Real Housewives of New York City Finale Recap: Sisterhood of the Traveling Facts

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Oh dear, my sister. There’s no denying that the reality TV series Housewives has landed me in some awkward situations before, but this one seems particularly tricky. Who’s telling the truth? Who can recall events accurately? Was what we witnessed truly what transpired? Can we trust the women’s accounts when there’s limited footage available? And among all the topics we could be debating on this program, it’s disheartening that we find ourselves discussing sexual assault.

As a devoted film lover, I’ve always maintained that these shows aren’t designed for tackling deep, heavy topics head-on. Don’t get me wrong – there have been moments when the series has shown remarkable depth, like when Erin courageously shared her abortion experience earlier in the season (which almost won my admiration). We’ve also delved into tough issues such as Taylor Armstrong’s abuse and her husband’s tragic suicide, several Housewives being arrested for fraud, and that harrowing incident involving Shannon Beador and the enema. These subjects were undeniably challenging, yet we pressed on.

However, now we find ourselves embroiled in a legal dispute regarding Ubah’s knowledge of Brynn’s sexual assault, which inevitably leads to speculation about what Brynn is going through as people question the validity of that assault. This isn’t just testing our limits; it’s delving into territory that makes for uncomfortable viewing.

To begin with, let’s make clear some guidelines we’ll follow. There’s no doubt in my mind, nor in the rest of the team’s, that Brynn was sexually assaulted. It’s unfortunate that such a question may arise due to doubts about Brynn’s credibility. However, Brynn has already been through enough, so let’s avoid discussing her trustworthiness. I stand with women, and I believe them wholeheartedly, even going as far as believing Selena Gomez when she says she can act, and watching every single murder in that building, along with Emilia Pérez twice. Therefore, we will support Brynn’s story.

It’s been noted by many women, including myself, that I share the doubt about Ubah being aware of Brynn being raped. Perhaps Brynn discussed it during their phone call and Ubah missed the cues, or maybe Brynn fabricated the story for dramatic effect. The truth is unclear. Nevertheless, the series and fellow women suggest this could be a recurring behavior from Brynn, twisting off-camera events to her advantage. For instance, she claimed Erin said Sai found her cheese odd, that Pavit wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, that Erin said Jenna was poor, and that Erin involved her in Boring Becky’s Boring Baby Bump Prankapolooza. It’s a pattern that the show highlights.

Everything here aligns perfectly. Everyone aware of Brynn understands her delicate bond with truthfulness, and frankly, I consider that an admirable trait in a friend. I, too, have a confidant who’s been creative with facts for quite some time. It doesn’t alter my opinion of them; it merely encourages me to fact-check their statements. However, this situation seems different; it appears more significant, potentially revealing aspects of Ubah’s character.

As a devoted fan, I must say that the latest episode of Housewives took an utterly unpredictable turn, to put it mildly. The house was buzzing with conflict, which escalated significantly when Ubah refused to apologize for spreading rumors about Brynn sleeping with someone to get her job. This became particularly troubling when Brynn tearfully revealed that Ubah continued these accusations even after she had been raped.

However, the sequence of events is not straightforward; the ladies choose to retire for the night, and the cameras follow suit. It’s during this lull that Ubah erupts in a fit of anger about the revelation, leaving us viewers to witness only a single, malfunctioning camera at the end of the hallway.

Funnily enough, this is the very same camera that was still filming on the porch during the Bolo party on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. It’s high time that camera receives an additional pension and calls it a day. Its service has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Instead of Ubah being so upset that she and Jessel leave the house to stay in a hotel, they choose to temporarily vacate their home due to their emotional state. The remaining women gather in Jenna’s room to listen as Brynn discusses her experience with sexual assault. At the conclusion of this discussion, Brynn reportedly says, according to Erin, “Perhaps I didn’t fully grasp it at first.” This realization prompts all the women to reconsider Brynn and everything she has shared throughout the two seasons. It becomes clear to me, and I can see why they would feel that way. The strangeness intensifies for everyone in the morning when Brynn behaves as if nothing significant had transpired.

For the remainder of this episode, attention shifts towards filming the show’s opening sequence, a part I adore as it underscores the authenticity of reality television. Now, they aren’t just friends; they’re colleagues who must endure awkward situations with a known deceiver, like sharing a bob-for-apples game together. (Notably, the seamless blending of each woman’s intro footage with the typical season-ending title cards was nothing short of brilliantly executed.) The narrative primarily revolves around their suspicion, fear, and attempts to keep Brynn accountable for her actions.

