The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Waiting To Exhale

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Initially, as the new season began, I harbored a tentative sense of hope regarding the revival’s progress. The women appeared eager to perform, the fresh faces had compelling personal stories, and Gizelle seemed to have embraced her role as a team player according to instructions. However, after fifteen episodes, I find myself puzzled about how we can bring this season to a satisfying conclusion.

Without a doubt, the main conflict revolves around the question that has become a constant tabloid topic: Mia Thornton’s relationship status – is she with Inc or Gordon? Furthermore, there is concern about her children’s whereabouts and well-being. Many wonder why she continues to subject them to this public drama.

However, despite the extensive coverage this storyline has received, the answers appear surprisingly straightforward: Mia is in a troubled marriage and seeks to exact revenge on her ex for ratings; her children should not be used as mere entertainment fodder, yet she seems oblivious to the potential repercussions of the ongoing paternity dispute. For all the commotion this story causes, the resolution appears as clear-cut as Karen’s DUI conviction.

Leaving Mia’s narrative aside, what remains is a rather lackluster series. Karen’s DUI storyline won’t provide a fulfilling climax on screen until next season since she won’t be present at the reunion. Gizelle is focusing on her children’s college preparations and managing their wills and estates. Keiarna’s relationship with Greg feels as exciting as a regular dental check-up. Stacey’s budding romance with TJ fails to spark interest, not even when she advertises it herself on QVC. The show seems to be running low on engaging plots, devoting entire scenes to (1) Wendy’s flat tire and (2) speculating whether Karen is depressed or using Ozempic. Despite her denials, Karen confirmed that she is indeed taking Ozempic, albeit in the most irritating manner possible, by only acknowledging that she takes “semaglutide” as a pre-diabetic — which is simply the active ingredient in Ozempic.

In certain aspects, Ashley’s drag king performance mirrors the disorderly condition of the Potomac River towards the end of the season: it’s somewhat chaotic, lacking structure, and doesn’t seem to have a central theme beyond appearing on camera and crossing fingers for success. Sporting a Danny Zuko wig and drawing a five o’clock shadow onto her face, Ashley takes the stage, dancing enthusiastically with anyone who allows it. The expressions of Uncle Lump and Co. as their niece lip-synchs are much like the constant bewilderment I feel while watching another episode of this season: somewhat puzzled about what is unfolding, and utterly mystified by the intended outcome.

Despite our progress in challenging Mia’s tyranny, I find myself lacking excitement about it. Although I am eager to see her receive her due punishment, the prolonged build-up has left me feeling underwhelmed by the sudden escalation. After all the hardships we’ve faced, a single confrontation between Karen and Gizelle against Mia regarding inconsistencies in her child’s paternity, divorce status, and custodial relationship with Gordon barely scratches the surface of my expectations. I yearn for a full-blown showdown reminiscent of the OK Corral to justify our struggles, but we are not there just yet.

Among the scenes this week that stood out, it was particularly intriguing when Gordon and Ray engaged in a heart-to-heart talk. This conversation seemed to suggest that the producers had to piece together this episode using any leftover scenes they could find. Both Gordon and Ray are men of their age, grappling with similar life situations: They’ve been accustomed to being the center of attention, but now find themselves in supporting roles as their partners take on primary income responsibilities. Furthermore, both have married divorcées younger than them and are navigating the complexities of blended families. Given their shared experiences, it’s no surprise that they could relate to each other so well; indeed, they seem to communicate in a way that suggests they understand each other’s struggles.

Both Gordon and Ray are married to partners who lack accountability, a trait that allows them to irritate one another effectively. Ray hesitantly confesses that Karen has already purchased a new car shortly after totaling the previous one on the road. Both Mia and Karen have a reputation for dishonesty, and if anyone understands how a housewife’s desire to maintain a certain image can impact the family, it would be Ray Huger.

It quickly becomes clear that Gordon’s perspective on the matter doesn’t match up with Mia’s, which isn’t surprising. Notably, Gordon acknowledges that his bipolar disorder has affected their marriage to a point where they require counseling. We should understand and accept this, despite its potential lack of clarity in the media. Despite his ongoing challenges, however, Mia has not been truthful about the rumored infidelities, child custody issues, or the sequence of the paternity test results. What raises most concern is Mia repeatedly expressing her concerns about Gordon when he’s with the kids, while he maintains that he’s had primary care for most of their co-parenting time.

At the drag brunch, when Karen and Gizelle present Mia with the information about her family situation, Mia remains evasive, unwilling to disclose specific details, even though she maintains that the women should support her. Instead of addressing the issue, Mia counters by casting doubt on the credibility of the messenger, implying that Karen is an unreliable source due to her past as a drunk and multiple infidelity allegations. Despite this, Karen persists in her accusations against Mia, seemingly oblivious to her own questionable past. To everyone’s anticipation, Gizelle calling Mia a liar while wearing one of her eccentric hats falls short of the expected impact. In order to hold Mia accountable and ensure she can’t escape during the reunion, we need to find a way to corner her effectively with irrefutable evidence.

The chaos continues next week. See you all then!

Cherry Blossoms

• Despite my acceptance of Jacqueline’s tendency to be incredibly awkward, I was still taken aback when she appeared on camera wearing one of those cheap cut-out bodysuits commonly found on Amazon. Neither Jacqueline nor Mia are doing an effective job at convincing viewers that their “we’re sisters, not strippers” narrative is genuine.

In this version, the sentence structure and vocabulary have been adjusted to make it more natural and easier to read, while still conveying the same meaning as the original statement.

Mostly, I’ve assumed Stacey’s cluelessness is an act for her character, but her discussion about her divorce this time left me truly puzzled. She’s finally taking action she should have years ago by hiring a lawyer for her separation, yet she’s resisting legal advice and abandoning a child support claim on the belief that her ex will always do the right thing – which is utterly illogical, given that 15 years back, she was certain they’d stay together forever. I generally advocate trusting your instincts, but not when it puts you in a vulnerable position without help when you need it most.

In the Housewives series, there’s an intriguing instance where the ladies often speak about their family members, like Keiarna’s fiancé Greg, who are hesitant or uninterested in filming. This has been a recurring topic when it comes to casting choices. I ponder if the producers are intentionally capturing this tension on camera; maybe they hope that by doing so, they can distract us from demanding those fantasy lineups we always ask for. Yet, I don’t think it will deter us, but it’s a laudable attempt.

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2025-01-20 19:57