Caroline, Caroline, Caroline, Sophie, Adela, Caroline. Yep, it’s time for another exciting episode of Ladies of London. And guess what? Hating on Julie is so 2016. Now it’s all about Marissa and those awful rumors we just know she started. So get yourself cozy and let La Stanbury handle the rest. She’s got this situation covered. Trust that.
Marissa and Caroline Fleming have lunch. Naturally they discuss Caroline Stanbury. Caroline mentions the gossip that La Stanbury is running away to Dubai to escape legal problems. Marissa pounces. “Is she?” Realizing she just opened a huge can of worms, Caroline Fleming tries to distance herself from the conversation. Marissa plays it off like she could care less, she knows the rumors aren’t true. She seems pretty convincing but Caroline Stanbury doesn’t let a little truth get in the way of a terror campaign.
Juliet finally gets a segment! Her blog is super successful and she’s just the bestest business lady ever. She’s also a very involved mother, in case you were wondering.
Marissa is ready to have post-baby sex. Her husband is really ready. She tells him about lingerie shopping with Sophie. He stops and asks for so many details that she can’t get the story out. Unfortunately, boner time is over because she also wants to talk about Juliet. Marissa is over her drama. Matt is over the conversation entirely. This is supposed to be sexy time but Marissa is on a roll. Wah, Juliet sucks!
It’s the Queen’s birthday so super-successful blogger Juliet does a pub crawl for her blog. Since they’re going to the hipster area of London, she tries to dress “young.” She ends up looking like Madonna circa 1982. When Caroline Fleming arrives she can barely hide her chagrin. Juliet doesn’t notice. She can’t see beyond the end of her nose. She breaks the news that Caroline Stanbury is joining them. Caroline Fleming refuses to wait for her. She knows that waiting for Caroline Stanbury is a full time job. They agree to meet at the pub. She’s even late to that so Caroline Fleming gets pissy. La Stanbury calls her “fancy pants.” It’s not a compliment. They argue. Stanbury is always late. Fleming is bossy. Juliet tries to smooth it all over by making it all about her super-successful blog. It works for a moment.
At a competing event, Sophie, Adela and Marissa drink and play ping pong. Well, they drink. Sophie is smashed. She runs around the pub grabbing men to play with. Adela claims watching her helps her stay sober. On the way out, Sophie gets thrown over the bouncer’s shoulder. Adela is mortified and flees. Marissa finds herself trapped in a cab with a wasted Sophie. She’s drunk enough to not realize what a hot mess Sophie is. Until Sophie calls her soon-to-be ex-husband to get the number of a cute guy, that is. It only gets worse when she calls the guy and slurs into the phone in her “sexy” voice. Luckily for him, he’s in Italy. Sophie finds that annoying and hangs up on him. Marissa hides her head in her hands. Daytime drinking with a professional party girl gets ugly pretty quick, Marissa.
Caroline Stanbury is still upset at Caroline Fleming (how dare she hold me to the same standards as everyone else) but she’s willing to put that aside for a moment to complain about Sophie. Fleming tries to wring some compassion out of her. Yeah, not happening. So Fleming changes tack and tells Caroline what’s bothering her: the fancy pants jab. Caroline Stanbury is all, yeah, whatevs. Juliet asks them to kiss and make up. This is ruining her super-successful blog event. They do and all is right in Juliet’s world again.
Later, in slightly less ridiculous outfits (but only slightly), Caroline Stanbury and Juliet get together to roast the other ladies. Sophie: betrayal. Julie: rules. Caroline Fleming: bossy. Ugh. They’re all just the worst. But Cem wants to host everyone for a weekend in Scotland. Juliet isn’t so sure until Caroline Stanbury points out that the whole things is just a ruse to teach Julie a lesson about being a gracious hostess. Juliet is fully onboard with that!
Sophie and Caroline Fleming shop for hats for Royal Ascot. We get lots of posh hat porn. This is what I want from the Ladies of London.
