VanderPump Rules Season Premiere: Breakups & A War Over Pickleball?

A long-term relationship is over and headed for divorce. There is a custody battle brewing. An engagement is over. A “Bubba” tattoo remains, though. There are many changes and drama within the Vanderpump Rules friend group. There are two new relationships and, of course – two friends at war.

Tom and Katie are over. Katie finally sat Tom down and let him know all her issues with their relationship. Tom, for his part, is heartbroken, but because he is a bad listener, he can’t tell you why he doesn’t make Katie happy. But Tom and Katie are headed for divorce after twelve years together and five years of marriage. Katie is trying to salvage her friendship with Tom, though. Katie may be diving into the dating scene, but she values Tom and wants to remain his friend.

Tom’s other half Tom Sandoval ghosted him for a few months right in the middle of their Schwartz & Sandy bar project. It seems like Sandoval got a little too caught up with his band project. Now he is back on track focusing on Schwartz & Sandy, and with Schwartz being newly single, maybe the original couple, Tom and Tom, could spend more time together soon.

Last season concluded with Raquel ending her engagement to James. James has a new girlfriend, Ally Lewber – who he met three weeks after his engagement ended. Ally, who is now “the love of James’ life,” lives with him. James is also drinking again but not while he is working. Lisa Vanderpump is not crazy about James jumping into a relationship so quickly or drinking again.

Conversely, Raquel is causally going out for nachos with Peter, Sur’s manager. James couldn’t help to make fun of this fact. Raquel and James have an awkward moment outside the restroom where a tipsy Raquel tells James she wants to make sure “he is good” and expresses her disbelief in him finding love with Ally so soon. Raquel approaches Ally at the Hotel Ziggy party, where James is hosting as DJ. Raquel repeats to Ally she just wanted to make sure James is in a good space.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Pump Pals without drama! Lala is never speaking to Tom Schwartz again. Schwartz has his love for pickleball and lack of listening skills (again!) to blame. Lala is currently in a custody battle with Randall for their daughter. Lala recounts with Katie and Ariana the moment her life imploded when the LA Times article about Randall and his misdeeds was revealed. Lala called all her Pump Pals to a rooftop to announce she was drawing lines – either her or Randall. There was no in-between.

A few days later, Tom Schwartz accepted an invitation from Randall to play pickleball, and considering Katie just broke his heart – all he wanted to do was play pickleball. Sorry, Lala, he wasn’t listening to you ask your friends to choose sides in your child custody battle. It did not go well when Lala and Tom tried to talk things out. Lala couldn’t care less that her words cut into Tom during the lowest point of his life. She wanted him to choose sides.

This season of VanderPump Rules is already bringing the drama! With clips of Scheana and Brock’s wedding, an outrageous girls’ trip, and Tom Schwartz confessing that if it weren’t for Schwartz & Sandy’s “me and Katie would still be together,” this season looks like an action-packed one! Do you think Lala and Tom Schwartz will ever see eye to eye? Can Tom & Katie make this “friendship pact” work? Please drop me a comment and let me know what you think!