The latest season of Vanderpump Rules has undeniably deviated from the ordinary, captivating audiences and earning its place among the most enthralling reality television seasons in history. Notably, this season's reunion has garnered attention due to the rare decision of Daddy Moneybags Vulture III, the esteemed website owner, to grant me the opportunity to recap all three parts. This departure from convention, which has not occurred in years, has piqued my interest, as reunions have historically lacked substantial developments beyond discussions about attire. Nonetheless, Ariana's revenge dress stands as an iconic reunion look that reverberates through the annals of time.

The reunion has been marked by an overwhelming one-sidedness, where Sandoval and Raquel's deplorable actions against Ariana and the entire cast have left virtually no room for debate or ambiguity. Consequently, the discussions have become somewhat predictable and lacking in depth, allowing real-life trolls like DJ James Kennedy and Lauren Kent to freely express themselves without restraint. This absence of ambiguity, which has prompted even Ariana to abandon her previous identification as bisexual and take a definitive stance, raises concerns that certain nuanced topics from this season may be overlooked entirely. Questions surrounding the justifiability of Katie and Lala's treatment of Raquel prior to the scandal, Brock's fulfillment of outstanding child support, and Katie's attendance at Scheana's wedding risk being overshadowed.

The cast's interpretation of ambiguity, however, does not always align with reality. Andy Cohen's inquiry to the cast members, many of whom have been unfaithful in their relationships, about their lack of hypocrisy in scrutinizing Tom and Raquel appears justified. Tom Schwartz's occasional indiscretions pale in comparison to the enduring affair perpetuated by Tom and Raquel. Moreover, Sandoval's attempt to distinguish between a one-night stand and subsequent sexual encounters is inconsequential. Initiating an affair is a decision with lasting consequences, comparable to participating in pornography. Regardless of the frequency, such actions forever shape public perception. In this regard, Tom's involvement in the adult film industry far exceeds Ken Todd's passion for watching miniature ponies from his quaint shed.

Interestingly, the reunion commences unconventionally, with Andy Cohen interviewing Ariana, Sandoval, and Raquel on what appears to be a couch in a Burbank West Elm store. The purpose of this segment remains unclear, as it merely presents facts that ardent Scandoval followers are already well-versed in. The information shared during Ariana's recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live after the season finale offered a more comprehensive and engaging account.

Ariana's composed demeanor throughout the reunion is reminiscent of a moment of clarity following personal turmoil, akin to my own experience enduring the pain inflicted by a professional dominatrix (strictly for journalistic purposes, of course). She emanates a sense of lucidity, level-headedness, and even a touch of severity, all while firmly standing her ground. Refusing to accept any excuses, Ariana grants Sandoval no quarter. Her ability to occupy the moral high ground, accentuated by her striking appearance adorned with red Ace bandages, stiletto heels, and cheetah nails, bolsters her position.

Sandoval, on the other hand, seems resigned, bracing himself for the anticipated onslaught, his stillness betraying a hope that the forthcoming criticism will be somewhat less agonizing. Additionally, the advice he received to refrain from dwelling on past grievances, likely from Lala, proved astute. James's youthful transgressions and his pursuit of a relationship with Kristen to secure a role on the show cannot be equated with Tom's betrayal of his life partner during a midlife crisis involving her closest friend. Such comparisons are incongruous.

Schwartz's performance fares no better, as his timeline of knowledge, shared during the reunion, contradicts Sandoval's recollection. Sandoval claims that Schwartz knew about the affair earlier than indicated, as seen in the trailer. However, Sandoval does not recall Schwartz's awareness until January, merely two months before the scandal emerged and after filming had concluded. It appears that Sandoval may be confusing Schwartz's knowledge of their sexual encounter with his awareness of the affair. The fact that Tom and Ariana failed to reconcile their accounts prior to the reunion is astonishing, and Lala and James aptly seize upon this discrepancy. Of particular significance is the revelation that Schwartz had kissed Raquel before being aware of her involvement with Sandoval, dispelling the notion that their subsequent dalliance served as a mere smokescreen.

