The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: Personal Victories

As a seasoned observer of human behavior, I find myself deeply intrigued by this peculiar group of women, especially Ubah. Her unique perspective on the world, her unconventional ways, and her fierce independence are qualities that resonate with me, reminding me of my own life experiences growing up in the vibrant melting pot that is New York City.

Let me be straight-up: This latest season of RHONY hasn’t been packed with the usual drama, spectacles, and fireworks. But tonight, I have to say, it was still an enjoyable watch for me. Instead of fights and turmoil, we delved into several women’s personal lives this episode. We saw art exhibitions, cocktail launches, fashion displays, and even a few emotional tales. Frankly, that’s more than enough excitement for my Tuesday nights – especially tonight!

What captivates me most is Racquel. To be honest, it’s not really Racquel that’s captivating; it’s the mysterious garment she wore for the second week in a row, a piece that science and magic can’t fully explain. When Racquel attended an art show with her fiancé Mel, she was wearing what appeared to be a puffer jacket. However, upon closer observation, it seemed more like the concept of a puffer jacket, swollen for some reason – perhaps due to marijuana or a bit of Tina, because it didn’t behave like a typical jacket. The sleeves were present, but Racquel’s arms were not in them. So, it had holes for the sleeves, yet also seemed to have sleeves? And what about that neck? It was more like a wrap-around big enough to encompass multiple heads. Was this a two-person jacket, explaining the presence of both sleeves and holes? Or could it be a couple’s sleeping bag that Racquel transformed into a puffer? I find myself confused, yet also intrigued by this peculiar garment.

I’m quite fond of Mel as well. If being attracted to men was an option for lesbians, I’d consider myself bisexual. I find two types of people intriguing: those who are preppy, gym enthusiasts, and frequent Domino’s delivery guys, and chic lesbians. It seems like Mel embodies a blend of both groups. Interestingly, Racquel’s mother doesn’t approve of lesbian relationships. During their art event, Racquel shared with Mel that her mother used to visit frequently but hasn’t been to New York in over a decade due to her disapproval of Racquel dating women. “Women are very jealous,” Racquel’s mother once said, which appears to be the only conversation they’ve had regarding Racquel’s queer identity. This saddens me deeply. The thought of her mother not attending Racquel’s wedding would leave me heartbroken, and I’ve barely known them for two months.

It turns out that Racquel had shared her feelings before, not just on that occasion. Over lunch with Ubah and Sai, she revealed that she ended things with the renowned artist Mickalene Thomas. This news didn’t sit well with everyone in the contemporary art world. For those less familiar with the current art market, Mickalene Thomas is a significant figure, with an auction record close to $2 million for a piece prominently featuring Racquel herself. Their split was covered by “Page Six” even before Racquel joined the Housewives, demonstrating its authenticity.

After Racquel ended her relationship and began dating Mel, whispers spread that Racquel was unfaithful with Mel, and that Mel was a destructive influence. This led many in the art community to shun both Racquel and Mel as a show of loyalty towards Mickalene. (A hint of lesbian art-world intrigue? Is this a modern-day version of “The L Word”?) She also admits that they initially hid their breakup due to potential financial ramifications, mentioning that individuals in the art world tend to side with whoever can generate income. So far, Racquel hasn’t made much of an impact in group interactions, we’re unsure where her loyalties lie, and we haven’t witnessed any confrontations between her and others. However, whenever she speaks about her personal life, I find myself captivated – almost as much as Garfield on a Monday after consuming an entire tray of lasagna to cope with his dislike for Mondays.

I’m eavesdropping on a chat between Jessel and Pavit in a beautifully decorated but seemingly abandoned Chinese restaurant. Is it around 4:30 p.m. when they’re dining? When they arrive, the place is deserted, with not a single person in sight. Not even the kitchen staff are around; they’re huddled outside for a pre-shift smoke break and exclaim, “Whoa! Someone’s here!” Once seated at J&P Music Factory, they order everything on the menu. Jessel is trying to persuade Pavit to consider therapy to discuss whether or not they should have a daughter.

The relationship dynamics between them are intriguing, as Jessel points out. Pavit often uses humor, which I believe includes portraying himself as stingy, disdaining luxury, and mocking his extravagant wife. It’s a clever persona, but I can see why Jessel feels frustrated because Pavit seems more focused on taking pictures of his fried chicken than engaging in sincere, challenging discussions. While I appreciate a good humorist, there are moments when jokes aren’t suitable.

I’m with Jessel: These two should get therapy. I think every couple should have therapy. I’m not as crazy as Jenna, getting preemptive therapy, but I would if that would make me lesbian enough for Mel to have a cheeky make-out sesh with me on a dance floor somewhere. I think couples therapy is great and way better than an astrologer, which Jessel says Indians would rather spend their money on than a therapist. If I could find a therapist who was also an astrologer, though, I would be lying down on that fainting sofa and talking about my rising sign faster than Elon Musk retweets a conspiracy theory.

