The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: A Mother’s Love

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As a long-time observer of the Housewives franchise and a mother of two myself, I must say that this season of Potomac has left me utterly astounded at Mia’s actions. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion – you know it’s going to be terrible, but you just can’t look away.

In the world of Housewives, two unchanging rules often hold true: (1) The conflicts portrayed on-screen in shows like Housewives are usually just surface-level disagreements masking deeper power struggles unfolding behind the scenes, a fact emphasized by Brian Moylan numerous times. (2) It’s best to avoid discussing or speculating about parenting matters, as this can lead to conflicts that mirror a small war. Some franchises, like New Jersey, sometimes push these boundaries, appearing ready to attack each other’s family lines at any moment. However, meddling in parenting is generally considered the equivalent of declaring war. This season on Potomac, though, the cast appears to be increasingly crossing this boundary – and based on this episode and future previews, it seems the ladies from DMV are dangerously close to discarding Mia’s bathwater along with the proverbial baby.

In essence, it seems that the women in the Potomac group, particularly Wendy, are often pressured to uphold an image of respectability and domesticity. For instance, Wendy, despite celebrating her 40th birthday over four consecutive episodes, was hesitant to inform her mother about her decision to pause her academic pursuits (which she later resumed at Wesleyan). It’s understandable if one might find it a bit awkward to reach middle age while still fearing their mother’s disapproval when deviating from preconceived expectations. As for myself, I can relate as my mom doesn’t fully grasp how I earn a living since leaving the corporate world, often viewing me as unemployed due to her lack of understanding of internet-based work. Fortunately, Wendy’s mother accepted the news gracefully, recognizing that her daughter with four degrees has numerous opportunities available. This situation, however, underscores the fact that many in the cast, including Wendy, are constrained by the desire to maintain a specific image.

If someone recognizes themselves in this situation, it’s likely Gizelle Bryant, a woman who has spent her life pursuing an artificial ideal of Black upper-classness, being the daughter of a politician and former First Lady of the Church. Gizelle battles against the trap set by these experiences. Although she is instrumental to the show’s success, her unwavering adherence to this superficial standard of Black society leads to her personal struggles, such as her ongoing singledom and troubled marriage with Jamal Bryant – these issues serve as material for the storyline. Interestingly, despite her own struggle to escape this standard, Gizelle expresses a desire for her daughters to rise above it, engaging in open discussions about dating and finances so they won’t face the same challenges as some of her fellow cast members who are in their 40s and unaware of managing their finances. Dealing with financial matters after a family member’s passing can be contentious. Gizelle attempts to educate her daughters on how her ongoing efforts to settle her late father’s will – which I strongly suspect is complicated by disagreements with his wife that she rarely discusses publicly – have motivated her to protect her daughters’ financial future from potential issues arising from Jamal’s actions. Unfortunately, many family members (especially women) are left out of these discussions until it’s too late for any intervention; Gizelle consistently demonstrates examples of how to break this cycle for her children, even if she struggles to follow her own advice.

Watching these specific approaches to family planning and parental conversations only reinforces how confounding it is that Mia insists on taking us through her melodrama without a hint of self-awareness of how it all comes off. Mia seems determined to rope as many people into her chaos as much as possible, consequences be damned. This week, the target of the day is Keiarna, who she just mocked for being partnered with a social worker. Now that speaking about mental health is relevant to her story, she is reaching out to Keiarna, a woman with no formal training in mental-health counseling or diagnoses, to help validate the story she is trying to paint. It is a bizarre choice amongst the litany of decisions Mia has made this season that defy logic. Keiarna has barely been on the show for four weeks; in what capacity could she corroborate your husband’s mental health, dangerous behavior, and impact on your family? And why is she the only one to get verbal confirmation this season that this paternity debacle is sensationalized, and you don’t believe Inc is the father of your child?

Keiarna warned Mia that she should organize her personal life before pursuing a new relationship, but Mia wasn’t there to listen – she just wanted evidence to use against Gordon on TV. She found what she was looking for when Keiarna mentioned an Open Arms checklist for manic episodes, which she probably took from Greg’s desk. Equipped with her arguments, Mia went back to film at home, where she grilled Gordon with this information while also discussing her personal issues on camera for the first time, much to the confusion of her son. Her daughter quietly expressed concerns about the new man in her life, making it clear that despite what she says, Mia is prioritizing her TV career over protecting her children’s privacy. It’s shocking to see Mia struggle at every turn to show that she cares about her kids or acts in their best interests, and I can’t wait to see Gizelle set up a major confrontation as this continues. See you all next week!

Cherry Blossoms

In this episode, Gizelle and Ashley participated in a speed dating event. Typically, these setups don’t appeal to me because it feels like the participants are performing for the camera, with awkward introductions where they claim they’ve never researched each other online or aspire to be actors, influencers, or constant attendees at D-list celebrity events sponsored by liquor brands. Even though these men might have been chosen through a production process, neither Gizelle nor Ashley seemed unaware of the situation they were in. Interestingly, both women ended up with men who fit the types they usually date. Gizelle found herself a man fitting the Black D.C. stereotype, complete with a well-tailored suit; I’m confident he hasn’t missed a single Congressional Black Caucus after-party in the past four years. Ashley picked someone reminiscent of Napoleon Dynamite, and we can celebrate that her suitor is under 50 years old.

• I try my best to veer away from turning every recap into an episode of Nancy Grace, but Karen Huger is making it quite difficult. We have now moved from grieving her parents to having Ray get on-camera to corroborate that their marriage was going through real struggles at the time of the incident and that he has been stepping up for her since — a fact that has been obvious since Ray has had to be her personal butler throughout the season. I don’t doubt that Ray is resentful that he doesn’t have the financial freedom to jet off to whatever older folks’ social club on Delray Beach he had fantasized about lining up for post-retirement — it has been obvious to anyone who has watched the show in the last three years. But these conversations feel shockingly forced — Karen is scrambling to squeeze in a sympathy play and runs out of Housewives to help entertain these antics. It is getting more and more awkward to watch, and I am fully ready for us to move past this.

As the scenes featuring Stacey and TJ continue, my patience wears thin. Regardless of TJ’s vow of chastity, I yearn for something more – courtship, romance, a spark that goes beyond mere spiritual guidance. It’s hard to believe that a woman who claims to be unacquainted with modern bills is captivated by frozen DiGiorno’s pizza and Squirt soda served in a wine glass. Frankly, I find the whole spectacle distressing. TJ may be correct that sex doesn’t solve problems, but it seems clear that Stacey yearns for physical intimacy, while TJ appears more interested in being her spiritual advisor than a romantic partner. Whatever their situation, I find myself cringing on their behalf.

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2024-12-09 22:55