On last night’s Little Women: LA, the ladies take their drama to the racetrack, where tensions escalate between Briana Manson and Tonya Banks. So, let’s jump right in! Terra Jole comes to Tonya’s house bearing a bouquet and announcing their plans to head to the races. Huge hats are, of course, in order. So the ladies begin assembling their super gaudy head gear. Terra invited everyone to the event, including Briana’s much-maligned boyfriend, Matt. Because in Terra’s world, she’s being the bigger person.
But it’s not Matt on Tonya’s sh*t list these days. It’s Briana! Because she ditched filming for day 2 of Tonya’s Little Boss Body workout video, having had enough of Tonya’s low rent production and Little Boss Meltdowns (TM) on day 1.Tonya says Briana gave her no notice, thereby forcing Tonya to cut all of Briana’s footage from day 1 because it wouldn’t work fluidly with day 2 shots. (Question: Did Briana have to return her $5.99 t-shirt?)
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Meanwhile, Briana and Matt are celebrating Leiana’s 6th birthday at an indoor jumpy park, which looks like a ball. And Leiana couldn’t be any cuter. None of the ladies have been invited, for obvious reasons (Matt) and Briana is basically on the outs with most of her friends these days too due to ongoing issues (Matt). But Briana has jumpy-parked her way into this relationship with two feet, and she’s standing firm that “We are a family now.” Matt even wants to sit Leiana down to tell her about “where they’re going,” since he is being called “Matt Daddy” now by Briana’s daughter. Briana tells Matt she didn’t go to the THIRD day (what!?) of Tonya’s video shoot because she’d already given her 2 days of free labor, and considering the level of disorganization and unappreciation involved in the first 2 days, Briana wasn’t about to give up another 24 hours to the Fickle Gods of Little Bossdom.
Christy McGinty and hubby Todd are meeting with a spine specialist to get an MRI for Christy, as her chronic neck pain has been off the charts, especially since she underwent hormone treatments for IVF. Now that IVF is on hold, she wants to get to the bottom of the pain, which she says is not due to “little people problems,” but has caused her to have a spine fusion in the past. Okay, pause here. Can we just NOT see Christy at another doctor appointment, no matter what, for, like one episode? I don’t know about you all, but I am still rocking in corner and holding myself in post traumatic stress over that last obscene IVF appointment, which broke all television decency standards (even for reality television!). Too soon. Too soon.
After the MRI, Christy and Todd consult with Dr. Chu. Christy confesses that her neck pain is actually the result of being a victim of domestic violence in a past relationship. She was put in the hospital when a previous partner kicked her in the head, which led to a neck injury, then a painful surgery. She forgave him, but got battered afterward – and turned to drinking – until she finally left the relationship. Wow. Despite Christy’s crassness, I give her mad props for discussing this important issue in front of the camera. Good for her for getting out, and for getting sober. These days, she can’t imagine going through the pain of another surgery like the previous one, though, as she was basically disabled for a year afterward.
Do you hear that sound? It’s the sound of Briana’s dream of being the next Big Jazz Singer exploding into flames. Okay, that was harsh. But, dang! There’s a stone cold reality check coming soon for her, I think (and hope). Briana shows up to meet with Kerry Gordy’s production team, who has been working on her debut single for weeks. Really? They are writing a song for her about her message, which is calling out all of her “haters.” She’s ready to channel her inner Mariah Carey and check into a mental hospital.
Back at Tonya’s, she’s having her cousins over to meet her boyfriend, Jaa, who’s not ready to take their relationship to the next level. So, why the cousin interrogation, then? Jaa arrives, speaking on behalf of his representative: Little Boss’s Employee. He praises Tonya’s ability to speak her mind, and her prowess in the bedroom. Nice. When he takes a pause to go inside and mop up his forehead, Tonya admits to her cousins that she doesn’t know if Jaa is really in this for the long haul. Her cousins seem to like him, despite his intentions.
Elena Gant and Terra are out for wedding dress shopping trip #2. Elena wants two dresses, both custom made from designs she’s found online. “I didn’t get my butt surgery for nothing,” says Elena, so this time she wants a dress that shows where Preston’s hard earned money went. Terra thinks the looks are a bit slutty, but tells Elena she’s glad to be a part of things. Elena then pops the big question: Will Terra be her maid (matron) of honor? Yes, she will.
