They started as a spontaneous romance. It got complicated fast.
Tyler and Sage were one of Vanderpump Villa Season 3’s more unexpected romantic storylines — two new staff members who found each other quickly, burned bright for a few episodes, and then spent the rest of the season navigating the fallout from Tyler’s inability to trust what was right in front of him. Here’s the full breakdown.
How It Started
Tyler Winston came into Rosecroft Park as one of the new events team members — Houston-raised, family-oriented, former Division 1 athlete who does 200 push-ups a night and came in wanting to chase his dreams and make everyone proud.
Sage Smith joined as one of the new housekeepers. She had worked in a retirement home as a housekeeper in college and worked her way up to caretaker before landing at the villa.
The connection happened fast and without much strategy behind it. Sage told Tyler early on that she found him handsome. By the punting trip, they were cuddling on the boat and the romance was visibly escalating. Tyler said in confessional: “I genuinely care about Sage. I genuinely lo—” and stopped himself before finishing the word. “I was about to say love,” he admitted. He described their connection as having “beauty in the fact that it came so spontaneously.”
For a hot second, they were the season’s sweetest storyline.
The First Crack
The first sign of trouble came during a night out when Bachelor Nation guests were at the villa. Tyler was talking with another female guest, and Sage noticed. She was visibly annoyed. Nothing dramatic happened. It was the kind of moment that gets filed away and brought up later, which is exactly what happened.
The Guest Situation That Broke It Open
The real fracture came in Episodes 5 and 6, during the Bachelor Nation guest visit, when Xavier and Sean mentioned to Sage that they had heard she was dating someone. Sean didn’t seem convinced she was actually taken. Sage confirmed she was involved with someone and that they were exclusive — and then went to tell Tyler about it because she thought it was funny.
Tyler did not find it funny. He took it as a “clear sign of disrespect” and told the cameras he does not take disrespect lightly. He ignored Sage as she tried to talk to him. She asked, “You’re not going to look me in the eyes right now?” He didn’t.
Sage went to her room and broke down. She confided in Meredith, saying she felt anxious, like she’d done something wrong. She’d already been called to Lisa’s office for not interacting enough with guests — and now when she did interact with guests, she was in trouble with Tyler for it.
“I don’t think this is something worth continuing,” she told Meredith, saying he was jeopardizing her position and potentially her shot at the bonus.
The morning after, Sage told Tyler directly that she felt embarrassed and disrespected, and that she had been pretty healthy in her relationships before this — implying he was the toxic variable. Tyler said in confessional that he hoped they could move on. Marciano Brunette interrupted the conversation before it could go anywhere because the guests were arriving.
Tyler Pushes, Sage Pulls Back
Later in the episode, Tyler tried to press for another chance. “I feel like you kind of just ruled me out,” he told her. “At least give me a fair chance.” Sage asked him to “flip the coin” — meaning consider her side — and said he should have come to her one-on-one rather than reacting the way he did. Before they could resolve it, Gabriella Sanon interrupted to pull Tyler away for work.
In confessional, Sage was clear-eyed about where she stood: “Do I think Tyler’s my person? No. It’s giving toxic, and it’s not what I want.”
Tyler ultimately apologized. “I genuinely do care about Sage,” he said in confessional, “but honestly, I’m worried I might’ve messed this up for good.”
The Makeup
By the end of the season, Tyler and Sage had found their footing again — at least on the surface. They made up, and Tyler said he was happy to have the chance to show her he could be the man she wanted him to be. Whether that momentum carried through to the end of the season is something the finale addressed without a clean resolution.
What It Was Really About
The Tyler and Sage situation was a quieter thread than the Hannah and Marciano chaos happening around it, but it mirrored the same dynamic in miniature: a guy with trust issues making a woman feel like she had to manage his emotions at the expense of her own comfort and her job.
Sage was new to the villa, already on Lisa’s radar for her work performance, and dealing with a romantic situation that was adding to the pressure rather than relieving it. Her instinct to pull back when Tyler overreacted was both understandable and, given everything else she was navigating, probably the right call.
The “Vanderpump Villa Season 3” reunion streams April 30 on Hulu. See what we know and watch the trailer here. From the looks of it, Tyler and Sage will get some couch time.
“Vanderpump Villa” Season 3 is streaming now on Hulu.
More ‘Vanderpump Villa’ Content
Catch up on everything leading into the reunion:
- What Are the “Vanderpump Villa” Cast Up to Now?
- Who’s on the Hot Seat at the “Vanderpump Villa” Reunion?
- The Wildest Moments From “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3
- Questions the “Vanderpump Villa” Reunion Needs to Answer
- Everything to Know Before the “Vanderpump Villa” Reunion
- Who Won the Bonuses In “Vanderpump Villa” Season 3?
For more “Vanderpump Villa” content, click here
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