Tonight Ladies of London brings us another fabulous Caroline Fleming event. She’s done an intimate dinner party that involved gnawing on a duck leg. She’s taken the ladies to her castle for dinner with Danish royalty. And now she’s going positively pagan with a Midsummer’s Eve party. You know she’s going to do it right so prepare to be annoyed when Caroline Stanbury ruins it all by fighting with her foe of the moment (Julie Sophie Marissa Adela). When is she leaving already?
Caroline Stanbury’s husband and children are already living in Dubai but since she needs to complete another week of filming, she’s moved into a posh hotel. Sophie joins her for a couples massage and another round of ass kissing. Stanbury sisters 4 eva! Eventually Adela jumps in for a pajama party. She’s still wound up from working on her custody case. Her children are old enough to decide which parent to live with and they’ve chosen their father. It’s heartbreaking. The ladies discuss the Midsummer’s party and Caroline Stanbury is a negative Nellie. She’s already decided she won’t participate in the maypole. “I hate flowers and I hate ribbons.” Well, alrighty then.
Caroline Fleming visits her floral designer and she’s clearly in her element. She pulls out photos of her last Midsummer’s, when she was ten years old. It was also shortly before her mother passed away so the event is going to be extra poignant for her.
Juliet’s mother visits from Chicago. Both of her parents are Polish immigrants so her first language was Polish. The producers ask if she still speaks it. She claims she’s totally fluent but they show a clip of her not being able to speak a word. Lies-a Minelli.
Adela helps Julie prepare her daughter for her prom (well, the British version, which means they get to drink… legally). Julie is a proud mother. She seems to have a lovely bond with her daughter. It makes Adela cry.
Caroline Fleming gets her actual friends to help her set up her party. She’s in glasses with dirty feet, building the maypole. She’s putting her all into this event and loving every minute. Eventually she’s dressed and ready to greet her guests. Of course, when they arrive she’s straddling a firepit, grappling with an enormous fish. But that doesn’t worry Caroline Fleming. She’s the barefoot Baroness, after all.
They start off making ivy wreaths. Sophie and Adela immediately grumble but Caroline Fleming ignores them. She’s determined to share her Midsummer’s customs with her friends no matter how unpleasant they act. They move on to making Danish Hvirvel bread by twisting dough around a skewer. Everyone giggles at their carb phallices. Caroline Fleming explains that they need to grill the bread over a flame for twenty minutes. When her guests complain, she seems genuinely confused. “When did you ever make bread that took quicker than twenty minutes?” Good lord. So much grousing and Caroline Stanbury isn’t even there yet.
They sit down to a stunning table just in time for Caroline Stanbury to hate on her wreath. Sigh. Caroline Fleming welcomes them to Swedish Midsummer’s. Yes, she is Danish but her mother was Swedish and tonight is in her honor. She serves them plate after plate of food she cooked herself. She’s going to sell a lot of cookbooks based on this party. Everyone is in heaven, except Caroline Stanbury. It’s just not her kind of food.
They all get up to dance around the maypole. Well, everyone but Caroline Stanbury. She claims she can’t dance around a cross because she’s Jewish but just a few scenes ago she said her issue was she hates flowers and ribbons… “I’d rather throw myself on a very, very, very blunt object.” Works for me.
While Caroline Fleming dances around in a Scandinavian fog, Julie asks Caroline Stanbury on a date. Sophie rolls her eyes. Caroline tells her she doesn’t understand why she would go. She’s leaving in five days and has no time for her nemesis. Julie perseveres and Caroline Stanbury keeps turning her down. Give it up, Jules. Just let her leave on her terms. It’s your only option at this point. But La Stanbury isn’t content merely shutting her down. She needs to grind her into the ground. She tells Julie she “lifted her” and then was dropped once Julie found other friends willing to “lift her.” This whole conversation reminds me of Bethenny and Kelly Bensimon’s “I’m up here, you’re down here” argument and I’m done with it.
In the midst of their row, Caroline Stanbury turns to Adela and informs her that she’s still mad at her too. Adela looks blindsided. They’ve spent plenty of time together since their incident in Scotland and Caroline has never expressed any animosity. Suddenly, in front of all the ladies, she brings it up again. Adela calls her on it. Caroline claims she hasn’t been able to resolve it because Adela cries every time she brings it up. Ugh. Caroline Fleming dances over, proudly displaying a kilo of caviar but Stanbury and Adela don’t even notice. They’re too busy yelling at each other.
