Welcome back to the Southern Charm Season 11 recaps! Last week, Salley finally confessed her feelings, but Craig rejected her. Venita said I told you so, which Salley did not appreciate. Craig told the guys that Salley is a “tornado” who got in the way of him spending time with Charley. This infuriated Austen, who spilled the beans when the guys crashed Madison’s sleepover. Then Rodrigo revealed that Craig and Charley were about to go on a date. Salley declared she’s done with Craig, and warned Charley that he’s using her too.
What happened on Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 8?
This week on Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 8, “Engaged in Battle,” the group (minus Whitner) celebrates Rodrigo and Tyler’s engagement. Austen’s girlfriend Audrey comes to town, but everyone else wonders why Austen hasn’t broken up with her yet. Salley confronts Craig about rejecting her. Then she and Austen flirt up a storm … inches away from Audrey. What else happened on Southern Charm Season 11 Episode 8, “Engaged in Battle?”
Craig insists he didn’t lead Salley on
Salley now has to deal with those chickens she bought just to spend time with Craig (and only one of them is nice to her). Meanwhile, Craig tells Madison his side of the story. As Madison predicted, Craig insists he was just being nice. He also gives context to those texts. Craig tells Madison that he politely urged Salley to leave that night. When she texted him that she should’ve stayed over, he said she could’ve, but it was just not to be rude. Once again, he says Charley is the one he really likes, and he’s looking forward to spending time with her alone.
Meanwhile, Charley meets up with Molly for arts and crafts. When Molly asks about the date, Charley cries at the thought of it upsetting Salley. Molly reminds Charley that Salley said she was fine with it, but Charley knows she didn’t mean that. Molly accuses Salley of being hypocritical about Craig. After all, if Salley is trying to stop Charley from dating Craig, then she’s doing the same thing Venita was.
Rodrigo and Tyler throw an engagement party
Rodrigo proposed to Tyler in Greece, so they’re throwing a Grecian engagement party (Angie K approves). But they’re not in a rush to get married. Instead, Rodrigo wants to focus on remodeling their kitchen … so fans on Reddit will stop making fun of it. He’s also decorating Shep’s house, which includes purchasing a giant coffee table (formerly an opium bed).
Speaking of, Shep is staying at Craig’s while he’s in between houses. Since he was in Cuba last week, Craig fills him in on the Salley situation. Shep says Salley has an “ownership thing” with Charley… like Craig used to with Austen! But he believes that Craig wasn’t trying to flirt with Salley, just being friendly.
Audrey is coming to the party, and Tyler notes that it’ll be awkward between her, Craig, and Shep. While they don’t believe the gossip about Austen coming onto other girls, Tyler and Rodrigo both think Austen needs to stop stringing Audrey along.
Austen needs to face his fears with Audrey
Speaking of Austen, this week he gets sibling tattoos with his younger sister Katie. Their matching tattoos are their late sister Kyle’s birth year and Katie’s birth year. Austen admits he was a baby about the pain, but loves that he now has a tribute to his angel sister … and his devil sister.
And that devil sister Katie gives him tough love about the Audrey situation, asking why he’s so hesitant to take a next step. She loves Audrey, and it’s unfair if Austen is leading her on. When a producer asks Austen about it, he compares it to his hesitancy over getting cats … but he took the plunge there! With Audrey, Austen says it could be the last next big step he takes in his life. He compares the state of their relationship to a meteor coming towards Earth (I’m sure Audrey is flattered). He should do something about it, but keeps putting things off. Austen admits to Katie that he needs to have a tough conversation with Audrey.
Was Venita a bad friend to Salley?
Venita grabs lunch with her mom, who roasts her about needing to find a man. Venita fills her in on the drama with Salley. When she admits that she told Salley not to come crying to her after Craig broke her heart, her mom says that was rude. She emphasizes to Venita that it’s important to be there for your friends no matter what. Venita realizes that she should’ve been more patient with Salley.
