As a long-time fan and observer of the Real Housewives franchise, I must say that watching Alexis’s return to RHOC has been a rollercoaster ride, much like the infamous tequila-fueled bus trip from seasons past. However, unlike that trip, this journey seems to be heading straight off a cliff.
As a devoted cinephile, I’ve come to realize that “be careful what you ask for” is a wise saying that rings true, especially when it comes to reality TV shows like The Real Housewives. Yearning for a stale series to transform might just lead to a total overhaul, an attempt that may never scale the heights of its initial success, no matter how appealing the changes seem. Clamoring for a past-her-prime star’s retirement can inadvertently push the show into a rut, depriving it of the unpredictable element that once propelled the narrative forward. In our latest case, fans’ wish has come back to haunt them: The return of Alexis Bellino on The Real Housewives of Orange County is shaping up to be one of the most disappointing comebacks in the franchise’s history.
In essence, it’s not a new experience for Alexis to be the target of humor. During her initial tenure as a full-time Housewife from seasons five to eight, she often found herself outmaneuvered by her fellow cast members. At one point, she asserted that the bullying was so intense it required her to resort to Xanax, saying to Lydia, “I had to go on Xanax for it!” She also shared a gruesome story about nearly dying from a pulmonary embolism at a children’s birthday party. Remarkably, she allowed others to shape her image, first her ex-husband Jim Bellino who kept her in check, and later by her co-star Tamra Judge, who gave her the enduring nickname “Jesus Jugs.”
In the last ten years since Alexis was last on the show, she appears to have undergone genuine personal development. The woman who once expressed skepticism about same-sex marriages, stating they’d need to discuss it with God at heaven’s gate, shared a heartwarming acceptance of her transgender son on Instagram in 2022, writing, “We are all human and we are ALL equal.” She also ended her relationship with Jim, who seemed to hinder her progress. Moreover, Alexis reconciled with most of her past adversaries, including Tamra and Heather Dubrow, the latter of whom has long advocated for Alexis’ return to RHOC.
Supporters voiced their opinions consistently, especially during the COVID-affected season and some years without Tamra Judge. In July 2022, Bravo by Betches wrote on X, “There’s too much chatter about Tamra returning, not enough about Alexis Bellino coming back.” Meanwhile, a Bravo fan account posted an image of a prayer circle that repeated, “Alexis Bellino returns to RHOC for s17” in the same year. The calls for her return intensified in fall when Alexis attended BravoCon, giving hope that a refreshed Alexis, having spent time away from the show and no longer under Jim’s control, might bring fresh vitality and a dose of nostalgia to the series.
It turns out that the woman rejoining this season in a recurring role isn’t Alexis Bellino, but someone else who goes by “Fun Lexi” or, more precisely, Mrs. John Janssen. Just before being offered another spot on the show, Alexis became romantically involved with John, who was previously involved with co-star Shannon Beador. This romance, which occurred over a few weeks, has overshadowed any storyline Alexis might have had. Now, her primary goal is to support John Janssen and, in the process, undermine Shannon.
In another scenario, things could have turned out differently for her. However, Shannon encountered a difficult off-season incident involving a DUI, where she crashed her car into a house, causing injuries to herself and leaving her dog, Archie, traumatized. Yet, Shannon seems to have come out on top, appearing remorseful and mostly sober. The more Alexis attempts to criticize Shannon about her relationships with John or Tamra, the more audiences seem to sympathize with Shannon. This poses a challenge for Alexis, as she has built her identity around standing against Shannon.
The shows are designed around conflict and resolution, so it’s common for characters to take sides that viewers might find objectionable. However, Alexis’s situation is more challenging because she hasn’t provided much else for viewers to connect with. Tamra remarks in a confessional, “Times have changed, I feel like the Alexis I knew ten years ago is not the Alexis I know today.” While this might be true, all we’ve seen so far is Alexis standing by her questionable partner and seemingly targeting a popular character. Katie Ginella, the new Housewife, comments, “I feel like I’m getting to know John better than I’m getting to know Alexis.” It’s crucial to note that Katie makes this statement without ever having met John in person; he has not appeared on the show at all this season.
