by Chandra Clewley

 

 

“Love and War”

 

Tonight’s episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County begins with Vicki and Donn walking on the beach talking about the disaster that was the Florida trip. Vicki is so pleased that Donn isn’t so controlling and she wants to recommit her love for him by taking him on a surprise trip. 

 

Alexis is getting ready for church while Jim is yelling at their kids and handing them to the nannies each time they get near him. Alexis is talking about how important God is to her….blah blah blah.  Tamra and Gretchen, although frenemies now, say the same thing: 700 cc’s of Christian. They show the family attending Free Chapel, a mega-church in Orange County.

 

Tamra wants to take the kids somewhere now that Simon and she have returned from Florida. Simon says he had a good time, but that Vicki was rude to him. Simon thinks that Vicki is controlling and has been influencing Tamra. Simon thinks that his marriage to Tamra is a happy one. Tamra seems to disagree with this, and when she brings up that she might think about forgiving Gretchen, Simon loses it. He doesn’t want her around the family.  Tamra doesn’t want to hold a grudge but Simon is protective of Tamra and thinks that is part of his job. Tamra just wants to breathe!

 

Gretchen is concerned with Lynn’s daughter Alexa because she has made reference to the fact that no one listens to her and she is depressed. She calls Lynn and asks if she can take Alexa shopping. While shopping Gretchen mentions that when she was in high school she never had anyone to talk to and was never listened to.  Alexa does open up a little and says she is never listened to by her sister or mom. Later, Lynn and Alexa work out and Alexa complains about Gretchen ambushing her and Lynn feels a little insulted about her mothering skills. Alexa thinks that Gretchen is just putting the attention on her and redirecting it away from Gretchen. (Um, what? The ENTIRE season, Alexa has been, like, suicidal about her relationship with her mom and sister and here someone is trying to help and she talks smack! Lame! Alexa should just go cry alone in her bedroom if that’s the case. What a jerk.)

 

Vicki and Donn end up going to Turks and Caicos for a romantic getaway to get to know each other again. It means a lot to Donn as you can tell from the frequent tears. While there, they eat conch and drink rum punch. The conch is supposed to be an aphrodisiac for men so Donn eats it live to Vicki’s amusement.  Later, Donn and Vicki have dinner and the concierge delivers a photo album to Donn of their wedding. Vicki asks Donn if he will marry her again while they are vacation and through the tears he says he will. They have a wedding the next day and Vicki has her last surprise; she gives Donn his new (huge) wedding band with diamonds in it. Cue, more tears. Vicki asks Donn if they will consummate the marriage that night. More tears. (Actually, it’s pretty sweet).

 

Meanwhile, Tamra is looking in Ladera Ranch for a rental, but Simon doesn’t go with her. They are at each other’s throats and later when she has lunch with her mom she breaks down and says that there is so much built up resentment, that Simon treats her like property and like he hates her. Her mom says that Simon wants a housewife and because Tamra is not satisfied in only being that, there will always be a struggle. Tamra doesn’t want to be a “42 year old with 3 kids living in a condo” but she doesn’t know if she has anymore fight in her…

 

(Today in the news, 5 months after wrapping this season, it was announced that Simon had filed for divorce from Tamra. The couple has yet to confirm it.)

 

Catch an all new episode next Thursday at 10 p.m. on Bravo.

 

Follow me on Twitter: Chandra

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

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