As a longtime fan of this show, I must say, it’s been quite a rollercoaster ride this season! The dynamics among the ladies are as intriguing as ever, and I find myself constantly questioning their choices.
[Whispers] I think I might be enjoying Gizelle this season…
In just three episodes, Gizelle has managed an impressive blend of drama and humor, keeping things intriguing yet entertaining. As the season unfolds, I’ll hold off on a definitive judgment, but I must admit, her performance so far is surprising me – something I never expected to say about this show or any other!
Let’s start with the catchphrases. These are our top-notch one-liners from the ladies, a collection we haven’t seen for a while now. The writers they brought on board can take pride in their work, for the most part.
- Gizelle: “When the girls are away, it’s time for Gizelle to play.” Easily her best tagline in multiple seasons. It pokes at how people have long felt that Gizelle uses her children as a shield and hints at her antics this season. 8/10
- Wendy: “I quit grading, but I’m still passing judgments.” It’s perfectly serviceable and hints at the condescension she’s known for, but I have to dock her for the broken metaphor. Grading and judgments don’t fit cleanly, but she is certainly trying to make fetch happen, which is par for the course for Mrs. Osefo. 6/10
- Mia: “Marriage can be temporary, but Inc is permanent.” Honestly, this whole storyline makes me throw up in my mouth, but objectively speaking, it’s a great play on words. I have to dock for the ick factor, though. 7/10
- Ashley: “From kiddie pools to the dating pool. I’m ready to dive in.” Ashley has been getting ready to dive in for three seasons now — wasn’t she already casually hooking up with someone from one of the seasonal house shows, or did I make that up? Either way, I don’t really care if she shows us her dating journey; we simply need her to give us something real. 6/10
- Stacey: “I know how to host a show and steal one, too.” Cute, punchy, to the point. It’s pretty solid for the first time out! 7/10
- Keiarna: “I own a business, I mind my business, and I stand on business.” Putting aside the fact that success on reality TV is pretty much predicated on not minding your business, I like this! Snappy, trendy, to the point, and speaks to multiple parts of her personality. 9/10
- Karen: “Darling, I am the fence and the gatekeeper.” Yawn. The fence thing got weird last season ago, and I can’t believe Karen thinks she can get any more mileage out of that wrought-out metaphor. If she insists on preserving this silly theme, she should have gone with something that spoke to the DUI since that is her main topic this season. “I don’t run into fences, I protect them?” I don’t know, something, anything, is better than this. 4/10
We pick right back up on the tail end of Gizelle and Ashley’s GNA Wellness launch/fundraiser/memorial/happy hour (still not clear what the event actually was), and the women are baffled that Gizelle is not only roundly kicking them out but involving security to send them on their way. While I still think Gizelle was fully right in her frustrations and demands that the women at least have basic home training, I do think that Ashley failed to properly communicate Gizelle’s frustrations and position when the women called her. If I recall, Gizelle disapproved of an 8 p.m. cutoff that Ashley offered in the hopes that the women would make it before then and it would be smoothed over. None of that happened, and now Gizelle is understandably screaming at new cast members who she is meeting for maybe the second time in her life at her event while Ashley looks off into the distance, unfazed by the chaos she has wrought.
Without further ado, all the women angrily exit in a display of indignation. Stacey is taken aback by the rudeness; Mia declares she doesn’t condone crude or disrespectful behavior, which comes as a surprise to everyone present. Jassi tries to change the subject by discussing military time, a tactic that may have served her well in her flight attendant role, but fails to captivate those familiar with simple addition. Given the details they possessed, I can sympathize with their annoyance, but I also believe they could have observed basic RSVP etiquette. Despite this, they pile into the minivan, simmering over their perceived mistreatment, as Ashley follows them at Gizelle’s command, holding a QR code for charitable donations. However, Jassi doesn’t appreciate that — she promptly shuts the minivan door on Ashley, rudely telling her that her dark circles are evident.
At Stacey’s home, the women discuss the past event they named “Gangstas ‘n Alcohol,” a somewhat overdramatic title for what transpired but still amusing. Upon arrival, Jassi and Ashley dive headfirst into a conversation about the previous night. In a comical turn of events, Ashley refuses to accept Jassi’s apology for closing the sprinter door on her, claiming that she was hurt by a door moving at less than a mile an hour. Now, I might not be a frequent sprinter user, but I’ve had my fair share of rides in Honda Odysseys via Uber, and those sliding doors have never caused me more harm than a jolt to my coordination. Interestingly, Jassi recognizes Ashley’s claim as untrue, as she had intentionally closed the door on herself as a test. This prompts Ashley to counter that there was no way Jassi could have known this when she pushed the button. Ashley’s behavior closely resembles Tamra Judge’s: she often stirs up trouble and lies for amusement, only to argue about the hypothetical truth of her lie when called out, leaving others bewildered.
