May 16--Rob Kardashian, the 29-year-old younger brother of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, made his grand return to TV on Sunday night during E!'s "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."
Why is this significant? For awhile, Rob was the tragic figure in the Kardashian universe; amid reports of his suffering from depression and a 100-pound weight gain, he refused to show up on camera despite his family's contractual obligation to its reality TV empire. Never deterred, the show created storylines around Rob and his reclusive nature.
However, Rob's absence became deeply unsettling, particularly when his family discussed him on television -- it seemed so wrong, especially given his potentially serious health problems. The situation blurred the lines between "a provocative family sharing all" and "terrible insensitivity about very personal issues."
Yet now, it seems that things are getting back to the Kardashian version of normal: after years of not being filmed, Rob is on camera again. And he seems pretty OK with it.
It's about time: Rob is the Kardashian making all the headlines lately, thanks to his controversial relationship with model Blac Chyna. Of course, Blac Chyna is the ex-fiancee of rapper Tyga, who (until recently) was dating Rob's half-sister, Kylie Jenner. This complicated romantic web seemed to cause quite the rift among the Kardashian and Jenner siblings. Rob, who lived with Khloe, soon moved out.
That's how the show set up his re-entry in the central storyline on Sunday: Rob needs a new place to live. Enter momager Kris Jenner. Thrilled that her son is ready to live by himself, she decides to help him purchase and redecorate a new $2.3 million home in Los Angeles.
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Before Rob actually shows up in the episode, there's lots of back and forth about his return. Khloe, hurt because Rob hasn't called her since he moved out, snaps that it's a "miracle" that after ignoring his family for years, Rob is suddenly back in the public eye (he's even on Snapchat!) with his new girlfriend.
Kim, on the other hand, thinks it's great. "(Blac Chyna) gave him confidence, more power to her," Kim said. "He hasn't been like this in so long that, even though there's been some drama, if this is what it takes, then I don't care who he's dating. I am so happy that he's just feeling better about himself."
Khloe, always closest to Rob, isn't convinced. She's extra-upset that Kris, who always accuses her of enabling Rob, is going out of her way to support him. "Am I happy he's out and about? For sure. Am I disappointed he isn't talking to me after he got out of my house? Yeah," Khloe tells the camera. "I've been the only one who stood by him and defended him and wanted the best for him."
After multiple scenes of talking about Rob, he finally shows up toward the middle of the episode to check out his new home. A sheepish look on his face, Rob greets Kris and Kourtney and shares an awkward hug and air kiss with Kim, proving to viewers that everything is fine, even after that time he compared her to the psychopath character in "Gone Girl."
Everyone (except a notably absent Khloe) marvels about how great it is that Rob feels so much better. With some help from guest star interior designer Faye Resnick, they help decorate his house. Rob is quieter than he used to be on the show when he was a central figure, and doesn't get many words in. Though later, Kris assures Khloe that he was so grateful he almost cried.
It's all a very low-key return; the show is likely biding its time for future, juicier Rob stories, like his and Blac Chyna's unborn child. Meanwhile, Khloe gets the most airtime throughout the hour as she vents about Rob's treatment toward her, and weighs the pros and cons of extending an olive branch.
"Rob has always been my best friend. Even though the world might have been removed from Rob for the past few years, I never have been," Khloe confesses. "I've always been by Rob's side and loyal to a fault. So I never imagined ... that he would be able to cut me off the way that he has."
"I'm a little frustrated about situation because I feel like this is just getting dragged out way longer than it needs to," she concludes at the end of the episode.
Obviously -- but that's how it works in the Kardashian world. And now that Rob has proved he's fine being back in the spotlight, it appears his emergence back into the family drama is just getting started.
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