Vanderpump Guidelines viewers have numerous questions after that explosive Season 11 finale. Together with a query that’s been bugging me all season. Particularly….since when are Scheana Shay and Tom Sandoval such nice buddies?
When Ariana Madix joined Pump Guidelines, she was launched as Scheana’s BFF. This was somewhat stunning since they’re polar opposites. However over time, we’ve seen numerous lovable bestie moments between the 2. Within the finale, as an example, Ariana stated Scheana is “household”.
However this story that Scheana and Sandoval have been finest buddies for 15 years? And that he was the one one who had her again from day one? That’s somewhat tougher to purchase. No surprise Ariana felt gaslit. On the finish of Season 10, Sandoval informed Scheana he didn’t care about her and that they had been by no means actually buddies. He additionally supported Rachel Leviss’ restraining order. However, this friendship grew to become an enormous storyline and supply of battle this season. Right here’s why it finally fell flat.
I’ve watched and rewatched this entire present, and I by no means bought the impression that Scheana and Sandoval had been greater than acquaintances. In early seasons, the fellows had been sometimes nicer to Scheana than Stassi Schroeder or Katie Maloney. However even then, it appeared to be Jax Taylor (clearly, he’s not Scheana’s good friend anymore) or Tom Schwartz extra so than Sandoval.
Clearly, producers can’t present every part. They memorably didn’t present the start of Ariana and Kristen Doute’s friendship. But when there was any footage of Sandoval and Scheana’s friendship, certainly editors would’ve included it this season. In Season 10, editors confirmed years-old, never-before-seen footage of Sandoval and Billie Lee hookup rumors, Sandoval’s frustrations about his relationship, a dialog with James Kennedy about Rachel, and many others. Nevertheless, when Sandoval stated he missed Scheana’s friendship, all we bought was a really quick montage with three clips of the 2 briefly interacting in group scenes.
The traditional storytelling rule “present don’t inform” applies right here. This season included numerous Scheana telling us that she and Sandoval had been tremendous shut. However we weren’t proven that, both in footage from the previous or of their present interactions. In order for you the viewers to grow to be invested on this friendship, you need to show it was an actual factor. If it was completely off-camera, you continue to have to color an image the viewers will consider. You’ll be able to’t simply inform the identical story over and over about Upfronts. Talking of which…
Sufficient about Upfronts
When Scheana first talked about the Upfronts story, it was a stark reminder of how lengthy the OGs have recognized one another. Sandoval, Scheana, and Ariana, as an example, labored collectively at Villa Blanca earlier than the present.
Sure, it was good of Sandoval to verify she was included within the forged photographs. Nobody is all good or all dangerous, and this was an occasion of Sandoval doing good. Nevertheless it didn’t paint the image of some grand friendship.
At this level, “Sandoval included me within the group image at Upfronts twelve years in the past” is the brand new “Rob Valletta hung up a flatscreen television in seven minutes”. The extra Scheana says it, the much less convincing she is.
Additionally, to separate hairs for a second, they’re on reverse sides of the group in each picture from this occasion.
Sandoval didn’t have Scheana’s again from day one
Kristen maybe inadvertently blew up this storyline on her podcast. Talking about her personal icing out by The Valley forged, Kristen made a comparability to the early days of VPR. On the April twenty seventh episode of Balancing Act, Kristen recalled, “Me, Tom Sandoval, Jax, Stassi, and Katie all met up, and we had been like, okay, so if we simply can’t give Scheana any consideration, let’s ice her out of the group, she’s like not one in every of us, and it simply made her 1,000,000 instances extra related.”
Talking of Kristen, the opposite instance Scheana gave of Sandoval’s friendship was lending her and Brock Davies cash through the pandemic. That’s a pleasant factor to do, however Sandoval additionally supplied a mortgage to Kristen when her VPR wage was minimize. And nobody would accuse these exes of being nice buddies.
Scheana’s texts to Ariana’s mother
Truthfully, I’m stunned Scheana didn’t get the “I informed you so” route this season. As a result of her texts to Ariana’s mother again in Season 4 sound so much just like the web feedback about Sandoval now.
Sandoval appeared nearer to a different Shay
Didn’t it at all times seem to be Sandoval was nearer to Scheana’s ex-husband Mike Shay? He actually took Mike’s facet within the Shay divorce.
Sandoval doesn’t act like Scheana’s good friend
Even when that they had a friendship prior to now that we by no means noticed, Sandoval didn’t act like Scheana’s good friend this season.
Earlier than filming began, Scheana stated that Sandoval virtually threatened Brock. Sandoval’s workforce was accused of planting rumors that Brock additionally connected with Rachel. Then Sandoval introduced up Scheana’s previous affair with Eddie Cibrian. Ariana comforted her about that on the time. Regardless of all of this, Brock argued that Sandoval was a greater good friend than Ariana.
Within the finale, Scheana forgave all of it as a result of Sandoval flew in his cowl band’s sound man. This felt very phony. You’re telling me The 27’s don’t have a sound man? Or that the VPR manufacturing crew couldn’t present one?
Plus, post-Scandoval, there was a ton of discourse about Sandoval’s tendency for grand gestures. As an illustration, paying for James’ proposal to Rachel. It appeared just like the forged agreed this was a tactic Sandoval did for his personal sake, to look good, not as a result of he genuinely cared.
In spite of everything that…they don’t even speak
Scheana talked concerning the finale on her podcast, Scheananigans. Within the Could tenth episode, Scheana admitted she doesn’t speak to Ariana or Sandoval anymore. She additionally broke down over Sandoval’s feedback that Ariana “talked sh*t” about her castmates. By no means thoughts that Sandoval later admitted this was an exaggeration. Between his rant about Ariana and the recent mic second, Sandoval didn’t appear real. As an alternative, it appeared as if he needed to control Scheana, and that’s not what a good friend does.
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SANDOVAL AND SCHEANA’S FRIENDSHIP IS GENUINE?