The debate surrounding Schwartz's decision to kiss Raquel quickly unravels, as his attempt to liken it to Katie's interactions with other men during their time apart falls short. While Katie explicitly forbade him from engaging in numerous relationships throughout Los Angeles, she did not impose such limitations on casual encounters. Thus, the disparity between their respective actions is evident. Furthermore, the reunion casts Katie in a favorable light, not only due to the merits of her arguments thus far but also her stunning appearance, which, for the first time in recent memory, showcases a flattering haircut. Scheana, though less involved at present, occupies a peripheral seat where she sheds tears, endearing her to viewers following last week's season finale.

This brings us to the remaining cast members: James and Lala, the turbulent figures reminiscent of characters from The Turn of the Screw, now fully grown. My sentiments towards these two individuals are divided. While I appreciate their banter akin to Statler and Waldorf at the end of a row, it often veers into excessive territory, diverting attention from the primary objective of the reunion—to extract comprehensive facts from the Toms—while enthusiastically supporting Ariana by raising our index fingers and snapping with our left hands.

James, fueled by a surplus of energy drinks, eagerly launches into confrontation mode before Andy has a chance to organize his notes. Security and Andy must promptly restrain him when he attempts to engage in physical altercations with Sandoval. Andy's authoritative command, "You have to stay in your seat, dude," delivered in the same tone he employs with his three-year-old during tantrums, remarkably proves effective with James. This premature outburst, however, appears overwhelming, considering the many aggrieved parties present who warrant attention.

Presently, my focus is primarily centered on Lala, as her conduct invites my apprehension. Curiously, I find myself genuinely fond of Lala. She possesses an undeniable charm, wit, and an uncanny ability to deliver memorable one-liners, making her a master of the reality television craft. Nevertheless, her actions often teeter on the edge of excess. While it is reasonable to equate her ex, Randall, with Sandoval based on their shared propensity for serial infidelity and unreliability, labeling him as "dangerous" seems exaggerated. Though emotionally perilous for his partners, Randall has not committed assault, theft, or subjected his assistants to the kind of racist remarks that Lala alludes to.

When LVP challenges her use of the term "dangerous," Lala attempts to dismiss Lisa's opinion outright. However, opinions, by their very nature, are subject to disagreement but not outright rejection. Lala's attempt to silence Lisa due to a divergence of views disregards the fundamental principle of respect for differing opinions.

My strongest reservation regarding Lala, however, stems from her reaction during the discussion on bullying. Scheana draws a parallel between the mistreatment Raquel experienced from other female cast members and the bullying she herself endured at the hands of Katie and Lala in previous seasons. In response, Lala dismissively declares, "This isn't pre-K; this is Bravo. We all signed up for it. There's no bullying happening here." I concur with Lala's observation that the term "bullying" is often overused, particularly within reality television reunions. Engaging in unkind behavior, name-calling, or mistreating someone who has wronged you does not constitute bullying. In my understanding, bullying denotes a sustained and systematic form of abuse inflicted by an individual from whom one cannot escape—such as a classmate, coworker, or family member.

By this definition, the treatment Scheana endured at the hands of Katie, Kristen, and Stassi for years qualifies as bullying. A glimpse of past incidents underscores the reprehensible behavior to which they subjected poor Scheana, both then and now. Similarly, Katie, Kristen, and Stassi's treatment of Lala during her early seasons on the show also falls into this category. On multiple occasions, I defended Lala, emphasizing that she should not be subjected to such mistreatment, only to witness her perpetrate the same behavior towards Raquel as soon as she entered the group.

While Raquel's actions with Tom are unquestionably wrong, Lala's mistreatment of her—shouting, name-calling, and engaging in a relationship with her boyfriend—is a clear instance of bullying. Although Raquel may deserve to experience sadness and isolation as she observes the reunion from her trailer nearby, it is crucial to recognize that the extraordinary circumstances of this season and reunion should never serve as an excuse to subject any cast member to torture and marginalization, even if it is done in the name of entertainment.