Denise Richards & Her Wild Things Recap: Still Not a Cooking Show

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From your comments, it’s clear that you’ve been expressing some concerns about the show “Denise Richards & Her Wild Things”. I should clarify that my critiques stem from a place of care and admiration for Denise Richards. I’ve always been a fan of hers, and I hope to see her succeed on Bravo again. However, after careful consideration, I’m not entirely convinced that this particular show is the best fit for her.

In fact, it seems as though Denise herself shares these doubts, since this episode finds her auditioning for a hypothetical cooking show. I’ve been making an effort to appreciate the relaxed pace of the series, much like how Denise uses that vibrating device on her face (and, as we can assume, other parts of her body when cameras are off, such as Aaron’s).

Despite enjoying this episode more than last week’s lizard tribute, I can’t ignore the fact that it still falls short of my expectations.

Denise is definitely giving it her all! She openly discusses her annual Botox treatments, praises salmon sperm facials (which involve using extracts from salmon sperm on the skin, not what you might be imagining), and seems fixated on a fictional cooking show. Interestingly, she received a comment from Brooke Williamson, a former Top Chef winner and current Food Network regular. Denise is overjoyed at the prospect of collaborating with Brooke, although the comment (“Let’s do this together next time… I’m here for you”) seems somewhat ambiguous to me. Denise expresses her desire to have her own cooking show, leading me to ponder if they could perhaps subtly transform “Denise Richards & Her Wild Things” into a new recipe-focused format, like “Denise Richards & Her Wild… Recipes”. This is just an idea I had.

At Sami’s place for a post-surgery visit are Denise, Lola, and Eloise. Given that Sami has already shared about her nose job on TikTok, it seems odd to keep Lola in the dark about it. The TikTok carries a negative vibe, especially when Sami mentions that she enjoys the bruising because it accentuates her eyes. Denise is trying to encourage Lola to express her hurt feelings about Sami’s secretive behavior regarding the nose job, but Lola isn’t concerned with that. Instead, she’s fixated on a blue tank top that Sami allegedly took from her years ago. According to Lola, this tank top holds immense sentimental value for her. Although I’m attempting to treat it as a serious matter, it seems like Lola is overreacting given the focus on the tank top rather than the tension between them. The real issue appears to be Sami’s reluctance to let Lola visit her apartment, which puts Denise in an awkward position when she has to ask Sami to return the tank top. Sami denies knowing what Lola is talking about, but she also brings up items that Lola supposedly took from her closet, making me doubt her claim of ignorance.

In this week’s episode, Kathy Hilton, a natural fit for a hypothetical spinoff of ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’, is the first guest star. Denise has a meal with her, a friendship that started when Charlie Sheen purchased a house next to Paris Hilton and asked Denise and her family to move in after his previous neighbors (the goddesses) left. This scene, like the one with Erika Jayne in the last episode, is pleasant but lacks depth. Spending time with Kathy is always enjoyable, especially after she’s had a glass of Chardonnay. However, I yearn for more substantial conversations. Denise discusses Sami’s rebellious teenage years, and Kathy shares her experiences with Paris. “She was completely unmanageable,” Kathy says. “Now I couldn’t be more proud. Look at what she’s achieved.” Once again, we brush over a significant amount of turmoil, though the series doesn’t necessarily need to delve into Paris’ story. The repeated hints at deeper, darker issues beneath the surface make me long for more openness and exploration. The show aims for a lighthearted, everyday atmosphere, but these subtle reminders of hidden complexities leave me wanting more insight.

During this break, we introduce our next distinguished guest – the remarkable Brooke Williamson herself. She is collaborating with Denise on a culinary segment at the stunning kitchen of Justen, Denise’s social media manager. It seems Justen is receiving quite the compensation for his impressive kitchen! In an unusual turn of events, Denise admits that she remains unaffected by celebrity encounters – her experience working alongside Dame Judi Dench on the set of “The World Is Not Enough” serves as an example. However, Brooke’s presence leaves Denise genuinely awestruck. Upon Aaron’s arrival, Denise mentions that Brooke is Aaron’s ‘get out of jail free card’, leaving everyone, including Aaron, taken aback. While it appears she’s playing up the scenario for some added excitement, Brooke seems to take the compliment graciously. Essentially, this segment serves as a promotional piece for Brooke’s cookbook and potentially a sneak peek into Denise’s future cooking show. Brooke expresses her belief that no one would want to miss watching it – Food Network, are you paying attention?

The episode concludes with Denise and Sami visiting Dr. Dugar’s office to remove Sami’s bandage and reveal her new nose. Although I agree it’s a fine nose, I don’t notice much change myself. Since Sami claims this is the best day of her life, I guess I’ll trust her judgment. Denise is most endearing when she’s engrossed in her own world with squirrels or acting as a nurturing mother, and here it’s clearly the latter. Her emotions well up seeing Sami so joyful, which is heartwarming. In a confessional, she admits, “It’s tough being a mom because I don’t think Sami realizes how others perceive her and how beautiful she truly is.” This scene might not be particularly extraordinary, but it feels more genuine than the show’s constant emphasis on absurdity. At this juncture, I prefer sincere family moments over repetitive cooking demonstrations, no matter how appealing those figs appeared.

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2025-03-19 05:54