Juliet visits Marissa to meet the baby. Although Marissa originally invited her, she’s not looking forward to spending time with the super-successful blogger. She must be jealous. The nanny is very rude to Juliet. She probably got an extra tip for that. Marissa confronts Juliet about mean comments she made about her Hamptons trip. Juliet doesn’t like being in the wrong. She tries to wriggle out of it by accusing Marissa of making up rumors about Caroline Stanbury running from the law. Marissa vehemently denies it while Juliet just smirks. She got what she wanted. They’re no longer talking about her blunder and that’s all that matters.
The Stanbury sister-in-laws meet for lunch. Caroline has her bitch face firmly in place before Sophie even arrives. Sophie starts off with an apology but Caroline wants to review each of her offenses before they make peace. While she takes responsibility for a lot of what she did, Sophie thinks Caroline punished her unfairly. La Stanbury doesn’t fight fair. Sophie asks about the birthday party. Caroline Stanbury claims it was all due to a miscommunication. She never meant to keep her children from their cousins. Sure. That doesn’t sound like something Caroline Stanbury would do. At all. Caroline decides to accept Sophie’s apology but reserves the option to get angry about it again. Family. Isn’t it the best?
Next week: Scotland. Caroline Stanbury has to rent a castle because she doesn’t have one of her own (Julie does). Caroline Fleming dresses casual in sequins. Marissa tells Caroline Stanbury she has nothing to do with the rumors. Adela tells her sad story.
Why is Juliet even on the show this year! Did Stanbury keep her in the contract negotiations?? She’s a saltine cracker version of Kourtney Kardashian in my opinion. I hope Stanbury goes to Dubai and never returns, she’s a horrible woman not even funny to watch. Fleming I love this season.
Love this show! And love your recaps of it! You have these ladies and their games all figured out.
Great recap! I love this show. Bravo needs to take note and step up the Housewives because with the exception of Beverly Hills, the Housewives all appear broke next to the Ladies of London. This shows gives the fun, luxury and amazing cast trips that are lacking with the Housewives, except Beverly Hills. I could have watched an entire episode just watching Caroline F and Sophie try on posh hats that I could never afford.
I love Caroline F because when she’s offended by Caroline S she addresses it head on, in the moment and with Caroline S directly. It seems that Caroline F’s bossy and Caroline S’s bitchy balance their friendship in some weird way.
For some reason I just can’t get on board with Marissa. I’ve never cared for her because I think she’s phony and a closet mean girl. Even when she’s confronting Juliet, I can’t fully support her.
As for the rumors about Caroline S, I don’t think Marissa started the rumor but probably made a comment that got back to Caroline S. Did I imagine this or did Caroline S tell Sophie she found out some things Sophie said behind Caroline’s back because of Jules and Sophie confirmed?! If that’s accurate then that explains how Caroline S would know Marissa was talking about her finances behind her back. I do hope Caroline S and Sophie work things out.
I’m with you. Inviting someone over & then saying, no you can’t touch my baby, I didn’t even bother to get dressed for you, and talking smack in the talking-head saying she didn’t want Juliet to come & can’t wait for her to leave… I mean, it’s just so phony. Marissa comes across as hella-fake to me & unwilling to move past whatever their differences are. Also, NEVER use your child as a pawn to hurt & be mean to someone else. That is F*ED UP.
Regarding the hamptons trip, in the scene where the info was relayed to Juliet, ALL the ladies kinda balked & thought it was weird. It is weird! How was your baby on her deathbed & 3 days later you’re traveling across the ocean w/o said baby?? If Marissa was okay w/ it, so be it, but it doesn’t mean that everyone will agree w/ the decision or is a bad friend/person for thinking it’s unusual.
To be fair, Juliet invited herself, Marissa didn’t really invite her over. Juliet started gushing about Marissa using the baby bassinet she had and said she needs to come over to see the baby in it. Think it would’ve been awfully rude to say “no you can’t come over” lol.
