Southern Charm Recap: The Wrong Stuff

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It’s hard to watch Craig Conover sometimes – he’s good-looking, but often makes things worse for himself. This recent disagreement with Austen is a perfect example. Craig blew a small issue way out of proportion, handling it clumsily. He initially got upset because Austen was teasing him about hanging out with girls in the hot tub, and Craig rightly pointed out that it’s okay to have fun. He also correctly suggested Austen might be bothered by being in a relationship while Craig is single. But then he crossed a line, threatening that Shep would say something damaging to Austen. That’s where he really went wrong.

He’s wrong to think Shep will jump in to defend Craig, because Craig isn’t the victim here – he’s the one who blew a small disagreement out of proportion and is now threatening to ruin Whitner’s birthday. He also mistakenly believes Shep has some damaging information about Austen, which doesn’t seem to be true. This fear of Craig and his unpredictable behavior is a recurring theme among the cast. He quickly goes from calm to completely destructive. Madison notes that Craig used to be focused and successful when he was with Paige and didn’t drink as much, but since their breakup, he’s returned to his old, unnecessarily aggressive behavior – and everyone remembers the footage to prove it!

Okay, so things really escalated between Craig and Austen, and it all came down to something ridiculous. Apparently, a few weeks ago in New York, some women approached Shep at a bar and said their friend claimed Austen was talking trash. Shep asked Craig if he should even mention it to Austen, and Craig, wanting to keep the peace, said no. Honestly, I agreed with that – why bother with gossip from strangers who could be making it all up? But then, the second Craig got annoyed with Austen, he subtly brought it up – not directly, but enough to put it in the air. And then, get this, he made Shep bring it up, even after they both decided it wasn’t worth discussing! It’s just manipulative and totally unnecessary drama, honestly.

Seriously, I can’t believe they’re even entertaining that rumor! Craig already said it was totally false, just something made up to mess with him. And now it’s causing problems between Shep and Austen because Austen is upset Shep even brought it up with Craig. I get that the drama is part of the show, and they’re always talking about each other, but they agreed to drop it, so they really should have! It just feels unfair to keep stirring things up.

The argument between Craig and Austen escalates when Craig gets upset that Austen claimed to be afraid of him. He immediately denies it, insisting Austen isn’t scared, and even demands to know if that’s true – all while acting in a way that clearly frightens Austen. This is incredibly frustrating because Craig accuses Austen of lying about his fear, then later tells Salley he won’t be manipulated into admitting any wrongdoing. Craig fundamentally prioritizes his own perceptions over reality. If he feels Austen isn’t afraid, then in his mind, that’s the truth. Similarly, if he believes he’s done nothing wrong, then he hasn’t, and anyone suggesting otherwise is simply trying to mislead him.

Craig is simply wrong. He brought up a topic he and Shep previously agreed to avoid, especially in public or on camera. Now, everyone’s talking about it, and he’s pretending he didn’t start it – it’s like trying to shield yourself from a hurricane with a tiny umbrella! He even claims he tried to stay out of it, which is ridiculous since he’s the one who brought it up in the first place. If people are telling him he shouldn’t have raised the issue and should apologize to Austen, that’s not manipulation; it’s simply disagreeing with him – and being right. It’s a matter of being a good friend and letting Craig know he overstepped, and standing up for what’s right – for everything, really!

Okay, let me tell you, watching Craig try to explain himself to Salley is… something. She, and honestly her extra ‘e’ just rolls right off the screen, immediately starts showering him with praise, acting like he’s just a brilliant soul who’s been misinterpreted. But is he, though? It’s so classic Salley – abandoning everything just to get on a guy’s good side, hoping he’ll choose her. Thankfully, Molly sees right through it all. The argument escalates when Salley claims she was simply urging Craig to apologize, not, you know, batting her eyelashes at him. Molly, bless her, points out it looked like flirting, and Salley immediately tries to shut her down, clearly aware Molly’s been talking. It turns into a he-said-she-said about past drama – Salley accusing Molly of inappropriate behavior at Madison’s shower, while Molly counters with accusations of Salley claiming every eligible bachelor in Charleston. Honestly, it’s a mess, but a fascinating one to watch.

Okay, things really kick off here. Salley asks who’s been laying claim to Craig, and then her best friend, Venita, hilariously grabs the guy next to her and starts mimicking Salley, yelling “Craig! Craig! Craig!” It’s amazing. Then Molly calls Salley out for telling Charley to avoid Craig, but Salley denies it. But Venita and Rodrigo – honestly, Rodrigo is my favorite, that cat dad is gold – both point out that she did say that, and the footage backs them up. I just love how Salley is trying to rewrite history, pretending she didn’t do something, and even her own friends are like, “Nope, you said it, own up to it!” She’s totally busted, and honestly, it’s so satisfying to watch. She’s completely roasted, like an Englishman getting a sunburn on the beach.

The day after the argument, we learned Salley and Charley stayed up with Craig in the hot tub until 4 a.m., but nothing romantic happened. Salley finds it strange Craig didn’t make any advances, explaining he prefers to take things slow when he’s interested in someone. Then, Salley has Charley bring over some questionable art – it looks like it came straight from a cheap hotel. It’s clear Charley is the one Craig is really interested in. However, I predict Salley will try to seduce Craig, they’ll end up together, and that’s how Salley will consider herself the winner. Afterwards, Craig will pursue Charley, and Salley will become jealous and upset. I’m telling you, I can see how this is going to play out – I’ve been paying attention to all the signs (like the leftover Jell-O shots in the hot tub).

After the party, there’s a sweet moment with Madison and her son Hudson, where she shares her excitement about the upcoming baby and how their relationship is evolving. We also see Whitner’s morning routine, and it’s impressively disciplined – think viral wellness content featuring Saratoga Springs water! He wakes up at exactly 4:35 a.m., walks the dog, and then spends several hours running and working out (and it clearly pays off!). He’s at work as a lawyer by 8 a.m., and makes time to call his lovely mother. Honestly, if I wasn’t already captivated by him, this routine sealed the deal – even forgetting about any Patrick Bateman comparisons!

The episode concludes with the guys discussing the fight with people they trust. Charley advises Craig to apologize, and while he says he will, he doesn’t follow through. Shep explains to Molly that he only mentioned the rumor to Craig without meaning to cause trouble, but Craig was the one who brought it up at the party. Meanwhile, Austen seems ready to forgive Craig before anyone else, which is typical of their complicated dynamic.

Austen’s friend Rodrigo brought over two kittens from his cat’s litter, named Martini and Piper. This was a playful nod to Southern Charm, allowing Austen to jokingly yell “Piper, noooo!” – a reference to a scene in The White Lotus. While talking about how Shep and Craig were gossiping about him, Austen started to question if they were truly his friends. Meanwhile, the wobbly kittens explored the couch, still new to the world and unafraid. Little Martini eventually stumbled into Austen’s lap, looking up at him as if she had something important to say. When he touched her, she curled up completely, fitting perfectly in his hand. It was a simple gesture, but a meaningful one – a connection Austen hadn’t felt in a while.

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2025-12-11 06:55