Season 7 Discussion

[OnceSane]

Quote

Mike is single and ready to mingle with new crush Mona; Nema only has eyes for GG, who is still in the middle of a contentious divorce; the Shahs make a group trip to the mountains, where they work to maintain their balance on the slopes.

Airs August 2, 2018.

[biakbiak]

Mike was ready to mingle even when he wasn’t single!

[chenoa333]

I used to liks Asa wsy back when this show came on. Now I see her as the back stabbing opportunist that she is. AND......she's become very boring.

[Mindthinkr]

Mike is in shorts entering the place in Big Bear. Is Reza in charge of this trip and was the one who secured the accommodations and chef? I thought his financials were squeezed tighter than a miser’s fist. 

[ivygirl]

Does this cabin come with Roooooooooobbbbb to hang TVs and launch boats and cook eggs?

[Mindthinkr]

How do they even do that finger snap thingy? I got confused just trying to figure out how they held their hands to do it. Loved Mikes comment that his friend was a “sale rack Persian” because he couldn’t do it. 

[mbaywife123]

My favorite show for food porn is back!

[ivygirl]

Just now, mbaywife123 said:

My favorite show for food porn is back!

That dinner looked delicious! I wasn’t gonna watch it but darn, that food!

I don’t count the chili cheese fries. Lol

[Mindthinkr]

3 minutes ago, mbaywife123 said:

My favorite show for food porn is back!

I wanted that salad that the private chef made for them their first night...heck, I wanted the whole darn meal! 

[Mindthinkr]

I think thatbthe reason that so many of these people are single is that they have unrealistic expectations. At least GG shortened it to wanting “sperm”. Nemo seemed ok with that. Too bad he needs some weight and more money in GG’s opinion. I don’t know that any man will truly be able to make her happy because she’s never been happy to begin with. 

[ivygirl]

I’m so intrigued by how open these people are about their level of interest in each other—not just one on one but in front of their friends.

Is that normal? 

[Mindthinkr]

3 minutes ago, ivygirl said:

Is that normal? 

For them it seems normal. Maybe it’s a cultural thing. 

[Ubiquitous]

Nemo has a girlfriend?

Nemo was married?

To a woman?!?! 

[WhoaWhoKnew]

Nema and Mona are weird af.

Their whole Parent Trap story is creepy and they need to be studied by a university's psychology department.

[dosodog]

Reza's observations about GG and Mercedes unique skiing styles was dead on.

Mercedes really does have a Mae West vibe to her sway and GG does just shred through the course straight on.

[Neurochick]

11 minutes ago, Ubiquitous said:

Nemo has a girlfriend?

Nemo was married?

To a woman?!?! 

Yes, why is that strange?

I don’t think these folks are “strange”, I just think they have lower boundaries than some people on this forum.

MJ and GG look so much better with shorter hair.  Those extensions made them look cheap.

Edited August 3, 2018 by Neurochick

[ivygirl]

28 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

For them it seems normal. Maybe it’s a cultural thing. 

In a way I kind of admire it... 

[biakbiak]

GGs reaction to poking herself in the eye while trying to snap is why I have a soft spot for her even though she is cray cray.

[voiceover]

It finally hit me: Nema reminds me of Adam Scott (Parks and Rec).  He seems charming and goofy.  I only hope the "Angelina Jolie's brother" vibe was a one-off.  And of course the whole hitting on GG/has a girlfriend situation appears to be another trip down Shervin Street.

I empathize with the whole Persian-not-Farsi-speaking thing.  My dad always regretted not teaching us the language when we were kids, but he came to the U.S. in the late 50s, when assimilation was very important, and eventually his Farsi deteriorated due to lack of practice.  My accent veers more Arabic than Iranian, and while most Persians I meet are graciously charmed by the effort, I once knew a Bank of America teller (also Iranian) who'd always loudly greet me with, "There's the Persian girl who doesn't speak Farsi!!!" (Eh, go fuck yourself bitch)

The snapping thing was hilarious, but also made me a little sad.  My dad isn't here anymore to be my go-to on that kind of cultural goofiness.

