Lauren Conrad Wasn't exactly a perfect buddy on The Hills

When The Hills aired in 2006, it grew to become a cultural phenomenon. The glitzy fact drama adopted Laguna seaside alumna Lauren Conrad to the ~mean~ streets of la, where she battled douchey fuckboys, backstabbing besties, and teenage Vogue. when I watched The Hills at 14 years historical, i believed it changed into aspirational—a story about a flaw-free heroine, Conrad, who had bad issues performed to her by using bad individuals. lower back then, it looked like the well-meaning Conrad simply couldn't catch a spoil. From Jen Bunney's boy code violation to Audrina Patridge's roommate woes to, of course, the Heidi Montag saga, Conrad become all the time feuding along with her chums. and i felt for her. I in reality did! In certain, those three made some large mistakes with Conrad on the reveal—and that they may still've been extra remorseful.
but Lauren Conrad wasn't fully innocent, either. After re-looking at The Hills at 23 years historic, I see some flaws in Conrad's on-digicam persona that obliterate the "ideal heroine" photo I held in my pubescent mind.
I say "on-digital camera persona" as a result of i'm most effective speaking about Conrad's depiction on The Hills, which i am sure is never one hundred percent indicative of her authentic personality. yes, it become a fact tv show, however enhancing trickery can make even essentially the most mundane stare seem menacing. The Hills wasn't a documentary-trend show: It turned into a totally-produced, improvised soap opera with a glossy finish. We saw the fact, however only part of it—which is why my opinions about Conrad are in accordance with a character, not her persona.
And that fact exhibit character is a girl who had unreasonably high expectations for her chums. On the display, it gave the impression of the best strategy to reside on Conrad's good side was to pledge allegiance solely to her. Any deviance from her needs led to either a sloshy nightclub spat, roommate freeze out, or—worse—a friendship-ending one-liner. (believe Conrad's last decree to Montag in season three: "I are looking to forgive you—and that i need to neglect you.")
however extra on Montag later; it really is a beast i am not somewhat able to triumph over. Let's start standard, like Conrad's squabble with Bunney over the realm's gold standard Man, Brody Jenner. In season two, Conrad gave Bunney diamonds for her 21st birthday, and Bunney repaid her through hooking up with Jenner, the "first guy" Conrad changed into capable of have emotions for submit-Jason Wahler. turned into this shady? sure. became it worth the knock-down, drag-out battle that ensued at Château LC? not in any respect.
because Conrad and Jenner on no account have been unique. They went on a handful of dates that didn't go anywhere because of lack of chemistry, some extent Conrad reiterated to Us Weekly prior this yr. Why would Conrad get so irritated at Bunney for hooking up with a man she had no emotions for? in all probability it wasn't the guy, however the truth Bunney went at the back of Conrad's again? but that thought goes out the window when Conrad tells Whitney Port that Bunney known as and asked if she could connect with Jenner earlier than basically doing it. So, what offers? was there extra to the story? Or did Conrad just get upset at her friend for no precise intent in any respect (apart from drama for the exhibit, of path)? With my rose-coloured glasses off, sadly, I consider the latter.
and that i see Conrad's combat with Patridge in a totally diverse way, too. on the conclusion of the third season, Patridge, Conrad, and Lo Bosworth all moved into a apartment together. Childhood BFFs Conrad and Bosworth snagged rooms usually apartment, while Patridge opted for her personal area within the yard guest condo. The proximity automatically created a "two towards one" vibe; Conrad would make limp makes an attempt to consist of Patridge in her and Bosworth's fun, however they have been mechanically drowned out with the aid of Bosworth's flat-out impolite conduct toward Patridge—which Conrad did nothing to curtail. Strike one.
Conrad always preached on the demonstrate that friends should own up to their shady habits; youngsters, when Patridge instructed Conrad that she felt neglected by using her, she instantly went on the defense. She demanded Patridge list off selected instances where she felt disregarded in its place of simply believing her friend's feelings and apologizing—some thing she expects other americans to do. Strike two.
And, eventually, let's talk about Conrad's hatred of Patridge's BF, Justin Bobby. He became unpolished and had no qualms about burping in public, bound, but he never did the rest to harm Conrad. That didn't stop her and Bosworth from mocking him in the back of Patridge's back, even though. Strike three.
If Patridge receives three strikes, Montag has all 9 innings. The crux of The Hills is, palms down, Conrad and Montag's bitter feud. it be a story i will be able to recite blindfolded and hanging the other way up: Montag and Conrad have been having fun with the one existence in la, when hair gel aficionado Spencer Pratt got here alongside and swept Montag off her toes. Conrad appreciated Pratt initially, but she quickly all started noticing behaviors that became her off. Conrad made it very clear to Montag that she didn't approve of Pratt, which drove a wedge between their friendship. a number of aggressive strikes from Pratt brought about Conrad to explode at Montag and practically drive her to make a choice from the ally and the boyfriend. Montag chose Pratt, which effectively ended her friendship with Conrad. The ultimate nail within the coffin came about at the proper of the third season, when Conrad suspected Montag and Pratt begun rumors that she made a sex tape with Wahler. a nasty nightclub combat ensued, where Conrad iconically referred to to Montag, "You know what you did!"
And, certainly, what Montag did became horrible. If the rumors are real, Montag sat returned and let her psycho boyfriend—now husband—spread rumors about her once-best friend. And Pratt's petty moves from season two weren't fairly, either. Montag may still've told Pratt up front that he vital to play high-quality along with her pals if he desired their relationship to work.
but Conrad may still've dialed returned her involvement in Montag's relationship to start with. truely, a big reason Montag and Conrad's friendship disintegrated become Conrad's overzealous perspective towards Pratt. She had every right to warn her pal a few douchey guy, however she may still've achieved it in a method that didn't make Montag believe like she had to choose—which, regardless of Conrad's opinion, is exactly what came about. Conrad should still've been a sympathetic ear all the way through Montag's relationship with Pratt, providing honest—however encouraging —assistance when necessary. Had this came about, Speidi likely would've ran their course, and things would have turned out differently. there's a means to be honest with out drawing such a hard line in the sand. had been Conrad's innovations wrong? No. however was her alienating angle? sure, and this become simply as accountable for Conrad and Montag's feud because the different stuff. I under no circumsta nces realized that previously.
don't hate me, LC stans: This is rarely an assault on Conrad. She is warm, talented, shiny, and handled lots of the situations on The Hills in a decent, authentic approach that I applaud. besides the fact that children, even the brightest heroines have their dangerous moments—they just need to come clean with them. It makes them better. My biggest Hills criticism is that Conrad under no circumstances did this. might be i'd've stored my rose-coloured glasses on if she did.