I’m not a huge fan of Marissa, but I loathe Juliet. She’s intolerable.
They are all broke compared to Ladies of London.
Now that Ladies of London and Housewives of Beverly Hills are airing the same time as other shows such as the Atlanta Housewives, it is nearly impossible for me to watch Atlanta Housewives and watch Sheree brag about a home that has taken longer to complete than the Burj Khalifa try to throw shade at anyone and don’t even get me started on the Housewives of New Jersey,
It seems to me that Kyle and Mauricio alone probably have more wealth than the entire New Jersey and Atlanta Housewives cast (except Kandi) combined, LOL.
First, this blog rocks. Perfectly snarky to all cast mates!
2. I want Sophie’s hair. She needs to be the next pantene girl.
3. How is juliet a stylist? Nothing looks put together. Poor accessorizing. Who would hire her?
4. CarolineS. used to be my favorite. Now shes creating drama just for tv. They keep this up and the show will officially jump the housewives shark.
I can’t believe Juliet is stupid enough (well, yes I can) to hitch her star to the wagon that’s moving to Dubai?
Caroline S bitches about Julia’s need for power and control? That’s exactly what HER chronic lateness means.
Don’t let the London Bridge hit you in the ass as you leave for Dubai.
Juliet is desperate to infiltrate the locals. She should have stuck with Marissa and been LOYAL.
Yes. Any guesses as to who she’ll glom onto when Queen Caroline is gone?
Caroline Fleming is my Patronus. I’m going to go buy all of her cookbooks. She is a rare Bravolebrity, such a decent and kind lady.
I don’t feel like looking up Patronus, but it works for me love Fleming. And Marissa. And especially Marissa and Fleming together.
A patronus is a charm/spell from Harry Potter. It’s a guardian animal conjured to protect the witch or wizard. But I choose her as mine because she’s fucking awesome. So really, I just made it up, because, magic.
Marissa bugs me. There’s just something about her that seems prickly and very showy. I think she’s probably a good person but i would steer clear of her at all costs.
Lady C, thanks so much for the fun recap- you had me laughing out loud. I have to admit this show is my delightful indulgence- I look forward to it. It is far enough away from our day to day world, full of interesting twists and exposure to a part of the world I love- London and England countryside, as lived by aristocrats of one form or another. And it has a nice mix of intriguing women facing different elements of British societal issues- some with more grace, wisdom and tact than others.
I assume the producers are working to find a way to consider Dubai a British outpost, since Caroline Stanbury’s posh, snarky and arrogant style cannot be lost due to her husband’s business, for goodness sakes. We have to see her come to her own awareness, eventually, of her shortfalls, and make amends to those she has mistreated- once she realizes she is not the queen of British society , possibly. I thought her loss of the Gift Library might lead her to some growth, but if it has ,we have not seen it in her behavior with her supposed friends. She spends so much time focused on herself that , to her , even that is more vital than a beloved sister in law and brother’s ugly divorce, which is hurting the family deeply. To her, there is nothing more sacrosanct than the expectation that the sister in law will always have HER back- no matter what. Divorce is not important- just Caroline’s every whim and need. Hysterically, pitifully narcissistic. Her children are clearly not a key priority- except for how they reflect on her.
And Juliet is exactly as described above- for that matter, so are each of the others. Thanks so much- you could be Trollope. The smart farcical component is well captured and essential- great fun!! Nothing much has changed in 300-400 years, has it?
First- Lady C..thanks for the many re-caps you do, they are much appreciated!
Oh brother, there just does not seem to be any pleasing Caroline S, Sophie was right about one thing, she apologized at least 5 or 6 times for the comment to Julie. Caroline S just WILL NOT let it go…ever?
In almost every single interview she has railed against people “telling her what to do.” I mean how dare they?? I cannot believe she is still mad a YEAR LATER over that stupid fruit tasting dfrom Caroline F. Her rudeness in showing up so late for dinner at Mapperton was just inexcusable.
