The Real Housewives of Rhode Island Recap: Masquerade Brawl

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Everyone expected this eventually, but it’s surprising it happened so quickly, by episode six! Kelsey’s split from her boyfriend also means losing a major source of income, which explains her push to gain followers for her hair business. She’ll need to work hard to keep up with her expenses – especially her impressive collection of 79 TVs! This is also the first time Kelsey will be truly on her own, since she moved directly from her parents’ home to her boyfriend’s. She has a lot to learn, and we’ll get to watch her figure it all out on screen.

She video calls Liz – and what looks like Liz’s bobcat – to discuss their breakup, explaining that the relationship had simply reached its natural end. She admits it was always a bit unusual, but she also discovered he was involved with more people than she initially knew. It’s frustrating when you find out your boyfriend is cheating, especially with someone besides his other girlfriend, right? Throughout the surprisingly intense conversation, Liz continues a facial treatment with a red-light therapy device. Talk about multitasking! Liz’s only question is, “Who will remove the seeds from the lemons?” This question really hits Kelsey hard. The thought of losing her boyfriend’s staff – and with it, the convenience of having someone de-seed her lemons – makes her question her decision. But she knows it’s time to move on, and she’ll have to find a way to manage. Maybe she could just buy lemons without seeds?

This episode features a shocking breakup and the show’s first cast trip, planned by Alicia and Liz. Surprisingly, the destination is… still Rhode Island! The ladies are heading just 30 minutes away to Newport, a drive Alicia apparently isn’t willing to make. It’s a short trip comparable to the Real Housewives of New Jersey going to Englewood, or the RHONY cast visiting Queens. However, their accommodations are luxurious – Seaview Terrace, a historic castle, and conveniently owned by someone Liz knows. It seems everyone in Rhode Island is connected!

When the twenty-nine women arrived at the castle, they surprisingly settled in without any arguments over rooms. Soon, they changed and headed outside for a tea party—but this wasn’t an ordinary one. Alicia had brought her collection of dolls, giving each woman a doll to join them at the table, which thoughtfully included miniature high chairs. When Jo-Ellen asked Alicia why she’d brought them, Alicia explained that girls have always connected with baby dolls, going back “billions of years.” While the timeline might be a bit of an exaggeration, it feels like Alicia has a unique insight. And it’s clear she’s referencing the opening lines of the Barbie movie—a true film buff!

One doll is missing from the group – Rulla. It’s not a shock, considering she’s known for being unreliable. She didn’t respond to Alicia’s call, and while everyone else dismisses it as typical Rulla behavior, Jo-Ellen seizes the moment to criticize her. She claims Rulla’s absence is incredibly disrespectful, though she insists she still feels sorry for her. Liz doesn’t buy Jo-Ellen’s supposed concern for Rulla. Meanwhile, Alicia asks everyone to stop dwelling on Brian’s flaws, as she’s clearly committed to him despite his infidelity. She says, “There’s no need to keep pointing out what a terrible person he is; she’s already made her choice.”

After a quick scene of Alicia searching the property with a metal detector, the women come together for dinner. But, as is typical for this show, there’s a twist. Liz has provided masquerade masks, hoping the women will use them as a chance to be honest and reveal more about themselves. Honestly, after watching them for so long, it feels like we already know everything! Still, I’m happy to watch if it means hearing Alicia attempt to say the word “facade.”

Everyone at the event received masks similar to those in the movie Eyes Wide Shut – a surprisingly sophisticated reference, considering it wasn’t a typical Disney Channel film, as Kelsey pointed out. But Ashley’s mask was the absolute highlight. Instead of something elaborate or fancy, it was just a plain plastic face covering her entire face, which led to some incredibly funny moments and reactions.

Jo-Ellen started the conversation – it felt more like sharing vulnerabilities than a game – by revealing she didn’t feel loved as a child and had been sent to a strict behavioral program. Liz then talked about the abandonment she felt after her mother’s death, explaining it contributed to her guarded personality. Ashley, in a surprisingly moving moment, expressed feeling like something bad must happen to her because she’s never experienced a major hardship, and she actually cried over not having a tragic backstory. I found her honesty incredibly touching.

Kelsey surprised Rosie by revealing she’d recently broken up with her boyfriend. She also mentioned they’re still on good terms, and he continues to financially support her – covering her health insurance, car insurance, and rent. Kelsey feels this is fair, and honestly, it makes sense. Moving out on her own would be a huge adjustment, so a slow transition seems best – especially until everyone has access to affordable healthcare.

Alicia recounted a difficult childhood experience where her father sold their house, forcing them to live with her grandmother. However, Liz disagreed, stating they weren’t actually homeless and she didn’t want to misrepresent their situation to others. While it initially seemed like Liz was overstepping, she later explained she was concerned Alicia might come across as out of touch, referencing criticism Bethenny Frankel received for once describing a period between apartments as being ‘homeless’.

Overall, the game night went well despite one awkward moment. Afterwards, Kelsey told Rosie that Rosie’s admission of being shy felt like the first truly honest thing she’d said, which immediately upset Rosie. Kelsey insisted it was meant as a compliment, but surprisingly, the other women sided with Kelsey, thinking Rosie was overreacting. Ashley and I were the only ones who saw how subtly insulting Kelsey’s “compliment” really was. Later, when Rosie asked for examples of when she’d been dishonest, Kelsey claimed Rosie had lied about the size of her house and the reasons for leaving her job.

Rosie strongly denies faking her illness, and even tries to calculate how much time she’s spent away from work to prove she left due to her colitis. It’s unusual for the Housewives to start questioning each other’s health so quickly, but it seems things are different in Rhode Island. Rosie notes that Kelsey is only criticizing her for things Kelsey lacks – a home, a husband, and a job. Ultimately, though, it seems like these two simply don’t get along, which makes for great entertainment.

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2026-05-04 06:58