Considering Alexis’s absence from the game and her past stumbles, it’s not unexpected that she’s struggling. Yet, even with lower expectations, she’s still having a tough time. From the start, Alexis has been determined to shield John Janssen, a man who viewers have come to know as Shannon’s less-than-ideal boyfriend, involved in “routine fights that leave me frozen.” In her return scene, Alexis is already speaking forcefully, branding Shannon as a drinker whose negative opinion of Johnny J is questionable. “It seems like Alexis feels compelled to intervene and defend her man,” Emily comments in a confessional. “Her man she’s been dating for approximately a month?”
After six episodes into the series, it appears that Alexis has struggled significantly in her attempts to re-establish herself. What’s happening in her personal life? She’s involved in an exhilarating new romance with John Janssen, a man said to be of sincere Christian faith. What are some of Alexis’ favorite topics? She often discusses her boyfriend, John Janssen at length. In her free time, she seems to engage in intimate activities, reportedly spending four hours daily with John Janssen. Her main ambition in life is to clear the name of her partner, Shannon. Regardless of its ethical implications, Alexis’ relentless pursuit of this agenda during this season of RHOC has a stubborn and monotonous quality that might dissuade producers from inviting her back again.
While Alexis’s friends are working hard to guide her in the right direction, an ongoing legal dispute between John and Shannon over a claimed loan of $75,000 unfolds. Amidst this turmoil, Alexis presents evidence of the money transfers at a shared dinner. Following Shannon’s emotional exit, Heather subtly proposes “toning it down,” urging Alexis to adopt a more compassionate stance and possibly even forge friendship with Shannon, hinting they might share common ground. In a private conversation, Emily offers a more direct opinion, stating that Alexis could benefit from being less confrontational towards Shannon, allowing the other women to get to know her as Alexis rather than John’s representative.
However, it’s not unexpected that Alexis is persisting in her conflict with Shannon. In a recent broadcast, Jennifer Pedranti queries Alexis about when her feud with Shannon will conclude. Alexis responds by stating that she can’t back down because Shannon continues to spread falsehoods about Johnny J. She expresses her strong feelings towards John, stating that he is a kind, generous, loving, and caring individual, but unfortunately, Shannon has tarnished his image within the community. The situation becomes more ominous as Alexis discloses she possesses distressing videos of Shannon from the night of her DUI, which she plans to release if Shannon does not retract all her statements about John. (If Alexis truly intends to restore her boyfriend’s reputation, she should also request Peacock to remove the latest seasons of RHOC from streaming.)
The question of whether the videos will surface or not remains unanswered, but the act itself marks a disturbing escalation in the conflict between John and Shannon, with Alexis joining the fray. It’s hard to envision how ‘Fun Lexi’ can recover from this situation, let alone make us want more of her. She seems to have underestimated the audience’s allegiance, and by associating herself with a controversial figure like John, she has burdened herself with unnecessary baggage. ‘RHOC’ viewers never favored John Janssen when he was with Shannon, and they certainly won’t welcome him now that he’s in the background, supplying Alexis with ammunition to discredit her ex. The problem for Alexis is that she and John are now inseparable. By failing to develop a distinct identity beyond her relationship, she has also failed to make an impact on the show.
Alexis is certainly not the first Housewife to self-sabotage over the wrong guy. There’s a proud tradition on these shows of riding hard for total losers — including on RHOC. Just ask Vicki Gunvalson, whose staunch defense of boyfriend Brooks Ayers amid an alleged cancer scam led to her “being nailed to the cross like Jesus was.” (Vicki herself has compared Alexis’s blind loyalty toward John to hers toward Brooks.) More recently, Teresa Giudice let herself become derailed by a relentless need to protect her husband, Louie Ruelas, on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Bitter and endless fights over Louie have dragged the long-running series into new depths of ugliness, leaving its future uncertain. And Alexis Bellino is no Teresa Giudice.
It’s not yet definite whether Alexis will return to RHOC next season, as ratings have been slightly improving, which could indicate the excitement she generates. However, from the perspective of viewers, it appears that Alexis’s long-awaited comeback has fallen flat. Her efforts at reinvention and scripted lines (“there’s the door, Shannon Beador”) haven’t resonated well. Even her allies seem to be growing weary. When Alexis declared in the season premiere, “Your heart wants what it wants, and here we are; take us or leave us,” she may have unintentionally given viewers a choice. It seems that many of us who once eagerly anticipated her return now prefer “leave us.”
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2024-08-21 19:54