The Real Housewives of New York City Reunion Recap: Another Bite at the Apple

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Wow, you didn’t expect me to provide RHONY reunion recaps, did you? And why should you? You see, Daddy Moneybags Vulture III stopped funding reunion recaps quite a while ago (except for a few special cases), and I’ve never been a fan of recapping reunions myself. However, following the finale, it felt essential to discuss it, and I’ll delve deeper into my reasons in this week’s edition of the Housewives Institute Bulletin (subscribe here if you aren’t already). So, yes, we’re here. The reunion turned out to be both as I anticipated and full of surprises at the same time. Interestingly, more clips from the preview last week are part one than I expected, and many of them don’t seem related to the significant altercation between Ubah and Brynn in the finale.

Initially, let’s circle back and focus on the central aspect of any reunion: the attire. As each individual makes their entrance, we begin with Jenna Lyons, who, regardless of opposing opinions, consistently outshines. She graced the set in a $1,500 Balenciaga bathrobe (a possible return purchase? Perhaps she’s saving pennies?), donning a black head towel, dainty kitten heels, oversized diamond earrings, and sunglasses that were later removed prior to questioning. Andy Cohen hasn’t been this captivated since his college days at Pieces. Frankly, no one does it quite like Jenna, delivering an ensemble that is both surprising, iconic, and disruptive to the entire event.

At the gathering, Racquel donned a conventional yet eye-catching ensemble, sporting a shimmering black, white, and gold dress, bracelets extending to her elbows, and Saturn’s moons adorning her hair. It’s stylish, it’s trendy, and let’s give a shout-out to fashionable lesbians for adding that extra chic factor. Ubah looks stunning in her black sequined gown with broad shoulder pads and a thigh-high slit, but the gloves-like sleeves bring back memories of last year’s Real Housewives of Potomac confessional attire. This is an updated take on it, but it’s reminiscent of something we’ve seen before.

Brynn mentions she spent $7,000 on her caftan-like dress, something akin to what an older cabaret performer in Palm Springs might wear. She was inspired by Zsa Zsa Gabor, which fits, but it seems only those with a TikTok account would recognize the reference.
– Erin’s bright gold sequin Bottega Veneta dress does an impressive job of both hiding and accentuating her pregnancy, a remarkable balance, but the loose neckline was a bit too revealing (to put it delicately) and reminiscent of excess skin.
– Sai looks exceptionally elegant and stylish in her oversized black gown, evoking modern interpretations of Dior’s New Look or, as Jenna puts it, a blend between “Wicked” and “Gone with the Wind”.

Eventually, I couldn’t help but notice how stunning Jessel appeared in her black dress adorned with sculptural ruffles, especially when she stood. However, it seemed less impressive once she sat on the couch – a common mistake for beginners. Fortunately, her fresh hairstyle and facial enhancements made up for it, though I must clarify that it was a combination of a haircut, Botox, and fillers that she claimed not to have paid for since she posted them on Instagram. Oh, and let’s not forget the veneers. As for Becky Minkoff’s dress, we won’t see it until next week. It’s ironic that she is a fashion designer on the show, yet none of us seem to care about what she chooses to wear. Even her husband seemed unimpressed, saying, “Eh, whatever. I’ll check it out when Queens of Bravo posts it.

With costumes set aside, the atmosphere becomes tense as soon as the women enter. Brynn heads to Jessel’s dressing room, assuring her that everything appears okay. However, Jessel, displaying a level of disbelief more commonly found in schoolchildren and vaccine skeptics, questions, “You think everything’s fine?” This is because Brynn hadn’t watched the last episode before arriving that morning. This seems like neglecting her responsibilities. After all, she had already lived through this once, she knows what transpired, yet she didn’t think to watch it until she was sitting in the hairdresser’s chair? Even if Bravo sent it the night before, she should have stayed up late and watched it so she could prepare for the conversation. While Margaret Josephs gathering everyone for a pre-reunion meeting at her house might have been excessive, this lack of preparation certainly was not enough.