[Rahul]

Really enjoyed this premiere, presumably because there was little or no dead weight (ie. significsnt other drama, Asa) and everyone got along. I’m actually surprised that I did not miss Asa at all. I used to find her Persian pop priestess shtick amusing but she had devolved into such a duplicitous, toxic mess last season that I’m glad she’s gone.

It was also nice getting to know Destiny a bit more and the new additions weren’t bad either, although I’m not really buying Nema’s infatuation with GG. To me it seems like he plays for the other team (but perhaps doesn’t know it yet?) 

[Duke2801]

I think Nema is cute and seems nice. He doesn’t seem gay to me (NTTTAWWT).  I’m thinking (hoping) the interest in Gigi is just for show. 

Anybody else surprised MJ can actually ski? Not cause she’s bigger, but because she seems kind of ... lazy. 

[queenjen]

So, the whole Mike and Mona thing? That WAS just the conduit for Nema being introduced into the group, right? Cos there was no chemistry at the dinner where Mike looked at tofu like he'd never heard of it. And the way he described feeling awed by her, the fact she is educated, working and 'is a vegan'. I cannot buy why any woman would look at Mike as a good catch. He's approaching Jax Taylor territory. And he seemed furious with Mona in the kitchen, he's got to check that aggro stance he takes when someone (a woman) hasn't treated him like his dool is actually golden. He's done nothing, achieved nothing and continues to try to conceal that he is not over the clubbing and the young girls. My jaw dropped when after his second 'date' with Mona along with GG and Nemo, he friendzoned her on account of her principles not aligning with his. And then he gives one of his moral high horse THs about how he overlooked principles in the past if he was really into someone and refers to his marriage being one of these times. Jessica converted to Judaism for MIke! How much more can one person do to show their commitment to a shared ideal? Mike is a real problem. It's episode 1 and we're seeing a reel from only last season of Mike out partying as he tells us how during this time, he was out too late, drinking too much and hooking up. This was last season, and at the time during all the sequences they rolled this episode, Mike was saying  he wasn't interested in women. They even used the clip of the dancer with her ass in Mike's face and him recoiling to prove to us that he had turned a new leaf. This season he's already telling us that IN FACT his partying was out of control at that time. I've got no problem with people making mistakes, copping to them and learning from them, but Mike just hasn't stopped lying: GG in the hotel, Jessica etc. Something about his inauthenticity skeeves me out. He reminds me of Kim Richards serious drug addicts who are always 'doing really well now' when in fact, they're worse than ever.

And Destiney seems like she's one cracked nail away from a full on melt down and she's holding herself together with dental floss and Lucy scarves, i get a highly anxious vibe from her. 

[walnutqueen]

1 hour ago, queenjen said:

And he seemed furious with Mona in the kitchen, he's got to check that aggro stance he takes when someone (a woman) hasn't treated him like his dool is actually golden

Not only does Mike's stance change when he's angered, his eyes somehow seem to darken and his face looks very scary to me (like, serial killer scary).

On a lighter note - the food porn is back!  I couldn't believe the spread Reza laid out for breakfast.  These peeps know how to eat!

[bichonblitz]

I'm sure Nema's gf is going to love seeing him putting the moves on GG. 

I see Mike is still an asshole. He wants a woman to stay home, have no career and home school his kids. While he's out screwing around. How's that working for you, Mike?

Reza and MJ were on WWHL last night. I have never seen them so calm and subdued. They wouldn't even fall for Andy's bait and talk shit about Asa.  Maybe marriage is good for MJ and all the weight loss and working out every day (he said he also runs along with working out) is good for Reza. We will see if it stays that way as the season progresses.........

[politichick]

5 hours ago, Duke2801 said:

I think Nema is cute and seems nice. He doesn’t seem gay to me (NTTTAWWT).  I’m thinking (hoping) the interest in Gigi is just for show. 

Anybody else surprised MJ can actually ski? Not cause she’s bigger, but because she seems kind of ... lazy. 

I liked Nema, too, and thought he was funny, especially when expressing his astonishment about the amount of food these people eat. He's perhaps going to put on a few pounds.

Was also surprised and very impressed by how well MJ could ski, and yes, because she's not at all a fan of physical activity.

