The Real Housewives of Dubai Recap: Fool Me Once

As I delve deeper into the intricate world of these housewives, I find myself increasingly captivated by their raw and authentic journeys. Each woman brings a unique flavor to the table, and it’s fascinating to witness their struggles and triumphs unfold.


It’s been referred to as the “year of friendship breakdowns,” so it’s not shocking that as the season progresses, the relationships among the Dubai Housewives seem to be under tension. However, the specific reasons behind Lesa and Ayan’s split remain unclear, leading me to question if we are being set up for excessive drama.

As a seasoned observer of human dynamics and someone who has navigated my fair share of friendship trials and tribulations, I find myself quite perplexed by this situation. On the surface, Lesa’s anger towards Ayan for leaking the voice memo to Stanbury appears justified, given that Stanbury had been publicly criticizing her in the previous season. However, upon closer inspection, it seems there might be more to the story than meets the eye.

As a seasoned observer of human dynamics, I find it rather peculiar when situations such as this one unfold. It reminds me of a similar incident that occurred years ago in my own social circle. In this instance, Sarah appears to be echoing Lesa’s views about Brooks during their heated exchange, while harboring her own dislike for Taleen. It seems to me that Lesa is not fully acknowledging the consequences of stirring up trouble and letting it spill over in her direction. Instead, she appears to be venting her frustration on Ayan for getting close to Stanbury, whom she tolerates at best.

The aftermath of the incident seems suspicious to me as well. It’s understandable that Lesa might feel hurt by Ayan shouting at her, but it’s puzzling why she would involve Ayan’s husband in the matter. I’ve been friends with many couples, and I’ve never even considered involving a husband during a dispute between my friend and myself. Maybe they have an unusually close relationship, but certain aspects of this situation seemed orchestrated to me, like a plan devised by Todd. For instance, Lesa mentioned that she had never been spoken to in such a way before. It’s possible that she meant it was uncommon for her to be treated that way by a close friend, as I remember watching Lesa on “College Hill: South Beach” when it first aired, and I can assure you she is no stranger to being cussed out.

The pair eventually apologize to one another and reconcile the next day, but not without Caroline Brooks enjoying the tension among her co-stars first, persuading Lesa to forget her woes with a wild night out. The plot then takes a turn towards comedic situations: The gang is drinking cheap moonshine, grimacing after each shot, and jumping from one bar to another, accompanied by a man who seems to have clung onto the ‘Fabio’ look from the ’90s. Soon enough, Stanbury is performing onstage, Lesa is wriggling in cages, while Taleen and Brooks are acting as if they hadn’t spoken harshly to each other just three days ago, all the while Sara and Saba watch in disbelief. Just like us regular folks, these housewives also make mistakes such as overindulging the night before a full day spiritual journey.

It’s clear that Stanbury isn’t thrilled about embarking on our spiritual journey, given her disheveled appearance in the morning, suggesting a forgetful night without hydration and proper rest. I feel for her distress, but she’s obligated to join us for filming. So, swallow some pain reliever, put on your shades, and let’s play our part as team members. I can understand Sara’s annoyance with Stanbury’s reluctance. However, it’s not fair to judge her harshly when she needs to stop and be sick en route to the waterfall sanctuary. Every minor setback on this journey seemed to irk Sara, but we must remember that everyone has their challenges to overcome.

The spiritual journey appeared delightful to me. While I’m not overly enthusiastic about the idea of trekking long distances just to shout at a waterfall, it seems the women are having a good time without much fuss. It’s intriguing that Lesa is the one who objects to praying before Buddhist statues, while Sara and Saba, being Muslims, might face similar objections regarding idolatry. However, they may view it as respecting local traditions. The women’s eagerness to pose on the lotus sculpture and express their transcendent feelings is amusing, yet contrasts sharply with Stanbury’s later preoccupation with her phone and Taleen’s assertion that the experience didn’t provide any catharsis at all. It’s clear there’s still some healing needed within this group.

Among the aspects that I’ve grown fond of in this ensemble is their penchant for exaggerating petty disagreements into grand spectacles of absurdity. Trivial missteps are transformed into lengthy debates that spiral into comedic chaos. For instance, labeling someone as a beggar might lead to a heated argument, while being hungover could warrant deep sighs and secretive murmurs. Accusing someone of dishonesty? Brace yourself for a verbal spat. The culmination of this pattern is brilliantly demonstrated in the final scene of the latest episode, where Lesa arranges a traditional Balinese night complete with an array of traditional garments for the women to try on. While it’s all intended as harmless fun and cultural exploration, things take a turn when Stanbury, Brooks, and Taleen find their chosen outfits garish and unflattering. In a display of remarkable pettiness, Brooks exclaims, “I would never wear mustard yellow!” as if the crime of assigning her that color deserves an international trial for fashion transgressions. It’s preposterous in the most delightful way. Most people would politely decline such activities if they make them uncomfortable, but this group of women? They’d rather flout etiquette and transform minor squabbles into dramatic confrontations. Amidst the current era where reality TV franchises are mired in scandals and legal troubles, this brand of playful deceit provides a refreshing breath of fresh air.

Golden Nuggets

• It’s funnier when Sergio behaves like a clumsy oaf off-camera. The moment when Stanbury called him while hungover and said, “I can’t handle your selfie underwear shots right now,” honestly had me in stitches.

Each week, I plan to record an amusingly absurd self-help quote from Sara. This week’s quote is, “I’m trying to maintain my high vibrations.” It reminds me of the popular video featuring the wellness fraud discussing low-vibrational dishes.

I’m deeply moved by how Ayan consistently finds unique means to express the hardships she faced to reach where she is now in life. The moment she shared about losing her best friend to AIDS left me speechless. Despite her quirks, it’s clear that many of them stem from deep-seated pain she’s still working tirelessly to overcome.

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2024-08-07 20:54