The Real Housewives of Dubai Season-Finale Recap: Life’s a Beach

As a seasoned observer of the reality TV landscape, I must say, this Dubai Housewives cast has certainly served up a mix of drama, glamour, and intrigue.


It’s no secret Dubai has struggled to build a fan base. Still, the show has done a decent job of recalibrating in the second season into the OG Housewives model “beautiful ladies who fight about nothing,” and this finale is a perfect example. We had two all-group parties, uninvited guests, a mansion that looks like Baccarat threw up in it, and arguing over British country farmhouses. They have seamlessly transitioned into a group of women who will whip up an argument over word choice, which I prefer to private investigators and federal crimes — Bravo is getting a bit too E! True Hollywood Story these days.

It’s surprising that the rift between Lesa and Ayan was caused by something as seemingly trivial as “bragging,” but given the storyline in the series, their reactions seem justified from both perspectives. Lesa appears to be resentful of Ayan’s friendship with Caroline Stanbury, expressing her doubts about its longeviness and lack of trust throughout the season. However, if Caroline hasn’t done anything truly unforgivable, it seems unfair for Lesa to continue holding this grudge against Ayan, as building relationships is an essential part of the show. Last season, they were a formidable duo against the rest of the cast, but that approach isn’t sustainable in the long run

In simpler terms, Ayan’s desire to be accepted leads her into situations that could have been easily avoided. The voice-note trap was quite evident, but in this final instance, she was deceived by Taleen and Brooks who suggested that she behaves differently around Lesa because she becomes preoccupied with defending herself. While their observations might not be entirely incorrect, they all tend to do the same thing. Lesa had just scolded Taleen for inserting herself unnecessarily; Sara was criticized for explaining Brooks’s anger; isn’t it reasonable to keep personal disagreements with a best friend private? Ayan should have steered clear of that discussion altogether

From my perspective as a devoted movie-goer, let me rephrase this for you: During the film, I noticed that the women’s dynamic was subtly setting up conflicts where they didn’t need to be. Ayan attempted to initiate a friendly dialogue with Lesa off-camera, but she wasn’t interested, as their initial plan was to project a united image. Throughout the final party, Lesa made snide remarks towards someone who was meant to be her closest confidante, then feigned surprise when Ayan became upset. I’ve learned that Lesa operates in a specific way: you either meet her demands or don’t engage with her at all. She doesn’t tolerate disrespect, which is reasonable. However, she finds ways to justify her dismissive and disrespectful behavior towards others, such as refusing to apologize to Taleen for calling her every derogatory name in the book. Hypocrisy seems to drive the plot in this series, making me continue to admire Lesa despite the contradictions she presents

It appears that the tension between Lesa and Caroline Stanbury primarily stems from differences in social standing, old money versus new money. Lesa seems to view herself as being above such distinctions, which is evident in her interactions with Stanbury about the Cotswolds. However, it’s clear that she may be overreaching, demonstrating a lack of understanding and belonging within this specific social circle. It’s important to note that social status can’t be bought; it’s deeply rooted in history and tradition, as exemplified by the British Empire’s expansion. Stanbury, who is well-versed in these circles, might have chosen not to directly criticize Lesa for her presumptions about quickly establishing herself in the area. I find myself somewhat influenced by the themes portrayed in ‘Industry’, but it’s clear that the class and racial hierarchy in the U.K.’s upper echelons is rigidly structured, and Lesa seems to be attempting to navigate those circles. I believe Stanbury did imply that Lesa was boasting about her family home, and whether Ayan chooses to acknowledge this or not is up to her. However, I would have appreciated it if Lesa had simply acknowledged her attempts to assert herself over Stanbury’s family home and understood her limitations in that conversation

A year has passed since these events unfolded, leaving me wondering if old feelings will resurface during the reunion. The girls have been vocal about their views on social media – something I wish Bravolebrities would avoid – but I’m curious if Lesa and Ayan might try to mend their relationship. It’s unfortunate if the show’s influence could damage a long-standing friendship, but it seems they may be too deeply entrenched in their opinions to make progress

The future is uncertain whether Dubai will make another appearance, but there’s a wealth of topics to delve into from this season. We can peek deeper into Sara’s life, which appears more mysterious than ever; Taleen might uncover the true experiences of being Armenian in the Emirates and depict its realities; Ayan has already established her business, offering us a glimpse into the reality of managing a new venture. I am intrigued to learn about Brooks’ personal life and the enigmatic group of men she hints at – let’s explore that! If we continue filming the support staff, it would be captivating to integrate them into the storyline as they could provide a Downton Abbey-esque perspective that would undoubtedly be intriguing

Before I wrap up, here are my final scores for the cast this season.

