As shocking as it seems, tonight is the Million Dollar Listing New York season finale. So soon? Mais oui! So let’s pack our bags. We have a LENNY freaking KRAVITZ launch in Paris and our flight is boarding. And if we’re lucky, maybe a very special friend will meet us at the airport…
We start things off in New York. Ryan’s driver is on vacation so he, gulp, has to drive himself. It’s rough. He might need to schedule another session with his counselor after this. And to make things dicier, he’s on the phone the whole time. He’s fielding offers and NYC traffic, all with a phone clutched in his hand. How does he not have bluetooth? It’s stressing me out. Fredrik calls to remind him he promised to attend his birthday party. Ryan didn’t realize it was in Paris when he agreed but Fredrik isn’t letting him off the hook. Sigh. Now he HAS to take a vacation to Paris. Life can be cruel.
Fredrik is already in Paris for his big LENNY freaking KRAVITZ launch. He originally planned to pack the party so he invited anyone with a pulse. By the time he got his thousandth RSVP, he realized these folks were only coming to see LENNY freaking KRAVITZ. What he needed were actual buyers so he canceled the whole thing and invited a small group of top tier brokers to a new event. While that sounds foolish, it’s actually quite brilliant. Nothing creates hunger like dangling bait and taking it away. The developer doesn’t quite get it, though. He interrupts Fredrik, mid-launch, to complain about the small crowd. Fredrik reassures him that the intimate showing will reap greater rewards than feting every Pierre, Paul and Jacques in Paris. But only if he can talk to the brokers instead of holding his developer’s hand. He literally pushes the developer away so he can get back to what he does best: sell.
Steve arrives at the LENNY freaking KRAVITZ launch with his top three buttons undone. Très European. When Fredrik comments on his luscious chest hair, he claims customs confiscated his tie. Yeah, right. Steve knows exactly what’s he’s doing. And he’s going to do whatever it takes to get into the LENNY freaking KRAVITZ building. He heads right for the developer and talks himself into a meeting. Uh oh. Fredrik isn’t going to like that. At all.
Before he can join the boys in Paris, Ryan meets with his eccentric client John. He really enjoyed working on the smaller listing but it’s time to finalize this sale and move on. After many showings, and hitting up bingo games to find the right senior clientele, he’s finally received a full price offer. But that’s not good enough for John. You see, John thought people would love his unique design quirks so much they’d start a bidding war. Now asking price just won’t do. He wants an additional $150,000. With no other choice, Ryan counters. The buyer’s broker is pissed. You don’t just raise the price mid-negotiation without other offers. It’s bad form. Ryan marvels at how brave John is to risk the sale to get what he really wants. It reminds him of a time when he was a risk taker too. So he clenches his balls and browbeats the buyer’s broker into a $130,000 increase. He finally feels the rush he’s been missing. This is living!
Fredrik gets a bunch of offers on the LENNY freaking KRAVITZ building but none of them are full ask. He’s dumbfounded. How can people think he’d be willing to negotiate so early in the process? He loses a few buyers but most end up paying full price. I mean, how many people can say LENNY freaking KRAVITZ designed their apartment? Steve has a buyer ready to go as long as Fredrik covers the 1.825% transfer taxes. While they negotiate the $70,000, Steve lets slip that he’s meeting with Fredrik’s developer the next day. Fredrik blows his top. I invite you to MY launch and you steal MY developer? Steve considers this normal business. And Fredrik does it all the time! But it goes much deeper for Fredrik. He’s threatened. He’s hurt. He can’t separate who he is from what he does so this is personal. He starts to cry. As he dashes away from the table, Steve hears back from his client. They’re willing to split the taxes. They have a deal.
Ryan has lunch with Emilia. Ever since working with John, he’s been thinking about what actually makes him happy. Building a team is what really gets him going so he wants to buy a brokerage firm. In Brooklyn. Emilia is cautious. She knows it means a lot more work for him and less Ryan time for her. For years. But she fully supports him. As long as they make an effort to spend quality time together. With a big grin on his face, he suggests they start with a trip to Paris. What perfect timing!
Derek gets to Paris. On a picturesque bridge over the Seine, he pulls out his phone and shows Fredrik sonogram photos of their twins. They’re going to be dads! After all the heartache of losing their baby last year, it’s really happening. Fredrik jumps. He shouts. He cries. I cry. It’s perfect.
Ryan finally gets to Paris but he spends most of the time on his phone, trying to buy his brokerage firm. Maybe visiting Luis will make him feel better. His apartment is adorable. Modern and antique at the same time. They’re joined by Fredrik and the boys sit down to share a beer. Luis gets emotional. He feels too much pressure to find his happiness. Ryan points out that even though he’s not happy in France, he’s proud that he did it. It took real cojones. Getting that support seems to lift some of the weight off of Luis’ shoulders. He now knows he needs a goal in his life. The boys beg him to come home and he actually agrees. His time in Paris has recharged his batteries and he’s ready to take on New York. With vigor.
