The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: Utterly Clueless

As a seasoned observer of human behavior, I must say that this group dynamic is as puzzling as a Rubik’s cube on a stormy sea. Jenna seems to be the only one truly trying to keep things light and fun, which is a refreshing change in a world often clouded by drama and tension.


What seems to be the issue between Erin Mew Mew Lichy and Jenna? I’m genuinely curious as I can’t seem to understand why Erin appears upset with Jenna. If Jenna hasn’t done anything wrong, then why is Erin badmouthing her within their friend circle? It’s quite puzzling. It’s almost as perplexing as hosting a Clueless-themed birthday party and not wearing the classic yellow plaid miniskirt outfit. Jessel, I thought that was reserved for you on your special day – why didn’t you follow through?

The episode initiates with adorable home settings, featuring Pavit donning glasses, which, to be frank, had an impact on me… if you catch my drift. You see, I have a soft spot for boys who wear glasses. Ever since Sai mentioned he resembled Dory from Finding Nemo, that thought lingered, but now we have the charming Pavit in glasses to replace it. I’d travel as far as Vietnam and back for a meal with him.

That said, the two of them are hilarious together, and I would hate to break up their marriage. Jessel tells him that she will change her clothes a few times at her party, and he asks, “Why?” He thinks it’s silly and a waste of money. Um, no! It’s her birthday party. It is her big day. Let her shine. Let her change 20 times if she wants to. I love how, at the party, Brynn says, “Why are we doing outfit changes? It seems like a production.” Can you imagine what kind of birthday brat Brynn was in her 20s? I feel like she would have put the early seasons of Stassi Schroeder to shame. Brynn is the type of girl who didn’t have a birthday week or a birthday month, she had a whole birthday quarter. “Sorry, I won’t be in at all during Q3 because it’s my birthday. You’ll get me the nine other months of the year.”

Discussing Sai, she often spends time at her tranquil yet exclusive residence in Tuxedo Park, accompanied by her husband, children, and aunt Sufia. According to Sai, if it were up to her spouse, they’d reside there permanently, but she prefers the sound of sirens and rude awakenings to feel secure. I can relate to Sai. Upon relocating to London, our abode was on a serene, tree-lined road, which was eerily quiet at night, making it difficult for me to sleep. The foxes’ howls were what I longed for instead. It’s fascinating that London houses urban foxes, and their mating call resembles the cries of a wounded infant. What I yearned for most was the tumultuous noise of New York City.

In another version, it goes like this: Instead of explaining, Sai chooses to accompany her mother to the countryside and plant a tree for her while scattering some of her remains in the soil. Sufia expresses her affection for her late sister Barbara in a simple yet profound manner by gathering a handful of ashes and placing them in the ground. You’re not the only one tearing up! When prompted to say something, Sai finds it impossible due to her overwhelming sorrow, instead choosing to gaze into the hole silently. I don’t believe that Sai is as wretched as others may portray; rather, she struggles to express emotions, so anger seems to be her only comfort zone. Perhaps therapy can aid with that. Eventually, Sufia, functioning as a reality show producer, asks Sai about the significance of this tree. “New life,” she responds, which offers some closure. Fortunately, the emotional outburst subsides, but Sufia, inadvertently, smears her sooty hands on everyone’s garments. Bye, Sooty!

There’s an interesting scene where Ubah encounters Racquel, sporting glasses that are both trendy and quirky, reminiscent of Pavit’s pair. To describe her skirt is a challenge, as it appears to be a denim outfit transformed into something unconventional, with the denim torn and revealing fur patches that resemble a skirt. It’s an unusual garment, one you might see at Dover Street Market and think, “That’s unique, but who would dare wear it?” Yet, Racquel confidently claims she could pull it off, and indeed, she can.

As a movie critic, I must express my enthusiasm for Racquel in this fifth episode. According to the Eileen Davidson Accords, it’s now official: she’s cool! Racquel exudes an infectious charm, coming across as authentic, fashionable, and an absolute delight to spend time with. Her girlfriend, Mel, adds an extra layer of appeal, someone I’d turn to in emotional distress, knowing she’d protect me from any troubles. They seem like the perfect duo.

In addition to appreciating Racquel’s perspective during her confessionals about Ubah, I find it intriguing. Ubah expresses her discomfort due to Brynn discussing the portrayal of Ubah as an “angry black woman.” Racquel points out that Brynn provoked her anger and then criticized Ubah’s response. However, I admire how Racquel supported Brynn in their disagreement about Ubah’s argumentative style and her tendency to interrupt others when they try to speak up. It appears that Ubah needs an outlet for her feelings, but when others attempt to add their thoughts, she tends to silence them. This is the essence of what Brynn meant when she said she’s fed up with Ubah constantly saying “no” repeatedly. It seems quite challenging, and it looks like Ubah excels at expressing frustration but struggles to accept constructive criticism.

