TW: This recap contains discussion of sexual assault.
The Valley Season 3 left many viewers feeling underwhelmed. While much of Season 2 was driven by Jax Taylor’s toxic energy, it was surprising to see this darkness continue. The Season 3 cast added Vanderpump Rules alums Lala Kent and Tom Schwartz to the mix, yet the friend group remained divided.
During Season 2, Janet Caperna was cast as the villain. She called out Danny Booko for “sexual assault” after he drunkenly touched co-star Jasmine Goode. Later, Janet apologized for that phrasing, but not for holding Danny accountable. As a result, Janet remained on the outs with several cast members, most notably Danny and his wife, Nia Sanchez, as well as Kristen Doute and her fiancé, Luke Broderick.
Meanwhile, other cast members exhibited some disturbing behavior. In light of these interactions, is The Valley cast too toxic to film for Season 4?
The Valley Season 3 saw some toxic drama among the cast
While both Nia and Kristen were postpartum, their partners, Danny and Luke, presented a clinic in how not to behave. Luke admitted during couples counseling that he might not have popped the question if he had met “pregnant Kristen.” Plus, he also told Jesse Lally that he might call off the nuptials if their relationship didn’t improve.
In addition, Kristen shocked fans of The Valley when she questioned the timing of Janet’s decision to open up about her past sexual assault. As you may recall, Kristen heard about Janet’s trauma second-hand from town-crier Jesse. Thankfully, during the Season 3 reunion, Kristen explained that if she had understood the gravity of Janet’s trauma, she never would have doubted her.
However, newbie Lala was no stranger to unleashing drama, and she repeatedly called out Danny for his drinking habits. Admittedly, Danny sometimes lied about his drinking, hoping to avoid confrontations with his co-stars. Lala and the actor clashed repeatedly during the season, leading Danny to call Lala “Miss Triggered” during the drag pageant.
And when Lala tried to bring Nia and Janet together, her efforts failed spectacularly. Still, no one could accuse Lala of not clocking in this season.
Janet Caperna and Danny Booko have a tough road ahead
Both Janet and Danny grabbed the villain mantle during The Valley Season 3. As a result of the way that Danny sometimes spoke to Nia, he received a wave of online hate. When Nia was trying to eat a sandwich and asked Danny to hold their infant daughter, he acted like she was completely out of line.
Plus, Danny spoke disrespectfully to his wife at the drag pageant and during other episodes of The Valley. “It’s not a good look,” Luke admitted on Watch What Happens Live. “I’m one of the biggest Danny defenders, and you know what, he was an a-hole.” In the end, Danny issued a social media apology to Nia via his Instagram Stories.
For Janet, this season was about making amends with Nia, Jasmine, and Zack Wickham. While Jasmine and Janet eventually worked through their issues, Zack questioned Janet’s sincerity. Meanwhile, Kristen refused to consider any relationship with Janet.
If cast members backed Nia and Danny, then having a friendship with Janet proved impossible. In addition, Janet was tired of Danny refusing to own his actions. During Brittany Cartwright’s finale Halloween party, Janet tossed a drink on Danny.
Was Janet sorry for throwing a drink on Danny? Nope. And while Janet complained about Danny dodging responsibility for his actions, she didn’t score any points for her behavior.
Should the cast remain the same on The Valley Season 4?
The Valley is at a crossroads. While many of these co-stars are friends, moving forward may prove difficult.
Danny needs to accept responsibility for his drinking and not blame other people for his behavior. While Lala questioned whether Nia and Danny’s relationship was darker behind closed doors, Nia asserted during the Season 3 reunion that it wasn’t. So, it might be time for the Bookos to show more of their marriage.
For Janet and her husband, Jason Caperna, it’s time to pack their bags. The continued drama between Janet and Danny, as well as Kristen, has dragged on for two seasons. These tense relationships won’t evolve.
This writer felt that Janet sharing her past sexual assault was a powerful moment this season, and she deserved more support. Still, the chasm between Janet and several of her Valley co-stars seemingly can’t be bridged.
I feel that the rest of the cast should return, with perhaps some newbies in the mix. I felt that Lala, for better or worse, drove the storylines this season. Viewers want some old-fashioned, shady drama, sans the toxicity. If the cast comes ready to play, Season 4 of The Valley could be its best yet.
The Valley is available to stream on Peacock.
If you’ve been impacted by sexual assault, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
