BravoThe Real Housewives of Orange County train is slowly but surely pulling out of the "Brooks Ayers faked his cancer" station. Thank goodness.
Bravo's original Real Housewives series has been struggling to shake the ghost of Brooks and it's understandable because he was a central figure in Vicki Gunvalson's life and his cancer (or lack thereof) became a media firestorm. But the show must go on. Viewers got a glimmer of hope that there is life after Brooks in the third episode of season 11 when Vicki finally sat down with BFF (best frenemy forever at this point) Tamra Judge. But before all that happened, viewers were treated to Vicki and daughter Briana going on a fart and poop filled road trip, Briana's hospital stay, Tamra getting loose skin, Heather Dubrow shopping for an ice maker, Meghan King Edmonds giving herself IVF shots and newbie Kelly Dodd drinking her cold away.
Kelly threw a beach party because sure, it's California. Everybody showed up—including Vicki and her Brooks baggage (the baggage arrived in the form of her fur vest. A fur vest at the beach).
The conversation between Vicki and Tamra at the beach just went around and around in circles. Vicki said she didn't lie about Brooks and she is the victim here. Tamra wasn't buying it. Vicki just wanted some gosh darn casseroles!
"I feel like with what happened last year, I think that you guys—you particularly—should have really been there for me…I think you kind of turned a little bit on me…You didn't turn on me, you turned away from me when I really needed you. My relationship fell apart in front of my eyes," Vicki said.
Tamra was quick to point out the stories changed and changed and that the women found it especially hard to believe that Vicki had no idea Brooks was lying about his treatment. "If you knew he was lying, it's like and you covered for him for whatever reason. Why wouldn't you just come to your friends and say, ‘Sorry, I screwed up,'" Tamra asked. "We would all hug you and go, ‘It's OK.'"
Vicki really couldn't stop playing the victim in her conversation, but once Tamra saw a glimmer of hope that Vicki could possibly acknowledge that the other Housewives weren't the attackers here, she forgave Vicki. For now.
"I think Vicki will never, ever admit that she knew he was faking. This is why Vicki has a hard time keeping friends and I think that because I understand who she is, I can let it go," Tamra said.
Next up? Vicki's conversation with Shannon Beador.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Mondays, 9 p.m. on Bravo.
(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)