Finally, Adela has had enough. She storms away from the table, muttering under her breath. Caroline Stanbury stays in her seat, appealing to her audience to back her up. Sophie chases after Adela to pull her back into line. Yep, Sophie is back on the Stanbury Kool-aid, big time. They yell at each other. Seriously, ladies? You’re at a party I’d give my right foot to attend and all you can do is argue about Caroline Stanbury? Ridiculous. Sophie reports back to the table that Adela refuses to see reason while Caroline Fleming stares open mouthed. “You can’t even have one glorious dinner?” Caroline Fleming marvels. She decorated. She cooked. She made it nice. She should send them all home.
Caroline Stanbury, camera in tow, sits down with Adela to assert her dominance talk it out. When Caroline claims she’s supported Adela all summer, Adela disagrees. She informs Caroline that Sophie told her about the texts she sent saying Adela traded custody of her kids for financial gain. When Caroline pretty much says SorryNotSorry, I just can’t agree with a mother doing that, Adela responds that she doesn’t agree with Caroline leaving her kids all the time. Oh, my. This is getting ugly. Somehow Caroline manages to turn the conversation back to Adela betraying her and Adela apologizes. Arg! How does she do it? She must have some black magic powers. They stumble back to the group, battered but “friends” again.
Caroline Fleming refuses to let the fight ruin her Midsummer’s. She circles the table, shoving dessert balls into her guests’ mouths. I wish I was as unscathed as she is.
Next week: It’s the season finale! Marissa’s husband gives her an ultimatum on moving to L.A. Sophie talks to her ex (and his mullet) about telling their boys about the divorce. Julie has a hard time letting her daughter go. Adela and Sophie turn on each other. And Caroline Stanbury has a “Goodbye, fuck you” party.
I’m loving Caroline Fleming. She seems to genuinely love life and works so hard to make everything nice. I love her grace and poise in any situation, no matter how distasteful it may be.
I’m ready for Caroline Stanbury to go and not come back – if we’re lucky. So tired of her bringing everything down week after week. This is such a fabulous show, maybe they’ll bring Caprice back now that Caroline Stanbury’s moving out of country. Maybe Juliet will follow? Isn’t that what she said a couple weeks ago? That Caroline wanted her and her family to move to Dubai too?
So much fun to see Adela and Sophie together. They feed off each other and have so much fun.
Another awesome episode and recap, thank you Lady C! I will miss this show and I’m happy this season is a few episodes longer than the last, but my wish is that it would be the length of the Housewives especially since I think this is show is so much better!
I’m probably in the minority but I am still team Caroline S and agree with her points to Adela about her betrayal. Adela should hardly be blindsided by Caroline S brining up that she was still upset with her when it was Adela who blind sighted Caroline S by coming on the show as her “friend” only to go for her right out the gate. As Caroline S, asked Adela early on, why was she so invested in siding with Jules who Adela hardly knew over a friend of 20+ years?! Camera time my friends, that’s why. The fact that Adela had no idea why Caroline S didn’t like Julie proves, at least to me, that Caroline S never said anything about Jules to Adela. Is Caroline S cold? Yes. Self-absorbed? Yes. Loyal to her friends? Apparently Yes because we saw Sophie and Adela throw Caroline S under the bus time and again but never the other way around. I don’t count what Caroline S has said to Sophie about the others because they are family and let’s be real, do we not say things to our spouses, siblings, cousins, and other family about other people that we wouldn’t necessarily say to that person? Not sure why that fact of life is lost on Jules and rest of ladies.
My one beef with Caroline S this episode is how she pulled a Bethenny on Caroline F’s party. I love Caroline F and honestly, I could watch a show with just her, Caroline S and Caroline F’s other friends and be perfectly fine with that. I like how Caroline F stays above the fray and yet is very entertaining and how she put Caroline S in her place without being nasty and two-faced about it even though Caroline S would have deserved the nastiness from her in that moment Caroline F is always a lady. To me she seems to be only one on this show who is comfortable in her own skin and speaking openly about her life. I also like that she doesn’t appear to be trying so hard as some of the others. I like that she is very wealthy and delivers the fabulous lifestyle shows like this need. I was sad to see Caroline F’s father passed and I hope she does well caring for the Estate and wonder if she’ll move back to Denmark?
