The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Unfriendly Black Hotties

As a longtime observer of reality television, I must say, this season at Lake Norman has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Watching Karen’s downfall is like watching a trainwreck in slow motion – tragic yet captivating. It’s as if she’s forgotten the cameras are rolling, transforming her usual theatrics into a series of blustering, malicious rants. Mia, on the other hand, has shown an impressive ability to meet Karen at her level and sling mud right back – it’s refreshing, really.


Although last week’s cliffhanger promised an action-packed continuation, this week’s episode takes a more leisurely approach. However, this slower pace offers a unique opportunity for in-depth character analysis as we delve deeper into the individual and collective dynamics of the cast before the next significant event unfolds. In this case, a closer look at all the female characters reveals that some of the more experienced ones have grown complacent, leaning too heavily on their past achievements. The arrival of new faces seems to bring out their most competitive and catty tendencies.

Interestingly, among the group, Gizelle stands out as the most cooperative member. Despite being upset by Karen’s actions during their competitions, she tactfully voices her displeasure and then moves on from the subject. She maintains a friendly relationship with Wendy, even respecting her desire to minimize drama before her 40th birthday. This new, more accommodating side of Gizelle is a refreshing shift this season – it’s unclear if her change in attitude is due to Robyn’s dismissal or something else, but it’s enjoyable to see a Gizelle who can still create a stir without being overly confrontational.

In simpler terms, the only instance where she appears harsh is when she joins the group’s criticism towards newcomer Stacey. At first glance, the other girls seem to struggle to connect with Stacey, and their descriptions like “boring” or “stiff” don’t seem fitting based on what we’ve seen so far. I personally find her more quirky and corny, but perhaps the group’s dismissal is just a part of initiation for new members. There’s a hint that Stacey shares some similarities with another contestant, Kenya Moore, who also faced criticism for being too friendly too quickly. For now, Stacey seems to be handling the feedback gracefully, which is all one can expect at this stage.

I’m curious about her commitment to not fly this month, given that the drive from DC to Charlotte isn’t too arduous. Could it be that she avoids any bicoastal work during this period? Although I understand the significance of honoring a family member who had a plane accident, is this a habit she adopted from someone else? Honestly, I’ve never come across anything similar before.

she’s indecisive, impulsive, and inconsistent in her ideas or persona. It seems like she’s becoming more stable this season, but it’s surprising it took so long for people to realize. However, when it comes to the trip’s drama, Wendy isn’t as vocal as usual, except for sparking an unusual love triangle involving Jassi, Jacqueline, and Mia that borders on being a sidekick or sidekick situation.

I’m holding off on passing judgment about the new cast members until the Eileen Davidson Accords embargo lifts next week. However, Jacqueline, who we’ve interacted with in some capacity for our third season, has left me more puzzled than ever regarding her role and relationship with Mia. Last season, their falling out was brutal, leading to damaging allegations against each other. Although they reconciled, their relationship now seems strangely possessive and slightly incestuous, causing raised eyebrows in the past. Even a joke about Jacqueline being Mia’s best sidekick doesn’t help clarify things. Why are they competing over who is the number one sidekick? Why are they sharing a bed again in such a large house? It’s all quite peculiar and confusing, and Mia only makes it worse by implying that Jacqueline is insecure and territorial about their dynamic to anyone they meet. This behavior pops up in unexpected places: when Mia’s friends share old memories, Jacqueline feels compelled to remind us of her older memories with Mia. When Jacqueline announced she was the “main course,” I winced. I can’t figure out what or who she is trying to prove with these moments, but they are awkward, embarrassing, and just not landing well.

Concerning Mia, I usually ignore her mixed truths and falsehoods as long as they don’t cause much disturbance. However, I want her to clarify for me the sequence of events that led to her existence – is she from Washington D.C., Miami, or Charlotte? It seems like she has hinted at all three on different occasions, leaving me even more perplexed. Despite this confusion, Mia arranged a delightful escape for us – personal attendants, meals prepared in advance, and scheduled activities – which felt like an effort to compensate for the messy Miami trip she managed earlier. In the end, they’re situated in a Charlotte suburb, limiting the range of available activities, but she made an attempt to make it enjoyable nonetheless!

