Southern Charm recap: Keep the martinis flowing, Ravenel wants to be a Senator
We knew we didn’t have long to wait before the drama started cooking on Southern Charm.
On this week’s episode, T-Rav officially announces his plans to run for U.S. Senate as his volatile relationship with Kathryn becomes even more strained.
Also, Renob. (We’ll get to that later.)
The episode starts with Cameran moving into an office space that she’ll share with her mother.
The good news: Quality time with mom!
The bad news: Questionable Wi-Fi.
Cameran asks what the Wi-Fi name is and her mom responds, “What do you mean the name? I just click.” Bless her heart.
Internet negotiations aside, Cameran is determined to have an office space of her own where she can make her own money and never have to depend on a man.
“My husband could leave me next week or croak tomorrow and I’m going to need a source of income,” she says.
Next, we get a deeper look at new girl Landon when Shep helps her move into her new digs on a houseboat called “Miss Adventure.”
The Scoop: Landon grew up in the South and went to the College of Charleston. But she says she’s “not your typical Southern belle.” She studied abroad in Italy, moved out to L.A. post college and got married. She describes having had a luxurious life but an absentee husband. So she packed up and left. Now she’s back in Charleston, and she’s determined to be her own, imperfect person. So far we give Landon a thumbs up.
We also give a huge thumbs up to Patricia, who is quickly becoming a cast favorite. Patricia is in the middle of interviewing for a second butler, because as everyone knows, you can never have enough butlers to polish the silver, deal with the porcelain and bring you breakfast in bed. “I don’t have a husband right now, so I kind of fill up the house with butlers,” Patricia says.
Her interviewee’s resume includes cooking with Emeril Lagasse, but the true test is his martini-making skills.
“Every day at 5 o’clock I require a perfect gin martini,” Madame Altschul says.
The new guy knows his way around the bar. He’s hired.
Kathryn also has a new hire. She now has a nanny to help with the cooking and cleaning and baby Kensie care. Unfortunately, the nanny was unable to stop KitKat from lathering mayo onto fresh raw salmon. The mayo sound effects alone were unbelievably upsetting. Still, she manages to get a nice-looking dinner on the table for T-Rav, but it gets cold while she’s giving the baby a bath.
My mother was always able to get warm dinner on the table, he sniffs. Why is my girlfriend such a conundrum? We both have old French Huguenot names and Kat has such long legs!
A name and nice legs does not a relationship make, T-Rav.
Craig is still having a hard time balancing his work responsibilities and his social calendar. He tells his younger brother as much while the two play lacrosse in the park.
“Becoming an adult here is really hard,” Craig says, adding that he needed a break after law school before taking the Bar exam. It’s too bad he can’t take the Bar at a bar.
At the end of the episode, Thomas summons his friends to Sermet’s restaurant for a “big announcement.”
Is it a ring for Kathryn? A third christening?
Nope!
“I am going to be on the ballot. You’re looking at potentially the next United States Senator,” T-Rav declares.
After a beat too long of silence, the group congratulates him.
Aside, Shep expresses his doubts. “Dude, don’t do it. You’re just lighting money on fire,” he says.
Cameran grills Thomas on some political topics, which he volleys with competent responses.
Kathryn is too busy throwing shade at unexpected guest Jen to act happy at the news. Apparently Jen is an old friend of T-Rav’s. An old friend who has been suspiciously popping up on his caller ID lately. Hence Kathryn kicking him under the table and asking for something “a little stronger” to drink.
Whitney arrives late, because he was busy jamming with his band, bro.
By the way, the band’s name is Renob. That’s “boner” spelled backwards. Does Whitney know he’s not 17 anymore or did his mom’s butler not give him that memo?
Whitney pledges his unwavering support and assistance, which Cameran thinks T-Rav would be dumb to accept.
“I don't know if I would let Whitney pass out bumper stickers for me. But that’s his right hand man,” she says.
You’re always the one with words of wisdom, Cameran. #Renob.
BEST QUOTE: “I don’t care if he’s a serial killer, as long as he can make a good martini” - Patricia Altschul
SHEP BEING SHEP: (In reference to T-Rav and Kathryn) “I try to stay out of people’s lives that, uhh, scare me.”
WHAT YOU DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR DINNER PARTY OUTFIT: That it was “Mrs. Doubtfire” chic. That’s how Cameran describes Kathryn's schoolmarmish ensemble at T-Rav’s announcement dinner. It was certainly more Margaret Thatcher than Kate Middleton.
WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU SEE AN UGLY BABY: “In the South, all babies are beautiful,” Cameran attests, but “when you see a baby and it’s down right ugly, you say, ‘Ohhh, that’s precious!’”
This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 9:57 PM with the headline "Southern Charm recap: Keep the martinis flowing, Ravenel wants to be a Senator."