Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Episode 6 Review: Top Highlights

Vanderpump Rules season 11 episode 6 showcased the gang's trip to Lake Tahoe, which stirred up drama and emotional breakdowns over Tom Sandoval's actions. The fallout from his affair with Raquel Leviss, which caused a rift with Ariana Madix and their friend group, has completely shifted the dynamics within the Vanderpump Rules season 11 cast. While his behavior was hard to forgive, Tom, the show's 'villain', has been working hard to mend fences with his former friends and co-stars.

Despite Tom's efforts to reconcile, his attempts on Vanderpump Rules season 11 have not gained much traction with the rest of the cast. Even though he still shares a house with Ariana, his interactions with the other cast members have been limited until the recent episode. In this episode, he joined Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay, Brock Davies, Lala Kent, James Kennedy, and Ally Lewber on a trip to relax and visit Lisa Vanderpump's newest restaurant. While the trip was intended to bring the cast closer, it may have instead pushed some of them to their breaking point.

Tom Sandoval’s Group Meditation Was Difficult

The Tahoe Trip Led To Some Serious Drama

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The cast was gearing up for their first full day in Lake Tahoe, feeling a bit tense as Tom proposed a group meditation session. Despite some hesitation from the others, they all decided to join in. The meditation practitioner, sensing the group's underlying tensions, opted for a unique approach by pairing up the Vanderpump Rules cast members for a more personalized experience.

At the start of the meditation, tension was already high within the group, and Scheana, in particular, felt like she didn't quite belong. She was uneasy about being around Tom, who had caused a rift by hurting Ariana. Despite her reluctance to engage with Tom, she found herself participating in a partner meditation with him. However, the emotions running high prevented her from fully following the instructions given by the practitioner.

During the meditation, Scheana became emotional and confided in Brock about her anxiety regarding Tom. She expressed her desire to support Ariana wholeheartedly while feeling uncomfortable about cutting off Tom completely, especially since he had been there for her in tough times. Despite his past actions, Scheana felt a sense of wanting to extend some forgiveness towards Tom. As the meditation continued, she and Tom struggled to compose themselves, with tears flowing as they attempted to work together as partners.

Scheana Felt Like She Couldn’t Share Her True Feelings

She Wasn’t Able To Open Up About Her Relationship With Tom

Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval, Scheana Shay and Ariana Madix looking nervous - She Wasn’t Able To Open Up About Her Relationship With Tom - Scheana Felt Like She Couldn’t Share Her True Feelings

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After meditating, Scheana opened up to Lala about why she was struggling to let go of Tom. She expressed how their friendship had been significant to her over the past decade, and there were times when they were very close. The betrayal of Tom's affair and the pain he caused Ariana deeply hurt Scheana. She was also hurt by Tom's ability to easily deceive her, causing her to question everything in life.

Scheana admitted that while she had no desire to resume a close friendship with Tom, cutting him off had made the situation more painful than she had anticipated. She wanted to support Ariana and keep Tom at a distance, but she was uncertain if that was feasible. Although Ariana had set boundaries to ensure that Tom's presence would not affect her, Scheana wasn't sure if she was willing to comply with those boundaries.

Ariana & Katie Struggled With Something About Her

The Sandwich Shop Seems To Be On The Back Burner

Montage of Vanderpump Rules' Katie Maloney & Ariana Madix - The Sandwich Shop Seems To Be On The Back Burner - Ariana & Katie Struggled With Something About Her

Ariana and Katie were busy working on their sandwich shop, Something About Her, back in Los Angeles. Despite aiming to open in 2023, they encountered challenges with the city regarding licensing and permits, as well as finding staff for the restaurant. During interviews for potential managers, they chatted about the Tahoe trip and felt uneasy that everyone was there with Tom. While on a FaceTime call with Scheana, she shared her frustrations about the trip and expressed guilt for ignoring Tom.

Tom Sandoval Went On The Defensive With Lala Kent

When Katie and Ariana ended their call with Scheana, they were worried about how she sounded during the trip. They both found it strange that Scheana felt guilty about ignoring Tom, especially considering his behavior towards them. Ariana mentioned that she wouldn't get in the way of anyone wanting to be friends with Tom, but she also wouldn't associate with them. She clarified that she would cut out anyone necessary from her life, although she didn't believe Scheana was one of those people.

The Pair Fought Hard On A Group Outing

Montage of Vanderpump Rules’ Tom Sandoval - The Pair Fought Hard On A Group Outing - Tom Sandoval Went On The Defensive With Lala Kent

The group in Tahoe spent the day on a yacht, sailing on the lake and enjoying each other's company. Everything was going well until Tom and Lala began discussing their issues since Scandoval broke up. The conversation quickly turned into a heated argument when Tom failed to acknowledge Lala's feelings, instead bringing up her past relationship with Randall Emmett.

The argument between Tom and Lala escalated to the point where they were both yelling and had to be separated. Lala was hurt that Tom would use her past against her, while Tom was upset that she mentioned his affair with Raquel. Despite not fully resolving their issues, Tom and Lala were able to come to an agreement after calming down. In a surprising turn of events, Tom awkwardly hugged Lala, showing a moment of reconciliation.

Scheana Broke Down About Tom, Ariana, & All Things Scandoval

She Was Heartbroken To Lose A Close Friend

Vanderpump Rules' Scheana Shay and Tom Sandoval looking upset - She Was Heartbroken To Lose A Close Friend - Scheana Broke Down About Tom, Ariana, & All Things Scandoval

After the boat trip, Scheana opened up to Lala about everything she had been going through. She expressed how she had been holding back her emotions and how hurt she felt by Tom. Scheana cherished her friendship with him and felt like she wasn't allowed to grieve because Ariana was always in the spotlight. She struggled to keep her composure as she shared how deeply hurt she was by the situation with Tom, Ariana, and their friendship.

Vanderpump Rules airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo, then streams the following day on Peacock.

Editor's P/S:

The latest episode of Vanderpump Rules showcased the complex dynamics within the cast, particularly in the aftermath of Tom Sandoval's affair. The group's trip to Lake Tahoe was intended to foster reconciliation, but it instead amplified tensions and triggered emotional breakdowns. Tom's persistent efforts to mend fences have largely been met with resistance, leaving him in a state of isolation.

Scheana Shay's struggle to navigate her relationship with Tom is particularly poignant. Her desire to support Ariana while maintaining a connection with Tom highlights the complexities of betrayal and forgiveness. The meditation session and subsequent conversations reveal the deep emotional wounds that have yet to fully heal. The group's dynamics have shifted irrevocably, and it remains to be seen if they can ever truly overcome the fallout from Tom's actions.