Denise Richards & Her Wild Things Season-Finale Recap: D-Listed

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There’s a scene in the last episode of Denise Richards & Her Wild Things that I keep coming back to. Denise is standing near the red carpet when Sutton Stracke says, “She’s a movie star.” At first glance, it seems like Sutton is referring to Denise herself in the season trailer. However, upon watching the episode, it becomes clear that Sutton was actually talking about her friend and co-star on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Jennifer Tilly. This editing technique is remarkable because it’s so obvious and adds a humorous twist to a moment that has been building tension for weeks. Although Denise was once a Bond Girl (a fact the show frequently mentions), she hasn’t been considered a “movie star” since her short-lived stardom in the late ’90s. This editing trick seems like the series acknowledging that Denise is more D-list than A-list, and it makes the finale the strongest episode yet. Kathy Griffin would certainly appreciate it.

In simpler terms, Denise isn’t as hilarious as Kathy Griffin was on “My Life on the D-List,” but let’s be honest, no one can match up to her. However, Denise is quite charming on TV, and she’s at her best when she accepts that she’s not a superstar, despite her previous fame. The Denise I admire is a bit messy, so I enjoyed the episode starting with an extended scene about Denise making a mess with her body makeup. She ruins clothes, furniture, walls. It’s surprising to see the state of the confessional couch after she stands up, with a Denise-shaped tan mark left behind. To demonstrate the effect of the body makeup, she sprays some on Aaron, but I don’t think it significantly changes his appearance. I guess he has a more matte finish; it’s just not something I find appealing in a person.

When it’s Denise’s time to put on her body makeup, Aaron hastens the process using hair dryers. This is due to the fact that Denise can be quite clumsy before she’s dried, and they have a movie premiere to attend. Once again, we get candid honesty from Denise, who admits that she attends the events she’s invited to and walks the red carpets mainly to stay in the spotlight. “If you don’t do any of that,” she says, “then it’s out of sight, out of mind, and then they might hire someone else.” She also mentions that not every event requires attendance, like opening an envelope, which could be a nod to the movie “Death Becomes Her” if you consider body makeup to be similar to flesh-toned spray paint (and I do).

The major red-carpet event unveiled the Lifetime Original production titled “Tempted by Love“. Despite the success of star Garcelle Beauvais following her departure from “Housewives“, the entire affair seemed somewhat budget-restricted, considering it was supposed to be a grand finale. To put it gently, this seems fitting for both the show and Denise’s current level of popularity. A scene even shows Aaron struggling to find parking and reading signs carefully – proving that stars are much like us! Upon meeting Denise, Garcelle expresses gratitude for her attendance and calls her a “girl’s girl”, which is somewhat melancholic as we know Denise is there primarily for exposure. Denise then poses with Sutton and Jennifer Tilly who have just returned from the “RHOBH” cast trip. Both Sutton and Tilly appear stunned, understandably so after the “crazy yacht” incident. As Denise finally reaches the red carpet, Aaron is left standing awkwardly to the side. Stars, indeed, remain relatable in their everyday struggles!

At one of the townhouses, there’s a quick scene showing Denise, Aaron, and Eloise trying to get their bald cats ready for a photo session to make them famous on Instagram. Although it would be interesting to learn more about why Tim Ballsackian underwent a vasectomy rather than being neutered (his name is quite charming!), the main focus of the episode is the family photo shoot, featuring Denise, Sami, Lola, and Eloise. The photo is scheduled for ten years after their previous one taken by the same photographer, although the specific magazine it’s intended for remains unmentioned (I have my doubts about this). Despite the occasional tension between Sami and Lola, Denise hopes to avoid any disagreements during the shoot, which would be a dramatic twist in a reality show like ‘Housewives’ but is a reasonable expectation here given the lack of significant conflicts in this series.

In a surprising turn of events, Sami nearly skips the photo shoot due to her car being taken away (she believes it was stolen, although it was actually repossessed because she overlooked a payment bill, and this isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred). Upon arriving, Lola attempts to engage in casual conversation, but Sami appears uninterested. Despite their sibling rivalry, it is intriguing to listen to Lola express her insecurities regarding her appearance, considering Denise and Sami have always been confident in front of the camera. When Lola says, “I don’t feel pretty at all,” Denise responds with, “Neither do I,” which might not be the ideal parental response, but given the shapeless dresses everyone is wearing, it seems somewhat understandable. The photos turn out well, with Eloise participating for some family shots, excluding Aaron, and Denise reflects on her daughters, “If I give them a bit more space, they will reconcile again.” Although this dynamic between Sami and Lola has been hinted at earlier in the season, and their relationship has generally improved since then, the altercation between the sisters serves as one of the primary storylines in the show.

Ultimately, Sami is relieved that she went through with the photo shoot and acknowledges that in time, she and Lola will appreciate these photos of them together. She hints that their friendship might soon be restored again, a comment typically made when everything is already amicable but needing a bit of drama for the cameras. Denise feels that she managed to bring the two back together, although just moments ago she emphasized giving them space to resolve things themselves. “I aim to provide stability amidst our chaos as much as possible,” she notes. If this show continues, I would appreciate less over-the-top drama from everyone involved, because the Richards-Sheen-Phypers family is not even the most dysfunctional family on Bravo. They don’t even hold that title within the broader Richards family on Bravo.

The episode seems to have concluded, but then a shocking revelation unfolds: “Two days following the photo shoot … something unimaginable transpired.” It’s not that the crew resumed filming due to an unexpected turn of events; Lola had already apologized to Sami. However, this apology is portrayed as the missing piece that could reunite them as best friends, leading to a contented conclusion. The unexpected twist at the end serves as a fitting finale for the first (and possibly only) season of Denise Richards & Her Wild Things. Despite the show’s failure to live up to its promised intrigue, it does offer some promising glimpses in its final moments. If Denise continues to embrace the self-aware desperation that made Kathy Griffin’s series captivating, I’ll be eagerly tuning in.

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2025-04-09 05:55