Agree with whoever said that the Mike/Mona thing was a ruse to introduce the siblings to the show. Can't see him getting serious about a vegan, first of all, because then who would cook his meals?

Not missing Asa at all. 

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

Thank goodness MJ got rid of that rat nest weave she was sporting the last few years. I still can't stand her, it is clear as day to me at least that she is super jealous of GG's figure and Asa's hair.  She sure seems glad that Asa has a baby now so Reeza can spend more time with her. 

[missy jo]

7 hours ago, queenjen said:

So, the whole Mike and Mona thing? That WAS just the conduit for Nema being introduced into the group, right? Cos there was no chemistry at the dinner where Mike looked at tofu like he'd never heard of it. And the way he described feeling awed by her, the fact she is educated, working and 'is a vegan'. I cannot buy why any woman would look at Mike as a good catch. He's approaching Jax Taylor territory. And he seemed furious with Mona in the kitchen, he's got to check that aggro stance he takes when someone (a woman) hasn't treated him like his dool is actually golden. He's done nothing, achieved nothing and continues to try to conceal that he is not over the clubbing and the young girls. My jaw dropped when after his second 'date' with Mona along with GG and Nemo, he friendzoned her on account of her principles not aligning with his. And then he gives one of his moral high horse THs about how he overlooked principles in the past if he was really into someone and refers to his marriage being one of these times. Jessica converted to Judaism for MIke! How much more can one person do to show their commitment to a shared ideal? Mike is a real problem. It's episode 1 and we're seeing a reel from only last season of Mike out partying as he tells us how during this time, he was out too late, drinking too much and hooking up. This was last season, and at the time during all the sequences they rolled this episode, Mike was saying  he wasn't interested in women. They even used the clip of the dancer with her ass in Mike's face and him recoiling to prove to us that he had turned a new leaf. This season he's already telling us that IN FACT his partying was out of control at that time. I've got no problem with people making mistakes, copping to them and learning from them, but Mike just hasn't stopped lying: GG in the hotel, Jessica etc. Something about his inauthenticity skeeves me out. He reminds me of Kim Richards serious drug addicts who are always 'doing really well now' when in fact, they're worse than ever.

And Destiney seems like she's one cracked nail away from a full on melt down and she's holding herself together with dental floss and Lucy scarves, i get a highly anxious vibe from her. 

I'm rewatching Sons of Anarchy so thanks for the Jax Teller reference! I don't think Mike could hack it in a motorcycle club! 

[bichonblitz]

8 hours ago, queenjen said:

And Destiney seems like she's one cracked nail away from a full on melt down and she's holding herself together with dental floss and Lucy scarves, i get a highly anxious vibe from her. 

I'm not feeling Destiney at all. Her TH's are weird. Like she's trying too hard. 

[Vanderboom]

I liked everyone's cracking up when Mike said he didn't have an ego. I like it when they affectionately bust each other's chops. I hate it when they pile on and bully the Designated Victim of the Season. And what's with Mike telling Mona she's the prettiest Persian girl? If you're going to give a compliment, don't narrow down the field. I'm glad that Mona wasn't a pushover "Why do you think YOU have all the right philosophies?". 

What is GG's obsession with Reza and MJ'S sexual history? 

[walnutqueen]

3 hours ago, missy jo said:

I'm rewatching Sons of Anarchy so thanks for the Jax Teller reference! I don't think Mike could hack it in a motorcycle club! 

Hee!  It was actually a Jax Taylor reference - as in Vanderpump Rules.  :-)

[SuprSuprElevated]

12 hours ago, queenjen said:

And Destiney seems like she's one cracked nail away from a full on melt down and she's holding herself together with dental floss and Lucy scarves, i get a highly anxious vibe from her. 

I liked her far better sitting on a couch with her sister, giving us impromptu reviews of television shows.  Her addition to this cast, for me, adds nothing.

[queenjen]

3 hours ago, walnutqueen said:

6 hours ago, missy jo said:

I'm rewatching Sons of Anarchy so thanks for the Jax Teller reference! I don't think Mike could hack it in a motorcycle club! 

