The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Hostile Takeover

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I’m currently obsessed with the HBO series Industry. Like many viewers, I enjoy the show overall, but what really captivates me is the central character, Harper Stern. She’s driven to succeed, even if it means stepping on others, and isn’t afraid to play dirty in the ruthless world of finance. Honestly, Harper is my favorite morally ambiguous Black character on TV right now. There’s something amazing about her cool demeanor, even when things are falling apart around her – especially with those striking braids!

Harper excels at scheming and clearly enjoys it, but Gizelle Bryant on Potomac demonstrates how poorly executed plotting just creates drama and unhappiness for everyone. It’s amazing how she can turn a legitimate complaint – like inadequate lodging from the host – into something that makes her seem more at fault. Her biggest issue is a lack of sensitivity and consideration, which causes her to blow things way out of proportion. While it’s understandable to be upset with Angel about the poor accommodations and hosting, spending over thirty minutes berating her on a private jet, without letting her speak, isn’t helpful, entertaining, or worthwhile – at least, not in my opinion.

The show’s biggest challenge is Gizelle: she drives much of the drama and keeps things moving, but without Karen to balance her out, the cast often goes along with whatever Gizelle wants. Several cast members later privately acknowledged that ganging up on Angel during the Aspen trip went too far, though they mostly expressed this regret in private interviews, not directly to her. Angel was left to deal with the criticism while trying to explain herself, and Wendy needlessly added to it. This situation wasn’t just uncomfortable to watch, but it also solidifies Gizelle’s position as the central figure and main source of drama for the show moving forward.

Okay, so Angel definitely stumbled a lot and created some of her own problems, no doubt about that. But honestly, she’s really in a tough spot now, just trying to survive. It feels like she’s being punished for not immediately sharing details about her marriage, yet anything she says about her personal life is treated with skepticism. And the criticism about friendships? Please – everyone has alliances! The whole thing about the caviar bumps being ‘classless’ feels so nitpicky, especially since it’s a pretty common thing. Plus, she’s getting slammed for trusting her staff when they said the water was fixed, and for not double-checking with the women, which, yeah, is a host issue, but hardly the biggest deal in the world. It all feels a bit…much.

I’d be more willing to accept the drama if Potomac’s cast trips were known for being lavish, but they really aren’t. That’s why the show keeps showing clips from old trips to Cannes and Nevis. Gizelle constantly talks about wanting Four Seasons quality, even though she hasn’t actually stayed at one in years. Now everyone has to pretend her trip ideas are good, because no one wants to tell her she’s repeating herself and isn’t being realistic. It’s times like these that you really see why Karen’s blunt honesty is needed to shut down these pointless conversations.

It’s unfortunate, because Angel planned a really nice day: they flew to Aspen on a private jet, had a private whiskey tasting, went shopping at Kemo Sabe with access to a private lounge, and spent a lot of time with Mo discussing how much they valued their friendship with Kyle Richards compared to having fun with a potential romantic interest. While this was supposed to lift everyone’s spirits, the women seemed determined to find fault with everything, from Monique immediately pressing Angel about her marriage to Gizelle openly dismissing Angel when she became upset. It wasn’t enjoyable to watch, and by the time they went shopping, I was ready for the trip to end and for everyone to return to Potomac. Angel was clearly considering cutting her time with the group short and avoiding further drama.

As the day winds down and Angel begins planning for the next, Gizelle makes a bold move: she announces the group will go to the Four Seasons, then immediately return to Maryland after brunch, and asks for everyone’s approval. It’s a clear attempt to control the situation, and doesn’t feel deserved. Considering she stayed in Miami when Mia was intoxicated and confronted Wendy, and remained in Austin during a particularly unpleasant situation with Ashley, it’s hard to believe she can’t handle one more day of planned activities. But Gizelle’s influence over the cast and the show is concerning, and could lead her to make poor decisions. While the season has largely been enjoyable, this episode highlighted the negative side of Gizelle’s strong personality, setting the stage for Karen’s eventual comeback. Unfortunately, the trip ends badly next week. Tune in then!

Cherry Blossoms

Even when Stacey isn’t the main focus of an episode, she always manages to be the most memorable part. Her accidentally eating her contact lens is something I’ve never heard of, even after wearing glasses and contacts for decades – though I’ll definitely be repeating that ’20/20 bootyhole’ line in my head for a while!

I’m surprised to hear Ashley met her ex, Jack Skellington, at a members-only club. For a moment, I wondered if she was trying to reconnect with Mia and have her rejoin the group.

I understand Jassi wants to be relevant on the show, but it makes me incredibly uncomfortable when she tries to compare her personal life to the experiences of others. Specifically, her situation with managing childcare for her husband’s multiple children is completely different from a mother simply needing to adjust plans for a night out – they aren’t comparable at all.

I’ve mostly stayed quiet about her outfits because she usually manages to make them work, but the stiletto boots were too much. It seems like Wendy’s trying to make a fashion statement when a simple, comfortable heel would be much more practical for a trip to Colorado. Let’s keep it simple and move on.

I was surprised by how affordable a short chartered flight actually is. It’s not going to become a regular weekend thing, but it’s much more within reach than I imagined.

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2026-01-19 23:55