Paul Archuleta/Getty The Chrisley family is finally back together again, but a set of federal prison sentences may have been the least of their problems. The Chrisleys: Back to Reality, Lifetime's latest addition to the armada of reality series chronicling the private lives of the TV dynasty, catches up with the Chrisleys at the tail end of Todd and Julie's time in lockup. The patriarch and matriarch of the real estate empire and figureheads of the USA Network's popularChrisley Knows Bestwereconvicted of bank fraud and tax evasionin 2022 andsentenced to a combined 19 yearsin prison. Their daughter, Savannah, worked tirelessly to earn her parents a presidentialpardon, whichDonald Trumpgranted in May. ButBack to Realityshows that the long shadow cast by Todd and Julie's imprisonment allowed for a dangerous kind of rot to fester back home. In a prescient phone call from prison included in the first episode ofBack to Reality, Julie shared that her "greatest worry while being in prison is my children. I worry that they're okay. I worry that they're getting along because I'm not there to wrangle everyone and diffuse a situation." She specifically pointed to Chase and Savannah, the eldest son and daughter she shares with Todd, who "have fought since they were teenagers. And that worries me, because I feel like the divide is just going to get bigger and bigger." Back to Realityproves just that, and it's not just Julie who's worried. Todd's colorful mother Nanny Faye, a popular recurring character onChrisley Knows Best, shared her own concerns with Julie's mother, Pam Hughes. "Well, Pam, me, and you have got to come up with a solution to help everyone out. What are we going to do with Chase and Savannah?" she wonders, adding that because of Todd and Julie's absences, "This family's been torn apart." Lifetime Chase and Savannah both chose to participate inBack to Reality, and had quite a bit to say about the feud themselves. "Since my mom and dad have been away, we haven't been in the same room all together let alone sat down for dinner with everybody," Chase revealed. "I know there's some tension there between me and Savannah." Though Savannah fondly recalled that "growing up, I feel like we were always best friends. We did everything together," Chase's view of the time has altered in retrospect. In a call from prison, Todd shared, "I always told Savannah, you can do anything a boy can do. In fact, nine times out of 10, you can probably do it better. And Chase would say to me, 'Yeah, and look what you raised: a monster.'" Sign up forEntertainment Weekly'sfree daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. "Chase and I are definitely on rocky terms, because over the past two and a half years, he has not helped me at all. I mean, when it comes to the kids, financially, mom and dad - he has not picked up a single ounce of slack, and he's been given ample opportunity to do so," Savannah explained. USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty While Todd and Julie were in prison, Savannah stepped up toparent their other minor children- Grayson, 18, and Chloe, 12. She was also open about having to makemajor lifestyle shiftsthat came with the new economic burden, and dedicated herself toadvocating for a pardon, going as far as the2024 Republican National Conventionto demand one. During the family dinner that concludes episode 1 ofBack to Reality, Chase conceded to Savannah's hard work. But he's skeptical about her claim that she was forced to rough it alone. "Savannah wants help on Savannah's time," he said. "As much as Savannah says she wants my help, I don't think Savannah actually wants any help, because she wants to be able to say she did it on her own." Savannah, meanwhile, said she believes that "Any time Chase tries to connect with me, it is strictly performative, because there is always something he wants to get." She solemnly warned, "There is a lot of resentment. So when things are said and done, I don't forgive it. I don't know if it can ever be repaired, honestly. Once I shut someone off, I shut them off." The Chrisleys: Back to Realitypremieres as a two-night event on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. The remaining episodes will air Tuesdays, with the finale airing Sept. 16. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
