The Hills: They Meet Again (Episode 307)

Elodie breaks Heidi down (click for video from MTV Overdrive)I was just thinking about the recap at the beginning of each episode of "The Hills", and how my DVR usually doesn't get it all. So I don't actually know if it's always Lauren who discusses everything that happened in the last episode. And if it is, why don't we hear her gag everytime she says Heidi or Spencer's name? Any thoughts on this can (and should) be left in the comments section.

Audrina comes back from spending the weekend with Justin/Bobby. She's wearing a short-sleeved top with a hood. I cannot approve of this top. I just can't. Audrina gives Lauren the scoop on the weekend: they had good talks, they "fooled around", and they were just silly. So where do they stand? Are they going to make it or break it? Audrina confirms that they're going to make it after all, and to her credit Lauren appears happy and supportive of this. She even sing-songs "Audrina has a boyfriend" while Audrina looks bashful, hiding in her hood. So what has Lauren been up to? Lauren reveals that she had coffee with Jason. Audrina looks momentarily shocked, but not taken back. Probably because Lauren asserted that nothing happened. So no drama is good, but still -- kinda hard to believe Jason's back, huh? But will he be back for good?

Peter, Bjorn, and John's ubiquitous "Young Folks" plays as morning finds Heidi and Spencer up and about. Heidi sarcastically commends Spencer for putting down the toilet seat. Spencer replies with a slobbering kiss. I guess if they don't have time to eat breakfast together before Heidi heads into the office, and Spencer... heads to wherever he goes while Heidi is at work, slobbering all over each other will have to do.

At Teen Vogue, Lisa meets with the staff to discuss this year's Young Hollywood party. Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Amy Astley wants a bigger party (1,500 guests vs. 800 for previous gatherings) that will include a fashion show for Marc Jacobs' Marc By Marc collection. The girls have their first assignment: to find two venue possibilities to scout for Amy. I anticipate the girls wandering through impossibly lovely hotels. Or if not lovely, then impossibly large and shiny and brash: it is L.A., after all.

At Bolthouse, Heidi's day is just beginning. She comes in to find two messages for her. As intern Lacey gives her the messages, Heidi gives her the names of the people who should always be patched through: Spencer, Jen, and Brent. That's it? I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that it looks like Heidi's been dressing up a bit more since she got the promotion. Though at the same time, I don't see that she's doing any more work than before. Okay, so that this point, it's probably been a week or so, but come on -- shouldn't she be shown doing some actual work instead of just talking about how much work she has to do?

Speaking of work, Lauren and Whitney are scouting the Beverly Wilshire for the Young Hollywood party. It appears to be a bungalow, and a lovely bungalow at that, but I can't imagine that it would be large enough to accomodate the 1,500 guests, the band, and runway that Teen Vogue will need. Whitney takes pictures while Lauren ponders the kitchen, and spills the beans about her coffee date with Jason. "Oh. My. God!" Lauren demurely says the encounter was good, but Whitney wants to know: "What kind of good?" Lauren says that Jason is a different person, which we can only guess means good for the better. Lauren seems relieved to have Jason, who is the rare person to which she feels she can say anything, back in her life.

Back in the Teen Vogue fashion closet, Whitney and Lauren have concluded that the Beverly Wilshire space was too small. So they're 0 for 1. Oops. Lauren fills in Whitney on Audrina and Justin/Bobby's status as a newly minted couple (again). I guess they just needed to get away (from Lauren? from Los Angeles?) to solidify things between the two of them. Lauren agrees -- no need for anyone else to get involved, though I think we know she's happy to if she thinks her friends will get screwed over. Before we get another moment to scold Lauren on her meddling, she gets a call from Jason: dinner at Ketchup tonight? It's a date, which has Whitney wondering where all this catching up on old and current times is going.

Over at Bolthouse, Heidi asks Lacey to transfer work-related contacts from her old cell phone to her new phone. Lacey, putting aside the envelopes she was stuffing (for Elodie, perhaps?), starts doing so, but doesn't get far before she is interrupted by Spencer calling for Heidi. Spencer wants to celebrate Heidi's promotion, suggesting they go to Ketchup for dinner.

