The Valley Recap: Michelle Throws Water in Jesse’s Face as She Lashes Out at Him and Exposes His Finances While He Calls Her a Liar, Plus Cast Calls Out Danny’s Drinking and Accuses Nia of Protecting Him

The relaxing Santa Barbara trip is starting to implode during this episode of The Valley. The tension between Jesse and Michelle comes to a head with a screaming match and a drink thrown. Plus, Nia and Danny‘s relationship is scrutinized by some of the group. Is their marriage as perfect as Nia makes it out to be, or is Dark Side Danny someone Nia is trying to keep hidden?

After all the drama with Michelle the night before, Jesse has decided that he will NOT leave the trip (that he planned). Michelle’s “cold as ice” attitude really bothers Jesse, who claims he just wants to keep things simple. Plus, the day ahead seems awesome. A day at a vineyard, plus a chef-made dinner — what could possibly go wrong?

Michelle wants nothing to do with Jesse, who seems hell bent on making her life miserable. However, she decides that she will tag along for the wine tasting because that’s show business. Brittany and Zack debrief about last night’s antics, all while Jax texts Brittany from rehab. Brittany believes that Jax is starting to understand the purpose of his stay, especially now that he has learned about his bipolar diagnosis. 

Zack is tired of Jax constantly messing with Brittany’s emotions and is doing everything in his power to keep them from getting back together. Brittany is just thrilled that Jax is no longer rage texting her, so I guess the bar is low.

As the group boards the party bus, a very hammered (and “very annoying,” according to Jason) Jesse feels as though he is the hired entertainment now that he is two bottles of champagne deep. But the van’s engine starts smoking, forcing them to pull over and pause the plan. Like a real man, Luke hops out to check under the hood while Jesse fake-hitchhikes, which is not cute. Michelle loves that everyone is experiencing the Jesse she was stuck with during their marriage!

Luke, not the van’s driver, makes the decision to turn the van around and get some Ubers so they can make it to the vineyard on time. Danny is going to be joining them there now that he is done with his job, but not before Nia berates him on the phone in front of everyone. Foreshadowing?

Once they get there after much ado, the setting is beautiful, and the wine starts flowing. Danny arrives, ready to catch up with the drinking now that work is behind him. He takes this job VERY seriously, and before long, Jasmine is fearing that Danny may get too drunk, too fast… and that is a Danny that Jasmine wants nothing to do with…

Light small talk ensues. Jasmine explains how she met Melissa, her girlfriend of four years, and Janet even starts joking again with Zack. “When we were not good and people asked me about your hair, I said, ‘Yes, it is a wig.’” Zack is thrilled that Janet is back to making fun of him again, and it seems like their friendship CAN be saved.

Michelle excuses herself to talk to Isabella, her daughter, on the phone, and Jesse follows her. The tension is thick as Jesse waits for Michelle to hang up. Michelle makes it clear to Jesse that she is happiest when he is not around. She also lets Jesse know that she is not happy with who Jesse is currently dating (since this girl has threatened Michelle). A classic Jesse move ensues, as he forgoes an apology for calling Michelle an escort and claims he doesn’t even know who he should apologize to!

Michelle calls Jesse a mess, and he retorts, straight-faced, “And you’re a hooker so, it’s fine.” Michelle storms off, hollering at Jesse that she is the mother of his child, and he can’t talk to her like that. According to Michelle, Jesse is a broke loser who spends all of their money. Then she drops a bomb: “Why is a gay guy sending you money?” The hits just keep on coming. Zack jokes, “Girl, we don’t want him. Don’t try to give him to us.”

Brittany inserts herself into their argument, and Jesse admits that he regrets telling the group chat about the rumor that Michelle is paid for sex. Luke reminds Jesse that sometimes less is more.

Once they return to the house, a lovely dinner is set up, and Danny finds his way into the pantry to chug tequila. Janet witnesses this and immediately feels weird about it, considering Danny’s Dark Side history.

Michelle and Jesse decide to try and have a civil conversation that everyone can overhear. Jesse wonders why Michelle is not happy for HIM, and he demands that Michelle acknowledge his relationship. Is Jesse really as happy as he claims to be, or is it just a Jax move: I don’t want you, but I also don’t want anyone else to have you.

Michelle doesn’t like that Jesse’s girlfriend is around their daughter; however, how is it okay for Michelle to have someone in her AND their daughter’s life, but it’s not okay for Jesse? Jesse goes on to call Michelle a liar and a cheater who gave up on their marriage. Michelle admits to kissing someone, and Jesse pushes more, wondering if she slept with this person while married. Michelle throws her drink in Jesse’s face in retaliation and wonders, “What do I have to do to make you stop?” She goes on to shout that Jesse spent all of their money, and she only came to talk with him to make sure he was okay. Sure.

In the meantime, tequila Danny is passed out HARD, and he will not be making it to dinner. Nia tries to make it seem like he is just exhausted. However, Janet thinks otherwise after seeing his pantry move. Jasmine is tired of Nia making it all nice when she already knows this side of Danny from Halloween last year. Despite Danny’s apology, Jasmine won’t forget that a drunk Danny told her “go get daddy a drink” and grabbed her girlfriend’s butt. Danny’s “sleeping” now seems a little more sus.

Jax continues to text Brittany (nicely) during dinner, proving that he is once again manipulating her emotions. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Kristen starts a game about hall passes. Luke chooses Ariel from The Little Mermaid (what?!), and Nia claims she doesn’t have a hall pass since she is friends with lots of celebrities. This answer seems to set Jasmine off, who is already teetering toward blowing up about Danny.

A chilly Nia excuses herself to go inside, giving the group a perfect opportunity to talk sh*t about Danny. No one understands why Danny drove all the way here to go to sleep, and they wonder why Nia’s “Miss USA answers” omit the part that Danny drank too much.

An overwhelmed Brittany feels like Danny and Nia aren’t genuine, and she is stuck airing out all her dirty relationship details. Brittany thinks it is time for them to be as out in the open as she has been about her marriage. Kristen is confused why everyone is talking about Nia AFTER she left the table, but a triggered Jasmine is fed up.

Nia checks on a snoring Danny and gets pulled aside by a messy Zack. Zack feels like it is his duty to let Nia know the girls, ESPECIALLY Brittany, were talking about her marriage behind her back. Zack is using this opportunity to get back at Brittany for spilling to Janet when HE was sh*t talking. Karma, baby. Nia is appalled by this, stating, “Just because your life is burning doesn’t mean my life needs to burn, too.”

Nia walks in on Jasmine and Brittany going OFF, and Nia point blank asks Brittany, “You have to attack me because you’re going through” some stuff? Brittany wants Nia to admit to cracks in her marriage, but it just screams projecting… To be continued.