The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: Villa Blank

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This week on Rich Women Doing Things, the ladies didn’t do a whole lot, but they did find some surprises. While checking out their enormous Italian villa, they discovered a secret chapel hidden behind a closet – a chapel that, amusingly, once had all the nude statues covered with mass-produced fig leaves by Pope Clement XIII! They attempted a glamorous moment with Korean face masks, but things went awry when a taxidermy polar bear startled them in a glass elevator, which then got stuck. Later, they settled into the villa’s fancy theater for an opera, though one woman spent the time shopping for deals online and another drifted off to sleep, dreaming of Timothée Chalamet promising her a lifetime free of opera.

Honestly, a lot of what happens is just… nothing much. They appear in Italy, have a meal, and that’s about it. Everyone agrees this season is dull, and it really is. But I’d happily watch Rachel Zoe talk about retiring for over forty minutes! Picture it: her, small and tanned, with skin as flawless as Dorit’s best handbag, wandering around the South of France, casually giving away jewelry she makes as a hobby. The flowing caftans, the clinking of dozens of bracelets as she drapes beaded necklaces over the heads of people who secretly wish she’d leave – it’s fantastic. I’d also watch another forty-two minutes of Erika delivering sassy commentary about what happens when Rachel and Amanda show up in identical Dolce & Gabbana dresses and gossip about Taylor Swift. (Team Taylor, by the way – I always knew she had great taste, both in music and in choosing writers.)

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has become strangely comforting – it’s like watching a relaxing video of a fireplace or a train, except it features wealthy women living their lives. I don’t mind it at all! I enjoy spending time with the cast, but it would be nice if something actually happened every now and then. One woman on this trip is practically a stranger, and all she’s contributed is a story about a massage with a happy ending. Even Kathy Hilton seems subdued, and Jen Tilly has taken over as the show’s delightfully eccentric character. Speaking of Jen, her outfit – a slinky black dress with a huge feather hat – was a memorable look, like a playful combination of Mrs. Peacock and Miss White from the movie Clue.

Let’s give a shout-out to Saint Clare of Assisi – the patron saint of reality TV and apparently a friend of Pope Clement XIII – because Dorit is currently the driving force behind all the drama in this show. Right now, the main storyline revolves around her consistently being late. Everyone gathers for dinner, and as usual, Dorit is the last to arrive. The host, Joey Stefano (an inside joke – don’t look it up!), tells Boz that the big surprise is ready, but they’re all stuck waiting because Dorit is upstairs seemingly doing some serious home improvement, like a scene from the movie Death Becomes Her. Erika goes to get her, reminding her that everyone is waiting. It’s becoming obvious that what Erika claims everyone hates – as teased in the mid-season trailer – is Dorit’s chronic lateness. I’ll save my full rant about how much I dislike latecomers for when that storyline unfolds (though it’ll probably be similar to my previous complaints about Lisa Hochstein).

Dorit looked stunning in a dramatic black dress – it flowed like a dark swirl held together by a bold gold necklace and matching jewelry. Interestingly, Sutton Brown arrived looking equally fabulous in a much simpler outfit – a white shirt, a large necklace, and natural makeup – despite having no time to prepare and no help from a styling team. She even arrived on time! It leaves you wondering: is all the effort really necessary?

Dorit clearly dislikes being kept waiting, but seems to dislike Mandy Frank even more. Mandy tries to address their issues before dinner, but Dorit refuses to talk. Dorit doesn’t want to resolve anything and essentially brushes Mandy off. To emphasize her disinterest, the scene includes a particularly unpleasant moment – a loud and smelly reaction after drinking Diet Coke and smoking. She postpones the conversation until after dinner, showing, as Sutton observes, a complete lack of respect for Mandy, especially because of Mandy’s habit of mixing almond and oat milk.

Okay, so dinner was… a lot. It started with Dorit talking about having dinner with PK, which was weird enough, but then she dropped this insane story about a… well, let’s just say a gas-based filler she apparently used on Saddam Hussein’s remains! She admitted she hadn’t told anyone, especially not Kyle, who found out about it through Page Six just like the rest of us. Then Erika turned the conversation to Sutton and asked why she even wanted to share a room with Amanda. Sutton basically said she was taking Amanda’s side in her ongoing drama with Dorit. Honestly, it was a wild night.