Ooooh.

Ketchup is not a theme restaurant centered around the Heinz's family contributions to American condiment culture. It is, however, a Dolce Group restaurant, and joins sibling establishments Geisha House, Bella Cucina, and Les Deux in serving as a venue for more "Hills" cast angst and drama. Lauren and Jason arrive, settling down for drinks while they ponder the menu. Jason goofs around, making Lauren laugh. Lauren tries to tell Jason about how she wants red lights in her room when he is distracted by a pretty girl walking by. She just laughs it off, reminding him that it doesn't bother her as she knows him better than anyone. The smiles fade, though, as Heidi and Spencer arrive, and pass Lauren and Jason on their way to their own table. Heidi passes without comment, though Spencer feels the need to break the ice (!) by saying "It's great to see you guys back together. It's heartwarming." before joining an incredulous-looking Heidi. After a few snide remarks about whether or not Lauren picked Jason up from rehab or jail, Heidi and Spencer send over drinks: non-alcoholic water and a Shirley Temple for Jason, and what appears to be a Cosmopolitan for Lauren. Lauren and Jason quickly send the drinks back, with Jason stewing furiously. How can a guy who he's never even met have such a bone to pick with him? Lauren doesn't want to give the matter much thought, and tells Jason she would like to go home. Jason leads the way back to the car. Lauren is apologetic -- for the awkwardness, for ending the night early. Honestly, she just feels bad for Heidi. Jason is fine with it, though he can't resist reminding Lauren that he always thought Heidi was shady. He also observes that she seems to have found her perfect match. I think the whole evening for them was a whole "What the fuck?!" while Heidi and Spencer relished the opportunity to revel in themselves. Can't wait to hear how Heidi describes it to -- Jen? Who else does Heidi have left to dish with?

The next morning at work, Lauren comes in sporting a cute mini-dress. Despite the polished appearance, she's still rattled by last night's date. She fills Whitney in, saying that the night was good until Heidi and Spencer showed up, recounting the "encounters": Spencer's weird greeting. The drinks that were sent over, and promptly rejected. The "GOODBYE!" as they left the restaurant. Again: WTF?

Heidi finds Elodie as soon as she gets in to work, and immediately starts in on the night before. What it seems to boil down to is that she cannot believe that Lauren has forgiven Jason when Lauren won't forgive her. Elodie looks thoughtful, then puts on what I can only describe her game face. Perfect eyebrows arched, she turns to Heidi and asks her bluntly: what did you do to Lauren that she won't talk to you? It must have been something. And also, why isn't Audrina talking to her? Why isn't Whitney her friend anymore? And then Elodie lays the smack down:

"You don't even know what's wrong and what's right anymore. It's so sad. Well, I'm gonna finish up on this, so, see ya."

Heidi looks totally caught by surprise, and has absolutely nothing to say. I take a token half second to feel bad for her, then start cackling. I don't think of Heidi as being totally evil, but given how she stabbed Elodie in the back, she had this coming. And P.S.: Elodie is my queen. All hail Queen Elodie!

Lauren meets Jason for another coffee date, though this time Jason would like to move on to a new topic: finding him a place in L.A. Lauren doesn't flinch, though the memory of them moving into the Malibu house at the end of season 1 comes to my mind. She is enthusiastic, though she has to remind him that whoever he lives with has to be sober. But as none of his friends are currently sober, how is this going to work? Lauren is positive, though, and promises lots of sober fun: movies, bowling, comedy clubs. Jason looks less than thrilled. Lauren looks stricken until he breaks the mood by complimenting her on her purse, the same Chanel purse he got her for her birthday when they were last dating. "Thanks. My loser ex-boyfriend got it for me." Aw -- they're so cute.

Heidi and Spencer sit down at their usual table at Don Antonio's. Spencer toasts Heidi, "who reached out and got what she deserved". Heidi, chin down, can't enjoy the toast. She's been having trouble sleeping because of work. Is it work that's keeping you up, or the fact that you have no girlfriends left? I'm just asking.