It’s essential that Brynn faces consequences for her dishonesty. Having a known liar on reality TV creates confusion about the truth, making it challenging for producers to develop compelling narratives, especially for Brynn. Fans are left questioning the validity of the stories, and it becomes difficult to trust anything she says. These shows thrive on determining who is right and wrong, but when a significant character like Brynn is discredited, it becomes nearly impossible to make convincing cases.

What strikes me as astonishing about this situation is that Brynn’s strategic blunder has brought far greater scrutiny upon herself than Ubah is experiencing. In essence, what Brynn did was so detrimental that any wrongdoing by Ubah seems insignificant in comparison. If Brynn had simply been patient and allowed the situation to unfold regarding Ubah, she would have escaped unscathed.

What stands out to me is this: Ubah’s actions should not impact whether or not she was aware of Brynn’s sexual assault before making her statements and defending them. Regardless, what Ubah said was extremely inappropriate. Ubah may find it wrong that Brynn lied about Ubah knowing about the rape on-screen, but shouldn’t she also consider the harm caused by repeatedly implying that Brynn is a prostitute on-screen, which reinforces a harmful narrative that the audience has already embraced?

The women are advising Ubah to cease referring to Brynn as a prostitute, a term they believe is inappropriate among friends. When Ubah attempts to express remorse, Brynn questions what exactly she’s apologizing for. Upon being asked if she regrets saying Brynn “slept with someone for a job,” Ubah denies this, as she did not use those exact words. As Jenna notes, this is a matter of semantics. While Ubah didn’t say “suck dick,” she implied it by saying “slept with.” If the essence of the statement is wrong, then the specific words are irrelevant. Ubah seems to require an exact quote to apologize? It’s not unfounded for Brynn to call her a stubborn and immature adult.

In simpler terms, Ubah didn’t avoid blame by using the word “maybe” when suggesting Brynn slept with someone for a job. Instead, her use of “maybe” implies that she believes it, and further statements only reinforce this belief. Brynn claims Ubah said she had a man in her mouth, but Ubah counters that Brynn was merely repeating what she said, as we saw on camera. When Brynn joked about flying private, Ubah responded by saying “With someone else’s husband,” implying that Brynn is either an adulterer or a prostitute. Ubah doesn’t seem to be unsure if Brynn slept with someone for a job; she strongly suggests it.

Essentially, I’m conveying that Ubah displayed reprehensible behavior, yet Brynn crossed a line by falsely portraying Ubah as innocent for personal gain, which doesn’t make Ubah’s actions throughout the season acceptable. As the other women highlighted in the episode, Ubah often disregards others when they attempt to discuss issues, but she is quick to interject and take control of conversations when it suits her own interests. Both individuals are acting poorly, and one’s wrongdoings don’t justify the other’s mistakes.

Moving forward, we’ve got an exciting reunion ahead! From what we saw at the end of the episode, it seems like Brynn is about to face more criticism than Ms. Ubah herself. As for their future in the show, things are becoming increasingly unclear. It’s evident that we can no longer rely on anything Brynn says, which is unfortunate because the show needs a bit of drama, much like how children need polio vaccines. Similarly, Ubah appears to be someone who cannot be reasoned with and always stands her ground. If I were making the decision, I’d let both of them go. The show can’t progress with either or both of them involved because their interactions with other women are at a complete impasse. I don’t want another season filled with Brynn accusing the ladies and them responding with “You’re lying,” nor do I want another season dominated by Ubah’s interruptions, leading to discussions coming to a standstill.

This season of “Housewives” has been exceptional, with most of the action taking place during the trip. We saw grudges, minor quarrels, absurd rivalries, Jenna’s pubic merkins, and even a delightful synchronized swimming performance. It was entertaining, authentic, and gritty – everything we’ve come to anticipate from “Housewives”. I am now more convinced than ever that some members of this group possess the potential to be outstanding. As the moon glides over Puerto Rico’s beaches, its light dancing on the sea, it seems as if a sense of hope is swelling within us, guiding us towards the future, propelling us to a time when misconduct will no longer be inexcusable but something we might look forward to a bit: drama.

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2025-01-22 18:55