Welcome to The Valley Season 3 Episode 12 recap. Last time, Janet was embroiled in the drama at Schwartz’s 007-themed birthday party. And after learning some shocking news about her boyfriend, Brandon Hanson, Brittany dumped him. Here’s what happened in The Valley Season 3 Episode 12: “Schwartzapalooza.”
What happened in The Valley Season 3 Episode 12?
Brittany confronted Kristen about how she defends Nia. Then, the gang headed to Mexico to celebrate Schwartz, Danny, and Zack’s birthdays. However, Schwartz’s birthday was overshadowed by drama between Luke and Kristen.
Brittany wants Kristen to stop taking Nia’s side in The Valley
Kristen stopped by to visit Brittany, and our Kentucky muffin discussed how Nia didn’t contact her post-surgery. Although Nia apologized, Brittany had a bone to pick with Kristen. “I guess it just hurts my feelings because I’ve felt like that for a while, like when it comes to Nia, I’m not allowed to have an opinion or say anything,” Brittany told Kristen.
In her talking head, Brittany added, “When it comes to Nia, I think Kristen has blind loyalty.” When Brittany called Nia “performative” while also acknowledging that Nia “is a good person,” Kristen wasn’t pleased. “I hate that,” Kristen said, “because I don’t see that at all. How I feel is that people want to doubt that she and Daniel are genuinely f*cking great people.”
When Brittany challenged just how close Kristen and Luke were to Danny and Nia, Kristen was shocked. “I feel like it’s a surface-level friendship,” Brittany stated. Kristen responded that she spoke to Nia daily, and that “she was one of the biggest helps through my whole pregnancy.” Then, Brittany remarked, “On camera.” Yikes!
Still, Brittany wouldn’t back down, adding that Kristen “will eventually see it.” When Kristen asked what Brittany wanted, she responded, “I just want you to stop defending her without having any context, because my thoughts and my feelings are valid, too.”
Zack gets to the bottom of his Benji dilemma
Jasmine and Zack decided to get butt facials before Mexico. Of course, Zack mentioned that his boyfriend, Benji, saw Danny drinking at his housewarming party. “I just think it’s a little weird he has to lie to his close friends about drinking,” Jasmine said.
When Jasmine asked Zack why he didn’t just marry Benji, especially with his visa issue, Zack replied, “I don’t want to marry him now and then decide I don’t want a kid later, because that is a bottom-line non-negotiable for him,” he told Jasmine.
“There’s nobody I’ve ever met in my life that is better for me or makes me want to be better. It’s just the perfect relationship in so many ways,” Zack added.
Kristen’s anxiety peaks in The Valley
The group arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Vanderpump Rules fans know that Kristen spirals from anxiety when she travels. Since the trip to Mexico was a triple birthday celebration, each birthday had its own theme. Schwartz was embracing a music festival feel with Schwartzapalooza. Get your glow sticks ready!
However, while she was changing Kaia in an airport public restroom, fans tried to snap photos of the baby without her diaper. That was beyond low. “It was traumatizing. It’s not okay,” a sobbing Kristen told Luke. “I want to take her home.”
Finally, the group boarded vans and arrived in Punta de Mita. When Jesse was checking in, his credit card was declined. “I’m not making it up, people,” Michelle said in her talking head. “The guy is broke!”
While Zack, Schwartz, and Benji had an ocean-view suite, Lala, Michelle, Janet, Brittany, Jasmine, and her fiancée Melissa shared a suite with a common living area. The main topic of conversation was Kristen’s mood. Thankfully, Kristen’s sister, Casey, and brother-in-law were along to help with Kaia, so the ladies were hoping to lift Kristen’s spirits.
Meanwhile, Kristen and Luke settled into their suite. “Just cool off and chill out here. I’m not trying to pressure you to stay out with me, either,” Luke told his fiancée.
Immediately, Kristen suspected that Luke wanted “to get f*cked up every night.” When Luke responded that she was “making some assumptions,” Kristen fired back, “I’m making assumptions based on what happens at home.”
Luke responded that he had “been hungover one time in the last two weeks.” However, Kristen didn’t love his answer. “To be hungover and f*cked up and not come home until three o’clock in the morning, it’s kind of a lot when you have a brand-new baby,” she said.
Schwartzapalooza was a fail in The Valley
Then, it was time for Schwartzapalooza. Since it was thundering and pouring rain, the beach bonfire plan fell apart. Instead, the festivities were relocated to a restaurant at the resort. In Kristen and Luke’s suite, Kristen was anxious because Kaia had been fussy for nearly two hours.
Even with her sister Casey there, Kristen was still nervous. “I feel like you want me to be f*cking heartless, and I can’t,” she replied. “I can’t be like you.” Ouch! Luke replied, “I’m not a piece of sh*t. Like you talk to me like I am.”
While everyone else was in their Coachella best, Danny wore shorts and a print shirt. “I mean, you look like you’re a dad in Orlando at Disney,” Jesse said, and Michelle agreed. They’re not wrong.
And Danny’s enthusiasm was on full display, as he yelled, “Let’s go!” repeatedly. Meanwhile, Jesse was subjected to a light roasting about his relationship with Lacy courtesy of Michelle, Janet, and Lala. “Do you want us to yell at you and be mean to you? Will that make you feel more comfortable?” Janet asked.
“She doesn’t yell at me,” Jesse said. “She just calls me out when I say or do something stupid.” Michelle quipped, “So every day?”
Finally, Kristen and Luke arrived, and they were still squabbling. Later, they crossed paths at the bar, and it went from bad to worse. “Five minutes ago, you were screaming at me,” Kristen said, which Luke called “a wild exaggeration.”
“You were being super f*cking hurtful, and you knew it,” Kristen said. “I’m sorry, do you know what I live with on a daily basis? Are you kidding me?” he remarked.
Luke voices concerns about marrying Kristen in The Valley
An exasperated Luke told Jesse and Danny about his woes. “She loses her mind when travel happens, and I’m aware that it’s anxiety and stress and all these other things that make her go into this, like, manic state,” Luke explained.” When he revealed that Kristen said that he didn’t “care about Kaia,” Jesse was shocked. “I mean, that’s not fair,” he said.
“Here’s the deal. That’s what happens in a lot of marriages. It all becomes about the child,” Danny said. Next, Jesse chimed in. “The one thing I always said about what happened in my relationship was, we kept growing, and the relationship stopped.”
Luke stated, “I’m fighting for our relationship.” According to Luke, his feelings weren’t acknowledged, and Kristen didn’t apologize for her cutting comments. “I’m starting to lose my mind,” he said. “I can’t do this forever. If things do not improve from here, there’s not going to be a wedding.”
Elsewhere, Janet spoke to Zack about his open relationship with Benji. “Obviously, I’m bisexual, so technically, when I’m not with Jason, he’s like, ‘I don’t care if you hook up with girls,’” Janet said. While Zack thought that he was being asked to find a lady for Janet, instead, she already had someone in mind. “It’s Michelle,” Janet shared. “She’s my dream girl.”
Meanwhile, in his confessional, an emotional Luke said, “We need to get back to respecting and loving each other. Or, this isn’t going to work.”
The Valley airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo. Episodes will stream on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE VALLEY SEASON 3 EPISODE 12? HOW CAN LUKE AND KRISTEN FIX THEIR ISSUES?
