The Tres Amigas are back together on our screens for this episode of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Don’t get excited, though. Things spiral quickly when Tamra insists that Shannon is an alcoholic who needs rehab. But it’s not just Shannon and Tamra at odds. Katie is still picking up the pieces after confronting Heather about calling the paparazzi on herself. Katie feels betrayed by Gina, who in her eyes, set her up for failure with Heather. Can’t say Katie wasn’t warned about starting with Heather…
Nothing screams Valentine’s Day quite like Heather hosting high tea with Gina and Jenn. Before their arrival, Heather talks to Terry about “that Katie person” (the shade!) accusing her of calling the paparazzi. Heather scoffs at the truth Katie claims to have about this, but Terry wants that contact Katie has since he admittedly enjoys getting photo ops from the paps. Heather cannot believe that Gina would allow Katie to talk about these paparazzi rumors without sticking up for her.
Speaking of Katie, she is hosting Shannon and even got her a Valentine’s Day gift. Shannon and Katie seem to be hitting it off! Katie listens as Shannon talks about her current situation with Tamra. Shannon shares that Tamra has not checked in on her at all during her situation.
In the meantime, Tamra and Emily head out for a nice Valentine, sh*t talking walk. This appears to be their favorite hobby. They waste no time picking on Jenn’s “self-induced” financial issues, pointing out that Ryan probably paid Jenn’s way to Vegas. They switch gears, and Emily talks about how she warned Katie about Heather’s reaction to the paparazzi rumors…
Not two minutes into Heather’s Galentine’s Day hang, Gina apologizes for the Katie stuff. Heather tells Gina she is “confused and irritated” since she expected Gina to tell Katie it’s not okay. Seeing Gina’s reaction only proves what Emily thinks is true: Gina walks on eggshells around Heather. Gina admits that she knew this information about Heather before Sutton’s Christmas party when she first met Katie. What’s upsetting to Heather is that Gina didn’t tell her about this in December. Gina thought it would be better to leave it in the past, but let’s be real: Gina was being messy. Heather feels like Katie is showing her character and that Gina and Jenn should keep that in mind when deciding to befriend Katie.
Shannon “admires” Katie for holding her ground with this Heather issue, but Katie feels like Gina is scared of disappointing Heather and threw her under the bus. Katie then shows Shannon the infamous “proof”— a text that simply says YES [Heather called the paparazzi on herself].
Later, Emily and Shane sit down for a pizza dinner to celebrate their anniversary. Emily calls Shane out for not bettering his health, whereas Emily is over the top about going to the gym. We learn that Shane does, in fact, have a soft side. He even went ahead and upgraded Emily’s engagement ring. Emily gifts Shane a large, framed boudoir photo, and it’s unclear where Shane will be able to hang that in a house full of kids.
Gina and Katie meet for coffee. We learn about the new normal between Gina and Travis: they do love each other, but will have to work hard to be together. On a different topic, Katie shares that she felt “abandoned” by Gina because she took Heather’s side about the paparazzi pics. Gina claims she DID have Katie’s back as she communicated to Heather what she’s been hearing, but that what happened from there falls on Katie, who is now acting like the victim. However, Gina DID know about this since December, sooo.
Gina explains that she should have had Heather’s back more and refuses to jeopardize her own friendships because of the choices Katie makes. Katie tears up, causing Gina to apologize to her. Gina calls this situation “tricky,” and Katie worries that maybe things won’t get better.
Shannon meets her dad, Gene the machine, for lunch. She talks to him about getting a breathalyzer put into a new car as a reminder of her “stupid decision.” She goes on to tell her father that John claims she owes him $75,000 and if she doesn’t pay up, he will sue her. Her father tells her she has to go “for the jugular” and fight it.
“In what world would Tamra drive to Alexis Bellino’s house?” I guess time truly does heal all wounds, since 10 years ago, Alexis and Tamra would never do this. Alexis is confused why she didn’t get an invite to Katie’s golf outing, but Tamra explains that Katie has chosen team Shannon. Alexis is miffed that nothing went down between Shannon and Tamra, and “as her [Tamra’s] friend (WHAT??!!),” she feels like Tamra was used by Shannon. Tamra goes on to say that Shannon’s life has been upside down since she has known her and she talks about her “need to try and fix” Shannon. She claims that Shannon was never there for her, but that she was always there for Shannon. According to Tamra, Shannon is blaming John for her drinking problems…or should I say, Johnny, as Alexis calls him.
The $75,000 Shannon owes John is from the facelift he got her when they were together. But this is not like a ring from an ex… how else can Shannon give her face back other than repaying him for this gift? Alexis is ready to provide the proof and the receipts at Gina’s upcoming dinner party.
Shannon is happy to be bringing Vicki to Gina’s party, since she knows she will have her back. Heather awkwardly dodges Katie as they sit down, but the reality is, it’s a spider web of conflict within the group. Alexis questions why she wasn’t invited to Katie’s golf outing, and Katie lets her know that she was trying to give Shannon a break from the stress.
Shannon enters (with Vicki) almost on cue, and Tamra feels like Vicki is there solely to do Shannon’s dirty work. Alexis cackles at Vicki, saying, “Look who’s in my world now,” but let’s remind Alexis she is a friend of…
When Shannon orders a drink after Vicki gives her *permission*, Tamra blurts out, “Oh yeah, an alcoholic should drink!” Tamra comes in hot, causing Shannon to ask, “Who made you the judge and jury? Every friggin day that I wake up, I think about what happened.” Tamra retorts, “Is that after you’ve had a drink?” The women are stunned into silence, a rare occurrence. Emily jumps in to say that she thinks Shannon has changed, and Gina makes it clear that it is not for Tamra to decide if Shannon is an alcoholic. Shannon points out Tamra’s drinking, as Vicki calls this fighting “disgusting.”
Tamra continues to shame Shannon, telling her she needs rehab, and that both times Shannon called her from her therapy after the DUI, she was DRUNK. To keep kicking her while she is down, the Johnny J. lawsuit gets brought up. Alexis proudly explains that Shannon owes $75,000 to John for a facelift AND a loan. LOLing at Jenn and Katie in shock about Shan’s facelift. As Alexis pulls out the wire transfers as proof (take note on what PROOF is, Katie), Shannon leaves the room, and Vicki asks what we are ALL thinking: Why is Alexis involved in John’s money matters with his ex? Alexis, however, is confident that John is telling the truth and that Shannon simply calls these women late at night when she is drunk to claim certain behaviors of John.
Jenn eventually comes out to check on Shannon. Shannon cannot believe the photo evidence and points out that it’s actually $65,000 owed to John. She wonders if Alexis thinks she is on Dateline with these receipts and goes on to call John a monster. Shannon teases some things she COULD release about Johnny, but says she has always said the truth about John and leaves it at that.
In the dining room, Tamra finds Vicki and tells her she didn’t back out of the Tres Amigas show because of her — she did because of Shannon. Tamra refuses to enable Shannon.
Alexis only refers to Shannon as “Liar Face,” which is SO aggressive. Why is she inserting herself as John’s defender? Heather finally jumps in to tell Alexis she should take it down. Alexis claims she DOES want to be friends with Shannon, but Emily laughs at this. How could she bring receipts to purposely humiliate someone, but also want to become their friend? Vicki then gives a speech about how disgusting this group is behaving, which is rich coming from Vicki. Just look at the flashbacks Emily requests to see of Vicki on her best behavior…. not.
Tamra continues to shriek that Shannon needs a rehab and that Shannon should not drink at all. Looks like Gina’s hopes of bringing everyone together are out the window.