I think therapy is the perfect thing for these two. (It sure was the perfect thing for my relationship.) I don’t think therapy means that your relationship is in trouble, but I feel like many couples get to these roadblocks, and no amount of fighting or discussion will get them past it. That’s when they need a therapist, someone completely objective who might be able to put a different spin on things and get the couple to a resolution so that they can move on until their next roadblock. So do it, Pavit. Make Jessel take you for a burrito after and just get it all arranged, will you?

At Erin Mew Mew Lichy’s grand Cinco de Mayo party to debut her mescal brand (which I won’t be linking), there wasn’t a lot of one-on-one conversation, but it appeared to be an enjoyable and stylish event. It also gave us a glimpse into her business partner and ex-lover, Chris. By the way, did you notice Chris? He’s got blonde hair, a preppy style, he’s quite wealthy, and I can bet he’s at Equinox daily at 5 a.m., and his phone certainly has the Domino’s app.

“What I find enjoyable about Erin is how effortless it feels to tease her. But, what exactly does she imply when she mentions visiting Tulum in 2012 and discovering mezcal as if she were Columbus sailing the ocean blue? It seems she’s claiming that not only did she discover mezcal back then, but also planned to introduce it to America in 2024, since it hadn’t been tasted by Americans prior. In essence, Erin Mew Mew Lichy is credited with bringing mezcal into existence.

I adore Erin for her unwavering, albeit misguided, conviction that mirrors many of our renowned Housewives. It’s not amusing if she feigns her passion for mezcal; instead, she truly believes it. She firmly believes she pioneered a unique market niche, and we let her persist in this belief to keep mocking her. Remarkably, this overconfidence extends to her Cinco de Mayo party. She acknowledges it’s an American holiday, but she insists on hosting it anyway. It seems she thinks that if she’s wrong enough, she must be right. Or perhaps she knows it’s incorrect but believes no one will notice, much like certain donations she’s made in the past.

In a notable instance, Erin’s most memorable moment occurs during their conversation about the definition of being a ‘basic bitch’. She queries Brynn if the group perceives her as such, to which Brynn confirms they do. Surprisingly, Erin admits she is a ‘Karen’. This marks the first instance where Erin shows genuine self-awareness, although I must admit it’s heartening that she acknowledges being both a ‘basic bitch’ and a ‘Karen’, I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness as her prior self-delusion fades away.

At the gathering, there’s not much action going on, it seems. It appears that Brynn is still upset with Ubah and Sai, yet they all seem to have agreed to ignore the issue as if it doesn’t exist. This behavior feels more like the new Real Housewives of New York than the original Housewives, so I’ll overlook it. I wish they would open up a bit more. Erin shared with Ubah that Brynn spoke ill of her (and mocked her accent, which is never appropriate) during their shopping trip with Jessel. When Ubah brings it up, Erin responds, “It’s not a big deal.” But if it’s important enough to mention, why not discuss it? If it’s significant enough to bring up, it’s significant enough to address. That’s what I believe Ubah is referring to with the pigeons. Everyone is giving her information, but no one wants to resolve it, no one wants to discuss it, and no one wants to put an end to it.

It’s unclear how Ubah perceives the people giving her instructions, as shown when she drinks directly from a carafe while Jessel suggests there is a glass for her. Ubah then refers to herself as not being “basic” by drinking out of a glass instead of a mug like Jessel, who is drinking a pumpkin-spice latte. However, it seems strange to call drinking water from a glass “basic,” especially since humans have been doing this for thousands of years and it’s essential for survival. It’s just a common practice that supports human life, so it doesn’t make sense to change it or label it as basic.

What upset me though is that Ubah isn’t mad at Jessel about that, she’s mad at Jessel knew that Brynn was talking shit about her on the shopping trip. She says Jessel is basic for not telling her that her friends are talking about her behind her back. But wait. Isn’t that pigeoning? Isn’t that what upsets Ubah the most, when people are talking shit rather than engaging with the person they’re upset with? So Ubah doesn’t want people in the group to talk shit about each other unless they’re talking shit about who others in the group are talking shit about? Or is it just when it pertains to Ubah? If you don’t rat out the pigeon (rats and pigeons, how New York!) then that makes you a pigeon too?

This situation is baffling me, and truthfully, I couldn’t care less. I don’t require the petty squabbles of these women, their heated discussions centered around the table, claiming they’re moving on while secretly venting about trivial grievances to others, without even mentioning the source of their anger. Frankly, I could do without all that unnecessary drama, especially when it comes to their storytelling and open conversations that keep me far more engaged than some lame joke.

2024-11-06 07:54

The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: Personal Victories

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