Summer House season 9 is here. Read below for all my thoughts on the premiere episode.
Summer should be fun, and now that our favorite housemates are back in the Hamptons, our winter is too!
The episode wastes no time as the camera cuts to the friends on their respective journeys to the house.
Paige DeSorbo and Ciara Miller are the first duo we see making the two hour trek to South Hampton, followed by Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke. However, Jesse Solomon and West Wilson are the first to arrive at the house.
I don’t know if we are watching with jaded lenses now that we know Paige and Craig Conover are no more, but it feels like producers are already dropping breadcrumbs of the couple’s demise.
But let’s cut back to Jesse and West since the bro energy was heavy AF in the premiere episode. And honestly? I wasn’t mad about it!
Jesse and West Good Weather
Jesse and West opt to room together in an upstairs room. Initially Jesse wanted his own room, but our emotionally aware king picked up on West’s disappointment that they weren’t going to be roommates and decided to go for the double beds.
Later in the episode the two gigglers were gossiping about Lindsay (in the dark) post-club which was hilarious to watch.
Meet Lexie Wood and Ann Maddox
Just kidding, Tom’s former assistant is not spending the summer in the house but my goodness the double take. Bailee Henderson is her name and she is just as kooky as Ann is — bangs and all.
Allegedly Bailee was demoted and largely edited out this season due to her no longer showing up to film. (Could never be me)
So the focus primarily is on Jesse’s love at first sight, Lexie Wood.
Lexie is a 26 year old model from Toronto, Canada. Jesse instantly sets his eyes on her, and falls in lust immediately.
Later in the episode, Jesse, West, and Kyle have a conversation about Jesse needing to pump the breaks on going after Lexie. This advice comes especially from West who had a summer fling with Ciara. It didn’t end well to say the least…
Speaking of Ciara, Jesse flirted with the nurse/model hardcore in the premiere. I actually ship them. Jesse would absolutely (& rightfully) worship the ground she walks on if she ever gave him a chance. Doubtful she will considering he’s BFF with her “ex.” But who doesn’t love a little bit of attention from a hot Jesse Solomon??
Ciara’s Arrival
The awkward moment the audience and West was waiting for finally happens. Paige and Ciara enter the kitchen and begin greeting everyone. As West goes in to hug Ciara, she snubs him and swats his arm away.
What was interesting was Ciara’s confessional scene. Production asked if she thought she would get back with West and she evaded the question. Suddenly Ciara’s extreme hatred toward West makes sense. She still has feelings for him.
However, she is still upset over his New York Times article where he referenced their “relationship” running its course.
Lindsay and Gabby
Lindsay and Gabby are the last to arrive for the night. We learned that Carl is coming the next day. Me thinks this is intentional to ease into a weekend stay with his ex.
Gabby helps Lindsay tell the house she is expecting a baby — complete with a billboard sized sonogram prop.
The plan was to tell everyone before their hibachi dinner.
Lindsay begins her 30 minute Ted Talk to her housemates before dropping the Gemma sized bomb on the group.
Jesse is visibly uncomfortable at the announcement in solidarity with Carl.
They leave the sonogram proudly atop the fireplace for all to see. Especially Carl when he arrives the following day.
Hibachi at the Summer House
Prior to Lindsay rejoining the group after her pregnancy news, she posts her announcement on Instagram. The cast reads the news together, noting they are unsure of who “we” is. Aka Turner.
They also begin discussing Lindsay and Turner’s relationship timeline and clocked how quickly Lindsay got pregnant after her split with Carl.
Lindsay says that she and Turner have known each other for three years. He reached out to her in December to “double back.” The rest is history as we know.
(Quick side note: rumors recently swirled that Lindsay and her man broke up. But she and Turner are going strong! In fact, he was backstage at last night’s WWHL during Lindsay’s appearance.)
Also at hibachi, Jesse and Lexie have a “date” where he asks her if she would describe herself as “ditzy.” Also asking if she took the ACT lol. His justification is that he likes to “teeter” the line when he likes someone.
Awkward…
Carl Arrives
Saturday morning kicks off with the friends having a pool day as Carl arrives. Lindsay shows off her bump in a yellow bikini to the enjoyment of the girls in the house.
Carl is super anxious as he enters the house. He goes off camera to talk with producers about Lindsay’s pregnancy announcement. He is just as confused about the timeline as everyone else. Though he had his “suspicions” about her being pregnant before he read the announcement.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger before Carl and Lindsay come face to face. Carl delays the inevitable by going into the bathroom. I actually really felt for him in this moment. I can’t imagine walking into that!
Like all premieres, a look at the upcoming season caps the episode.
The Summer House trailer we all initially saw was not the one that played at the conclusion of the episode.
Like Southern Charm, cameras picked back up to capture the fallout of Paige and Craig’s relationship.
Paige meets with Lindsay and Amanda and drops a bomb that she caught Craig texting with 2 girls while they were together. This is tea considering the current narrative is that Paige was unfaithful in their relationship.
Final thoughts
I am super excited for season 9. I know a lot of viewers are fatigued by Lindsay’s pregnancy and her split from Carl. But on the contrary there’s still so much tea and lore surrounding both that I’m eager to learn.
I also think we will have more insight into Paige and Craig’s relationship that we haven’t seen on Southern Charm. I predict production will lean into that storyline as many eyes are on that right now. Basically a “Scandoval” re-edit since we know how the story ends now.
P.S. Join us each week in the comment section for Summer House Live Discussions!