The main event was yet to unfold: Karen, who seemed a bit questionable behind the wheel given her age, boldly stepped into the chaos, projecting an air of authority that reflected her excessive self-regard. Karen and Ashley soon engaged in a heated verbal exchange, and while I might not always side with Karen’s confrontational methods, there’s no denying she’s captivating when she’s at the center of things.
That is all good and well, but none of that distracts from the fact that Karen intentionally mishandled the competing events to place everyone in a bad position — a power play that Gizelle clearly recognizes for what it is. What floored me, however, was that instead of icing the cast out, who did not defer to her, she opted not only to apologize (gasp) but also to try to get to know the woman better. Personally, I didn’t think Gizelle needed to apologize as much as she simply could have explained, but I will take it. As Wendy points out in the group sit down, this feels like a brand new Gizelle. She starts discovering more about Stacey’s life and divorce, leading Ashley to volunteer the information that she has a “special friend.” Stacey is naturally put off by Ashley sharing information unprompted, but what Stacey will soon learn is that Ashley only comes in one mode, and that is an agent of chaos and destruction; trust her with your secrets at your own peril.
Next week, Mia plans to bring the girls to Lake Norman, North Carolina, but based on the sneak peeks, it seems the water won’t be tranquil.
Cherry Blossoms
• I don’t know what to say about the Mia/Inc/Gordon situation. We saw that woman in three houses in ONE episode. Unreal! First, she’s in a bizarre three’s company situation where she’s still taking care of Gordon’s hangnails, then she’s in an Airbnb staycation rental where she and Jacqueline bring their partners and kids over and commiserate over their twisted romantic lives. Now she lives in a corner suite in DC? I know the production crew was exhausted, having to get new clearances every time she moved. And exactly what was Jacqueline suggesting by noting that Inc asked her out after Mia and Inc broke up the first time? Get us out of this narrative as soon as possible.
It’s impossible not to admire how beautiful Gizelle’s daughters looked at their prom, and I imagine she might be feeling a mix of pride and sadness as her nest empties, considering her recent loss. However, I must confess that I have no desire to see Pastor Bryant on our screens anymore. His past controversies seem to outnumber the clean laundry of an SEC freshman football team, and unless Gizelle is making him discuss these issues on camera, it’s best he stays off-screen where he can remain hidden.
• What exactly are we supposed to make of this dynamic between Stacey and TJ? I don’t really care about TJ’s vow of celibacy until marriage — that is his choice and right — but their interactions seem painfully stilted and awkward in a very off-putting way. A lack of sexual intimacy doesn’t mean a lack of romance, and his responses to her feel very … sterile, to put it kindly. I can appreciate if he is simply maintaining boundaries until she is formally divorced, but he also agreed to come on camera and film — he could at least act like he likes her as a person! Right now, it feels like she’s throwing herself at him, and he’s giving her the stiff-arm, and I hate to see a beautiful baddie go down like that.
Concerning Keiarna, who is indeed beautiful and has a beautiful mother, the excessive attention towards her new partner raises my concern. It’s disheartening to see such an intense focus on finding “the one” for these stunning women, when in reality, they have more than enough options at their disposal.
After several seasons, it seems like Wendy has found a genuine and relatable way to portray her family. As an elder daughter of an African mother, I see many familiar stereotypes in the scene – unexpected groceries for stew, a blender that retains the fieriest pepper aroma, Wendy’s youngest child fearing the large dried fish (which indeed has a pungent smell due to being cod). Although I can handle cooking traditional dishes myself, I still rely on my mom when it comes to the ancient recipes. The news of the families gradually mending their relationships before Wendy turns 40 is heartening. The current portrayal of Wendy – a woman who prays over her cocktails while sipping through a straw – is more appealing compared to earlier depictions on screen.
Read More
- W PREDICTION. W cryptocurrency
- AEVO PREDICTION. AEVO cryptocurrency
- PENDLE PREDICTION. PENDLE cryptocurrency
- REF PREDICTION. REF cryptocurrency
- GBP CNY PREDICTION
- CRV PREDICTION. CRV cryptocurrency
- DHT PREDICTION. DHT cryptocurrency
- DC PREDICTION. DC cryptocurrency
- SUIP PREDICTION. SUIP cryptocurrency
- G PREDICTION. G cryptocurrency
2024-10-21 05:54