Fredrik makes his sales quota, worth over $1 million in commissions, and he’s ready to celebrate his fortieth birthday. He has a beautiful table with a view of the Eiffel tower. He’s joined by Ryan and Emilia, his brother and sister in law, his pastor and her husband, and Luis with a magnum of champagne. After their big fight, Steve flew home early. He didn’t want to go to the birthday party of someone who called him a thief. But, surprise! He shows up to the full cast finale. They step aside and apologize to each other. Fredrik gives his blessing to take the meeting with his developer. Steve tells him his friendship is more important so he canceled the meeting. Fredrik is clearly touched. Then they party. Good food. Good drinks. Ryan jokes that they’re going to have a key party and the pastor isn’t amused. Fredrik feels so much love. Eventually they retire to the roof and dance. The Eiffel Tower glows in the background. And because this is Bravo, they have a cake fight.
Fin.
Very great season and I think Steve was a great sexy addition to the cast but he’s kinda blah and I don’t know if they’ve already started filming for next season but they should think about adding a woman to the cast.
I am so beyond thrilled for Derek and Fredrik! I love to see people want something so badly and finally get it….here’s hoping they have two beautiful, healthy, babies 🙂
M’lady, great recap. Loved this episode. Love Luis is coming back to the U S of A. Steve’s a pretty face but lacks a personality. So happy for Fredrick and Derek.
For a second I enjoyed old Ryan coming back, but I quickly remembered how much he used to annoy me when he was like that all the time. He’s smart though. Having others do the long and crazy hours while you just pick up the commissions is the way to go.
I loved this season tbh. Steve was a great addition, while still leaving room for Luis if he decides to come back on the show. Fredrik and Derek are going to be great parents too.
Thanks for the recap. It was a great season. I disagree with some about Steve. I think that one of the most truly touching Bravo moments was witnessing his interactions with his family and in particular his sister.
I agree with you. Steve is much more than a pretty face. He comes from a loving family and it was great to see him interact with his parents and sister. I think he’s very interesting, grounded and mature. Great addition to the cast!
All I kept thinking during the food fight was who has to clean that up. Ugh.
LOL, me too!
I love love love this season. Love all the players and how close they have become. Luis is my pet and I hope BRAVO will included him in some way next season. This has become my favorite reality show that BRAVO has yet to produce. Thanks guys I hate this season has ended.
I thought it was dull, and that whole Ryan is bored of the doing same thing storyline was so obviously contrived. Are we really supposed to believe a trained therapist told him to watch a sunset? How cliché’s is that. But yet it was Emelia who had the answer?? I mean ,come on!
Is this the first public announcement of babies? Do we know anything else? Such good news for them.
I was shocked when Steve said he was 32, but then again Freddie just turned 40. Very young for his success (Steve). I wonder what Fredrik was up to at that age. I guess Ryan is a young success too. Sweet.
I love this show. It is nice that true emotions are show, and while they are competitors, there appears to be a genuine camaraderie among the guys.
The pregnancy is going well. They are at 6 months 🙂 So happy for them.
Yes, they waited to announce it on the show but you notice didn’t mention it at the party. As soon as the episode had aired Fredrik was on social media excitedly telling everyone.
didn’t they show the x-ray things “baby A and baby B”? I am too happy for them – I gotta check his instagram – to see – cool
oh – now we know – six months pregnant! awesome!
They showed them in a private moment between Fredrik and D, not at the party.
I absolutely LOVED this season! I hope Luis comes back in some capacity. I am not kidding when I say it was so awesome to see these guys all having fun together. I love the four of them and I mean LOVE.
Thank you for the recap Lady C.
I am so sad that it is over!!!! (At least AHS is coming back to get us through the winter)
I really cannot stand Fredrik, He is such a drama queen and I am so over all the “cutesy” faces he makes with the pursed lips. And I really hate when he does that fake laughing falling out of the chair thing he does in his individual interviews. What a “put on” as my mother would say.
You left out the kick and the “weee”.
Why do you watch the show and seek out places to complain about it, JB? I don’t watch or open posts about shows I don’t like.
Thank you TT! You took the words out of my mouth.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXoT27FFf5j/?taken-by=luisdortiz
Luis is a very emotional guy. He’s currently obsessed with Israel. I really don’t think he will go back to seliing real estate in NYC.
luisdortizI am not looking for a specific place to make me happy. Happiness is inside all of us. What I am looking for is to continue to learn more about myself through places I know nothing about, through people I have never met with different perspectives about life and the world they live in and through the stories I create with all of them by allowing myself to be taken into their world. I always say that everything is not about what it is, but about how we react to it. The more perspective, the better our approach. The better our approach, the happier we are and the happier we can make those around us.
Beautiful just like he is.
The world is better beacause of the lights in the hearts of people like Luis.
such a cool dude! excellent way to experience life – he is the essence of “joie de vivre”
Just when you think Fredrik’s Instagram can’t possibly get any better, they are having TWINS! I’m guessing the will arrive around Thanksgiving.
SO excited for the dads. Those kids will have one hell of a life.