As for the other ladies, if Juliet is to stay on the show, then she needs to do more filming with her family because that’s the only time she’s bearable. Same goes for Jules, I like her best when she’s with her family and I love her bond with her daughter. Jules didn’t bug me this episode.
What makes Fleming likeable is everything you said, except I think she is reserved in certain areas because she has to do it, i.e. talking about father’s health, dominating conversation with therapist, and talking about her boyfriend. I think a good hostess should challenge guests comforts zones and Fleming is a master of it (from food to balloons). I would love to see that balloon game with pregnant mom’s.
Stansbury doesn’t seem like the kind of person that will last very long in a foreign country because she turns her nose up so much. I think she will be back in a year.
I can see Marissa becoming friends with LVP and of course Lisa knows her husband.
And when will Miss know it all Bethenny fire her psychiatrist.
At first I was irritated with how upset Stanbury was with Sophie. We all heard Stanbury say the same stuff about Julie the previous season. But after ruminating about it I totally agree LaNY…you have friends or people you share confidences with and have an expectation that they will keep them private. I found out the hard way with a close friend that I couldn’t trust her not to gossip about me. I was finally pregnant after years of trying and after all my issues I wasn’t telling anyone too soon. my dearest friend was the exception. Later her sister in law marches up to me and congratulates me for my pregnancy. Most of my family didn’t even know yet. You forgive but you never forget and apologies only go so far. Especially when that person does the same thing (on a smaller scale) again. Sophie is in deep shit when Stanbury goes after her again.
I don’t get Stanbury’s anger with Adela. Adela made a snarky comment (which was funny as hell) when Stanbury was being exceptionally rude. Adela then tried to get Julie and her to make up. Unless I missed something, I just don’t see how Stanbury is justified in her anger or hurt towards Adela.
Love the barefoot baroness. I’m glad she didn’t let the bitching and arguments spoil her awesome party.
Toni, I see your point in being unable to understand why Caroline S is so mad at Adela. I think sometimes things happen off camera that for whatever reason (legal or otherwise) the women can’t or won’t discuss openly on the show so they claim a spat on the show for the reason. Not sure if you watch Housewives of Beverly Hills but in season 1 Kyle was irate with her sister Kim and Kyle was saying she made Kim didn’t have her back against Camille when Camille said Kyle questioned why production would film Camille without Kelsey and at the time that appeared so petty and stupid. Years later Kyle revealed the real reason she was mad is because she could tell Kim had started drinking again after Kyle brought her on the show but at the time Kyle could not disclose that. That’s one example but I think that happens more often than we know.
I still absolutely love this show, which is unusual since I generally lose interest in season 3 of any show. I miss Anabelle and too bad she not around to tell Caroline S that she was acting like a cow.
LaNY – absolutely has to be something more to the story with Adela and Caroline S. It was kinda garbled but was it insinuated that Adela gave up custody for a cash settlement? And now the kids don’t want to see her? Sad
Frosty – I love this show too! This is what housewives should be to me. I miss Annabelle as well but she was done. I don’t know what happened between her and Stanbury but they went from friends who gift each other big screen tvs to I’m sorry I ever met you in one tv season. I’d love the tea on that fall out.
Annabelle calling out Julie was the first tip-off that Lady Montagu isn’t all sweetness and light as she likes to portray herself. She used Annabelle and then failed to be there for her as a friend. Now Caroline S. says the same of Julie, that she used her and then ditched her. Wonder who the next victim is?
I’d love to hear the dirt on their falling out too Toni! I go back and forth about Julie – love her with her family, and that she’s not quite tv-ready, she’s all over the place. Could do without the quacking about Mapperton and have to admit Caroline S. party was a LOT more fun, damn her lol
Caroline’S party was a lot more fun because all the other people were good sports and joined in the activities without complaining. Being a good sport is an excellent quality in a guest and one of the reasons I did Caroline Fleming endearing. Caroline is not. Very unattractive.
Caroline Fleming is just such a breath of fresh air. So pleasant to listen to, her mannerisms and voice are so charming. You never see her carrying on, screeching like a banshee, making a spectacle, but she’s also far from boring. Definitely my fave on the show 🙂 I feel terrible her poor father is so sick, especially since she lost her mom so young.
