Southern Charm.recap
Carin Mita
Tonight's was an interesting episode for the Savannah Country Day crew (We're opening with that again because the school is mentioned each episode and the tuition committee is either gleeful or mortified). My viewing and recapping partner Kara Berry (@KaraBTweets) and I begin where last episode ended. Hannah and Ashley are discussing Strip Golf. Hannah expected this conversation to be quick and painless, but when she says that she and Ashley have different beliefs, Ashley feels it's an attack on how Christian she is. To Ashley, it's a reminder of being judged as a teen for her attire and being asked to leave her church. The conversation ends badly with Ashley telling Hannah she has no time for drama in her life. This is normal conversation for two people who are only in the same room and "friends" (I suspect) for reality TV.
Kara Berry: I know this is the height of irony as someone who could have a doctorate in all things Real Housewives, but I found these two women arguing in circles to be incredibly boring.
Louis is hanging out with Daniel and he gets a call from Hannah saying the conversation didn't go well. He comes over, talks to her, shames Ashley and seems to have forgotten that he was totally complicit in Strip Golf himself in his full shirtless glory. The whole Strip Golf debacle reeks of double standards and the notion that a southern LADY must be the one to behave, but the men who removed their shirts get a pass.
We're then shown Catherine hanging out with her bestie Brandon, who has been cast in a role not uncommon to Bravo shows (i.e. Real Housewives Of Atlanta), the biting and catty - albeit classy - friend who happens to be gay. I feel bad about the "trope" notion because he later makes the comment directly to Louis that Louis disrespected Hannah and their relationship by taking off his shirt on the golf course (+10 points for Brandon).
Zoom to Catherine again who says she's not sure what she would like to do careerwise. She asks to shadow Brandon for a bit and see what the life of a Savannah interior decorator is like. Fast forward to when they are sitting in a client's mansion drinking champagne and awaiting hors d'Oeuvres. It does seems like fun!
KB: These scenes are a mashup between Ashley and Daniel picking out his drag outfit and Catherine and her friend Brandon discussing Strip Golf. I'd ask why this is any of Catherine's business since neither she nor her boyfriend Lyle were there. She seems to not ever want to pass up an opportunity to slut shame Ashley. Daniel has a heart to heart with Ashley, suggesting she be the bigger person and apologize. After their gossip session, Brandon and Catherine discuss a trial run decorating a client's home. Catherine seems confident (?) about the opportunity given her experience decorating her own home which I think had a tan sofa set and an animal rug. This should be a great start to her real aspirations in life, which she tells us is to be a "model citizen", whatever that means to her. Next!
Nelson says he grew up with his family calling Chablis a Shim (you get it? "She" plus "Him") which is Cringe-Worthy Comment Number One from Nelson. But as things get more uncomfortable watching him, I can't help liking him for being a good friend to the way more Ashley and standing up for her. Although Ashley has sent flowers and has had a second (off-camera) talk with Hannah by this point, Hannah acts icy to her at the club.
The next day, we join Ashley, Nelson, and his mother at a cookie shop to prepare for his guy's poker night. He wants to have salads. He also doesn't know how to play poker. This is foreshadowing for a very awkward night.
Later, Ashley meets Daniel to talk on an outdoor bench and pulls up looking edgy and chic riding a skateboard. This is a good look for Ashley, from her short hair slicked back to her high top sneakers, athletic and cool. I prefer it to her done-up testimonial look. The two talk about both being outsiders in Savannah.
Daniel explains that he left town for a while because he was tired of being singled out and treated differently for being Jewish. It seems the two of them have each other's backs but I'm worried the love won't last long.
Now here we are at the highlight of the episode: "male bonding time" according to Nelson who wants to be friends with these bros. However, it all feels so forced. The guys are playing poker. I know that feeling of wanting acceptance but the guys do seem quite different than Nelson and I just envision him with a different group of real life friends. It gets more awkward when he greets Daniel with "L'Chaim."
KB: After that awful event, we end the night with an actual man's night out (because, Nelson, real men aren't racist) in which the guys play wing men to Daniel and - I'm not gonna lie despite my love for Daniel - it's a big fail. He mysteriously ends up with a sucker though, so perhaps all was not lost. Daniel tries to talk the guys into giving Ashley another chance, but they're having none of it and the episode ends in a cliffhanger regarding Ashley's real occupation, which depending on who you ask is either a stylist or bag checker at Delta. To be continued...
c80f0f1006