I’ll be the first to admit I’m wrong about many things. I’m often wrong about who the next Bravo fan favorite will be or who is the best dressed. Perhaps my biggest miss in 2024 was how I underestimated The Valley. I wasn’t holding my breath when it came to another Vanderpump Rules spinoff. I thought the series had ended thanks to the birth of Scandoval. But it turns out that having a mix of new faces and OGs was just what the doctor ordered.
I didn’t want to like The Valley
There is a certain kind of reality TV viewer that irks me. You know the kind—the ones who watch a blip of the trailer and deem the show trash. But even though The Valley was clearly rushed into filming post-Scandoval, I was left completely blindsided by just how good the show actually was. Jax Taylor was still very much living in his delusion, toting the fact that he was a man with a multi-hyphenate career choice. Kristen Doute also was joining Jax down memory lane as she once again jumped into a relationship with a man she hardly knew. What was it she said…“I thought he’s sweet, he’s kind, he’s funny… Then we had sex behind a tent, and the rest is history.”
The Valley did what a great show should do. It leveraged the established popularity of Vanderpump Rules by featuring familiar faces in a new shiner setting. But the producers didn’t stop there. They used the lifestyle of suburban LA as their backdrop while rounding up some new cast members who, if you didn’t know any better, could have once been on Vanderpump Rules. What transpired was juicy storylines and one of Bravo’s most-watched debut series in years.
The Valley felt like welcoming back an old friend
I had no idea how much I was missing the king of poppycock, Jax, on my small screen. The Valley reintroduced the bartender, Brittany Cartwright, and Kristen to a loyal fan base that had shelved them for a few years. All three had found themselves in hot water towards the end of their Vanderpump Rules careers. For years, Jax had been cheating and gaslighting the women around him. And finally, his bad behavior caught with him. Brittany was collateral damage just for being behind Jax’s significant other. But it didn’t help that she almost allowed a homophobic and anti-LGBTQ pastor to conduct her wedding ceremony. As for Kristen, she and Stassi Schroeder were canceled for racist actions against their co-star, Faith Stowers.
But after a few years of reflection and education, these three returned stronger than ever. The OGs reminded fans what they had loved so much about the origin series. The drama was still being stirred even though they were now in their 40s. There was something comforting about watching a cast I had grown up with. I am inching closer to my 40s, and it made me feel good to know that I could still live a life that was a mix of success and pure chaos. But maybe that is just me.
The Valley added dimension with their choice of new faces
The new cast members had extremely relatable issues. Introducing fresh cast members with unique narratives and battles kept the show feeling new and exciting. Viewers watched as Michelle Lally and Jesse Lally navigated their failing marriage. Sadly, divorce is becoming more prominent among Bravo viewers. The couple struggled to try therapy, but eventually, their separation hit home.
Zack Wickham, another newbie, stated, “All these people move to the Valley, get a house, pop out a couple of kids, and then they think they’re so grown up. But these people don’t grow up.” Now, with Season 2 having wrapped filming, I find myself worried for Bravo’s newest hit. News broke that Tom Schwartz, Lala Kent, and Scheana Shay would all be making cameos, but all I keep thinking is, “Leave The Valley alone!” (Say it like the Britney YouTuber for more of an effect).
The Valley is expected to return to Bravo in 2025 and is streaming on Peacock.
TELL US – DID YOU ENJOY THE VALLEY? ARE YOU READY FOR SEASON 2?