Mia aims to stir trouble with Karen, who appears crankier and more aggressive than usual on this trip. In every scene, Karen’s face seems fixed in an expression of disgust or displeasure. She finds it difficult to hide her annoyance during the women’s attempts to avoid drama during Wendy’s birthday celebration, as all her televised celebrations have been disastrous. Despite the facts not supporting her, Karen is ready for a confrontation with Gizelle over their competing events. Mia’s weak efforts to get Karen to express remorse and regret in their private conversation in the Sprinter fall on deaf ears, with Karen refusing to admit she was wrong, even though she shouted that she “could have died” in the previous episode, which gives the impression of self-serving behavior.

Among all her moments, Karen’s most harsh and unforgiving one was when she viciously attacked Jacqueline for merely mentioning one of Karen’s long-standing habits – drunk dialing friends and sharing random thoughts. This behavior is not a recent discovery; Gizelle, Robyn, and even Charrisse have called her out on it in the past. If Jacqueline did indeed fabricate the incident, which I find unlikely, Karen’s venomous reaction far surpasses any potential offense. Her relentless aggression leaves Jacqueline in tears, to which Karen responds callously, “You can cry till the cows come home, I don’t care.” This shocking moment reveals Karen as a person who is ready to abandon anyone she deems unnecessary for her own survival.

Karen may boast about being an extraordinary marvel, but her actions currently resemble a catastrophic event: chaotic, inevitable, and harmful not only to herself but also to others. It’s disconcerting to see her lash out against those trying to hold her accountable for her conduct, which turns her dramatic flair into belligerent, malicious tirades. At its best, it’s unsightly; at its worst, it’s downright cruel. This behavior is surprising given Karen’s apparent understanding of how her actions would be perceived on camera and the loyal fanbase she has built over time. Instead of embodying the grace of a grand dame, she seems more like a jester in the court. It’s difficult to witness her decline, particularly at the hands of Mia, who is prepared to match Karen’s tactics and hurl insults to put her back in check.

Following a day filled with Karen’s questionable behavior, Mia decides to teach her a lesson. She invites a mutual friend they had previously gone out with, revealing that Karen had once drunkenly called them both accidentally, and inadvertently disclosed she was spending time with someone other than Ray. The blue-eyes storyline resurfaces strongly, and it seems Karen won’t be able to dodge these accusations this time.

Next week the drama at Lake Norman continues. See you all then!

Cherry Blossoms:

• Serious question: why is Ashley so broke? She’s constantly doing hosting appearances, trying to get this business off the ground, and making it sound like she’s robbing Peter to pay Paul and keep up her lifestyle, and it doesn’t really add up. She’s nine seasons into her tenure as main cast on a major reality show — that is a good high-six figure check. I would assume she gets minimum 10-25K per hosting gig. Her not-quite-ex is handling the house. Where is her money going? It can’t all be the manufacturing costs of the spandex tights for GnA. Are her kids in some elite private school or something? I am perplexed at the state of her finances.

• I don’t know what y’all consider funny anecdotes between friends, but what comes to mind is a prank gone wrong or embarrassing injuries that we can laugh about – not my man sucking my toes at the dinner table. I cannot get the image of Incs tiny hands caressing Mia’s gargantuan feet out of my head and am seriously forever scarred.

It’s clear that opinions on Stacey’s friend TJ are divided, but it surprises me that numerous women are causing such a stir about celibacy, given that many of them identify as religious Christians. When Gizelle compared TJ to Jamal, I was shocked – wasn’t Jamal’s excessive sexual behavior a significant factor in their marital issues? This season seems to lack self-reflection. (Paraphrased)

Kudos to Mia for skillfully managing the usual mess of room arrangements in the house – I’ve never been fond of it, finding it a juvenile charade typical of the series. Frankly, I wouldn’t appreciate having to share a bunk bed during what’s supposed to be a luxury getaway. However, given that this is a family home and I presume this room is for the children, I can understand that space was limited due to the larger-than-usual cast this year.

Each time these women discuss their relationships with their male partners, they frequently share details with a sense of pride, but to me, it sounds like they’re overlooking obvious warning signs. I’m puzzled by your statement that you’re assisting his business and he’s publicly referring to you as an employee. It also seems strange to me that you’ve had to give yourself a lofty title while taking on most of the additional responsibilities, allowing him to remain relatively unburdened. If you’re seeking new interests or more work, why not consider pursuing further education like many other Black women experiencing personal transformation?

Beyond the theatrics, it’s reassuring to learn that Gordon is prioritizing his mental wellbeing. It’s hard to picture how these tumultuous personal circumstances could be beneficial, but it seems Mia has been masking Gordon’s impulsive actions for quite some time, which might have played a role in his exit from the family business.

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2024-10-28 05:54