And we’re back in Charleston for our Southern Hospitality Season 4 recaps! Still a lot of bad blood now, but it looks like some folks are taking steps forward. In this episode, we learn more about Grace’s struggles, see why Brad is still unhappy with Emmy, and watch Lake stand up for what she believes in. Here’s everything that happened in Southern Hospitality Season 4, Episode 4: “Giving Grace.”
What Went Down on Southern Hospitality Season 4 Episode 4?
The episode picks up right back at Molly’s girls and gays’ night. It’s uncomfortable for everyone as tension escalates between Grace and Maddi. Michols can’t take it and dunks his head to bob for a cucumber from the stash he brought.
Naturally, this led to a game of “Extreme Truth or Bobbing for Penises” (aka cucumbers). Everyone has to either answer a question honestly or bob for a cucumber.
Jordyn and Mia were both asked about Justin. Mia agreed to a date with Justin but ended up canceling on him. Not because she thought of Jordyn’s feelings (sorry, girl!) but because she didn’t want to be part of Justin’s juggling act (get it, girl!)
Lake was asked if she was more on Emmy’s side or Brad’s side in their argument, and she said Emmy immediately, to more than a few raised eyebrows.
And just when things couldn’t get more awkward, when it’s Maddi’s turn, Grace asks Maddi if she has ever pegged Joe. Honestly, who even wants to know the answer to that? Grace even brought up the rumors that Joe had slept with TJ.
Grace kept coming at Maddi until Mia lost it. She told Grace that she was making everyone uncomfortable, and this is why no one wants to invite her. She eventually called Grace f*cking crazy, and Molly asked her to leave.
Lake and Maddi sort through their feelings about family and friends
The next day, Maddi and Joe sit down and talk about her friendship with Grace. Joe tells her that she is always there for Grace, but that Grace keeps hurting her.
Maddi admits she and Grace have a toxic relationship. She admits she feels empathy for Grace, because she is the only one who knows that Grace is struggling with substance abuse. This is something Maddi understands, but she realizes that maybe she can’t be the one to help Grace anymore.
Lake, on the other hand, calls her mom for a chat and gives everyone a deeper look at the tension in her current relationship with her dad. She and her mom are close, but things are strained with her dad because she feels he isn’t supportive of her sharing her dating life in such a public way.
Reality TV doesn’t suit everyone, and Lake’s dad doesn’t seem thrilled about putting all her business on air.
Sunday fun day at Republic, and Justin drops a bomb
It’s Sunday afternoon at Republic. Maddi is spinning, and the vibe is chill and relaxed.
Inside, Brad shares that he plans to talk to Emmy about what is going on with her. Because they bumped into each other at an event the night prior, and she said hi to him and Julia, but the moment Will arrived, she refused to acknowledge them.
Her behavior seemed really sus to him. He wants to know if she actually wants to be friends or if her apology was just performative.
Justin confirms that it was! He drops the bomb on Brad that he spoke with Emmy, and she admitted that she just apologized because she was afraid that they would f*ck up her life. Looks like she’s not really sorry at all.
Grace takes a solid first step toward dealing with her substance abuse problem
Meanwhile, Grace admits that she thinks she went too far with Maddi. She wants to work on taking accountability for her actions and knows she needs help, so she’s seeing someone about her problem for the first time.
Grace talks to Isaac about getting help for her substance abuse struggle. It began with ketamine two and a half years ago. She had a prescription to help with depression. She shared that some days she didn’t use it, but other days she used too much.
A wake-up call for Grace was that she recently lost a friend who passed using the same batch of ketamine that she was using.
Isaac told Grace that “no one ever calls me on their best day.” He reminded her that she had a new lease on life and she should take advantage, suggesting she tour a rehab center to see what she thinks of their 30-day program.
Isaac tells her that any type of addiction can be like swimming with a rock in one hand, pulling you down, and Grace shares her wavy baby philosophy. She talks about how waves crash into life, but it’s always important to get back on the board.
The reality of microaggressions and the POC experience in Charleston
After the disastrous Extreme Truth game at Molly’s, Michols decides to talk to Lake.
He questions Lake about her siding with Emmy against Brad, especially about the “scary” comments. He said that they thought she would understand why that language was detrimental and at least tell Emmy why she should be more careful.
To be fair to Lake, she trusts Emmy more as a friend. That is largely due to the fact that her and Brad’s quasi-relationship imploded. However, she did co-sign with Michols that what Emmy said could be seen as a microaggression.
Lake understands this is a big deal because, as a person of color in Charleston, she also faces microaggressions every day. She was upset that Brad thought she was being “blind to racial problems.”
Body by Brad … (and drama by Emmy)
Brad is holding an event for his personal training company, Body by Brad. His business is growing and and is taking another big step. Brad’s taking the business on tour with the Keep it Moving Tour, going all around the southeast.
At the event, Justin talks to Mia about their date. She says she just doesn’t want to join the drama with him and Jordyn. The problem is that Mia’s just turned herself into the forbidden fruit, now Justin wants her even more.
Eventually, the crew heads over to Republic. When Brad arrives, Lake asks him for a quick chat. It turns out her conversation with Michols has been on her mind all night.
Lake tells Brad how she felt very strongly about the microaggressions conversation. She shares that she’s always defended and protected all the black men in her life, but Brad said it didn’t feel like that to him.
Lake admitted to comforting Emmy, but in no way was she okay with what Emmy said. She apologized to Brad about his feeling like she wasn’t supporting him in telling Emmy that her saying she was “scared of him” could be destructive.
Meanwhile, Emmy saw the pair talking and ran to the kitchen to ask what the conversation was about. Ella filled her in, and Emmy lost it. “A microaggression? Are you on crack!?!?!”
Emmy talks to Justin, and he tries to explain it to her, but she isn’t hearing it. Justin thinks Emmy might not know what a microaggression is, and, to be fair, she doesn’t seem to in her confessional.
In the end, Emmy just gets fed up and dips … for now.
Southern Hospitality airs Thursday nights at 9/8c on Bravo. It streams on Peacock.
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