I’ll be honest. I’ve been sleeping on Zack Wickham when it comes to his part in The Valley. The former Kentucky native turned Los Angeleno is a slow burn, but he is bringing the drama to Season 2. As a friend of Brittany Cartwright, he’s been living his life in the shadows of her famous reality TV friends. But now it is time for him to make a name for himself. And let’s be honest, viewers are starting to pay attention.
Zack Wickham is a pop culture icon
Here’s what I love about The Valley and Bravo – no one just appears on a show out of nowhere. In fact, the same can be said for Zack. He has been circling the outer rims of The Valley and Vanderpump Rules for years. Fans just haven’t always noticed. If you look closely, you can see Zack in the background of a birthday party and even in Brittany’s wedding episode. Forever a steady presence, Zack has learned how to walk the walk and talk the talk. After doing some digging, I learned Zack used to work for Kelly Cutrone and Nicole Scherzinger. While working as a stylist and a consultant, he was able to develop his made-for-TV personality. Honestly, if I had worked for Kelly, nothing would scare me, so kudos to Zack.
Zack is a perfect blend of messy moments and shady one-liners. While the rest of the group is either dealing with marriages or kids, fans are able to get an outside perspective thanks to Zack. He can spot a marriage issue quicker than anyone. And he seems extremely empathetic to Kristen Doute and Nia Booko’s pregnancy issues. The change of pace is nice, as Zack never came on the show trying to prove he deserved to hold a spot. He just made it work.
Zack Wickham is the scene stealer
There is something about Zack. The man is a gifted thief when it comes to scenes. And right now, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Valley star has come in hot with his demonic voices and all. He is currently creating quite a narrative regarding his issues with Janet Caperna’s constant lying and Brittany’s lack of support. What I relate to most when it comes to Zack is his brutal honesty. In a world where reality TV has become increasingly scripted and produced, Zack is keeping it real. This type of energy is crucial, especially when dealing with co-stars like Jax Taylor and Jesse Lally.
Zack is also more than happy to show his vulnerable side in such a way that feels genuine. During the last episode, when he broke down over his failing friendship with B, he got me right in the heartstrings. Zack isn’t looking for his 15 minutes of fame but rather an answer to the age-old question: What happened to my friend? The crux of Zack’s narrative is really just about feeling respected by his long-time friend, and most of us sadly can relate to that feeling.
Zack Wickham is the accountability police that The Valley needed
Zack is more than happy to hold the rest of the cast and himself accountable, which is something that has been lacking from others. Even though his tea has often resulted in a major plot twist, that isn’t his end game. For example, his issues with Janet are legit. The ultimate fan mother of one has been the one woman that everyone seems to be having issues with. Last year, Zack felt the full force of Janet as she purposely left him out of her babymoon. But instead of just crying, which he still did, Zack took a stand against her bullying ways. He wasn’t about to stand for her mean-girl act and made sure the group knew about it.
His stance has even encouraged Jasmine Goode to do the same. The former Jets dancer annihilated Janet in the last episode, accusing her of being a bad friend. Zack isn’t a cast member you are bound to forget anytime soon. Since snagging a full-time position, he has made his presence known during each and every episode. Zack is the glue holding the cast together as he often teaches lesson after lesson, including a word of the day. He’s clear and concise when it comes to his feelings, proving he is not just The Valley’s class clown.
The Valley is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – ARE YOU ENJOYING ZACK ON THE VALLEY? DO YOU THINK HE IS A GOOD ADDITION?
