'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Season Finale: A Very Vanderpump Wedding

Bravo

Bravo really turned a season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that started with the major tragedy of Russell Armstrong’s death and ended it with a feeling that everyone was on the mend. It was a strange finale in that it wasn’t packed with major drama as Real Housewives likes to do in preparation for what host Andy Cohen will come to call “the most explosive Real Housewives reunion ever.”

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Monday’s finale episode was primarily the reveal of months of preparation for Lisa Vanderpump’s daughter Pandora’s wedding. Lisa is used to being in charge when it comes to events, so she showed plenty of stress in the hours leading up to the event. It didn’t help matters that her crazy over-the-top wedding planner, Kevin Lee, was out of town the week before the event and his assistant was the only person on-site to deal with Lisa’s micromanaging for most of the time. But, I have to give it to the assistant. She showed a great deal of restraint whenever Lisa questioned her on the details (which was often). What was funny to me is how stressed out Lisa looked in so many of the wedding photos she shared at the end of the episode. At least it looked like Pandora enjoyed herself.

Meanwhile, the other girls got ready for the wedding. Missing from the festivities were unofficial cast members Brandi Glanville and Dana Wilkey. That wasn’t a surprise. Apparently, the event took place days after Russell committed suicide, which explains Taylor Amstrong’s absence. As for Kim Richards' absence, that wasn’t explained. But, it was probably for the best. The entire season she made herself the center of attention with her tardiness, disregard for others’ feelings, and her rude “gay mastiff” of a boyfriend  -- as Brandi calls him. Later, we’ll find out (pretending as if you all don’t Google) that she admitted herself in a drug and alcohol rehab program later that year.

Then, the series fast-forwarded to three weeks later and apparently the women hadn’t seen much of Taylor since Russell’s death. Kyle Richards throws an intimate cocktail party to bring the girls together -- sans Kim again. There’s a certain awkwardness to the event as it was surely planned to bookend the emotional opening to the season when the women discussed Russell’s death. Kyle’s get-together very quickly allowed Taylor to say she was doing well and that her young daughter – who came along, though she was sleeping – was getting better every day.

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Looking back on the season, has your opinion changed on whether Bravo should’ve gone ahead on it or not? Also, whom would you most like to see back for Season 3? They're casting, you know. Again, I'm assuming you don't Google.

Other points from the episode I have to mention:

-- Paul blows hot air. Adrienne Maloof’s husband, Paul Nassif, breaking wind over and over again after his colonoscopy? That put the real in reality for me.

-- Three’s a makeup team. Lisa’s whole bit with bringing out the makeup artist, then her twin sister, and no, they’re triplets? That was cheesy, but I like cheese. The best part is when Lisa’s son shows up and sees them. His face registered confusion followed by the smile of a young man’s greatest fantasy?

-- La Toya Jackson at the wedding? What the what? Now, that put the real in surreal for me. And did Bravo have to follow that up with a guy dancing like Michael? No shame.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro