This week is going to be a little bit different than the usual Kardashian episode recap. To be honest, I’m still reeling from the most meta episode of Kardashians of all time. This week, the drama of the episode was drama surrounding the show. I know that sounds confusing but basically the episode surrounded how Kim and Khloe are dealing with the fact that Kourtney and Kris don’t seem as invested in the show as they used to be. Instead of giving episode awards, I’m going to go through a list of questions I have and specific things that stood out to me.
- Since when is Kris anti the show? The whole joke is that the devil works hard but Kris Jenner works harder. So why is putting time into the show aka “the mothership”, the thing that connects them so deeply to their fans to help foster the success of their other endeavors, not important to them?
- Does Kris think that it’s unnecessary to keep the show going because the fans can still be so connected to the family through social media?
- Okay I think this one kind of makes sense but at the same time, would they change how they use social? The best part of the show is that once a scandal or something happens (anything from Tristan/Khloe to Kimono) that we know we’ll get their full side of the story on the show. If there’s no show, does that mean they’ll maybe do long-form instagram stories to explain themselves? Or will they not explain themselves at all? And if they do go the social media way, I feel like that could open them up to so much more criticism because it’s way easier to make a mistake on an instagram story than it is on a heavily produced TV show with multiple eyes looking at it before it’s published. And we know how much the Kardashians love that control, so how will that change?
- It was kind of wild to hear Kourtney talk about how detrimental the show was for her and Scotts relationship. A majority of the episode was Khloe and Kim ganging up on Kourtney for not sharing enough of her life. Even the producers chimed in to tell Kourtney she needs to share more, specifically about her dating life. Kourtney got extremely defensive and upset at the people who are actually her family (Khloe & Kim) and the people who have become her family (the producers) for not protecting her. If she feels uncomfortable with the show, then as people who love her and care about her, they should be supporting her.
- Khloe & Kim’s argument essentially has them frustrated that they have to pick up all the slack in filming. For example, Kourtney has Khadija over for a cooking lesson and calls Kim and Khloe. Kourt invites them over and they say they can’t because they’re actually working. Penelope is with Kourtney when they say that. I understand both sides here. First, why isn’t Kourtney just filming that? It’s just a cooking lesson with friends (who have all been on the show before) which is totally something we (the audience) would’ve watched. So why not just film it and have it be a cute evening with friends where inevitably some shit talking about something would be happening? Instead, Kourtney wants more “private” special moments with her friends and family. Khloe and Kim are essentially saying that since they have a contract and this is still their job, she has to give in and show more than maybe she wants to. On Kourtney’s side, I get that she just wants to hang out with her friends without the added pressure. And maybe she doesn’t want all her shit talking to be on air anymore… especially if it’s about Khloe / Tristan or Scott / Sofia, etc. She responds to Khloe, texting that she’s now crying when she has guests over and didn’t appreciate being undermined in front of her daughter, which is totally understandable.
- It’s interesting to hear that Khloe & Kim are the two who are still the most interested in the show because they probably need the income the least. Understanding that all of the Kardashians are individually wealthier than I will ever be, it still seems odd to me that Kourtney, who has the least successful outside business endeavors, is the most keen to let go of the show, which might be one of her biggest sources of income. Unfortunately for Kourt, Poosh hasn’t taken off in the way she wanted it to and I can’t imagine how it might further decline if the show goes away. I think the majority of interest in Kourtney is driven by the show. Kim obviously has a lot going on with both Skims and KKW fragrance and makeup. Khloe has Good American. Kris is still the manager for all of her children, including Kylie who just sold Kylie Cosmetics at a $1.2 billion valuation, generating $600 million of income for her. Kourtney is still likely set for life and so are her kids due to Scott’s fortune that he’s amassed as well, with his new TV show Flip it Like Disick and his clothing line TALENTLESS keeping him afloat in other areas even if he didn’t have the show. So maybe Kourtney feels like she doesn’t actually need the show because she can probably still make money from appearances and modeling and collaborations with her siblings, etc. But still feels odd that Kim, the most successful sibling besides Kylie, is more invested in the show than Kourtney. I think that goes back to Kim never forgetting her roots. In an earlier episode this season, we saw her go out of her way, in the middle of getting ready for the Met Gala and the birth of baby Psalm, go film a music video for Paris Hilton. She explains that she fully is aware that she wouldn’t be where she is today without Paris and she’ll forever be grateful for that. I’m sure Kim feels the same way about the show. Kim understands that the majority of their success and what has propped them up for so long is the show and she’ll forever be grateful for what it’s given her and have a special place in her heart. Same with Khloe. I thought same with Kris, but apparently people can change! And clearly not with Kourtney.
- Some things change but some things stay the same. And in this case, the sisters still haven’t learned after all these years of fighting on camera how to communicate with each other. We see Kourtney be able to explain her thoughts rationally to Kris and to the camera in the confessionals when she’s alone. But when she’s with Kim and Khloe, she can’t seem to articulate her thoughts, instead just calling them annoying or rude. All three of them get defensive so quickly, that they’re never able to talk to each other normally and it always ends in disaster. Kourtney’s main issue is that the sisters aren’t treating her like a sister; they’re treating her like a lazy business partner. Which is difficult because she’s both! But Kourtney wants them to focus on the sister part and to have them look out for her, but they can’t do that in this moment because she is being their lazy business partner! They’re having to pick up all her slack because she doesn’t care to do it all anymore. It’s a vicious cycle that is perpetuating the Kourtney is the Villain storyline even further, which probably makes Kourtney more upset.
- I loved hearing them go through the producer show notes on each of them. It was all very predictable. Khloe is the favorite BY FAR (it literally says that). Everyone loves Kim but wants to see more Kanye (which she defends that Kanye didn’t sign up for the show but has been in a lot of episodes and even a confessional from time to time). People love Scott and love his “villain” like humor, with his constantly pulling pranks on everyone. And no one feels like they know the real Kourtney. It’s just so interesting to see the tables completely turn. Kourtney really is the villain now.
- This was obviously them preparing us for the end of the show. When do we think that’ll happen for real? I kind of always thought the show would go on until the kids were old enough to take over the mantle. Seriously, I wouldn’t want to skip the kids baby years for anything; give me 100 hours of baby Saint, Chicago, Reign, Stormi and True hanging out. BUT I would consume a KUWTK style show of those kids like nothing before. I wish they were old enough to hold the show on their own and do we think if the real KUWTK ends that they’ll be able to sustain their intense popularity long enough so that when the kids grow up, they’ll be able to host their own KUWTK? Or will we never get that? If my KUWTK kids dreams are crushed right now I won’t be able to recover. But right now, I can’t imagine a world without this show. I know that sounds insane, but they’ve been in my life since I was 12 years old. That’s HALF MY LIFE with the Kardashians. I will be very sad to see them go and honestly I’m not ready. We know Kourtney has already publicly said she’s taking a step back next season, but does that mean next season will be their last? I can’t even picture it!!
The moral of the story is I’m scared and I’m sad. I honestly never thought this day would come. I do still love that we got all this insight – it would’ve been worse if they blindsided us and just ended the show or didn’t give us the background on why Kourtney all of the sudden wasn’t in the show as much anymore. LONG LIVE KUWTK.
