Vanderpump Rules Recap: Through the Roof

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It’s great to be back watching people navigate the world of work! The show really throws you right into it – from the opening scenes of the new SURvers clumsily making drinks, it’s clear they’re not exactly seasoned pros. With so many new faces, it’s taking a while to get to know everyone and figure out who’s right in any disagreement. But the workplace is always a good place to see how people really behave. Just like with Below Deck, it’s easy to quickly assess someone’s work ethic. And honestly, I’ve already formed some pretty strong opinions about the cast based on what I’ve seen.

Marcus started the season suspended after being caught drinking while working. He defended his actions to his brother, Aaron, saying everyone does it, but that’s clearly not true – many jobs require sobriety, like those in healthcare, transportation, education, or dealing with finances. His friend Shayne doesn’t drink on the job, mostly because he doesn’t seem to have a job. While Andy Cohen might have a drink at the end of a TV reunion, it’s definitely not how he starts. Another cast member, Venus, pointed out that Marcus’s drinking seems less like a common habit and more like a sign of a larger problem.

Marcus brings Lisa a bouquet of supermarket roses when he meets with her to discuss his mistakes. It’s an odd gesture for a work meeting, and he wants to make it clear this isn’t a romantic advance – he’s simply trying to save his job, not create a situation she’ll regret. He explains he’s been struggling with immense grief, having lost both his parents – his father at the start of the pandemic and his mother a few months later – and admits this is affecting his work. Lisa Vanderpump, known for being sympathetic to those who are hurting, offers him his job back, but insists he also attend grief counseling.

Natalie also seems to have a poor understanding of workplace expectations. Demy had to reprimand her after a public argument with her ex-partner led to her being removed from the restaurant while off duty. When Demy looked for Natalie, a coworker said she’d left some time earlier. After searching, Demy found her and pointed out she’d been gone for nearly an hour. Natalie disagreed, claiming Demy was exaggerating. However, records show she was actually away from her station for 27 minutes – almost the length of a full break for an eight-hour shift. Unless Demy approved a break, Natalie wasn’t fulfilling her work responsibilities. Even a short absence of ten minutes is unacceptable when you’re supposed to be working.

Natalie is intentionally making things difficult by continuing to argue with her boss, Demy. Even if she believes Demy is wrong, a boss ultimately has the authority. Natalie doesn’t seem to understand she can’t win this conflict, as Demy could fire her at any time. She really needs to adjust her attitude. Natalie refuses to sign important paperwork because she thinks Demy is overreacting and insists on dealing only with Guillermo, Lisa’s business partner who resembles George Clooney. However, Demy was specifically asked by Guillermo to get Natalie to sign, so Natalie can’t try to bypass Demy and go straight to the owner. The owner doesn’t want to be involved in such minor issues and delegated the task to Demy, which he explains to Natalie when she demands to sign with him directly. It’s baffling that Natalie doesn’t understand the basic expectations of having a job.

The show really needed some conflict at work because the personal storylines just aren’t resonating with me. We’re seeing Venus, who claims to be a life coach, endlessly journaling and trying too hard to be ‘spiritual,’ and Chris is naively hoping to become a model for John Varvatos. Let’s be real – he’s a 31-year-old reality TV personality with an OnlyFans account. A modeling contract isn’t happening, and it’s time he finds a more realistic goal.

Chris is clearly flirting with Audrey, and it seems like she’s reciprocating – they spent half an hour talking about ice cream! It’s a pretty basic conversation, honestly. Audrey also mentioned having a horse named Oreo, but later admitted it’s actually her friend’s horse that she helps care for. Simply caring for a horse isn’t the same as owning one, just like Lisa treating Audrey to a meal at SUR doesn’t mean Audrey owns the restaurant.

The rest of the episode centers around Audrey’s 22nd birthday party, held on a hotel rooftop despite the chilly weather. Everyone was bundled up near the heaters, almost like waiting for a limited-edition release. While it was Audrey’s celebration, Demy quickly became the most relatable character. She called out Natalie for being a bad worker and then hilariously complained about Audrey turning 22, saying it wasn’t fair. But the highlight of the night was when Natalie, trying to talk to Kim who was giving her the cold shoulder, announced she was leaving. Demy’s response – “Where are you going? We’re on a roof!” – was perfect. It was ironic, considering Katie Maloney had just fallen through a skylight, and the moment felt a little too soon to joke about. Sorry, Katie!

Natalie and Kim are arguing because Kim is upset that Natalie is getting close to Marcus. Natalie feels it’s unfair, explaining that Kim and Marcus are constantly fighting and breaking up, and Kim is actually upset about that, not about their friendship. Natalie also believes Kim is angry because she sees Natalie as a threat and doesn’t trust her around Marcus.

I used to think Natalie was the one to blame for all the drama – she supposedly stole Demy’s boyfriend, and Kim didn’t trust her. I was so wrong! It’s not a woman’s fault at all; it’s entirely the man’s. The more we learn about this fight, the clearer it becomes that Marcus is almost completely responsible. He lied to Kim, telling her Natalie was sending him suggestive pictures, but all Natalie actually texted was that she’d bought some new high heels – something he’d encouraged her to do. He also falsely claimed Natalie said they were like brother and sister; in reality, he said that, and it seems to have been his way of hinting at wanting more than friendship. Marcus deliberately made it look like Natalie was the problem, when he was the one who caused everything.

Kim tries to discuss her concerns with Marcus at a party, but he refuses to talk to her. She feels he dismisses her valid feelings and consistently shuts down whenever she tries to address issues in their relationship, even threatening to end things. Earlier, his brother questioned whether Marcus was making Kim feel secure, and he claimed he was, citing their physical intimacy. However, his actions – ignoring her concerns, refusing to communicate, and continuing to talk to someone she’s uncomfortable with – clearly show he isn’t. It’s no surprise Kim is struggling, as his behavior is actively creating a damaging dynamic.

The party starts with Kim pointedly ignoring Natalie, but ends with Kim dramatically crying to Natalie about her awful boyfriend, Marcus. It’s a classic twenty-something party scene – except this one is for Audrey’s birthday, and she’s hired professional dancers, Chris and Jason. Chris starts grinding on Audrey’s lap, eventually turning around and twerking in her face. Kim breaks down in tears, and a strand of Natalie’s hair gets caught in them. Then Jason takes his turn, tearing off his shirt to show off his physique and grinding on Audrey, who is visibly enjoying herself. Kim continues to sob about Marcus, completely unaffected by what’s happening. The night becomes a chaotic mix of dancing, crying, sexual energy, and regret, constantly shifting between these extremes.

Right then, Katie Maloney Schwartz arrived and began turning off the gas to all the patio heaters. As she did, the flames inside the heaters dwindled, mirroring the failing connection between Kim and Marcus. She went from heater to heater, fiddling with the controls until each one was cold and unusable. Partygoers huddled together, forming larger and larger groups, trying to stay warm. But Katie didn’t stop; she continued to shut them all down, realizing that the fun was already over for everyone.

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2025-12-10 05:55