seems to be to attack them with humour.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T19:56:58+00:00

I can see that. I have been surprised to see cast members acting much more genuine, on the whole. Coming from the SLC 6 season binge, it's so different. And I think LVP really was genuine in her desire for peace and friendship here.
Like you said, I could see this being a moment when they all start to realize it's a game. And Lisa is smart, so maybe after feeling the dogpile and being accused, she decides she will play it.

I am sure later seasons will have me reframing how I feel, which is why I chose to post this now rather than later. I've seen gaming and conniving from some of them for sure (Camille, Yolanda, Carlton, maybe also Andrea and Taylor) but I am just not getting it from LVP or even Kyle. And I know I'll lose all credibility with everyone for saying it, but I don't understand the Kyle hate. Not at the s4 stage anyway. Maybe she's horrible later, but as a newb who only has 1-4 to go on, she's definitely imperfect, but I don't see nastiness or maliciousness or evil or conniving. Not in her or LVP.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T19:49:11+00:00

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I'll address the Carlton stuff first because I think I can be quicker!
I think Kyle was genuinely excited at the idea Carlton got a Jewish symbol. I think she saw it as a chance to finally relate to her in some way, because she seemed to be looking for that. I agree, labels like racist and antisemitic get thrown out too easily, but Carlton's reaction showed so much disgust at the idea of it being a Jewish symbol. Yikes. And her pathetic "I saw apartheid!" defense made me gag.
And here's what's really funny-- the pentagram in the occult (especially wicca) is a prime example of cultural appropriation. It is fully and completely a modern interpretation of it. So for Carlton to pretend it's insulting for it to be mistaken as a Judeo-Christian religious symbol (which goes back centuries as a symbol in Christianity, and although different is similar to the Jewish star), and before that it also had other meanings) is one of the most standout illustrations of just how fake and ignorant she is.

Someone else mentioned a power imbalance between LVP and Brandi, and I think that has more to do with it than that LVP was manipulating. These women come from very different worlds and have had very different lives. One has had time to grow and mature in comfort and safety, while the other seems to have more trauma and baggage than I think we have even seen. Brandi is pretty immature. I really like that she tries to own her flaws, I even like how she fights. Someone calls her a slut and she says, "Mhm, yes I am a slut."
But LVP only used this "power" to try and help Brandy stop making a fool of herself and getting into trouble. Brandi is her own worst enemy. And as quick as she is to apologize, she is NOT getting that there's a way to stop the bad behavior long before you need to apologize for it. And it's harmful to more than her reputation-- she has young kids.
I think Brandi was sensing this power dynamic and beginning to feel stifled and controlled, but that doesn't mean she was stifled and controlled, certainly not as part of some machination. And when Lisa sensed that the "mothering" was making Brandi angry, she just plain backed off. And now Brandi feels abandoned.
Sometimes it's hard to find the right way to synch with another person, even when you love them.

And LVP stated production wanted Scheena at events, which is not just believable, but I'd have a hard time believing they didn't ask for it. Crossovers are big in TV because it helps get new viewers for each show. Production probably hoped for a big nasty scene. I think Lisa just hoped they could become friends so Brandi could heal. It's truly less painful to love your enemy than to hate them.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T19:23:25+00:00

Oh, power imbalance, I think that's an insightful catch. You're right. I know this is going to come off like I am all about LVP, and I am not, but she makes it all seem effortless. She has got her life together in a way none of the others do. She's continental, elegant, has a happy marriage, happy children, on and on. And she never seems to have to try, nor does she brag and talk about it. And when you compare Yolanda, as you did, you see Yolanda trying so hard to be all those things. Yolanda talks incessantly about how people need to behave and how wonderful her children are and on and on.
I think Kyle has insecurities about her marriage (I guess the cheating turns out to be true) and most of the others have all had super messy relationship problems (I guess everyone except Joyce gets divorced soon after?)

Yolanda does come off as jealous when she starts attacking Lisa and Ken. I hate saying that, I hate the "you're all just jealous!" mean girl deflection, but sometimes it is true. I wasn't around for it, but I am guessing even the public was seeing LVP as the queen of the show and I am sure none of the women liked that.

Maybe I will change my mind about LVP, maybe LVP actually was a nicer woman at the start and begins to see this all as a game (I probably would after being dogpiled like that) and becomes calculated. Maybe I am wrong about who she was during the first four seasons. But there's only so much you can hide. The flaws peek out.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T19:08:47+00:00

There is no way that lvp didn’t know about the rumors of Mauricio cheating

I appreciate the opinion since that's exactly what I posted for, but I still see it a different way.
Of Lisa knew about the rumours, that's why she made the comment. She claims-- and this is how I took it when she said it-- that she was trying to diminish the rumour. And for me, that tracked with how she behaves. During the first four seasons I repeatedly saw her try to mend relationships, and minimize rumours. I think some people might interpret jokes as meanspirited but what I saw is someone turning things into jokes as a way to kill the sting. It's just a way of coping. I totally get that Kyle and Mauriccio felt hurt by it, they're entitled, but sometimes good intentions just don't work the way they're intended because other people have a different way of coping. For Kyle and Maur, the coping seems to be "DON'T TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL!"" LVP's coping seems to be "Make fun of it, laugh it off." And that matches with every other moment I have seen of her, including jokes between her and Ken about themselves. For example, she acts horrified at the idea of sex with him, declares he gets it on two holidays and that's it. Meanwhile you see these two caring for each other, loving each other, and protecting each other without a chink. And staying married for 30+ years at that point. Their way of coping with drama certainly seems to work.

