Last week on the penultimate episode of Southern Charm Season 11, Salley and Charley were still in shock from Craig’s meltdown. Charley lost interest in him romantically. Shep tried to get the friend group back together with a healing retreat. When he saw Craig and Austen holding hands during the ceremony, Shep hoped their friendship could be fixed. Did a sweat lodge and bonding ceremony really heal that much damage?
What happened on Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 15?
On the Southern Charm Season 11 finale, “Carolina Dazed,” the Mexico trip ends on a cautiously optimistic note. Back in Charleston, Miss Patricia throws a Carolina Day party, where Charley ends things with Craig. Meanwhile, Salley realizes their relationship was much more serious than she knew. Austen and Craig’s truce predictably doesn’t last long. But is there hope for Austen’s romance with Salley?
Are Austen and Craig healed?
As they sit down for dinner, Shep admits he has a crush on their spiritual guide. Salley, surprisingly, sits next to Craig. She hopes he’s inspired to apologize.
Shep brings up Craig and Austen’s fight at the disastrous birthday dinner, and they reflect on where things went wrong. Austen says they grew distant, and it affected him more. He felt Craig wasn’t as bothered because he was preoccupied with his relationship with Paige.
Craig says that his opinion of their friendship didn’t change. But he understands Austen thinks it’s different. “It is different, but that’s okay,” Austen responds. He’s grateful to get even a little bit of remorse from Craig in this moment. Similarly, Shep thinks it’s a step in the right direction. Craig thinks they need to start their friendship over from scratch instead of being bogged down by the past. But he tells Austen he’ll always be there.
Appreciating this nice moment, Craig says this is generally how he treats people. Um, you sure about that?
Did Craig and Salley make up?
Later, Rodrigo asks what happened in the van. Craig says that he hates people meddling in his business and gets triggered. Salley tells him that she was “so sad” afterwards and he should’ve come to her room and apologized. He apologizes and says he doesn’t think she’s a loser. Craig hopes he and Salley can be closer friends.
After the past few episodes, it’s shocking to see Salley fold so quickly. She even says they both have things to work on. Maybe the sweat lodge made her nostalgic for their hot tub days? Salley says his apology is easy to accept because he turns on the charm. But also because she’s scared of making him angry again. But Charley doesn’t buy the apology.
I’m as baffled as Austen when Salley and Charley get in another van with Craig. Venita, however, continues to avoid him.
Welcome home Teddi!
Back in Charleston, Madison and Brett take Teddi home after two weeks in the NICU. “Did you ever think you could love something so much?” Madison asks. “Yeah, you,” Brett responds.
If that wasn’t swoon-worthy enough, Brett is a natural dad. Madison calls it the hottest thing she’s seen, and is annoyed she has to wait six weeks to … you know.
Hudson holds his sister, (nicknamed “booger”) for the first time, making Madison emotional. She feels like Teddi was the missing piece to her family. “I love her so much, but I’m not ready for her to start crying at night,” Hudson jokes. Is this the most wholesome Southern Charm moment ever or what?
Charley is done done
Charley tells her mom about Craig’s van moment. The first time they talk after the trip, Craig asks her to Miss Patricia’s Carolina Day event. But Charley rejects him, and goes with her friend Tyler.
Charley notes that, despite the others knowing Craig longer, they’re not trying to hold him accountable. Her mom tries to encourage her to do so. But Charley thinks there’s no point.
Miss Pat’s Carolina Day soiree
Patricia throws a black tie party for the finale’s event. Beforehand, Charley says she needs to shave her armpits (which, for some reason, the camera zooms into). Venita and Salley go together, giving hope for their friendship. Patricia shows up with Eddie and Ryan … remember Ryan? From last season? Austen wears the bowtie Craig gave him for his birthday. Leva attends in a very daring dress.
Craig goes with Korey, who is dressed obnoxiously. While he senses Charley’s change of heart, he’s sure it was just a “misunderstanding” they can work through. Even Korey pushes back when Craig says nothing happened.
Madison stays home to be with Teddi. When Salley says she wants a baby someday, Patricia tells Austen and Whitney she needs a sperm donor. It’s awkward, but Salley does think Austen would make a great donor.
Shep brings a date, Venita’s tennis coach Hannah. He’s known her for years. In a slightly awkward introduction with his former flame Molly, Shep reveals Hannah is age (37). Rodrigo is shocked to see Shep with an age appropriate date. He jokes that Hannah could be the mom of the young women Shep usually goes out with. Speaking of, Hannah wants a baby, and Shep could be her “boner donor.” They’re so close that she even plucks one of his nose hairs.
How serious were Craig and Charley really?
Charley avoids Craig, though she later claims she was waiting for him to approach her. He’s hurt and tells Salley they’re much closer than anyone knew. They used to FaceTime every day for hours. He even claims she was supposed to go with him on a family trip to France. Is this a Craig lie, or were they actually more serious than they appeared?
Salley is “blindsided.” But she’s the only one. As flashbacks show, it was obvious that Craig was seriously into Charley. Molly thinks Salley didn’t see it because she’s usually “the hot friend that gets all the guys.”
When they finally talk, Charley tells Craig they should just be friends. He doesn’t think they can. Craig was very serious about her. He didn’t think he would have such deep feelings for someone again after his breakup. Craig even says he would’ve picked Charley over Paige! But Charley can’t come back from what happened in the van.
Meanwhile, Salley spirals after Craig’s revelation. Leva, Venita, and Rodrigo say Charley isn’t a true friend for going after Craig. But Charley really thought Salley was fine with it when she gave their date the okay at Madison’s sleepover. Salley feels betrayed, because she texted Charley that she had feelings for Craig. Ultimately, Charley apologizes to Salley and says there’s no excuse.
Will Craig ever change?
Despite everything, Craig still blames Salley for Charley dumping him. He once again mentions how people “meddling” is a big trigger. Austen is in disbelief, emphasizing how bad Craig’s fits of rage are. Craig hates being reactive, but maintains that he only acts out because people push him. Austen is tired of Craig always blaming someone else. When Austen says he needs to change how he reacts, Craig insists he works on himself every day.
Austen can’t take this anymore. When he asks if Craig accepts that he has a “serious f*cking anger problem,” Craig brushes him off by calling it “not a productive conversation.” Austen says they will keep going in circles because Craig will never take accountability. He calls him a “lost soul” and storms off, claiming he’s done once and for all.
Are Salley and Austen meant to be?
Exhausted, Austen leaves, and Salley follows. Rom-com music plays as they flirt. When Salley sarcastically apologizes for caring about him, he says he likes her too, and she’s “wonderful.” But he’s not in the right space mentally to date after his breakup. She’s positive he reciprocates her feelings, which he doesn’t deny. Salley says they both know that if they gave things a shot, it could be the real deal. She tells him she’s not giving up.
Her tenacity must’ve won him over, because he invites her to drinks. And they’ve spent a ton of time together post-season. Now that she’s fully over Craig, Salley gets rid of the chickens, sending them away to her mom’s farm.
That’s where we leave off. Showing that, love her or hate her, Salley was the main character of Season 11. Next week, it’s the reunion, where Craig takes center stage. He accuses the cast of piling on and isn’t sure he wants to come back. We’ll have to watch to see how that goes down!
Southern Charm airs Wednesdays 9/8c on Bravo. Episodes can be streamed on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SOUTHERN CHARM SEASON 11 FINALE? WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE SALLEY, CRAIG, AND CHARLEY LOVE TRIANGLE? WILL CRAIG EVER FIX HIS ANGER ISSUES?
