The episode was met with generally favorable reviews from critics, who felt that the changed dynamic between Conrad and Montag was entertaining for television.

On their first day returning to work, Lauren informs Whitney of false speculation regarding a sex tape involving herself and her ex-boyfriend Jason Wahler.

Audrina accepts the invitations, although later tells her co-worker that she believes that Heidi and Spencer were speaking badly of Lauren and were responsible for spreading the sex tape rumors.

[4] Rumors of a sex tape involving Conrad and Wahler, in addition to stories alleging that she invaded his house to retrieve it, surfaced in April 2007.

Conrad adamantly denied both reports, commenting that "if I ever tried to get something back from Jason, it was probably just photo albums and stuff" and the producers "videotape my life five days out of the week.

"[5] The president of entertainment for MTV, Brian Graden, commented that the series benefits from the media coverage it receives in between seasons, which he described as a "six-month commercial for the show that doesn't five away the narrative in full."

He elaborated that MTV wants "viewers to watch Lauren and the girls as the characters we know instead of in a show about being the stars of The Hills"; the sex tape rumors were consequently presented like a personal conflict between the women, and was intentionally not addressed as a highly publicized controversy.

"[9] Writing for Los Angeles Times, Denise Martin was complimentary of the fact that the conflict was "unsullied" despite the extensive media coverage it received before the season began, and added that it was "better than anything you'd get on All My Children.

when speaking to Montag has been recognized as an iconic moment from the series; the staff from Us Weekly ranked the scene as the most memorable event from the program when recapping highlights from its six seasons in July 2010.

[11] It was surpassed by "Paris Changes Everything", which served as the premiere for the second half of the season, on March 17, 2008; it attracted 4.8 million viewers in its original airing.