What’s a better way to get the gang back together than hosting an event at a tactical training facility? On this episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County, the ladies learn how to defend themselves, but when Tamra learns Gretchen has been running her mouth, it is clear that the past continues to be weaponized as fuel to the already hot fire.
48 hours before sh*t hits the fan between Gretchen and Tamra, all seems to be copacetic.
Ryan and Jenn are planning their September wedding, a date they finally settled on after much ado. Jenn does not want to stress herself out over rushing the wedding so that her son, Dawson, can be there before he heads off to the Marines. At the end of the day, it will all work out, even IF she has to wear a bikini to her wedding.
Jenn also fills Ryan in on Temecula. Things went south, fast, with Shannon and Tamra, and Ryan does not seem at all surprised to hear that they went two steps forward and three steps back.
Tamra plans on taking her daughter, Sophia, to the Music Institute in LA. She knows this is the right move for Sophia, but laments that she will be lonely. Tamra goes on to talk to Eddie about Shannon’s miserable attitude, especially after she brought up Shannon’s dad’s alcoholism.
Tamra claims she was trying to add to the conversation, not call Shannon’s dad out, but Shannon thinks she knows what Tamra’s true intentions are and that is to stir the pot.
When it comes to Gretchen, Eddie is shocked to hear Tamra is now talking to her. I mean, Gretchen has made Tamra’s life pretty miserable (and vice versa) for many years. Gretchen is feeling guilty about sh*t talking Tamra’s recording session to Heather and Emily, but points out that she did hear the singing and Tamra sounded like a “drowned rat.”
Gretchen hates taking responsibility for her actions and so she blames Slade for taking it too far. According to Gretchen, Slade should have never brought up Tamra’s alleged affair while on the phone with the Beverly Hills girls at the sleepover. Gretchen is exhausted with Slade, but has she forgotten that she also mentioned that Tamra “banged” this singer while in the car with Heather and Emily?? Selective memory now…
Slade states that he does not believe that Tamra can ever have authentic relationships with anyone. Gretchen is upset with herself that this whole Tamra singing thing turned into something bigger, and so now she is stressing what Emily will spill to Tamra and throw her right under the bus.
Tamra’s daughter is ready to tour the Music Institute and it sure is funny to see Tamra back in a music studio so soon after these rumors, isn’t it? Sophia seems thrilled for her next chapter and appreciates the support that Tamra is giving her. The scene ends with one of the most awkward hugs I have ever seen between a mother and daughter.
Speaking of mothers and daughters, Jenn brings her daughter, Everly, for a facial. They chat about grades, boys, and Jenn’s upcoming wedding. Jenn asks her daughter to essentially be her maid of honor, standing next to her on the big day.
Her daughter gets emotional and explains that she just feels weird about watching her mom get remarried. Jenn promises that nothing really changes once she marries Ryan and she gets the green light for the wedding from Everly.
Because Gretchen has found herself in scary situations, she has decided to organize a self-defense class for the group so they can feel empowered and not vulnerable. No one really knows what exactly this outing is for, but once Emily and Heather arrive, they are privy to some entertainment.
The company came up with an idea to fake a carjacking with the rest of the girls so that they can get a taste of how they would react in a real-life scenario. Gina and Tamra nearly have a heart attack and Shannon and Jenn catch on pretty quickly that this is part of the training. Gina is not really a self-defense believer and Heather is pretty sure that she will never be a “hand-to-hand combat kinda gal.”
In the other room, Tamra, Emily, and Jenn practice their aim with target practice. Tamra has a sure shot, which explains her sniper-like ways, while Emily and Jenn struggle. After the activities, each group debriefs about the trips. Gina and Shannon tell Heather that Tamra brought up Shannon’s dad’s drinking and Shannon is holding onto this.
Emily wastes no time opening up about Gretchen’s loose lips in Beverly Hills. She tells Tamra that Gretchen told them about Tamra recording a song … .and how over a phone call, Slade proceeded to say Tamra also had an affair with the boy band member living in her neighborhood.
Tamra feels like Gretchen is “obsessed” with her life. Emily thinks that Slade was overly happy to share this information and explains that it is hypocritical for Gretchen to be on Tamra’s case for being mean when she is doing the same thing. Gretchen just shares unsolicited stuff about Tamra and now “the student has become the master.” There is such toxicity amongst Tamra and Gretchen, so the rest of this defense class is going to go well…
During the lunch, Gretchen throws back some fireball, which is a perfect opener for Tamra to jump in ask Gretchen why she was “talking a lot of sh*t.” Gretchen is annoyed by Emily for being such a rat.
Emily and Heather step in to facilitate. Tamra moves her seat to make eye contact with Gretchen- a true power move. Gina is shocked to hear Tamra recorded a song, and that it somehow allegedly turned into Tamra having sex during the recording.
Gretchen does not take any accountability and blames it all on Slade. Heather reminds Gretchen that she brought up the song in the first place, so that’s not fair. After all, the video tapes prove that Gretchen said Tamra “banged” this mystery rocker.
Gretchen points out that she gets stuff sent to her about Tamra all the time and yet she keeps her mouth shut. Gretchen threatens Tamra, by saying she does not want her talking about all that she knows.
Tamra brings up the guy that Gretchen was seemingly caught cheating with…which also happened to be YEARS ago and around and around and around they go. Tamra finally throws up double middle fingers before storming off and yelling that Gretchen has been doing this to her for 12 years. In the words of Shannon, “it’s just so…junenile,” which is very rich coming from her.
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THIS EPISODE OF RHOC?