Hee!  It was actually a Jax Taylor reference - as in Vanderpump Rules.  :-

Sadly, @walnutqueen is correct...it is indeed and shamefully a Jax Taylor reference. Please tell me there isn't a fictional character out there in television land that behaves this way? 

 

This show has held me for so long because these people: Reza, Mercedeh, Asa, GG, Mike and families plus Shervin and Sami and all the others, really do seem to have a bond. I love the insight into their culture, I had to pause this episode to try and work out the finger snapping thing and show the TOTALLY disinterested Mr Queenjen the clip of them all attempting it. Anyone remember the farsi word for it? I'm going to youtube it and get it down! And the food.. 

MJ skiing was one of the most sensual things I've seen lately. Yes, she's allergic to exercise and you can tell she learned this young and she does it her own way. The difference between MJ's lazy serpentine action and GG's AK47 stance was hilarious and very telling as the show pointed out. I never felt MJ until I got to know her mother, Vida,  and now it makes sense. She's damaged and she's just trying to get by. I loved MJ and Reza sharing a bed together too. I will miss Adam and Asa's relationship. 

And I'm pulling for GG despite years of her drama and the toxicity she seems to bring to her natal family. I do hope she finds love and I'm glad it's not with Shalom, he was creepy weird. She was very cute with Nema. I like her relationship with Sherv the perv too. Where was he again and what does he do? We've never been told what he does for reals, have we?

[missy jo]

4 hours ago, walnutqueen said:

Hee!  It was actually a Jax Taylor reference - as in Vanderpump Rules.  :-)

Bwah ha ha ha!! 

[Rahul]

14 hours ago, queenjen said:

This show has held me for so long because these people: Reza, Mercedeh, Asa, GG, Mike and families plus Shervin and Sami and all the others, really do seem to have a bond. I love the insight into their culture, I had to pause this episode to try and work out the finger snapping thing and show the TOTALLY disinterested Mr Queenjen the clip of them all attempting it. Anyone remember the farsi word for it? I'm going to youtube it and get it down! And the food.. 

For me, that's largely the appeal of this show aside from seeing these people embracing their culture and heritage. It's evident the Shahs are actually friends in real life (well, most of them) as opposed to colleagues or cast mates who are forced to film together for a paycheck, like on so many other Bravo shows. I enjoy watching them having a genuinely good time. The bickering and fighting? Not so much.

[OnceSane]

I loved the premiere!  Everyone having fun teasing each other and eating all the yums.  I'm always jealous of their food spreads.  And it's nice to not start the season with bitterness and hate.

I'm not feeling Nema or his sister.  That may change, but I gotta side-eye folks using Mike as a come-up.

I want to go skiing with MJ so I can just watch her come down the slopes…it's hypnotic!

[Fiero425]

On ‎8‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 9:05 PM, Ubiquitous said:

Nemo has a girlfriend?

Nemo was married?

To a woman?!?! 

My gaydar's going off on Nema! He's nothing special, but definitely has an appealing look IMO! I'd take him if GiGi doesn't! He is CUTE! ;-)

On ‎8‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 9:31 AM, bichonblitz said:

I'm sure Nema's gf is going to love seeing him putting the moves on GG. 

I see Mike is still an asshole. He wants a woman to stay home, have no career and home school his kids. While he's out screwing around. How's that working for you, Mike?

Reza and MJ were on WWHL last night. I have never seen them so calm and subdued. They wouldn't even fall for Andy's bait and talk shit about Asa.  Maybe marriage is good for MJ and all the weight loss and working out every day (he said he also runs along with working out) is good for Reza. We will see if it stays that way as the season progresses......…

Shervin's still around! He's even more of a louse than Mike! The guy's single, totally free, but still feels compelled to cheat and lie about it; ON TV! WHY? What a tool! All those looks and dumb as a bag of hair! ;-)

[Fiero425]

8 hours ago, Rahul said:

For me, that's largely the appeal of this show aside from seeing these people embracing their culture and heritage. It's evident the Shahs are actually friends in real life (well, most of them) as opposed to colleagues or cast mates who are forced to film together for a paycheck, like on so many other Bravo shows. I enjoy watching them having a genuinely good time. The bickering and fighting? Not so much.