Sara’s Evaluation: This season of her show felt dull and messy for me. The intriguing narratives were often set aside in favor of numerous episodes focusing on a man whom viewers found unconvincing as a long-term presence. I hope her son is faring well following his ordeal, but perhaps it’s time to introduce other aspects of her life into the series. Rating: 5/10

Caroline Brooks’ on-screen character appears difficult to work with amicably, yet there’s no denying that she makes captivating television. She has a knack for creating chaos and disruption, and the perfect blend of boldness, self-deception, and self-destructive tendencies to make it work. Brooks excels at gatecrashing events and ensuring the narrative revolves around her, an act I must admit, deserves admiration. 7/10

It’s clear that Saba appears charming and well-dressed, but if we don’t see anything more from her apart from asking Sara to stop bothering Akin, I wouldn’t mind skipping future encounters unless she decides to explain why the powerful women in Dubai label her ex-friend as “Sara The Fraudster.” Rating: 3/10

Taleen entered with enthusiasm, quickly making an impression. She was ready for confrontation, resolving issues live on camera, and inviting us into her life. However, she also made some beginner errors that hindered her progress, most notably abandoning the friendship crucial to her involvement in the show. This move put her in a negative light, suggesting she was disloyal and unstable. Rating: 6/10

Caroline Stanbury commended the significant improvement she saw this season. Sergio should appear on-screen less often, but I must acknowledge that the woman handled top-notch Housewife duties remarkably well, despite the voice-note predicament. Most of these women (with Lesa being an exception) seem to be quarrelling with her, and it appears they secretly crave her friendship, thereby making Caroline a default queen bee, whether people appreciate it or not. 7/10

Assistant: Ayan has been exceptional at sharing aspects of her life. However, my concern is that her openness could sometimes be overly innocent: She expresses her feelings openly, which might make her vulnerable to being blamed for problems or being influenced by others due to her strong desire for acceptance. I acknowledge that this stems from a sincere heart, but I believe she should learn to build a barrier soon, or the real world could prove too harsh for her. 7/10

Lesa: I will always adore Lesa’s beauty and quick mouth. That said, she was siloed for half of the season with girlboss antics and her mother, which didn’t allow for her to have too much time with the group. If you want to be part of the show, you should participate more. 6/10

Thank you all for joining me on this journey. Enjoy the reunion!

Golden Nuggets

In the final sequence, Lesa’s excessive use of TikTok’s bold-glamour filter came dangerously close to being unlawful. The Jamaican doll is undeniably beautiful; it seems unnecessary for apps to alter her face in such a way. I sincerely hope we never witness that again

It’s hard to understand why Akin and Sara would end things when they weren’t in a relationship to begin with. I find it astonishing that Sara would spin such an implausible tale, only to then feign the possibility of continued support for him, despite her assertion that he showed disregard for her child. Let’s make sure we don’t get caught up in such senseless dramas again

Out of pure curiosity, I researched the wealthy host of the final party, Abu Sabah, to understand why someone with such a prominent business background would participate in reality TV. To my surprise, it was revealed that he had been arrested for financial fraud after the show was filmed. The connection between Bravo and fraud allegations continues to be unbroken!

As a film enthusiast, let me express my astonishment over an unexpected turn of events at the farewell dinner in Dubai. The presence of a young child, Brooks’ companion, left me genuinely speechless. It seems peculiar that she would choose this as her date for such an occasion. And to make matters more intriguing, their shared connection to Doogie Howser only adds fuel to the speculation surrounding Stanbury’s daughter. This unconventional choice certainly raises questions about Brooks’ judgment and social graces

It’s utterly insane for Sergio and Caroline to consider using a surrogate because of Caroline’s hesitation about having a child, and I sincerely hope they reconsider this potentially disastrous option

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2024-09-04 22:11