Bravo’s delicious guilty pleasure Vanderpump Rules returns with Season 10 tonight and while the cast has gone through a bit of an update, the motley crew of wannabe singers-turned-restaurant servers are back to their old tricks and all relationship rules are (seemingly) meant to be broken if the episode’s final few minutes are a taste of what is to come.
The premiere kicks off by updating viewers on the status of Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney’s marriage and the two have moved on, at least physically. The beautiful but rather standard Valley McMansion is gone and Katie is living it up in what almost looks like one of Stassi Schroeder’s past apartments. Tom, for his part, is playing the part of being upset about the breakup but does pretty much nothing about it for the entire episode, which, in an interesting turn, is also how he explains the very demise of his relationship with Katie.
Production has been given a bit of a face lift and Vanderpump Rules, now ten seasons in, feels a little bit fresher. DJ James Kennedy, who only seems to DJ at SUR, is back this season hot off the heels of his breakup with Raquel Leviss. Thankfully, he does not seem to be sweating the separation and has already moved on with a Raquel look-a-like named Ally.
While this trio is certainly one to watch, Raquel gives arguably the episode’s most cringeworthy moment in a conversation with James about half way through. I was rooting for you, Raquel!
Lala Kent is the other main focus of the episode, spending much of it throwing Randall Emmett under the bus and talking about all of his dirty laundry. If you have not read the LA Times expose on the allegedly sketchy former (?) film producer, I suggest giving it a thorough read before sitting down and turning on Bravo. Lala, who gave quotes to the Times for the piece, clearly wants to distance herself from her ex but the viewers — and her co-stars —may take a while to forget considering her past behavior and tendency to call out everyone around her.
That said, she actually comes off — dare I say it? — likeable, although that could just be due to the sheer amount of energy she puts into making the first episode pop. I see you, Lala.
Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz are also at the brink of losing it while trying to open their new restaurant and that will seemingly drive much of the rest of the season. Ariana Madix, pushed to a very-supporting role in the premiere, understandably seems over it.
Another thing the episode got right is the amount of, or lack thereof, focus on Scheana Shay. Last season, we were forced to watch her and Brock Davies fight for attention in every group scene but it looks like producers may have rewarded that behaviour with a demoted role. Sheana is barely in the premiere herself and Brock, for his part, is nonexistent. Lisa Vanderpump herself even takes on more of a background role, which may or may not please some viewers.
Grab your homemade Pumptini and forget about the previous cast reboot because the real Pump Rules is back.
Vanderpump Rules premieres tonight, Wednesday, February 8 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo and Slice in Canada.
