Danny‘s Santa Barbara antics (or lack thereof…the guy was asleep!) are still under scrutiny on this episode of The Valley. To validate Jasmine, Danny apologizes again, but it’s not just Danny saying sorry. When Jason comes in too hot with Danny, he realizes that this might not be the battle he wants to fight. Speaking of fighting, Brittany is tired of warring with Jax. When she learns that Jax has not paid the mortgage for three months and is instead moving next to Tom Schwartz, Brittany makes it clear as day that she is done with their marriage.
Jasmine is still triggered and bothered by the comments Danny made on Halloween, even though he has already apologized for his words and actions. Danny called it a “freak situation,” but Jasmine still sees it as disrespectful.
In other news, she picks Zack up from the airport (a true sign of friendship), and Zack shares how things are going great with his now official boyfriend, Benji. Despite Benji still being technically married, Zack is feeling good about this relationship, especially since he is cuter than Benji’s ex.
Nia and Michelle get together for a playdate with their kids, which is really just a way for Nia to find out WTF happened after she left Brittany’s dinner. Michelle explains that Jasmine got emotional and cried a lot about Danny. Nia states that she cannot speak for Danny, but she does know he has already apologized. When it comes to Jesse, Michelle talks about his narcissistic ways and how she looks forward to a great future with her boyfriend, Aaron.
Luke, Jason, and Danny meet up for some burgers. It seems like Jason has an agenda (thanks to Janet?), and he proceeds to pick apart Danny’s “nap” in Santa Barbara. Jason brings up the pantry situation, and he explains that Janet felt uncomfortable when Danny appeared to be hiding his tequila drinking. Danny explains that people were taking swigs of tequila, and so when he went to get a White Claw, he also helped himself to the tequila: “Nothing more than anyone else was doing.”
Danny refuses to admit he *chugged* from the tequila bottle, and he wonders WTF is happening with Jason making this a big deal. Jason insinuates that perhaps there is something bigger going on with Danny and his drinking, who, btw, is NOT drinking a beer during this conversation… but Jason is. Jason goes on to talk about Jasmine and how she is still triggered by the events that occurred despite Danny’s apology. Danny raises his voice, telling Jason to “shut his mouth,” and now he is left wondering why Jason is targeting him and alleging he has a drinking problem.
Jax gets a video diary segment where he appears to be crying (?) tears of joy about seeing his son, Cruz, since he has been in rehab. He calls his experience eye-opening and claims that by being vulnerable, he has been able to do some really hard work.
Later, Brittany is planning an upcoming grown-up-only party while her mother babysits the Valley kids over at her real house. Kristen and Luke arrive and hear about Brittany’s meeting with Jax that he mentioned in his video. Turns out things went poorly, and Brittany now knows that Jax is spying on her using her own surveillance cameras in their house. Also, how does Jax have access to his phone, and what exactly is he doing at this rehab that he has time to do sh*t like this?!
In an interesting turn of events, we learn that Jax is moving into a condo next to Tom Schwartz, and as a 45-year-old father, this doesn’t seem like the move. I mean, he still has a mortgage on the house he owns with Brittany!
Danny meets Melissa and Jasmine at a brewery because he wants to validate their feelings about the Halloween incident. Danny chooses to drink ice water while the ladies sip on their alcoholic beverages. Danny hears Jasmine as she explains that she constantly needs to defend her relationship with Melissa. Jasmine wants Danny to understand how that moment made her feel, and Danny explains that he did not mean to objectify them as a couple. Can they be friends now??
Jesse joins Luke and Kristen for some eats. Luke fills Jesse in on what went down between Danny and Jason, and Kristen states that, “Jason sucks.” She then drops a bombshell in only a way that an angry Kristen Doute can. She brings up a rumor about Jason and his wedding ring. According to Kristen, every time Jason goes out, he takes his wedding ring off, yet there are no rumors out there of him cheating. Jesse doesn’t think this amounts to anything, but Kristen is mad, and when she is mad, she stirs the pot, causing more fuel to the fire.
Zack arrives at Brittany’s shark-themed party donning Brittany-patterned swim trunks. The crew rolls up, and Jason admits that he is nervous to see Danny since he was admittedly a bit too hard on him. Lala and Scheana get in on the drama about Jesse and Michelle, and Lala wastes no time letting Jesse know how she really feels about him. She reminds Jesse that he called Michelle terrible names, and Jesse admits that he was stupid in a “moment of weakness.” Before storming off, Lala calls Jesse toxic, and she is thrilled that she does not have to deal with him.
Nia believes that Janet sent Jason to be her “attack dog,” and now, she is starting to question their friendship. Clearly, Jason is feeling guilty for the way he spoke to Danny, so he pulls him aside to apologize for coming in so hot. The guys hug it out, and it seems to be over.
As the party wears on, Jesse lets Jason know that Kristen is going to blindside him about a rumor she heard and is now spreading. Jason wonders why he is friends with these people, and he wonders WTF she can be mad at him about. Jason states he has nothing to hide, but he sure seems to be sweating. Luke lets Jason know about the wedding ring rumor, and Jason laughs it off. Jason is mad since he just stuck his neck out for Jasmine, and now she is bringing up a rumor from two years ago?!
Janet wonders why Kristen would bring this rumor to light, but Kristen does not care, as she is simply defending Danny and Nia. Janet feels like Kristen does this to deflect, and she refers to Kristen as Detective Doute.
Before the party ends, Brittany gathers a few friends around to discuss Jax. She announces that Jax signed a lease next to Schwartz while Brittany is stuck with the mortgage of their jointly owned home AND the rental. This seems like the last straw for Brittany, and now she is ready to officially file for divorce.
In the final scene, I love that Brittany chose Jax’s bar as the setting for where she is going to drag him. Jasmine and Brittany take a shot and point out how slow the restaurant is. Schwartz joins them for a “group therapy session,” and they discuss “Mr. Work in Progress.” According to Schwartz, this rehab has done wonders for Jax. Brittany explains that Jax has not paid the mortgage since May, and it is now mid-August. Both of their names are on the mortgage, which is not great for Brittany. It could be up to like $100,000 now (that math ain’t mathing). Brittany is furious that Jax pulled this move and ruined everything. In the words of Brittany, “We’re done. There’s no Jax and Brittany anymore.”
