The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: City of Angels

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It’s only been a few days into 2026, and already things are feeling completely unexpected. I’m not talking about the constant news or even the disappointment of my favorite coffee shop closing for the holidays – and not reopening! While those things are frustrating, what really surprised me was the sudden popularity of someone named Angel Massie, who seems to be causing a lot of trouble.

Okay, so Angel definitely started off rough with the group. She was all over the place emotionally, super sensitive one minute and totally overwhelming the next – honestly, it felt like a recipe for disaster on a reality show! I was honestly scratching my head why they kept her around when Jassi was clearly ready to step up. Angel just seemed lost at sea, with no real direction. But after this latest episode? It all clicked. They knew something we didn’t – we hadn’t seen the real Angel yet, the one who comes out when she’s comfortable and in her element. It was like waiting for a character to finally reveal their true colors!

Wendy, Gizelle, and Ashley seem overly confident heading into this Colorado trip, acting as if they’ve successfully driven Angel off the show. Wendy boasts about an upcoming chaotic situation while also bragging about their amateur barbecue – it’s similar to feeling like a food critic after making a simple coffee at home. Gizelle, pleased with a successful girls trip, ironically suggests Angel has a lot to prove, despite once hosting an event at her unfinished home. Ashley continues to make light of being kicked out, even though she’s experienced that hardship herself as a child and adult. The three are acting immaturely and tastelessly, seemingly having bonded over controlling the newer cast members. It’s disappointing that Wendy, who once complained about being targeted as a newcomer, quickly joined the established group to do the same to others, which backfired when Gizelle and Ashley appeared to revel in her legal troubles after she was charged.

The first sign that the celebrations might have been too early came at Monique’s book launch. Her self-published book, a mix of self-help, memoir, and love letters titled Oh Hell Yes!: My Caged Bird Used To Sing, seems like it could be healing for her personally, but after reading so many disappointing books from the Bravo world, I’ll take her word for it. During a creative exercise at the launch, tensions flared between the women. Gizelle and Stacey continued to argue, and Wendy accused Keiarna of being fake. Keiarna’s response – “my bags are real” – didn’t land well at the moment, but it turned out to be a surprisingly accurate prediction about Wendy’s future financial situation. Stacey and Monique engaged in a playful, staged argument, which worked because both were willing to make fun of themselves, with Monique jokingly referencing a past incident involving a table separating them that didn’t end well.

Things really heated up when Angel and Ashley started arguing. Angel began with a somewhat polite critique, acknowledging Ashley’s strength as a mother but also calling her out for being unnecessarily spiteful. Ashley’s response – calling Angel a fake – was weak and frustrating, especially coming from someone who relies so much on social media. This finally pushed Angel to react strongly, telling Ashley that if they couldn’t connect, Ashley didn’t need to come to Colorado, which clearly surprised everyone.

Things got tense really fast. Gizelle basically said she’d refuse to film if Ashley wasn’t included, which felt like a major power move. It was kind of ironic hearing Wendy tell Angel not to take any drama personally, considering how sensitive she used to be to any criticism early on. Ashley had to awkwardly apologize for dragging out that whole eviction/catfish storyline, and Angel accepted it, but honestly, it felt like the real drama was finally starting, with someone really ready to stir things up.

Things really heat up in Colorado. The women are determined to find fault with Angel and constantly criticize her, but their attempts fall flat. They complain about staying at her beautiful property—which has amazing views—instead of her more lavish mansion, but that’s never been the usual expectation, especially considering Gizelle wouldn’t even let Wendy use the bathroom! Angel doesn’t let it bother her and continues with the room assignments, cleverly getting back at Ashley and Gizelle by making them share a small room with twin beds—a move clearly inspired by their insistence on being inseparable. Honestly, I thought the drama around room assignments was over, but Angel’s perfectly petty revenge was exactly what I wanted to see, and it clearly annoyed Gizelle.

Gizelle became upset and started threatening to leave, repeatedly bringing up past arguments to try and embarrass Angel into being quiet. Whether it was feeling comfortable on her own turf or the high altitude, Gizelle quickly realized Angel wouldn’t tolerate her subtle intimidation tactics. Angel demanded they reveal the rumors they’ve been hinting at before coming near her home. The confrontational person everyone’s been talking about has finally shown up, and I hope she sticks around – for everyone’s sake. The drama in Colorado will continue next week, so tune in then!

Cherry Blossoms

Monique noticed how strongly Angel identifies as an NFL wife, and that realization could be a turning point for her this season, which has been quite difficult. However, based on past experiences, it’s unlikely Angel will be able to handle a discussion about her husband very well.

• I hope Wendy appreciated what will likely be her last commencement speech for some time.

Stacey Rusch has been very visible lately, appearing on podcasts, TV shows, and as an event host. Meanwhile, in Columbia, Maryland, Gizelle is anxiously walking around wearing a matching set from Fashion Nova.

Was it necessary to show Keiarna and her friends having a party in a field near the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to celebrate her billboard?

Watching Tia grapple with her relationship with her father is truly compelling. It’s a fascinating internal conflict playing out before our eyes. She’s clearly emotional revisiting her childhood home with her kids, constantly praising her father and the incredibly high bar he set. But then her sister shares a heartbreaking perspective – she barely remembers him and isn’t even included in the recreation of an old family photo. As someone who understands the complexities of immigrant families, I get the sense Tia is still holding onto an idealized version of her father, struggling to reconcile the man she remembers with the man he actually was.

Ashley is getting a lot of justified criticism for her relationship with Charrisse’s son. It’s not just that he’s young and she’s known him for a long time, but also that she seems to be enjoying the drama. However, I don’t believe Charrisse’s complaints about the other women. If she’s truly above the show’s conflicts, she should stop filming, like others have. It’s confusing that she continues to appear on camera despite claiming to be above it all and presenting herself poorly.

I mention this often, but Ashley has a really powerful life story that deserves more focus. Instead, she often brings it up when she’s struggling on the show, almost as a way to change the subject. It’s sad because seeing her family recover from past difficulties – something we all witnessed – could be incredibly impactful, but it isn’t right now. She seems to use her past trauma to avoid taking responsibility, rather than truly working through it, and that’s a missed opportunity.

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2026-01-05 04:55