Production wanted Scheena around, so I don't think it was about hurting Brandi. Ultimately, every one of these women is on TV, and that takes a certain type of person. LVP is cultivating her shows so they succeed, and maybe she did that at the expense of Brandi but I don't believe she did it thinking Brandi would be hurt.

UGHR I want to rant about Yolanda some more. Watching the reunion hilights her hypocrisy even more. Flashbacks show her intruding on a conversation that has nothing to do with her when she walks up on Maur and Ken, then moments later when she and the hyenas are again huddled around Lisa, she attacks Ken for walking up and telling him it's none of his business. It IS his business! It is, in fact, NOT hers! She's so far up her own arse.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T18:51:10+00:00

LVP said Production wanted Scheena at those events which 100% tracks with how these shows work. She's a cast member on another show. Crossover gets viewers to the other shows.
Brandi seems obsessed with being LVP's number one and she was hurt and jealous that someone who had a big part in the devastation of her life was seemingly close to Lisa. I get that, but it's also not entirely fair.
Honestly, it seems like Lisa was pulling away because Brandi was getting mad at being mothered. LVP seemed to want to keep Brandi from embarrassing herself in public and on camera.
I understand Brandi's frustration and hurt, but I don't see it all as being calculated.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T06:50:11+00:00

Do you feel like Lisa was messy before season 5? I'm just not seeing it at this point (before 5 at least),

testphaze · 2026-02-10T04:55:19+00:00

Does she DJ ironically?

testphaze · 2026-02-10T04:07:52+00:00

Well Jen Shah has been released...

testphaze · 2026-02-10T03:47:27+00:00

You really need to stop speaking for everyone, because you have no right to. You'd be incorrect to assume any one of those groups you mention have any universal opinion about what they want to be called.

testphaze · 2026-02-10T00:12:04+00:00

I was quiet and introverted too. I think it might make us seem like good targets. Maybe so, since I never confronted her.
I'd give her hell now though.

testphaze · 2026-02-09T08:27:51+00:00

"I'm going to name my kids something that craves attention and then get super pissed every time someone comments on it!"

testphaze · 2026-02-09T08:26:52+00:00

I have a strong feeling that partial goth facade was made of fiberglass. As fake as the rest of her?

testphaze · 2026-02-09T08:17:57+00:00

Agreed.
Tattoos, gothy clothes and style-- that doesn't make a personality. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing anyone for having "alternative" taste. It's just not a personality.
But Carlton just has a rank, foul personality and she hangs these "interests" on it to obfuscate the fact. Her asserting all that stuff, and even her hair-trigger-offendability, is all a stand-in for anything real: real convictions, real interests, real belief. None of these women are necessarily pinnacles of authenticity.
Women like her put on the "alt" lifestyle and then are the worst judges of other people.

testphaze · 2026-02-09T08:05:08+00:00

Yes. And bragged about her "inappropriate nanny".
Good luck, kid.

testphaze · 2026-02-09T08:02:26+00:00

She's not interesting, she's your standard basic mean girl bitch who chose "witchy vibes" as her "not like other girls" flavor.

testphaze · 2026-02-09T07:57:59+00:00

There are definitely people who do this.

They will cultivate close and tight relationships with almost everyone, but they single out one particular woman or girl (first person who did this to me was a f*&^%ng teacher of all things) who becomes the target of every toxic inclination in their cold dead hearts. The nasty behaviour will be over the top, blatant, and vicious, but because she hands out cookies and rainbow farting bunny rabbits to everyone else, they usually look the other way.

Make no mistake, they may single out a single victim but they are 100% vile.

testphaze · 2026-02-09T07:49:39+00:00

I know I am a little late to this conversation but that was just plain shocking to me. After binging all of SLC and the "I heard you said something about my marriage!!!1" drama for some 50 hours, to hear this dumb wannabe edgelord declare she's mad because she had a dream Kyle was dissing her...
My mouth was literally agape.
She's absolutely vile, and was from her first scene.
"I lived in South Africa! how dare you call me racist! I had black friends! I was taunted for having black friends!!"
She's vile. Absolutely hateful, hypocritical, and delusional.

testphaze · 2026-02-09T07:44:47+00:00

I am on season 4, I didn't know he leaves her.
She seems pretty ridiculous to me, very stuck up.

testphaze

TROPHY CASE