The Real Housewives of Orange County Premiere Recap: Shannon Storms A-Brewin’

As someone who has followed the lives of the Real Housewives of Orange County for years, I have to say that this latest episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Shannon and Alexis’ ongoing feud with John Janssen took center stage, and it seemed like things were reaching a boiling point.

At times, a Housewife shares an anecdote that encapsulates not just her recent experiences, but fundamentally, her being. Consider Shannon Storms Beador’s narrative about her DUI incident, disclosed two weeks after the last RHOC reunion during which she assured all that she wasn’t alcohol-dependent. In a confessional, she recounted, “That fateful night, I drove recklessly to John’s place.” They had a heated argument, and he warned her not to get behind the wheel. But seconds afterward, she admitted, “I lost control of my car right after revving the engine to show him how enraged I was.”

I’ve seen it all too often. The pattern is all too familiar – this is Shannon’s story. Time and time again, she finds herself in a volatile situation, fueled by alcohol and anger. She digs her heels in, unwilling to listen to reason or heed the warnings of those around her. In that moment of defiance, she loses control not just of the situation, but also of her own life. Her actions, driven by her unchecked emotions, leave behind a trail of destruction.

As a movie buff, I’d put it this way: God bless Shannon Beador. She’s had more rough patches on this show than a bumpy road. No season of hers has ever been smooth sailing. It’s either been Heather Dubrow’s door getting slammed in her face, discovering yet another infidelity, stepping on the scale to hear “Wow,” from her trainer, or dealing with David breaking up with her once more. And let’s not forget about her rollercoaster relationships with everyone else!

As someone who has followed the Real Housewives of Orange County for years, I have to admit that Shannon’s current situation seems particularly challenging for her. Her struggles with addiction and personal issues are no secret to us viewers, and it’s heartbreaking to see her continue to struggle despite obvious red flags.

The most disheartening discovery from the entire episode, in my opinion, concerns why Tamra and Shannon’s friendship ended and they ceased their Tres Amigas touring live show. According to Tamra, Shannon was denying her drinking habit to the media, but during one of their performances, Shannon was secretly adding vodka to her Diet Coke when no one was looking. There are people who drink excessively, and then there are those who conceal vodka in their Diet Cokes after DUI incidents – truly a sad sight indeed.

As someone who has had my fair share of friendships that have come and gone, I can relate to Tamra’s behavior, but it’s not a quality I admire. When a friendship turns sour, it’s natural to want distance oneself from the toxicity. However, Tamra takes it a step further by making her former friend into an enemy.

Shannon faces numerous challenges in her life, joining a list of women dealing with their own struggles. Let’s take a look at the other ladies before revisiting Shannon and her new sisterwife Alexis J.J. Bellino. Gina is experiencing difficulties due to her ex-Matt’s complicated relationship with his former wife, causing chaos. While it’s understandable and relatable to want to retaliate against an ex-spouse, it objectively leads to unpleasant situations.

Gina’s approach to their situation is perplexing and unrelated for many. She mentions that her small casita no longer accommodates both families now that their children have grown up and learned about food safety. However, they can’t afford a larger house, so Gina proposes an unexpected solution: buying two separate houses. This suggestion seems like a step back or missing out on an opportunity for advancement. If this happens, Travis may be forced to search for new employment on websites like Monster or scan through job ads in newspapers. (Is that still how people look for jobs, by the way?) This idea makes no sense to everyone involved, including Travis, leaving him in a precarious clown-like position once he moves out.

I’ve found myself caught up in the same tumultuous situation as Gina, as she dines with her boyfriend Ryan, infamously known for his questionable fashion choices, at a local restaurant. They both opt for an unusual drink combination of Malibu rum and Diet Pepsi. I can’t help but cringe at the thought of what to call that concoction – perhaps a “Douchebag Drink” might be fitting (a term Emily Simpson has also used for John Janssen).

Ryan’s proposed solution involves Jen, her numerous children, and some rescue animals joining him under one roof. She is concerned that their living arrangement might not last, leaving her in search of another place to call home. He urges her to maintain a positive outlook, believing everything will work out smoothly. However, one could question such optimism; after all, what if they were embroiled in a major baseball scandal within the Major League? That could certainly cause an unwanted disruption.

Emily Simpson’s situation has significantly improved after starting on Vitamin O, making her look fantastic. Heather Dubrow, on the other hand, is doing well with her new collection of properties to manage and a group of middle-aged men assisting her in spending around $20 million for renovating her Beverly Hills mansion. The tour of the nearly nine-acre estate reveals that it was once inhabited by Lana Turner, sparking Heather’s curiosity: “Imagine what stories these walls could tell?” Unfortunately, they will be torn down to their foundations, and only Oprah Winfrey knows if someone captured their tales before demolition.

