The Real Housewives of New York City Reunion Recap: Cults and Personality

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After watching the second part of that reunion, my Slanket was left with wet marks from all the tears I shed. There were apologies, arguments, moments of understanding, some surprisingly heartwarming scenes, and unexpectedly, Naomi Watt’s renowned pavlova made an appearance (it certainly looked delicious!). All in all, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, and considering the tedious season we endured to reach this level of emotional release, I must say, it was absolutely worth it.

First things first, let’s address Boring Becky Minkoff, hopefully this is our final encounter. The most damning evidence against her was hidden footage of her in a helicopter conversing with Brynn and Jessel, revealing that she wanted to join the show because her sales had plummeted by 70 percent, seeking better marketing. There’s no acceptable reason for joining a reality show, but this is one of the worst – it was all about selling herself, and both she and Cindy Barshop were woefully inept at their roles. Jenna may claim she joined to sell eyelashes, but here she sits on that couch in a $1,500 robe she’ll likely return, as her eyelash line has been closed, so it’s clear that’s not why she’s here. A word of caution to all applying for Bravo’s casting call for the next season of RHONY: if your only goal is to boost your business, don’t even try – we’ll despise you and it won’t work out.

In essence, Becky predominantly discussed her recent conflict with Erin, her concerns about the other women criticizing her beliefs (Scientology and Judaism), and the subsequent fallout. Becky claims that the women talked disrespectfully about her religion during private confessionals but avoided bringing it up in group discussions or confronting her directly. The rest of the group denies discussing it on camera, stating it was a sensitive topic. Erin questioned Becky’s ability to be both a Scientologist and a Jew, to which Becky took issue with Erin’s tone. This exchange seems to validate the other women’s view that the matter was too delicate for open discussion. Additionally, during the reunion, Becky refers to it as a “religion,” whereas on the show she referred to it as a “philosophy.” It appears Becky received advice (perhaps from her religious leaders) about how to discuss this philosophy/religion in public settings more appropriately.

I won’t take a stance on whether it’s a religion or a cult, if it’s appropriate for the show, or if the women were wrong not to discuss it. However, during my time at Gawker 1.0 (rest in peace), we frequently criticized Scientology, and I’ve witnessed how aggressive and retaliatory the church can be when they feel threatened. This atmosphere makes these women, who are in the public eye, hesitant to speak openly about it. If your religion behaves this way, you might want to reconsider its practices and decide if you still want to be involved. Regarding Becky’s continued participation on Housewives, my opinion hasn’t changed since she first appeared – a firm no. End of discussion. That’s all folks. Outta here!

Speaking as a movie buff, I’d say it goes like this: It’s all about Ubah and Brynn in the conversation today, with Ubah setting the tone as we delve into our Puerto Rico adventure. She sure had a fit when she felt her room didn’t meet her standards, and then there was that beach Racquel took her to – she called it dirty. However, when confronted about her lack of apology in both situations, Ubah swiftly shifted the blame onto Racquel for not providing a better room and hosting skills. Regarding the beach, she claims she only meant the runoff was filthy, but footage shows her warning Brynn to steer clear of the ocean because it’s disgusting. In both instances, Racquel stands her ground, assertively defending herself against Ubah’s criticisms. If given another season, I can see Racquel becoming a true fighter!

Eventually, Ubah apologizes for spoiling Racquel’s cherished memory, yet this apology feels somewhat patronizing. She fails to express regret towards Sai and Racquel, whose feelings she has hurt, or to Puerto Rico, a place she claims to adore deeply. This sparks a conversation where Andy mentions that all the women are apprehensive about confronting her. Ubah responds, “Carry on being afraid. Good.” However, as Andy highlights, this attitude hinders Ubah from forming genuine connections with the other women since they feel compelled to suppress their true feelings around her. Once more, she suggests that they should do so.