Initially, Andy’s query about Jenna continuously discussing her love life off-screen but refusing to introduce her partner on the program is spot-on, with both Sai and Andy finding it somewhat irritating. Yet, when Jenna tendered a contrite apology in her soft, baby-like voice while wearing only her bathrobe with one shoulder exposed, I almost let it slide. Almost. It’s uncertain if we require Cass to make an appearance on screen, but couldn’t Jenna be more open about her personal life with the group?

Meanwhile, we learn that Ubah has relocated to Connecticut, a state known for producing Countess Luann de Lesseps, Dorit Kemsley, Kristen Taekman, and myself. Does this shift mean she can no longer appear on the show? Is she planning on commuting instead?

The initial assault on Brynn commences as the discussion veers towards Sai expressing her dislike for Jenna (or at least not liking her), which Brynn hadn’t directly conveyed to Jenna but had heard around town. Jenna emphasizes this point, but Brynn begins to cry and claims that during the first five weeks of filming, both Sai and Erin tormented her. Andy attempts to uncover the details, but essentially, it was Sai verbally attacking her at the opening party and Erin using derogatory terms towards Brynn. Erin, who consistently denies any wrongdoing, insists she didn’t do such a thing, and fortunately, the editors intervened, presenting evidence of at least five insults Erin hurled at Brynn that night.

In my opinion, during the reunion, Brynn’s behavior was quite problematic. She has a habit of distorting facts and manipulating truths, which is evident throughout the series. Thankfully, Andy isn’t letting her off easily when she claims to have endured five weeks of torture, as this seems to be an exaggeration or a new interpretation of events.

The other women also call her out on this, especially Jenna, who directly tells Brynn that when she retells a story, the original meaning gets lost and it hurts the person involved. This is precisely what Brynn does systematically, adding her own spin to stories to guide them in a different direction, causing harm to those around her, as Andy puts it, by adding a bit of “sauce” to the narrative.

In essence, when Brynn shared a story with Erin and Sai about Jessel’s relationship with Pavit, revealing that her “love of her life” wasn’t actually him, Jessel had to clarify the situation to them. Her husband was upset and believed she was lying when she tried to set the record straight. The conversation they were having was actually about their most outrageous encounters, and in this case, Jessel recounted an incident with a past boyfriend. It’s amazing how even small manipulations can cause significant problems, especially when they are broadcast on a platform like this one. Jessel admitted that she usually supported Brynn and made her feel good, but when she shared this information about her relationship, it was the last straw that caused tension between them. No, you didn’t misunderstand her; she did indeed repeat herself. It’s just like Jessel to get confused with her idioms when she gets emotional.

This story, along with the women at the reunion, is quite astonishing due to Brynn’s influence. She seems to be stirring something deep within them, causing changes in their personalities and bringing out the most extreme aspects of their character. For instance, Jessel, who has been as quiet and unassuming as carbon monoxide throughout this season, suddenly finds her fighting spirit. Ubah, typically silent during this half of the reunion, only speaks up when Brynn talks about sexual assault, expressing her emotions. Jenna, usually calm, scolds Brynn for her twisted stories and damaging effects on marriages. Sai, who underwent therapy this season, reverts to her old ways, confronting Brynn and displaying her aggressive side, even questioning what exactly Brynn’s job is. Interestingly, Brynn has no answer to that question during the entire reunion night.

Brynn’s involvement in this setting seems somewhat raw and intense. Notably, the conversation about abortion, initiated by Erin, Jenna, and Racquel disclosing their personal experiences, led to a profound discussion on the topic. Similarly, the dialogue shifted towards sexual assault, with Brynn bravely sharing her feelings of shame and struggle in dealing with it. The issue of identifying the perpetrator is a contentious one, with Erin advocating for naming him to protect other women, while Jenna empathizes with the difficulty faced by those who come forward. Brynn’s openness has stirred deep emotions within these women, making them appear more expressive and impactful than ever this season. However, it appears that they cannot continue interacting with her due to trust issues, her unverified identity, and the lack of appropriate preparation on her part.

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2025-01-29 06:54