The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: In the Cards

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Let’s be real, this week on Rich Women Doing Things, the drama isn’t about what they did. It’s all about Amanda Frances. That’s what everyone is here for. Since joining the show, she’s really pushed the boundaries of good taste – it’s like trying to squeeze someone into clothes that are way too small. This woman, with her Chanel backpack, fancy matcha lattes, and head-to-toe designer labels… I just can’t. Honestly, even the people who create these shows and choose the cast sometimes make mistakes, as one royal family member might say.

Before we get too critical of Amanda, I want to share something I’ve been wanting to talk about since episode two. It started when I was recapping season four of Selling Sunset. Amanda briefly appeared in episode five while Davina was trying to sell her house, and she wanted to list it for a higher price than it was worth, claiming Amanda is good with finances. Jason mentioned Amanda had renovated a new house, but it was so tailored to her personal taste that it would be hard to sell. Back in 2021, I described it this way: “The house has a marble-walled bar with a neon ‘Vibes’ sign. That says it all. It’s the kind of place someone would enjoy rosé at Coachella while wearing a flower crown – basically, the avocado toast of houses, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the driveway was paved in millennial pink.”

Amanda was upset that I joked about her house. She messaged me on Instagram to complain, asking what my issue was with her neon signs. She also pointed out the house sold with all the furniture, and the new owners actually liked the signs – she even added a ‘lol’ at the end. Honestly, good for her for finding someone who shares her questionable taste!

I’m sharing this story to illustrate that Amanda Frances takes herself way too seriously. When she orders a very specific matcha drink – half oat milk, half almond – she’s completely earnest. And that’s the core issue with Amanda. While a little self-delusion is common – and often entertaining – in reality stars, Amanda’s is paired with a desperate need for approval. It’s just not fun to watch. The fact that she’d even message a TV recap writer – someone at the very bottom of the media world – to try and correct them is telling. And if she’s upset about a joke about her sign now, she’s in for a rude awakening when people start sharing their opinions about her on the show itself.

The women are immediately suspicious of Amanda. From the start, Boz mocks her profession, pointing out the irony that someone who teaches others about money doesn’t seem very wealthy herself. Boz openly expresses her disdain, and Rachel questions whether Amanda is being genuine. However, I believe Amanda is presenting her true self – a somewhat superficial image of wealth she’s trying to embody. Rachel and Boz are right to suspect that Amanda mentioned Sutton and Avi either to gain an advantage or stir up trouble. She’s so transparent and self-serving that her attempts at manipulation are obvious to everyone.

Things get awkward when the women gather at Rachel’s house for a tarot card reading, only to find the power is out. Dorit shows off her new handbag, a tiny Hermès Kelly, and the conversation quickly turns to her book deal. Erika jokingly asks if Dorit’s co-author is as good-looking as hers, and Dorit replies that no such person exists. She explains her book is being co-written by a mother-daughter team, which raises questions about how the interviews and writing process will work—and who will tell Dorit to stop talking! Amanda, always eager to one-up everyone, chimes in to say she didn’t need a ghostwriter, implying the others did—and perhaps should have. She makes it clear she wrote her book entirely on her own, a point she seems determined to emphasize.

After Amanda leaves, the women discuss how strange her comments were. Erika points out the irony of Amanda questioning her authorship, considering Erika is a New York Times bestselling author. While Erika doesn’t mention me directly, it’s clear I was on her mind. Rachel clarifies that she’s actually a two-time New York Times bestseller, not to brag, but to show Amanda how wrong she is. Dorit adds a witty remark, saying that for someone who claims to be a writer, Amanda clearly misreads social cues.

As the party continued, Sutton expressed to Jennifer Tilly that a comment about Garcelle’s friendship with her had been hurtful. They quickly resolved the issue. Then, Amanda sat down with the tarot card reader and asked if she also had psychic abilities. The reader admitted to occasionally feeling that connection, but couldn’t predict things. Amanda then pressed her, asking if she sensed anything from her, but the reader said no. I found this incredibly frustrating – it was like going to a restaurant, asking for whiskey, being told they don’t have it, and still insisting they check again. It felt incredibly self-centered and oblivious.

Amanda brought this up because it’s the third anniversary of her son Zion’s passing, which happened just days after he was born. She mentioned it to Kyle on the way, hoping being with friends would help take her mind off things. It’s unclear if that actually worked, though. Losing a child is devastating, and I understand the immense grief Amanda has experienced. However, the way things were presented made it seem like she was subtly seeking someone to ask her what was wrong, so she could talk about her sadness. I sympathize with her pain, but if she wants to share, she should just say so. It felt like she was waiting for others to bring it up instead of simply expressing how she felt.

During dinner, Dorit brought up a disagreement with Amanda. Apparently, Amanda had an issue with Dorit speaking negatively about PK during their divorce. It’s a messy situation because both women are acting badly and are both wrong. Amanda didn’t originally express these feelings, but she repeated what Kyle had said, essentially adopting Kyle’s perspective. Amanda seems very eager to fit in with the group, and Kyle’s feelings are coming through her. Dorit probably shouldn’t have confronted Amanda about it.

Even so, when Dorit brought it up during dinner, Amanda revealed she was really struggling, saying it had been three years since Zion passed away and she was barely coping.

Kathy Hilton asks, “Is that your dog?”

“That’s my son,” Amanda replies.

Then Kathy says, “Your do…Your d…Your son!” Oh, Kathy Hilton. Never change.

I’m really conflicted about everything that happened. It’s hard to know how I truly feel. Amanda didn’t have to come to dinner if she was so upset, but she chose to be there, and I think it was to film the drama and bring up this issue on camera. She’s using this information to avoid being challenged, which is essentially what she’s there to do. The plan was for Dorit to confront her, and for Amanda to discuss it, but by mentioning the anniversary of the death, she’s shutting down the conversation and derailing the whole purpose of the show. It feels like she’s both winning and changing the rules all at once.

Honestly, I was cringing watching Dorit and Amanda’s interaction. Dorit seemed genuinely surprised by the question, and tried to politely postpone the conversation, but then just steamrolled right over Amanda’s hesitation and asked it again! Amanda is often off-base, and I’m not sure what her angle even is, but Dorit should have just let it go. After a weak attempt at discussion, Amanda announced she needed to leave and cry with her family, which, frankly, made me wonder why she was even there in the first place. It was just… awkward.

Amanda stood by the front door, waiting – she’d driven herself, not taken a ride-share – as her friends urged Dorit to apologize. Dorit offered a sincere apology, trying to comfort Amanda, but Amanda asked her not to touch her, explaining it was just a friendly gesture. The whole situation felt strange, like a competition unfolding right in front of Rachel’s house. Amanda felt that the conversation should have ended when she shared the painful news about her son. “I told you about my loss, and you continued to push,” she stated, a point that felt valid, yet complex. Leaving in her Porsche, top down, Amanda drove away from Rachel’s house and through the streets of Beverly Hills. The wind dried her tears, and she felt a sense of release. While overwhelmed by grief, she also felt a small sense of triumph as she drove away.

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2026-01-23 04:56