It has to be real love and friendship to get over some of the hurt and antics of this group! Going way back to when Reza went into Mercedes' purse and exposed all her $#!t to the group and a Nat'l TV audience would have been the end! WTF? Reza's the 1st one to be secretive and keep his $#!t out of the public eye and here he is doing this to a "so called" sister! I was shocked and appalled! ASA's writing herself out trying to do her own thing and at the same time selectively cut out some of the group! She should be gone soon IMO! ;-)

Edited August 5, 2018 by Fiero425

[chenoa333]

On 8/2/2018 at 6:54 PM, Mindthinkr said:

I think thatbthe reason that so many of these people are single is that they have unrealistic expectations. At least GG shortened it to wanting “sperm”. Nemo seemed ok with that. Too bad he needs some weight and more money in GG’s opinion. I don’t know that any man will truly be able to make her happy because she’s never been happy to begin with. 

Is Nemo Gigi's incredibly ugly boyfriend???

[Mindthinkr]

2 hours ago, chenoa333 said:

Is Nemo Gigi's incredibly ugly boyfriend???

No. He’s the male who was introduced (with his sister) to us on the Shahs ski trip. GG had a husband (divorced now?) but even tho she just met Nemo on that ski trip let’s just say that their sparks were melting snow. Expect to see them dating soon (they made a date for dinner after the ski trip is over). 

[chenoa333]

57 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

No. He’s the male who was introduced (with his sister) to us on the Shahs ski trip. GG had a husband (divorced now?) but even tho she just met Nemo on that ski trip let’s just say that their sparks were melting snow. Expect to see them dating soon (they made a date for dinner after the ski trip is over). 

Thanks Mindthinkr. Is Gigi's new love interest a bit more easy on the eyes than that CrayCray Fugly fiancee? As the saying goes "he could scare a bulldog off a meat wagon." Lol to the H-E-LL!

[Mindthinkr]

8 minutes ago, chenoa333 said:

Thanks Mindthinkr. Is Gigi's new love interest a bit more easy on the eyes than that CrayCray Fugly fiancee? As the saying goes "he could scare a bulldog off a meat wagon." Lol to the H-E-LL!

I think that he is much better looking but it remains to be seen if they find a connection. GG’s eyes sparkled when they went outside to a chat out of the others ear reach. He wanted to kiss her but she said no (but she sure was thinking about it). I think pairing GG off is going yo be one of the hardest tasks. She’s so....unpredictable. 

[queenjen]

GG married Shalom, they eloped. Shalom of the charging-the-camera-flipping-the-bird in New York for GG's perfomance in the Vagina Monologues, Shalom of the 'Shalom' tattoo that Gigi got in Israel last season, Shalom who gave her hell for kissing a man on stage while acting in the play, the dude that proposed to her with a lit up billboard thingy in Times Square ON the same night as he charged the cameras whilst walking out of her life again. That stable unit, that's Shalom. And he's got a face like a hatchet fish. That guy. She married him and now they are getting a divorce for reals. After the reunion, they were 'trying to work on it' but GG's body language was saying something entirely different. So, she's not yet divorced from him and now she is attracted to Nema who has a girlfriend, has been married and is heterosexual. My gaydar is going right off with Nema too, and it's not just the relationship he has with his sister, which would make more sense if he were gay, it's just him? I don't know why. Homeboy has game though, and those 2 really hit it off. I don't think they were faking. GG has pulled some stupid self centred crap in her time on the show, but I do really hope she finds someone to love her. And that she lays of her sister Laila, who doesnt' seem THAT bad. 

[Sai]

On 8/3/2018 at 7:25 PM, SuprSuprElevated said:

I liked her far better sitting on a couch with her sister, giving us impromptu reviews of television shows.  Her addition to this cast, for me, adds nothing.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan either but I did laugh when she was in the kitchen and took a sip of soda from the can and made a real disgusted face.  What was that all about?  lol.  I can feel her though because I don't like soda either.  Then after that she was watching the brother and sister interact and the looks on her face had me cracking up!

[dosodog]

On 8/3/2018 at 6:57 PM, queenjen said:

Sadly, @walnutqueen is correct...it is indeed and shamefully a Jax Taylor reference. Please tell me there isn't a fictional character out there in television land that behaves this way? 