When they see each other at Rodrigo and Tyler’s party, Venita tells Salley she misses her, but it’s extremely awkward. Salley says she’s fed up with Venita, who can be a little controlling.
Does Tyler and Rodrigo’s engagement party signal the end of another relationship?
Audrey isn’t psyched to see Craig and Shep at the party. She claims they have no idea what’s going on in her and Austen’s relationship. “It makes me look like I have my head in the sand … which I don’t,” she says. Poor Audrey! She also points out that Austen forgives Craig too easily, which he admits is true. Austen tells her Craig found a new target to flip out on … Salley.
Everyone shows up for the party dressed in their best white Grecian-inspired ensembles. Including Stephen from Miss Patricia’s guy’s night. And a very pregnant Madison, who jokes her boobs are about to pop out of her low-cut mini dress. Whitney asks Madison if she’s having a gender reveal. Apparently he wasn’t paying attention to the very pink, girl-themed baby shower at his house.
Rodrigo starts to tear up seconds into his speech to Tyler. “I don’t see my life without Tyler,” he gushes in a confessional, adding, “People wait a lifetime for something like that.” Aww!! At least there’s one genuine romance on Southern Charm. Meanwhile, Shep, Madison, and Craig are shocked to see Audrey there, wondering why Austen hasn’t broken up with her yet.
Craig declares war on Austen
Throughout the night, Craig and Charley flirt while Salley avoids them. Eventually, Charley encourages Craig to talk to her. But he now sees Salley as an obstacle getting in the way of him and Charley. Yikes.
He goes over to talk to Salley while she’s sitting with Madison. Getting to the point, Salley says Craig hurt her. “Well, this is awkward as f*ck!” Madison jokes as she excuses herself. Molly asks if Craig and Salley are gonna “fingerbang it out.” Venita jeers Craig from afar.
Craig insists he didn’t intend to hurt Salley. She asks why he wrote her off, citing what Austen told her. Craig then calls Austen his ENEMY, chastising Salley for “believing a guy whose main goal in life is to tear me down.” I think that’s a little dramatic, Craig. “See how awful it is to be friends with Austen?,” he asks, accusing Austen of conspiring to come between him and Salley. Wasn’t he just accusing Salley of doing that to him and Charley?
Craig’s hurt that Salley trusted Austen over him, and says he’d never go to her enemies like that. Salley didn’t know Austen was his “enemy,” but he argues, “you know how he treats me.” Ultimately, he and Salley agree to go to each other with their issues in the future.
Austen and Salley flirt…inches away from Audrey
While Madison goes home, the (very inebriated) group takes a party bus (thanks, Shep) to the afterparty. Whitney gets on stage and plays guitar. Craig assures Charley things with Salley are settled, and she looks forward to their date.
Meanwhile, Audrey tries to say hi to Salley again, to no avail. She tells Austen Salley walked past her three times without saying a word, and is the only person that didn’t say hi to her. Austen brushes this aside and excuses himself to go talk to Rodrigo. But a beaming Salley comes up to him instead, and they hug and immediately act flirty. She tells him everything Craig said. “We don’t have a podcast anymore, I don’t give a f*ck what he thinks about me,” Austen hilariously says.
“Your girlfriend hates me,” Salley laughs. Austen says she doesn’t. Craig observes that Audrey must be angry seeing Austen and Salley “belly to belly” flirting like this. Just then, Audrey walks right by Austen and Salley to a table away from the others. Austen doesn’t even notice! When Austen finally goes to her, she says they need to talk. We don’t hear their conversation, but it sure looks like they’re fighting. And that’s where the episode ends.
Southern Charm airs 9/8c on Bravo. Episodes can be streamed on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF SOUTHERN CHARM SEASON 11 EPISODE 8? WERE YOU SURPRISED BY CRAIG DECLARING AUSTEN HIS ENEMY? HOW BAD DO YOU FEEL FOR AUDREY?