What follows is a fascinating discussion about boundaries – who feels entitled to judge whom. With these women, everything is implied rather than stated directly. It’s the kind of complex, understated conflict you see in high-quality dramas. Unlike some reality shows where arguments are loud and involve physical displays, this is much more nuanced and requires careful attention to understand what’s really happening.

Amanda believes Dorit would understand she meant well if she knew the full story behind her comments about the divorce. Dorit responds that Amanda should have spoken to her directly instead of sharing her opinions with others privately. Dorit acknowledges that’s a fair point, but explains she’s been unwilling to talk to Amanda since Amanda’s strange behavior – showing up with a bizarre smile and colorful folders. She wonders how they could even have a conversation now.

Kyle is defending Amanda, believing that respectfully sharing different viewpoints can be a way of showing you care. However, it seems like Kyle is more focused on protecting her own image. Dorit argues that bringing up concerns once can be helpful, but constantly talking about them is just gossiping. Dorit makes a good point, but Kyle quickly reminds her of a past scandal of her own.

Kathy Hilton abruptly ended the discussion with a pointed comment: “If you don’t know someone, you need to understand the situation and stay in your lane.” While she defended her statement in a private interview, the comment hung awkwardly in the air, clearly upsetting Amanda. Essentially, Kathy and others felt Amanda was too new to the group to publicly criticize other cast members. In a normal social setting, that’s reasonable – you usually get to know people before voicing negative opinions. However, this is a reality show, and the entire premise revolves around sharing opinions and creating drama. Boz hadn’t formed a relationship with Amanda when she questioned her approach to conflict, but Amanda shouldn’t have held back. Perhaps Amanda’s willingness to speak her mind is exactly what this show needs to regain its edge and remain engaging, offering a refreshing dose of honest reaction.

The following day, Amanda was talking with Sutton and Kyle, and she expressed her reluctance to escalate their conversations. Sutton encouraged her to explore and share her emotions. Kyle pointed out the hypocrisy of Dorit being upset with Amanda’s opinions on her divorce, while Dorit freely shares her thoughts about Amanda’s involvement with a controversial group. They were essentially trying to guide Amanda on how to navigate the dynamics of being a “Real Housewife,” but she wasn’t receptive to their advice. Ironically, Sutton and Kyle weren’t practicing what they preached – they wanted Amanda to create drama while they remained comfortably on the sidelines.

Amanda feels the group often pressures everyone to be overly dramatic to be seen as authentic, and she disagrees with that. She believes it’s stronger to choose your battles and avoid conversations that won’t lead anywhere, like those with Dorit. I get where she’s coming from – it’s smart to not waste time on pointless arguments. However, she’s missing the mark on what this show is about. She’s judging the current season based on past experiences, because she hasn’t witnessed much genuine conflict this time around. Ultimately, the show isn’t about promoting businesses or gaining followers; it’s about watching how people interact, dealing with disagreements, and the often messy aftermath, especially when alcohol is involved.

This episode doesn’t quite resolve Mandy’s story, unfortunately. It circles back to Rachel, and honestly, I was left reeling by her reaction. Her ex, Rodger – and that’s putting it mildly – immediately told their son Kaius about his new girlfriend the moment Rachel left the country. She claims it makes the divorce feel more real, but I think she cemented that last week when she had that incredibly difficult conversation with the boys. The papers aren’t even signed yet! He blatantly disregarded her request not to discuss this with the kids, and it’s just… a really messed up move. Watching Rachel afterward was heartbreaking. She’s pacing, frantic, like a bird suddenly released but unable to find its wings. She looks out over the stunning Tuscan landscape – vineyards, rolling hills, the shimmering heat rising from the ground – but she doesn’t see any of it. All she sees is home, a place that represents both comfort and pain, and she’d fly back instantly, even if it took everything she has, even if it took years.

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2026-03-13 05:59