I’ve come across a fresh face in the world of “RHOBH,” introduced as Katie, who is pals with Sutton Stracke. When Sutton and Katie tagged along to Heather Dubrow’s bash, Katie made a remark, “This isn’t my first encounter with Heather, but it’s the first time she acknowledged me.” Although we can’t pass judgment on her according to the Eileen Davidson Accords until episode five, I’m intrigued by her so far.

Fortunately, the Economic Disqualification Act exempts returning Housewives, allowing us to criticize Alexis Bellino freely. It’s amusing how Heather refers to her as a friend despite their heated past, when she once warned her at a reunion, “When everyone writes your obituary, it’s time to rest in peace.” Their dislike for each other rivals Joe Biden’s disdain for live debates. Thankfully, the show included some confrontations with Alexis, given her turbulent tenure on the series.

For Alexis, I’d put it this way: I have to hand it to Alexis, she has a knack for attracting some real characters. Her ex-husband, Jim Bellino, who infamously sued Tamra and Shannon for defaming his businesses, is one of the most unpleasant individuals to grace the Housewife’s circle, and there are quite a few contenders in that category. If the allegations against John Janssen are true, he matches Jim in horribleness. I remember Alexis mentioning she met him at The Quiet Woman, which makes me think that place deserves a spot on the National Register of Historic Places given its role in Housewife drama. One notorious incident is one thing, but two high-profile ones? That earns you the Rails Steakhouse Award for significant contributions to Reality Television.

Alexis dines with Heather, whom she considers an acquaintance rather than a friend, and Emily Simpson, who appears to be her true friend. It’s rumored they first connected on QAnon discussion forums. (Just a little joke there.) Alexis exclaims, “Once you understand him as I do, you’ll adore him. He’s my Johnny J.” But guess what? They already do! They might have spent more time with him than Alexis has. Additionally, Shannon shares that Johnny J called her ten days following their split to blame her for damaging his and his family’s lives since she’s a public figure. Then he moves on with Jesus Juggs? Seems confusing, John Janssen. Maybe it’s best if you keep a low profile instead.

At Heather’s kick-off event, everyone gathers, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Shannon and Alexis. Upon their arrival, Shannon engages in various activities around the party. She snaps a 360-degree selfie outside, gets her tarot cards read, makes wishes for strangers at the wishing wall, takes an espresso martini with an unpleasant addition, and hops on the mini pony. Later, she approaches Alexis for a conversation. They step outside together, and Shannon requests both a shady spot and a table. In her enthusiasm, she moves a metal table from one end of the patio to the other, inadvertently causing extensive damage worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The other women are huddled inside, peering through the windows to catch a glimpse of the fight or merely trying to decipher what was being said. “I understand English, Spanish, and lip-reading,” Emily remarks. (I’m fond of her. I apologize for my sentimentality.) However, it is Gina’s interpretation that strikes me as most enlightening. “He manipulated both of them until they ended up in a fight?” Absolutely! Don’t allow a man to bring you down.

I’m intrigued by Shannon’s narrative as she shares her side of the story with Alexis, mentioning the “cyst and deceased letter” that initiated the lawsuit leading to a significant financial loss for her. She expresses her willingness to be in the same room as Alexis but maintains her stand against being friends due to the legal dispute.

In the way she conducts arguments, Alexis left me baffled. Every time Shannon attempts to interject a remark, Alexis declares, “I’m speaking now. You can wait.” I dislike her for this reason – you cannot win an argument by enforcing rules of turn-taking. What exacerbates the situation is that Alexis threatens, “Here’s the exit, Shannon Beador,” a phrase she has meticulously crafted for months to execute her plan to rejoin the show. The irony lies in the fact that Alexis is the one who departs in such instances, while you cannot eject yourself after opening the door for someone else. Heather Dubrow can attest to this – she has expelled Shannon more than once.

The battle turns out to be uneventful, yet we’re left with a “To Be Continued,” which I’m eagerly anticipating means more conflicts next week. For the first time in a while, I’m thrilled – truly thrilled – that the ladies of the OC have returned. I believe this season will be extraordinary, especially if it’s a rough ride for Shannon.

2024-07-22 18:11

The Real Housewives of Orange County Premiere Recap: Shannon Storms A-Brewin’

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