Summer House Recap: A Knight to Remember

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We’ve got a classic love triangle brewing! West is trying to get back together with his ex, Ciara, who still has feelings for him. Meanwhile, West’s best friend, Jesse, hoped things could develop romantically with Ciara, but she’s upset with how he pursued her. And let’s not forget the unexpected attraction between Jesse and West – a result of a forced kiss at a party, thanks to some enthusiastic fans! (Plus, Lindsay Hubbard seems to be stirring up all the drama.) This love triangle is really taking off, and it’s much more captivating than the ongoing issues with Kymanda, which thankfully takes a backseat this episode.

The episode starts with a Renaissance Faire party, and it’s noticeably full of women dressed as wenches, with far fewer men in traditional knight or bard costumes. The question arises: were most of the guests invited by the men? Or is the show’s audience primarily female, creating a demand for more male attendees? It makes you wonder why they didn’t just invite Joe the Balloon Guy!

It’s easy to see why Bailey is struggling to find a partner – she openly admits she’s not good at flirting. She tries to flirt with West near the popcorn machine, but it completely fails, and it’s pretty awkward. I appreciate Bailey’s honesty about her insecurities and how her past relationship – especially getting dumped at Sweetgreen – has affected her ability to connect with guys. Plus, her and Levi’s prank where they dressed as plants to scare people was hilarious! Along with Kyle’s cutouts still around the house, this season is delivering some really funny moments.

Bailey and Carl have a lot in common – they’re both attractive, genuine people who are a bit hesitant because of past relationships. They also both struggle to show romantic interest without feeling awkward. Hopefully, Carl will have better luck now that his bar project, Soft Bar, is progressing well. It was fun to see an update on the project this episode, and even more fun to remember when Lindsay and the group initially poked fun at his idea.

Lots of people struggle with flirting, and KJ admits he’s no good at it. When West’s ex, Dara, arrives at the party, he’s particularly awkward. He completely forgets they met at a singles event just days before, leaving her to ask if he doesn’t remember her. He responds with a silly, childish excuse and then performs a goofy dance – a popular TikTok trend called the ‘Stupid Boy Dance’ – seemingly unaware of how ridiculous he looks.

He eventually showed Dara around the house and introduced her to everyone at the party, making sure she had a drink. They even playfully swapped earrings. Meanwhile, Ben was hoping to chat with Dara, and she was equally interested in talking to him. They spent some time sitting on a haystack and relaxing in his bed, but that was all.

The week after the party, KJ met Dara for drinks and confessed he’d felt completely hopeless about his chances with her once Ben showed interest – he felt like he had no chance at all. But Dara surprised him by saying that wasn’t true! I was so excited to hear that – my reaction at home matched KJ’s in the moment! Dara explained she didn’t feel a connection with Ben, but she definitely felt one with KJ. He shared that he’d been wearing her earring all week, and it reminded him of her every morning. After their date, KJ told his friends they’d hung out again and that she’d “come over for dinner,” which I’m pretty sure means something romantic happened, but he’s too polite to say it on camera. It was great to see that KJ’s kindness, respect, and genuine attention – along with his good looks – were more effective than just being attractive.

We might have a problem with Ben. He’s physically attractive, but honestly, a little boring, and Dara’s lack of connection with him confirms it. It seems like he’s always gotten attention for his looks, so he never really developed a personality. Some of us, myself included, had to work on being interesting and funny to connect with people, and it seems like Ben skipped that part. He’s good-looking, but ultimately might not be very engaging.

Let’s get back to West, Ciara, and Jesse. At the party, Lindsay Hubbard dressed as Evil Lynn from Master of the Universe and really drives the drama forward. She even makes Carl bow down to her! She asks West if he’s spoken to Ciara about the situation, and he avoids taking sides. Lindsay then questions whether it’s even his place to get involved – and honestly, in real life, it wouldn’t be. But this is reality TV, and Lindsay thrives on stirring things up. That’s why she left her baby with her father so she could come to the Hamptons and disrupt the hopes of these three people.

Lindsay decided to tell Ciara something Jesse had asked West, and she chose a particularly funny moment to do it – while Ciara was wearing a rat costume. I always admire Ciara’s creativity with her costumes; she could easily get away with something simple and flattering like Amanda’s bikini and chainmail, but she always goes for the most hilarious option. And honestly, she looked incredible even as a rat – better than Kyle Cooke anywhere, really! It seems like whenever drama happens, Ciara’s dressed as something ridiculous. Anyway, Lindsay explained that Jesse had asked West if he could kiss Ciara. West apparently didn’t care either way, and Lindsay clarified that Jesse meant it as a joke.

Ciara is spot-on with her feelings. In a private moment, she admits both Jesse and West are frustrating her – Jesse because he doesn’t seem serious about anything, and West because he doesn’t seem to care. She feels if Jesse needs permission from West to do things, he should also ask before going on dates. She’s incredibly annoyed by West’s indifference and jokingly suggests she’ll test his feelings by making out with someone else in front of him. While she’s completely justified in her reaction, I suspect some important details are getting lost as the story is retold. I think everyone’s true motivations are being obscured. Plus, it’s clear Ciara is trying to make West jealous, which suggests they’re likely to reconcile.

Okay, so this movie is really playing with my emotions! Jesse is definitely serious about Ciara – he wants a real relationship, not just a fling. The problem? His best friend, West, is still hung up on her. It’s creating this incredibly awkward dynamic where Jesse has to pretend he’s just goofing around, and West is desperately trying to act like he doesn’t care. You can see how much West cares, honestly – he was clearly bothered by a simple question and couldn’t stop talking about it later. But he’s stuck in this weird position where he doesn’t want to upset Ciara, especially given how she’s been treating him since they broke up. What’s frustrating me is that everyone’s missing the obvious: Jesse and West have a deep bond, they both have feelings for Ciara, and she clearly has something going on with both of them! Instead of digging into that messy, interesting stuff, the movie falls into a classic rom-com trope – a big misunderstanding that threatens to ruin everything. It’s a frustrating turn, because the potential for something really compelling is right there.

Ciara was really hurt by what she heard and shut down Jesse and West for the rest of the party and even into the next weekend. When they finally arrived, soaked from the rain, Levi and Bailey immediately pranked them. Later, Ciara and Jesse talked, and Jesse apologized for asking West about kissing her. He explained he wanted to understand the situation and confirm their friendship before asking Ciara himself. Ciara clarified that she’s the only one who can decide if she wants to kiss someone, and Jesse should have simply asked her on a date. She felt objectified, like he was just taking his turn, and it reinforced her fear that no one is looking for a serious relationship with her.

Their interactions feel like a modern, messy take on a Jane Austen story. It’s not about societal rules and manners, but the awkwardness of dating and feeling unsure of yourself. Jesse clearly has feelings for Ciara and wants a serious relationship, but struggles to admit it. West is torn between wanting to reconnect with an ex and his own fear of commitment. Ciara simply wants to be truly loved – not just admired for her looks, but cherished for who she is. She longs for a partner who is reliable, supportive, and willing to fight for their relationship. However, none of them are able to openly express these desires. Instead of a clear romantic connection, they’re all stuck in their own sadness, waiting for someone to help them find their way back to happiness.

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2026-03-04 07:55