Why You Need To Mentally Prepare For ‘Vanderpump Rules’ To Return

When Vanderpump Rules premiered in January 2013, the world changed forever; a bold statement that I will stand by with the assumption that “the world” is made up of trashy reality TV heads like myself. 

The glamorous OG Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Vanderpump opened the doors of her West Hollywood restaurant ‘SUR’ (Sexy Unique Restaurant, for those wondering) and introduced us to a slew of hot, young hospitality workers who served overpriced cocktails with a side of chaos. Imagine the cast of Friends, but instead of sitting at Central Perk cracking jokes, they were all lowkey bullies and sleeping with their colleague’s significant others. 

Over the next decade, Vanderpump Rules would deliver some of the messiest storylines seen on reality TV. Cheating scandals, alcohol and drug abuse, punch ups, breakups, and stories that broke the fourth wall (cast firings over racist remarks, homophobic tweets and even a Harvey Weinstein-esque LA Times investigation). But a few weeks into the show’s 10th season in 2023, something happened that would change everything.

TMZ reported that Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix – the show’s long-term central couple of nine years – had broken up. Why, you ask? Because Sandoval had been having an affair with fellow castmate Raquel Leviss. For. Seven. Months. 

With this, Scandoval was born – a story so juicy (and a betrayal felt by literally every woman to exist) that it pierced through reality TV-dom into the mainstream media. The Metaverse and TikTok imploded. Outlets like CNN reported on it. Lisa and Ariana were even invited to the White House Correspondents dinner. But why, you ask again, probably, was this such a big deal? Hold my rosé.

Ariana – who is widely considered the most “normal” of the cast – had always stayed loyal to Sandoval (who, in my humble opinion, is one big idiot). She looked past his narcissistic tendencies and frankly, loser qualities, and supported him while he and his dumb-dumb best friend Tom Schwartz opened up their own cursed bars. She’s cool, independent and always stood up for the underdog. Many times over the years, the underdog was in fact Raquel, the aforementioned mistress in this scenario, and the two women had become incredibly close friends. There’s also the fact that Raquel was formally engaged to Sandoval’s friend James Kennedy and that she tried to pursue a romantic relationship with Schwartz as a decoy, much to the dismay of Schwartz’s recently separated ex-wife, Katie Maloney. I told you –  it’s just like Friends! 

The best part of this shitshow was the fact that viewers got to watch the majority of season 10 with the knowledge of the affair, digging for clues and hints of the debauchery. While filming had stopped when Ariana found everything out, producers quickly picked up cameras and the alternate finale/three-part reunion of the show captured the fallout. The raw, chaotic, pervy fallout. Thus, with season 11 about to premiere, we pick up three months later (filmed over the American summer 2023) and find out everything that happened next. 

With the crushing weight of simply existing in 2024, I could not recommend jumping on the VPR bandwagon highly enough. It is the perfect, shiny vehicle for escapism that we all need, and even if you’ve never watched a single episode, it’s so damn entertaining that you’ll be hooked from the opening credits. 

On a personal note (if you’ll indulge me), this show has gotten me through some pretty rough times in my life, and I know watching these new episodes will be as comforting to me as a cup of tea or a good therapy cry. I reckon if you trust the process, the show might just resonate with you too; or at the very least, offer a perfectly produced distraction. 

Image credit: Bravo

The season 11 trailer is stacked, teasing Ariana rising from the ashes (though potentially flying too close to the sun?????), tensions between the cast as they try to rebuild relationships, and Scheana “Good as Gold” Shay doing what she does best: making it about herself. God bless her. We see glimpses of Ariana’s new man, and Sandoval contemplating jumping back into the dating scene (“I’m young, hot, single and ready to mingle”… Sir….). Relatedly, it should be noted that Raquel did not return to film this new season as she was checked into a mental health facility over the summer. She also now goes by her real first name, Rachel, and has recently released her own rogue podcast to tell her side of the story. ANYWHO back to the trailer.

Skeletons in the closet and a potential love triangle threaten to dismantle the already tenuous new dynamic between Schwartz and Katie. James and Lala Kent (haven’t mentioned her yet but trust me, you’ll feel her presence) continue to bring the lols and stoke the fire. And, as previously stated, Scheana deals with the Scheana of it all. We also see fired OG cast member Jax Taylor (who walked so Scumdoval could run) seemingly confront Lisa V and the series’ most codependent, toxic relationship of all – the Toms – question where they stand with each other.

My tiny pea brain is revving up to become 97% full of Pump again, so let’s go on this sexy, unique journey together, shall we?

Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules is available to stream on Hayu from 31 January, with episodes dropping the same day as the USA.

Image credit: Bravo + Punkee