Vanderpump Rules Recap: Room at the Inn

by

I’m really starting to feel for Venus. I’m just tired of Marcus and Kim’s constant on-again, off-again relationship – it feels like watching the same scene repeat endlessly. We’re about halfway through the season, and this pattern is already draining. It’s even more frustrating because they always involve everyone else in their drama. They’ll break up, then ride in the car together and sit next to each other, but avoid sharing a room just to prove a point. Honestly, everyone just wants them to resolve things privately.

The drama kicks off with a harmless, yet annoying, comment Natalie makes at work. It’s a celebration for SUR, though technically the restaurant is 26 years old – we even have proof from old photos and the fact that I’m no longer getting ads for ED medication! The party actually marks 20 years since Lisa became involved with the restaurant, and Peter, sporting his decades-old ponytail, arrives to greet people and sample the food, including some suspiciously dry-looking goat cheese balls and empanadas. Jason, one of the new cast members, is struggling to learn the menu and is completely unaware of the popular goat cheese balls, which are practically Vanderpump Rules history. As Venus, our newest addition, points out, “Jason needs a lesson in American culture.”

Okay, so back to the argument between Marcus and Shmim. Demy was getting frustrated with Marcus because he couldn’t manage setting up a water station, so she walked away. Marcus called after her, telling her he loved her, and then demanded she say it back. She just raised her hand, trying to dismiss his words.

Natalie playfully questioned Kim about whether she was okay with Marcus seeming close to her, referencing an earlier disagreement. Instead of ignoring Natalie’s comment, Marcus immediately told Kim what she said. This created a tense situation – bringing up old drama during a busy work shift was a risky move, and likely to escalate things. It was a bad time to stir up trouble.

Okay, so Kim finally confronts Natalie at her tiny bar – seriously, it’s like a glorified closet – and basically demands she stop talking about Kim and Marcus’s relationship. Honestly, I get wanting to shut that down, but when you and your ex are constantly fighting in public, you kind of invite the commentary, right? Kim then has the nerve to call Natalie pathetic for speaking up. But honestly, she’s the one who seems a bit…lost. I wouldn’t go as far as calling Marcus a terrible person, but let’s just say he’s well-worn goods at this point, and Kim keeps going back for more.

After Lisa scolded Natalie and Kim for arguing while working, Natalie confronted Marcus, upset that he’d shared her comment with his girlfriend. Marcus denied telling her, claiming others overheard it. It seems he not only started the drama but also lied to avoid getting in trouble with Natalie. The whole situation is frustrating to watch, much like endlessly listening to someone like Andrew Tate. Marcus then spoke to Kim, repeating his lie about others hearing the comment and even laughed about it, treating their emotions like a game. Kim became angry and insisted Marcus tell Natalie he was the source of the information, not wanting Natalie to feel like she has a special connection with him. Basically, Kim doesn’t want Natalie talking to his coworkers. As Venus rightly points out, Marcus is the real problem, making both Natalie and Kim look foolish.

The breakup isn’t actually about what people think. The cast is heading on a trip that’s disguised as a work event – they’re all serving drinks at Lisa’s wine convention, which sounds a lot more glamorous than it probably is. Behind the scenes, Kim warned Marcus not to speak to Natalie, fearing she’d cause trouble like she did at a restaurant. Marcus then apparently told Kim she was being irrational. Basically, he stirred up drama and then blamed her for how she reacted. Kim explained she’s sensitive and emotional, and he doesn’t always understand that. Hilary Duff, Raven-Symoné, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Brenda Song, and two of the Jonas Brothers clearly disagree with how he handled things.

The actual reason for their breakup wasn’t the initial argument. It started when Marcus called Kim crazy, she defended herself, and he accused her of ruining his life – that was the final straw. Now, Kim and Marcus are both reluctantly heading to a work event. Kim is riding with Demy, Angelica, and Shayne, while Marcus is in a separate car with Venus, Natalie, Audrey, and the Cheech cousins. It’s a seriously awkward situation.

The group gathered at the Madonna Inn, a quirky and famous landmark (though it has no connection to Madonna!). It’s known for its wildly decorated rooms, a ridiculously pink restaurant, and a surprisingly popular waterfall-themed urinal often used by hikers before or after hitting nearby trails. The main topic of conversation was Audrey and Shayne’s recent appearance in a friend’s music video. Audrey joked that music videos are how stars like Channing Tatum got their start, and playfully suggested she could be a female version of ‘Magic Mike’ – which, as someone pointed out, is just another way of saying she could be a stripper.

Angelica is upset that Shayne didn’t tell her he’d be in a music video and that it involved kissing Audrey, someone she’s currently feuding with. Honestly, her reaction is incredibly unreasonable. It was just a video, he’s an actor, and they were fully clothed. As others pointed out, she’s still living with her ex, so getting upset about him kissing someone for work feels hypocritical. They even had an awkward kiss themselves earlier in the episode! Plus, she was trying to convince Shayne to be monogamous. This whole situation is a disaster waiting to happen – it’s a terrible combination.

After lunch, the group heads to Lisa’s house – which she’s covering the costs for – to prepare for the Women in Wine event. Because Marcus and Kim have split up, Kim is sharing a room with Demy and Angelica, and they start discussing Chris and Jason’s content on OnlyFans and whether Audrey should be told about it. The next episode promises to delve deeper into this topic. Meanwhile, Audrey confides in Venus that she wishes she could see a more romantic side of Chris, while the guys play a game of cornhole. Back outside, Katie arrives in a van full of wine for the event. She observes the group relaxing and senses the drama brewing inside – the girls are plotting to exploit their friend’s emotional pain. Disturbed by what she feels, Katie immediately reverses the van and drives away, leaving the vineyards and surrounding cities behind. She drives for a long time, even past her own garage, contemplating driving the van into the ocean.

Read More

2026-01-21 06:55