My fav is Luis! I think his gregarious manner – scares women off!
What an awesome season finale – this crew- work hard and love hard! Fredrik having twins and Steve giving up lunch so cool!
I really thought the way it would playout in Paris – I thought after Luis shared “it sux here” I thought Ryan would employ Luis in Paris! so cool Luis is returning.
Each agent went through life changes and each are so supportive of that person reaching their goals.
This is why I am addicted to mdl!!
Hmm, I don’t think Luis’ gregarious manner is scaring women off. I tend to think it is his closeted homosexuality that scares women away. I may be completely wrong but my gaydar meter goes off the charts when he’s on the screen.
A young, handsome, successful man like Luis should have no problem finding a compatible woman if he was actually trying. He was “too busy” to date and find love when he worked in NY real estate. What’s his excuse now? Hopefully his globe trotting adventures will free him from his feelings of guilt and shame so he can admit to himself what he really wants.
Again, I may be completely wrong but this is the only way I can make sense of Luis’ odd behavior and unhappiness
Jim, it looks like you are from the UK, so perhaps you are right. As an American with a great gaydar, I can’t trust mine when the guy is not American. Perhaps you’ve heard the joke, “Gay??? or just European?” I think the fact that Luis is Puerto Rican (not European but same concept) that it sets off the gaydar automatically.
He could be gay. But I am not so sure. If he is, he certainly knows it and is very uncomfortable with it which may be his whole problem. He did have a girlfriend back home in Puerto Rico that we met one season who broke his heart. Then again, she could have decided he was closeted as well.
I love Luis and just want him to be happy with whomever he chooses to be happy with. I am sure he is well aware of all the talk. Maybe he is waiting for his parents to pass. I’ve seen that happen before as well.
Nah, just a plain ol’ garden-variety (gay) American currently living in Las Vegas. For some reason the comment form auto-filled my last name. I usually post here as just “Jim”. I do have business partners in the U.K. though.
I admit that I find Luis very confusing and I may be projecting my own difficulty with admitting my own homosexuality to myself about 20 years ago. When I was his age, I dated only women albeit infrequently. It took a failed hetero marriage for me to be honest with myself and realize I was living a lie.
Long story short, I’m totally happy with being an open gay man. No loved ones rejected me and I’ve been in a committed relationship for 17 years.
But I see a lot of my former self in Luis’ unhappiness. I suspect that his catholic upbringing (I assume) may add even more pressure that I never experienced. I have met many Hispanic/Latin men over the years who can’t admit that they’re gay even though they are hanging out in gay bars and going home with men on a regular basis. There’s something about their culture that encourages them to remain deeply closeted.
Thank you! I totally agree with your take on him. I’ve wondered since the start of him being on the show and said so before. And I find it sad that he cant find happiness if that is the issue because he can’t accept himself. Earlier this year one of the guys mentioned Luis was in Greece again and knowing that Greece is a popular locale for some it just made me wonder even more.
I think not only can he not accept himself but he’s probably worried about disappointing his family. Again it’s sad.
hmm.. Jim – I don’t have gaydar. I would think that his friends that he works with would have oops’d at least once in all the years he was on the show.
I don’t see it, of course I’m not looking for it either. he is such a free spirit and well – gregarious
I think they saw it but it’s not their place to put his business out there.
too true!
Oh well we won’t know and i never cared – I hope Luis does return to MDLNY
Me too! I really loved the season finale.
Ryan did say on WWHL that he doesn’t think Luis will come back to real estate. But we can always hope!
These guys sure knew how to go out with a bang!!! It was so positive and fun.
oh man, I didnt know that Luis might not come back to real estate – oh well baby steps -back in NY!!
I also like when all the dudes were dancing!
This was my favorite bravo episode ever! The friendships, the scenery and the dreams fulfilled! Lovely to see.
Overall, this was an entertaining season despite the lack of manufactured drama. And this season of RHONY has been great too for the same reason. Generally, it’s been a feel-good season for both shows. Maybe Bravo is getting the message that we watch the shows to make us feel good. And they are pushing fun storylines instead of manufacturing drama.
Unfortunately this season of RHOOC is looking like the typical Bravo shit show. Hopefully Flipping Out has a fun season.
Hands down this has to be my favorite season of the show. I loved seeing the flashbacks and the growth of the friendships. I love the production took a step back and let the guys have fun without too many scripted scenes.
So happy for Fredrik and Big D. Loved the familiarity between Emilia and Fredrik at dinner because they are one big family.
Is it just me, or does production seem to stay out of the story lines on this show and let it flow naturally? Am I deluded?
They stayed out of it more this year than any other. Some previous seasons were awful as far as production being too involved, almost as bad as some of the HWs shows.
I’ll be happy if Luis returns but they had better not get rid f fine was Steve Gold.
Also happy for Fredrik and his husband!
…rid of fine ass Steve Gold.
Oh, I just want to hold that Steve Gold down…
and wash his hair and give him a proper shave!
Not a fan, lol.