Summer House Recap: Summer Should Be Fun. Kymanda? Not Fun.

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You might recognize me from my recaps of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but this week I’m taking over for Summer House – and it’s certainly a dramatic time to jump in! Everyone seems ready to criticize Amanda and West, and I get it, but before we completely condemn them, let’s recap what happened in the episodes filmed before their Instagram announcement changed everything in the house.

Lindsay’s housewarming party wrapped up – we’re starting to notice how often she mentions her ex-fiance! – and Dara and Bailey finally talked about the flirty vibe between Dara and Ben. They both admitted there was some chemistry, but nothing romantic happened. However, Dara was upset that Ben didn’t acknowledge any sparks at all. Honestly, it wasn’t surprising – Ben is very protective of his relationship with Sabrina. He’s made it clear he’s devoted to her, and he even said on Watch What Happens Live that Jasmine from Aladdin was his childhood crush, which makes sense considering Sabrina’s resemblance to her.

Given how strongly he reacted to Bailey’s harmless joke, it’s clear he won’t ignore Amanda’s comments at the housewarming party. When Ben introduces Sabrina, Amanda deliberately tells her that everyone believes Ben is in love with her. This comment is already inappropriate, but it’s especially pointed considering it came right after Sabrina openly admired Ciara and then offered Amanda advice about her failing marriage. While Sabrina might have been a bit overenthusiastic with her opinions on Ben and Ciara, Amanda’s reaction was more calculated and harmful than simple nervousness about being filmed.

Following Lindsay’s housewarming party, the episode shifts to various scenes around the city. Jesse is recording music in the studio (though I couldn’t stop the recording in time!), while Lindsay, Mia, and Amanda have dinner and discuss their relationships. Amanda, predictably, seems to be ignoring all the warning signs in her marriage, hoping therapy will magically fix things with Kyle, despite it being clear that the relationship is failing. Mia reveals she and her chef boyfriend have a formal agreement, and explains how losing her parents makes her crave stability when thinking about having a family. This mention of a contract reminds Lindsay of her own past, specifically the detailed timeline she once created, showing how much she’s changed. We also see flashbacks of Carl during his ‘More Life’ days, and his complicated relationship with Bailey – it’s nice to see how much Lindsay and Carl have grown, and their recent Uber Eats commercial was a fun moment. Though, I could have done without Lindsay telling Bailey to send Carl explicit photos. The situation was already awkward, and encouraging Bailey to photograph her tan lines would have made it even worse.

The show consistently highlights how much the original cast members have changed over time, but Amanda and Kyle seem stuck in the past. This season has done a great job of adding fresh, diverse characters – the dynamic between Mia, KJ, and Ciara is particularly strong – which makes the issues in Amanda and Kyle’s relationship even more frustrating to watch. It’s 2026, and it’s upsetting to see a husband verbally abuse his wife and have it presented as typical marital problems. Kyle and Amanda’s storyline is just too negative; it’s supposed to be summer, and they’re bringing down the overall tone of the show. Even Carl, who usually stays out of drama, is annoyed by Kyle’s selfishness – he didn’t check in on Carl after the anniversary of his brother’s death, but he readily posted about Lindsay’s birthday.

Carl complained to Jesse and Ben that Kyle’s dismissive behavior felt deeply personal, suggesting Kyle prioritizes his possessions over their friendship. Carl joked that Kyle would save his DJ equipment instead of them in an emergency. Jesse and Ben clearly found this amusing, struggling to hide their laughter. Meanwhile, West took it upon himself to talk to Kyle, urging him to offer a sincere apology to Carl. It’s unusual to see West so involved in other people’s conflicts, especially after previously avoiding confrontation. This feels even stranger considering his recent connection with Amanda. However, after West explained why Kyle should apologize, Kyle predictably listed all the reasons he wasn’t at fault, claiming he simply had to do his laundry.

Later in the day, the Summer House cast heads out for a night of golf, which creates a somewhat uncomfortable but cute flirting situation between Bailey and Carl – I’m definitely rooting for them! I’m also really enjoying Mia’s funny commentary on everything her roommate does. After golf, Kyle tries to talk things out with Carl, offering a simple apology and admitting he messed up. Carl, usually not great with words, struggles to respond, and it’s amusing to see him physically towering over Kyle while seeming hesitant to speak up. Kyle ignores West’s advice and continues to make excuses, claiming he was worried about Lindsay’s reaction if he didn’t post something, then turns around and accuses Carl of not being a great friend either. The conversation is awkward and indirect, with Kyle remaining defensive while asking Carl to be more open, and Carl withdrawing and clearly holding back his true feelings.

It’s striking that this conversation is happening in the same place where Carl and Luke nearly fought years ago, but the situation is completely different now. In the past, before Carl got sober, he’d react quickly and let anger control him, preventing him from understanding his true feelings. While sober, Carl realizes he needs to respond differently, he’s still struggling to find a healthy way to handle difficult conversations. It’s inspiring to see him work through his emotions without relying on substances – something we rarely see on reality TV. It’s tough to watch him admit to Bailey that he thinks he’d be able to express himself if he were using alcohol and drugs, but it’s a very honest moment that many people in recovery will likely understand. I admire his willingness to be so open about it.

Golf night took a turn when Ben immediately pulled Amanda aside to discuss Sabrina. He doesn’t beat around the bush and quickly defended his relationship. It’s starting to become clear why Ciara found his protectiveness attractive. Unlike many of the men on this show, Ben is direct, has firm boundaries, and isn’t afraid to enforce them. Frankly, Amanda seems to constantly seek validation through others, which is a problematic pattern in a committed relationship. Fans online are revisiting her past interactions – particularly with Craig – and it’s not painting her in a good light. We’ll have to wait until next week to see the full conversation, but I’m sure Ben will address the situation directly.

This episode really shines a positive light on Ciara. Perfect timing and a series of events – like recent photos of her looking stunning even while upset, and her dedication to her family – make her seem incredibly sympathetic. We’re seeing a more vulnerable side of her, especially as she films with her mother. After learning last week that she bought her grandparents’ house to preserve her family history, this episode shows her traveling to North Carolina to begin renovations.

Owning a home is a major accomplishment for anyone these days, but it’s especially significant for a young Black woman. She’s determined to fulfill her grandfather’s dream of creating lasting wealth for her family. The journey to buying the property wasn’t easy, though. She’s been open about having a strained relationship with her parents (it was wonderful to see her filming with her mother!), and she hadn’t spoken to her father in years, so she didn’t tell him about the purchase. There was some legal disagreement over her offer, but she ultimately succeeded. Considering her family’s history, going from having nothing to owning property in just a few generations after slavery is an incredible achievement.

As we continue to discuss the fallout from this scandal, I want to focus on Ciara’s strength and resilience. While it’s important to acknowledge the subtle slights that occurred, I don’t want this betrayal by a disloyal friend to overshadow who Ciara is. I’m anticipating some dramatic moments as the season progresses – especially with West’s behavior and what’s sure to be a tense reunion – but I’m most excited to see how Ciara bounces back from this, and definitely not by becoming the Bachelorette – no one should go through that!

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2026-04-08 04:55