The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Think Horses, Not Zebras

by

According to Brian Moylan, a leading expert on reality TV, the arguments on shows like *Housewives* aren’t usually about the surface-level issues shown on camera. They’re actually about power dynamics and money behind the scenes. For example, the conflict with Denise Richards on *Beverly Hills* stemmed partly from her high salary despite limited filming. Similarly, the *Atlanta* cast turned on Kim Zolciak when she seemed to be getting a lucrative deal thanks to her husband and a potential spinoff show. Essentially, the money creates a clear pecking order. Those who pay attention to industry gossip – blind items, social media posts, and hints from people working on the shows – realize that even seemingly personal conflicts, like the annual drama with the doctor on *Married to Medicine*, aren’t just about personality. They’re also about someone asserting boundaries between their professional and personal life.

I’m naturally curious and tend to pick up on the hidden meanings in any situation – I probably already researched it on fan forums months ago! This helps me understand the real drama unfolding on screen. For instance, in the first episode of Potomac, it was obvious Stacey was warning Keiarna about trying too hard to stay relevant. They’re both competing for attention, and Keiarna is realizing Stacey is becoming more popular while her own star is fading – Stacey was basically calling her out for faking a conflict to get more camera time. It was a pretty clear power play. But this episode… I honestly have no idea what the problem is between them.

Let’s break down what’s happening. Stacey isn’t accepting things as they are and is getting Jassi involved in a plan to get even. While she has every right to retaliate, her attempt was pretty weak – even worse than when Cynthia had to reveal Mr. Chocolate’s secret. Jassi seems on board with the plan, and reacted with excitement when they found out Gizelle is now dating someone. If they really want to fight back, they’ll need a much stronger strategy.

The conflict between Wendy and Keiarna centers around their different expectations for their relationship. Keiarna wants a real, close friendship, while Wendy sees their connection as purely professional. Keiarna is frustrated by what she perceives as Wendy’s insincerity and lack of emotional depth. It’s a complicated dynamic – understanding the subtle tensions and passive-aggressive behavior between women often requires a deep understanding of social dynamics. It’s no surprise Keiarna is upset by Wendy’s unemotional reaction, but she’s also struggling to clearly express what’s bothering her. Wendy, for her part, isn’t offering much support. Despite a heated exchange – including laughter and middle fingers – they left together, which perfectly illustrates the complex and often volatile behavior of women who tend to dominate social circles and privately vent about each other.

I’m mostly following the drama, but it gets completely confusing when the horse race events start. There’s a supposed conflict between Keiarna and Wendy’s parties, but Keiarna’s is just a pre-party at her place while Wendy’s is the actual race event, so it’s not really a conflict at all. Then, this old issue about someone ‘chin-checking’ gets brought up again, with Gizelle upset that Angel said Keiarna went back on her word, and Angel claiming she’d be furious if someone lied. Keiarna eventually admits she did, and Angel is suddenly happy, which annoys Wendy and Gizelle. Then, Keiarna gets mad at everyone in her condo? Honestly, I’m lost as to what we’re supposed to be invested in or why. I understand Angel is hesitant to call out her friend in front of everyone, but publicly attacking a best friend seems extreme. I’m really struggling to understand why this ‘chin-check’ thing keeps being brought up – it’s starting to feel like that whole season on *Beverly Hills* where we argued endlessly over the meaning of ‘violated’.

I completely lost track of what everyone was fighting about as Stacey and Keiarna started arguing again. Apparently, Stacey wasn’t invited to Keiarna’s events, Keiarna doesn’t like her, and it all reminded Keiarna of a past fight. I was just baffled by how things had become so tense. Now, as we’re all getting into the van, Angel is upset with Wendy, and I’m left wondering how it all came down to the phrase “chin-checked.” Normally, the shifting sides and hidden meanings are pretty clear, but this time it felt like Keiarna was desperately trying to assert herself, and everyone got caught in the crossfire of her clumsy attempts.

Anyway, the taglines have finally arrived. Let’s rate them, shall we?

  • Gizelle: “When the nest is empty, it’s time for naked, grown, and sexy.” Given that we never see any real information on her personal life, I don’t even understand what this is supposed to mean. I can’t tell if Gizelle is threatening us with more rompers or doing a sponsored ad as an ambassador for Porsha’s Go Naked Hair. 3/10
  • Wendy: “I put the high in higher education.” Given the state of bliss the Osefos seemed to be in in their mugshots, I do believe that Happy Eddie indeed does the job. But talk about some awful timing, my word. 5/10
  • Stacey: “Some people believe the lies, but still I rise.” Given that TMZ recently confirmed Stacey’s divorce, she may very well be right. 7/10
  • Keiarna: “Beauty is my business, but getting you together is my specialty.” Unfortunately, I fear that recent evidence does not support this claim. 5/10
  • Tia: “You can only clutch pearls if you have them, and darling, I have loads.”The delivery is what really sells this. She’s up against a weak field, but definitely the strongest one. 7/10
  • Angel: “Hell hath no fury like an Angel scorned.” Cute enough but if this episode is any indication, I think she may be writing a check that her mouth can’t cash. 6/10
  • Ashley:“This cherry blossom is ready for her second bloom.” Who has got this whole concept of a second bloom stuck in Ashley’s head? It’s nonsensical and silly. 4/10

This week’s episode was pretty complicated, maybe even as confusing as a Christopher Nolan film! But next week, we’re heading to the beautiful islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, so we can enjoy the scenery even while we’re puzzled. See you next week!

Cherry Blossoms

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing when Gizelle gently told Angel that her sound bowl event wasn’t very engaging. Honestly, I’ve seen enough staged meditation sessions to last me a very long time.

I’m surprisingly not missing Mia much, even though I hope she and her current partner – whoever he is from around Atlanta and was popular years ago – are happy.

It’s no surprise Stacey is a typical pageant mom – just like Kenya Moore always has colorful contacts. But Arabella did look adorable!

Ashley looked ridiculous taking spin class with a wig falling apart and wearing a lot of makeup. She could have just used a little powder and filled in her eyebrows for a much simpler look!

Read More

2025-10-20 05:58