I follow her on instagram and sadly caroline fleming’s dad passed away on Sunday. So sad. Hopefully they were able to resolve their differences before his passing.
So sad to hear that. I hope she is handling it well.
That’s so sad. I thought i saw a little “in memory of” clip after this episode for him, but it flashed off my dvr so quickly I wasn’t sure.
RIP 🙁
I don’t watch this often but I have never cared for Caroline Stanbury. Goodbye , fuck you is a fitting sendoff statement to her. I hope she is either missing or rarely seen if there is another season of this show.
I found the Adela custody situation kind of hard to follow as well. I believe what happened is that Adela went back to one of her husbands that her kids hated who was not their father after her rehab or whatever. It seemed to me like she had nothing and nowhere to go and he took her in and helped her get back on her feet. In doing so, she alienated her kids in a way because they didn’t want anything to do with him. Perhaps she didn’t try to communicate with her kids at all during that time.
I could be wrong. But I think it was a lot more convoluted that just “she took money over her kids.” Clearly she loves her kids.
While Caroline Stanbury off to Dubai and Marissa moving to LA whether she likes it or not, do you think we will have another season? Would they just bring in a new American expat, and a new Brit? I HOPE SO. I want more seasons of this show.
Thanks for translating Adela’s custody story, TT. I didn’t understand it at all.
That is so sad that Caroline Fleming lost her father, was really hoping his surgery would be successful. The apparent estrangement is going to be so tough on her as well. Hopefully his wife won’t make her life any more miserable after his death.
I agree TT, the Adela custody thing is awful and most likely a lot more to that story. I just can’t even imagine losing custody of my children and then having to deal with someone (a “friend”) who mischaracterizes that loss on international television solely in an effort to hurt me. Caroline Stanbury is just brutal.
Hopefully they’ll replace the cast members who have moved away and keep this show going. It would be a BIG loss.
I can’t wait to see the ass-end of that miserable Stanbury bitch. Is there anything she likes besides being the center of attention?
Another event where the hostess has her party hijacked for someone else’s drama. God bless Caroline F. She’s adorable. (her donkey laugh cracks me up)
I loved this episode and I am distraught that it ends next week.
As ever, I love Juliets kids…and their Babcia coming to visit was adorable. They seem to truly adore her.
Gorgeous flowers, Caviar, champagne and homemade gravlax…sign me up! Seeing Caroline Fleming honor her mom was very moving. When I saw the photos of her mom, they could be twins. I wondered if maybe her looking and being a free spirit so much like her late mom contributed a bit to the estrangement from her dad over the years. And yes…she did make it nice!
I was sorry that Caroline’s dad had passed away…May his memory always be a blessing.
Great recap, thank you. Since I do recaps first, ready and looking forward to watching. I kinda have been wondering if they will make a new season like a reunion for the summer, or couple weeks London, couple Dubai, and have thought about Marissa joining RHOC. Hmmm, who knows, I don’t even know if it’s a show high on the Bravo list? I would really miss.
I wish I could be as blissfully high on Midsummer as CF. I want some of what she’s drinking. CS was just horrible at that party. Again, like at Mapperton, she complained from the second she got there–hate flowers, don’t dance, food terrible. She only likes thing On Her Terms. What did she say–for awhile her only friend was her makeup artist! Sob!
And why oh why is she so mad at Adela? She just spent the afternoon in bed with Adela and Sophie, but what? Could not bring it up to Adela then? That was just mean. She is mad at Adela for not being Loyal? What is this? Victorian England? Adela is lucky it’s not because she’d have been drawn and quartered by the Queen of Mean. CS is good tv I guess, but I wouldn’t be sorry to see her go.
She complained from the second she got there? She started bitching about it when she got the invitation. She should have done everyone a favour and gone to Dubai.
I want to be on a tiny island, wearing flowers and dancing around a maypole in the sunshine right now.
Why do some people never appreciate the beauty and privilege in their lives? What a waste.
Caroline S will be miserable in Dubai and she knows it. I think that’s why she’s been so focused on making her friends pledge their friendship. Poor little rich girl.
Sorry if Marrissa goes back to USA, and don’t think Caroline will want to stay abroad for that long. She said she hated flowers but in one episode she asks her butler to put fresh flowers on the table!
Ha! I am watching this just now, and I have spotted a crossover! Nicole from Real Housewives of Sydney is introduced in this episode as Caroline F. friend 😀