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I thought birthdays were supposed to be fun? On this episode of The valley, Schwartzapalooza is on and so are the matches. When Lala question DannyHell breaks loose and rips open old wounds and old issues that have never been healed in the group. But when Janet refuses to apologize for his choice of words last summer, Nia refuses to back down.
While the gang hangs out for Schwartz’s birthday, Luke comes in and states that Christian is not better. Lala also joins the chat, and she comes in hot, asking the hard-hitting questions of Danny that no one would dream of asking.
She questions why Danny would want or say anything about Janet and Jason on socials and claims he liked a post about “cucking” translation: cuckolding.
Danny admits that he liked certain things about Janet and her relationship, but Lala persists and asks for clarification. Danny feels triggered. Lala bringing this up right now is “perfect timing” according to Jesse (can you sense the sarcasm?). Janet shows receipts to Danny, who likes a ridiculous post that hits her and Jason. And she claims that if SHE liked something like that, everyone would go after her. However, Nia claims she doesn’t care – she’s in her IDGAF era.
Danny gets stressed while Lala goes on and on Jasmine reminds Danny that he always gets hot like that. Zack starts to get messy and loud. Jasmine doesn’t understand why Zack doesn’t check on Danny, but he checks on everyone else. This seems a bit hypocritical considering she literally asked him to defend her… so I guess her problem is when Zack goes off on his own?
According to Zack, people have problems with Danny and instead of wanting to say it, they stay quiet. Zack walks off screaming FU at everyone and Jasmine tries to get in his face. Zack shouts that nothing ever gets solved because no one listens to anyone. He then storms off, with Benji and Schwartz behind.
No one knows what just happened, but Jasmine is pissed about Zack’s blind loyalty to Danny. Zack feels like he’s in the middle of all the drama, but Schwartz seems more upset about not getting a birthday cake during his celebration.
Lala wants Danny to realize that he needs to stop liking nasty posts. Brittany reminds Danny that he himself liked things about her. When you like something, you know what you’re doing. Danny claims he doesn’t know, and meanwhile Janet says he’s a stupid loser to anyone who will listen. The situation is getting out of control.
Brittany can’t believe Danny would think she was behind some mastermind plan Jax made on their old podcast. Obviously, Jax claimed he wanted to take Danny and Nia down and because Brittany didn’t stand up and stop Jax, she was guilty by association… 2 years ago. Danny finally apologizes to Brittany and Nia asks for a break after the match. The couple leaves to go back to their room.
No one can seem to have a conversation with Danny, including Nia. Nia maintains that she was trying to give his perspective in a calm way, but Danny disagrees.
Lala believes that Danny was sent to bed because he “can’t show true colors” and Zack and co. re-enter after calming down. Lala wonders why Zack has blind loyalty to Danny, and Jasmine calls Zack a good friend who gets carried away. Interesting that Brittany and Michelle remain “blindly loyal” to Janet, yet they run into trouble when Zack apparently does the same. No one calls them out! But Janet thinks we can’t move forward because everyone is still mad at her for talking about the *thing*.
The next morning, Zack feels refreshed and entitled, a great way to start his birthday. But at Luke and Kristen’s suite, things are different. Kristen explains that she’s feeling much better, and Luke expresses how upset he is that she basically thinks he’s a bad father. Kristen says that Luke gets messy and then doesn’t sleep in bed, but Luke thinks her image of him is much worse than what’s real.
Vacation Michelle has entered the chat. She jumps rope bright and early and Brittany promises she won’t drink. Right. Meanwhile, Danny meets Luke to go fishing. Luke points out that he heard Lala say that liking a nasty post about Jason and Janet is endorsing negativity. When Lala joins them, she reminds Danny that there was no solution because he left. Lala wonders that the perception of Danny and Nia may be wonderful, but the reality may not always be. Danny admits that they fight as a couple, just not in front of the group.
Danny reminds Lala that she doesn’t know the whole story. His name was attached to words that Janet put out into the universe, and he has PTSD and trauma from last summer. The character’s defamation affected Danny so much that he worked weekly with his therapist to get past what Janet said. He admits he shouldn’t have liked the comments and is still fighting.
Jasmine tries to approach the day with some grace since it’s Zack’s birthday, but she feels very disrespected after last night. Zack admits that emotions got the best of him, and when Brittany arrives, she calls him to be healthy. Zack claims he was mean because he “felt like that”, but admits he shouldn’t have been so over the top. He points out that hiding and lying about drinking is his problem with Danny and says he wanted to tell him his feelings.
Nia doesn’t want to be around Janet’s energy, but of course she gets to shop with her all afternoon. On the bus ride, Kristen explains her anxiety about the baby and admits that she is an HSP highly sensitive person. Kristen also can’t believe the group fights about Danny liking mean posts about Danny and Nia since they all do stuff like that.
When it comes to Janet’s choice of words to describe Danny’s actions (sexual assault), she refuses to apologize for telling the truth. Nia believes that Janet only apologized to Nia in the past to save herself, and it looks like Janet is trying to put on a mask to be a new version of herself…but her true colors keep coming out.
Janet runs off to call Jason and can’t believe everyone is gathering and comforting Nia. She is annoyed, but they continue on their shopping trip. While doing so, Danny and Luke join the crew at the pool. Zack says that the problem the night before was that there were so many conversations, but he focuses on Danny. He calls Danny his liar when it comes to drinking and for Zack trust is everything.
Danny apologizes and claims he only had one drink in the apartment. Danny explains that last summer was hell and wonders who has his back. After a very productive conversation, it seems they’re all good, although Danny refuses to claim the mysterious White Claw found in Brittany’s apartment.
The shopping group is able to sit down at the same table, and if Jesse and Michelle can coexist, can Nia and Janet? Nia doesn’t like that her words were twisted into something they weren’t. Michelle explains that almost everyone in the group feels uncomfortable when Danny drinks. This group wants to make it an issue, and Kristen points out that Brittany, Zack, and Jasmine are hot messes and could use to cut down on the drinking too.
Naturally, Janet texts Brittany right away to expose Kristen. “Nia and Kristen are willing to paint Britt, Jasmine and Zack in a bad light to protect Danny.” It doesn’t seem like there can be any solution, and Janet calls Jesse a “stupid dick” when he tries to add a few stitches. Janet would rather leave than deal with this.
As she tries to evacuate the dinner table, Janet apologizes for speaking flippantly, but her choices and words say otherwise. According to Janet, this situation wouldn’t have happened if Danny wasn’t doing “weird shit” and he is still do it. Janet runs off again to call her husband and wonders why there isn’t a “dust of accountability” for Danny and his behavior. She feels triggered because Danny isn’t perfect, but hasn’t Danny at least already apologized for this last season??
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DALPS EPISODE?