 

This show has held me for so long because these people: Reza, Mercedeh, Asa, GG, Mike and families plus Shervin and Sami and all the others, really do seem to have a bond. I love the insight into their culture, I had to pause this episode to try and work out the finger snapping thing and show the TOTALLY disinterested Mr Queenjen the clip of them all attempting it. Anyone remember the farsi word for it? I'm going to youtube it and get it down! And the food.. 

MJ skiing was one of the most sensual things I've seen lately. Yes, she's allergic to exercise and you can tell she learned this young and she does it her own way. The difference between MJ's lazy serpentine action and GG's AK47 stance was hilarious and very telling as the show pointed out. I never felt MJ until I got to know her mother, Vida,  and now it makes sense. She's damaged and she's just trying to get by. I loved MJ and Reza sharing a bed together too. I will miss Adam and Asa's relationship. 

And I'm pulling for GG despite years of her drama and the toxicity she seems to bring to her natal family. I do hope she finds love and I'm glad it's not with Shalom, he was creepy weird. She was very cute with Nema. I like her relationship with Sherv the perv too. Where was he again and what does he do? We've never been told what he does for reals, have we?

The finger snap is Beshkan and that was fun!  MJ all "feminine" women don't like to do that  (uh huh not like we've all SEEN YOU MJ!) and GG almost losing an eye.

MJ is just hot coming down that slope.  If I skied, I would want to ski like that.  It's just.  Sexy.  

MJ. Hot and not a mess. On a ski slope.

[EtheltoTillie]

I guess they've eliminated the opening credit music theme that they had for so many years.  Too bad, I liked it. 

[nexxie]

The food upstages these chuckleheads every time!

[Fiero425]

16 minutes ago, nexxie said:

The food upstages these chuckleheads every time!

That's not saying much! Their whole lives revolve around self-indulgence! Everything trumps them even breathing! Most, if not all are useless human beings; esp. Asa! ;-)

[Mondrianyone]

51 minutes ago, nexxie said:

The food upstages these chuckleheads every time!

Definitely.  I'm not ignorant about food in general, but the first time I ever saw a dragonfruit was on a breathtakingly magnificent fruit platter at one of the parties on this show.  I thought it was the most beautiful piece of produce I'd ever seen, and I Googled like crazy till I found out what it was.

If I were ever giving a party in L.A., I'd make it my business to get the name of whoever caters their big affairs.  Shahs' food always looks gorgeous.

[ninjago]

7 hours ago, Fiero425 said:

Their whole lives revolve around self-indulgence!

They are all such high-maintenance, hot-house flowers and I don't understand how they got that way.  It doesn't seem like any of them come from or were raised with real serious money.  I know GG is supported by her family and Mike's family has some successful careers in it, but those seem like well-paid, white collar professional money, not like generational wealth.  Reza is a successful realtor, but not on a Million Dollar Listing level, right?  

Like, on this episode, when Reza said there were no five star hotels in Big Bear so he rented a beautiful home and hired a private chef, I thought, "You people stay in five star hotels?"  Then MJ was like, "Where's the maid?"  Like, the manner to which they are accustomed is white glove, five star service!?  How?  Why?  Then the new girl was like she wants to have a private teacher for her children so they can travel all the time and....where is this money going to come from?  They all seem to think if they act like they have a lot of money, the money will come to them?

Meanwhile they all live in the same types of shitty apartments as the VPR crew, and I know the VPR cast has to be getting paid more than them!

[SuprSuprElevated]

This episode, like so many others, would have us believe that these folks trekked across mountain and sand to flee Iran, with only the clothes on their backs.

A couple of old articles, written when Shahs was first airing - 

nydailynews

This one, written by an Iranian media outlet, is very interesting (to me) - 

ajammc

In this one, GG specifically says "our money isn't from oil".  As all stories note, though they all claim to have fled Iran after the Shah was overthrown having to leave their money behind, they still curiously managed to establish themselves in...Beverly Hills.-

usmagazine

This more recent offering from a perhaps sketchy site, tries to offer up net worth numbers of the cast, though they vary widely.  It does go more into the vocations of the cast than the other articles.

starcasm