She has a lot of nerve accusing Marissa of spreading rumors about her. She has not had an easy time in the British press over the gift library debacle, her own father resigned from the board just a couple of months before the Gift Library went under. The day the company was forced into BK she left to go ski the French alps and did not even speak to her staff about what would happen to them. She left it to others to do her dirty work (this is according to the British press) with Marissa having a rough pregnancy, how would she know any of this, let alone report it to the press. #scapegoat
Marissa did not invite Juliet over, she invited herself, if I remember correctly and frankly, I really don’t blame her for not wanting to be around her. It was really none of her business to bring up the Stanbury accusation to Marissa. Juliet is inserted so far up Stanbury’s ass at this point she is just being drug around behind her.
While Julie may be rough around the edges, I believe she loves her husband and really wants to make a contribution in the form of helping Mapperton run smoothly and earn a little money. I felt when she invited the girls out (except for the “rules”) she really tried to bury the hatchet with Stanbury so they could just co-exist without feeling like they have to take each other down. Stanbury even said she was going to try to get along. Yet here she is plotting her demise with lap dog Juliet panting along beside her at the prospect.
I took a look at Juliet’s blog out of curiosity right when the series started. It had not been updated for several months. Some of the looks she wore were actually nice, she should try them on the show!
I am kind of cringing in advance about what will go down next week!
These are horrible people who would all be in jail if they weren’t so rich. Is that supposed to be my take away from the show?
In jail for what?
I was wondering that myself. Unless Great Britain had debtors prison (which I do think they have.)
Sorry- I was two glasses of wine in when I started watching this episode and passed out when Marissa was complaining that Chardonnay made her breast milk sour. At any rate- I was talking about Stanbury’s legal issues and Marissa’s husband evidently did move to LA because of his legal issues. No- I guess you can’t put people in jail for being so beautiful and useless at the same time. But two glasses of Pinot Grigio and I’m ready to! 🙂
Marissa is not as gracious as she would like people to believe. She’s passive aggressive while being punitive with Juliet. Marissa retaliated for Juliet not attending her Thanksgiving by inviting the whole cast except her to the Royal Albert Hall Christmas concert. This season she agrees to let Juliet visit Sadie but not really.
I would like her more if she were straight up from the beginning. As in Juliet I’m not inviting you to the concert because I’m upset with you. Or Sadie’s not ready for visitors yet but I’ve heard some things you said about me. Can we talk?
This is why I like the Carolines Stansbury & Flemming. When they have issues the women know about it and they know why.
Marissa is not as gracious as she would like people to believe. She’s passive aggressive while being punitive with Juliet. Marissa retaliated for Juliet not attending her Thanksgiving by inviting the whole cast except her to the Royal Albert Hall Christmas concert. This season she agrees to let Juliet visit Sadie but not really.
I would like her more if she were straight up from the beginning. As in Juliet I’m not inviting you to the concert because I’m upset with you. Or Sadie’s not ready for visitors yet but I’ve heard some things you said about me. Can we talk?
This is why I like the Carolines Stansbury & Flemming. When they have issues the women know about it and they know why.
Makes total sense for a lady who is triggered by being asked to follow any acceptable societal and cultural expectations or social etiquette to move to an Islamic state. But her house will be huge!!! Did she mention it’s huge?? She just might need some tips from the lady of the manor rule book to run that huge household.
haha, exactly. I mean, I can understand a distaste for highly regimented situations, but you don’t get a free pass from all manners and decorum because you were traumatized by the rules of boarding school as a child.
Grow up. Mature adults do not show up late to every event with their friends, or two hours late to dinner, nor do they refuse to participate in all group events when being hosted at someone’s home. It’s rude and inconsiderate! it’s not stuffy to have common respect and consideration for others.
May we just keep Juliet’s kids and lose Juliet? They are adorable.
Marissa’s nanny brought back fond memories of my own British nanny. I loved and adored her.