What leaves me puzzled is how her actions seem to contradict the empathetic and caring Ubah we witness later on, when she embraces Brynn on the couch, resembling a partially-deflated “It’s a Girl” balloon at the end of a gender reveal party. This Ubah has the capacity for genuine connection, forgiveness, and empathy, yet she struggles with admitting mistakes, offering apologies, and resolving conflicts. While this isn’t the most detrimental flaw a Housewife could have, I believe that if we saw more of both her tough and compassionate sides throughout the season, she would be in a stronger position, not just among viewers but also personally.

The discussion seems to be jumping ahead since we haven’t introduced Brynn yet, and her account of the last night in Puerto Rico is quite complex. As she narrates the events, the women frequently interject to clarify or correct her version. For instance, Brynn initially suggests that Ubah may not have realized she said she was raped because Brynn was defending Ubah. However, there’s a collective “No!” from both sides of the room. Later, Brynn claims that the women didn’t offer comfort that night; instead, they were asking about the man and his wealth. Again, the women correct her when she says they didn’t reach out to her after the trip.

It appears that Brynn continues to manipulate situations behind the scenes, twisting events that occurred off-camera for personal gain or to elicit sympathy. As Sai puts it bluntly: “You’re using your experiences to bring down someone else.” Indeed, this behavior is reprehensible. Despite the abundance of forgiveness present, especially from Ubah, I don’t believe Brynn can regain credibility as a reality TV artist because we’ve witnessed her tactics, and no one can trust her as an honest storyteller anymore.

While it’s true that we may not always agree with Brynn’s actions, it doesn’t diminish the empathy many of us feel for her struggles, including her experiences with sexual assault and the traumatic childhood events that have shaped her. Jenna’s perspective is that one can be upset with someone while still caring about them, which mirrors my feelings towards Brynn after this journey.

Brynn has endured unimaginable hardships, and since the finale aired, she’s faced additional challenges from fan reactions. These difficulties, though perhaps self-inflicted, are still painful to witness. If Ubah can surprise Sai and Erin by embracing Brynn, then let us try to surprise ourselves by showing compassion towards Brynn and Ubah too! After all, her past has molded her into who she is today.

Similarly, we should extend our empathy to Jessel, whose marriage was ruined, Racquel, who’s grappling with a strained relationship with her mother, Sai, who’s dealing with an injured foot, Jenna, who’s open about her personal matters like pubic hair, and even Erin Mew Mew Lichy. These women share their deepest struggles on the show, inviting us to watch and empathize rather than judging who is right or wrong.

Of course, we should exclude Erin Mew Mew Lichy from this compassionate approach, as she suffered two significant tragedies this season – the loss of her father and her husband selling her Bitcoin without consent. These are heavy burdens that she’s bravely carried on our screens. Just a friendly reminder that it was a joke about Erin Mew Mew Lichy!

A particularly impactful moment struck me deeply among many others, making me feel unusually compassionate. This event made me realize the value of our endeavor even more. After the intense conversation between Ubah and Brynn, most of the women convened to express their sympathy for Brynn, emphasizing their concern for her well-being. Racquel visited Brynn in her dressing room to assure her that the women care for her regardless of circumstances, and they will not abandon her during this difficult time. Racquel shared how much she’s cried throughout Puerto Rico and following the incident with Brynn. Brynn responded, “You cry as if it touches you personally.” It appears that Brynn meant, and Racquel understood, that what moved her was the topic of sexual assault.

Racquel affirms, drawing her nearer. ‘I understand,’ she repeats, ‘I comprehend.’ These are the instances Housewives series offers, where all the facades and studio work vanish, leaving us with genuine women bared to their essence. We witness their resilience, their capacity to endure, their compassion towards those who have hurt them; we catch a glimpse of their lived experiences through a brief yet intense interaction. ‘Connect!’ EM Forster urged, and this is what authentic connection seems like. It resembles two women who might harbor animosity weeping together, it looks like a staged room in a constructed building within an artificial world that offers just enough truth to awaken us from our comfort zone; it appears as a spark, it appears as two electrical wires beneath a steering wheel that a thief is connecting to finally ignite the car, to escape with it into the unforeseen.

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2025-02-05 07:54