During a shopping trip with Erin and Jessel, Brynn casually mentions that Sai is like a troll living under the Brooklyn Bridge – a comment she’s been holding onto for some time. It’s also the moment when Erin expresses her frustrations towards Jenna. Erin reveals that she’s been struggling recently, and Jenna hasn’t been as supportive as she should be. When Erin learns that Jenna had lunch with Sai (someone who, let’s not forget, is part of her job), she perceives Jenna as insincere because she chose to dine with someone who criticized her instead of checking in on Erin about her children’s playdate.

It’s unclear to me why Jenna is being labeled as “insincere” or “dishonest.” After all, the term “fake” in a Housewives context can be tricky because it’s hard to verify its truth. I don’t see how Jenna being friendly with both Erin and Sai, despite their different behaviors towards her, makes her fake. It might be frustrating if she’s applying a double standard, but calling her “fake” seems like an overstatement to me.

Jessel’s “Clueless”-themed bash was truly enjoyable. Brynn and Sai nailed their roles as Dionne, but the standout costume of the evening belonged to Jenna, who donned Mel, Cher’s father, attire complete with a chunky cell phone reminiscent of Zach Morris. She spent the night “suing” everyone at the party – she accused Jessel of “libeling Christmas,” Brynn of “overexposure,” and Erin of “damaging Pavlova.” Honestly, Jenna is putting in effort here. She’s fully committed to her character, bringing laughter, and attempting to enjoy herself. It’s a shame the other ladies aren’t picking up what she’s putting down.

At the gathering, Erin expresses her frustration towards Jenna, stating that Jenna “really gets on my nerves.” This is due to Jenna’s lack of communication rather than any intentional annoyance. It’s possible to feel disappointed by Jenna’s actions without finding them annoying in a profound sense.

Brynn is finding trouble with Jenna due to her discomfort over Jenna’s growing friendship with Sai. Directly expressing her feelings to Jenna, Brynn makes it clear she doesn’t appreciate Jenna associating with someone who has been unkind to her. Jenna will respond to this feedback appropriately, as that’s how genuine people handle such situations. In the meantime, Erin is gossiping about Jenna from a distance on a couch, oblivious to the fact that they have a disagreement going on. That’s how real-life friendships can sometimes work out. They communicate their concerns face-to-face.

As soon as Jenna engages in conversation with Abe, he reveals that Jenna and Erin seem to have some lingering disagreements. This revelation leaves Jenna utterly shocked, causing her to repeatedly tap on her old cell phone in disbelief. She verifies the connection multiple times, asking “Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?” Eventually, Jenna approaches Erin to check on her well-being. Erin responds that she’s perfectly fine but admits she feels differently about their friendship. In essence, Erin has been discussing her issues with numerous individuals, yet when confronted, she claims to be just fine. If she truly is fine, then why does she continue to bring up the subject?

Erin gives Jenna this whole speech about how when she’s friends with someone, she will be there with them until the end. Oh, so when Erin told everyone about Jenna not wanting to fly coach on the cast trip last season, that was her having Jenna’s back? Got it. Erin keeps on saying that she’s good, she’s fine, she doesn’t have a problem. It sure seems like she does because she has sucked everyone at the party, including Pavit’s glasses, into her orbit of discontent, and she’s also not offering anyone a way out of it. She is asking for grace but giving Jenna absolutely none of it.

When Erin eventually shares her concerns with Jenna, Jenna admits that she’s been preoccupied and not great at staying in touch, particularly with regular check-ins and quick messages that Erin requires. However, now that she’s informed, Jenna promises to improve. Some viewers argue that the show is low on drama, and they might be right to some extent, but this isn’t the kind of drama we’re looking for. This is a drama that could have been avoided if Erin had communicated her feelings directly to the person causing her distress. What particularly upsets Erin is the possibility that Jenna may have believed Brynn’s story about Erin claiming to be poor. Erin explains that when Brynn noticed them growing closer, she decided to sabotage their friendship by spreading false rumors. However, it seems odd that Erin isn’t angry at Brynn. If she is upset with Brynn, why is she venting her frustration on Jenna? Once more, I question: what is Erin’s predicament? Surprisingly, I reconsider my stance. If these are the issues Erin will deal with, I’d prefer not to be informed about them anymore.

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2024-10-30 06:55