Back at the studio, Briana’s production team are playing her demo back, which doesn’t sound half bad after autotune. Kerry walks in and demands Briana sing it live, though. Which she does. And which goes terribly, again. Kerry says she’s got a ton of work to do, but gives her a second chance to run through it. “The issue is not the attitude. The issue is the vocal,” he says. But strangely he still wants her to sing it live at an upcoming show anyway. Alllllrighty, then! That’s showbiz.
The ladies – and their gents – all meet up at the racetrack decked out in their finery. Terra hugs Matt to extend an olive branch for Briana’s sake. Christy arrives and spills the news that IVF didn’t work for them and that she’s taking a break to pursue healing her neck. She shares her background of domestic violence with Terra, who comforts her. Terra wonders if this is why Christy turned to alcohol in the past, or why she currently sees red flags around Matt and Briana’s relationship. Terra doesn’t have enough insight to question why she herself is constantly consumed with Matt and Briana, but she does confess that she’s touched Christy feels comfortable enough to share such intimate information with her. They hug, and for once, it seems genuine.
After they take in the races, the group gathers in a private box to keep the party going. Terra tells the group that she’s going to be Elena’s matron of honor, so there’s a bachelorette party in the works! No strippers, no raunchiness are Elena’s orders, though. So they’re going to Palm Springs for a relaxing girls’ weekend instead. Briana is sore that, once again, no one is acknowledging her wedding, let along offering to throw her a friggin’ party over it.
Christy, Tonya, and Terra split off to nibble on desserts and spill some tea about Briana ditching Tonya’s doomed video. Because Tonya is Tonya, she starts snarking on Briana as loudly as possible as Briana sits just ten feet away. And because Terra is Terra, she encourages Tonya to confront Briana in front of the whole group. Right. Now.
Tonya obeys orders and confronts Briana about her flakiness, claiming it cost her money. Briana calmly tells her that she was more than willing to help her out despite all of the trash talking behind her back, but during the video shoot, she didn’t get much appreciation. Tonya’s like, “What trash talk?” Briana says she knows the group is accusing her of being jealous of Elena’s vow renewal, which she’s not. After Jasmine Sorge pipes up for a hot minute to defend Briana, Christy takes over and admits she told the group she “saw a look” on Briana’s face after Elena’s vow renewal announcement that was, um, less than gleeful. Briana claims she’s happy for Elena, but she’s pissed at the group for not showing her any support about her own engagement.
Jasmine sheepishly enters the argument again, confessing she’s been in Briana’s ear telling her most of what the group has been saying about Matt (and Briana) this entire season. Terra notes the fact that even Christy, “AKA, Briana’s BFF,” is on the majority’s side of the argument proves they’re right. Uh-oh, here comes Matt, inserting himself in the women’s business again. This is not going to end well. He takes on Terra directly, asking if she thinks she’s Briana’s manager? The fingers start pointing and big voices start booming, so Jasmine scoops up her husband and exits the vicinity. Tonya’s like, no way, mama! You have to sit here an suffer like the rest of us. But Jasmine is already out the door.
Terra defends herself one last time, claiming anything she’s said behind Briana’s back, she’s also said to her face. Ummm, not so sure about that. Briana accuses the group of spreading rumors about her though, which sends Tonya into smackdown mode. She goes from 5 to 10 (because, let’s face it: she is never at zero), leaning over Terra to get her finger right in Briana’s face, screeching, “I am SO sorry Matt. I thought it was YOU, but it’s YOUR GIRL!”
Elena lamely tries to diffuse the situation to no avail. Terra accuses Briana of distancing herself from the entire group, which Briana doesn’t deny. Why would Briana want to hang out with people who are constantly putting her down? Briana tells them all she’s tired of the drama, and if they want to be friends with her, they’ve got to accept her on her terms – not theirs. Terra meanly tells her if she doesn’t want to be friends with them, then just leave. Briana says she’s going anyway, and reiterates that she’s happy for Elena. And she’s happy for her own wedding as well. Even if no one else is.
TELL US: DO YOU THINK TONIGHT WAS THE TIPPING POINT OF BRIANA’S FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LADIES? IS TONYA JUSTIFIED IN HER ANGER OVER BRIANA CUTTING OUT ON DAY 3 OF HER VIDEO SHOOT?
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