The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Stiff Where?

As I delve deeper into the vibrant world of these Real Housewives, I can’t help but be captivated by their lives – a whirlwind of drama, glamour, and occasional hilarity that keeps me hooked episode after episode. Each woman brings a unique flavor to the mix, a testament to their individual journeys and experiences.

As a viewer of the Housewives franchise over the past few years, I’ve noticed that newcomers have had varying degrees of success in becoming an integral part of the cast and cultivating their own fanbases. Some have dived headfirst into the show, making a splashy entrance only to fade away just as quickly, like Monica Garcia on Salt Lake City. Others have studied the series diligently but ended up showing too much, revealing nothing compelling about their lives, such as Nneka’s tenure on Potomac last season. Then there are those who aren’t fully committed to the source material yet seem so focused on being liked that they shy away from doing anything interesting, brave, or unique – a trait shared by many of the cast members in the latest season of RHONY.

This season of “Potomac” boasts a packed cast as the series undergoes a refreshing revamp. Notably, many of the newcomers don’t quite fit into the traditional categories, with Jacqueline being an exception who exudes a palpable air of desperation, almost as if I were watching through a Smell-O-Vision. The new ladies arrive with strong personalities and charm, yet there’s a noticeable hesitation in asserting their dominance. This uncertainty might stem from the fact that the roles for these women were still being determined during casting – for instance, Jassi and Keiarna didn’t know who would hold the formal position versus who would be a friend until filming concluded.

Today’s episode sees Stacey accusing Karen of needing rehab, a claim orchestrated by Mia. Expecting this tactic, Karen responds calmly, but not without revealing some surprising information – she points out that Mia has battled opioid addiction herself. This revelation leaves the women, particularly Stacey, speechless and surprised by Karen’s apparent ruthlessness, a trait they hadn’t seen since the early seasons. However, before they can react, Karen swiftly changes the topic to seeking support for her upcoming court case in two weeks.

Although the females tend to be cautious around Karen, avoiding any disruption of the established pecking order, there’s no such courtesy extended towards Ashley or Mia. Instead, they have often clashed with newcomers. Keiarna openly expresses her disdain for Mia, even during seemingly innocent moments like swimming, she makes it clear that their conflicts continue, and they engage in a heated exchange of words while dining out. Mia takes advantage of these tense moments to try and seize control, inviting other women to her side, offering drinks, sharing jokes about her turbulent personal life, and even joking about her liposuction at every opportunity. Despite Mia’s carefree attitude towards the drama she stirs up, it appears that the females are skeptical of her chances for the crown and are instead leaving her to navigate her personal crises on her own, a response I find reasonable. Even when Mia proposed a new narrative by suggesting they both dated the same NFL star, Keiarna showed no interest, forcing Mia to shift topics.

With the Eileen Davidson accords concluded, it’s time we reveal what’s been happening behind the scenes – the fresh faces joining our cast.

In our previous season, we first encountered Keiarna, who seemed like a refreshing change in a group clearly needing a shake-up. Her unexpected altercation with Deborah, a former cast member known for causing trouble, left a lasting impact and a physical scar on her. This new season sees Keiarna interacting more with the other cast members, particularly Mia. Interestingly, Mia and Keiarna present an intriguing contrast: they are both from the DMV area and have independently built their lives, but Mia seems to thrive in the underbelly of life, while Keiarna is striving for progress. It’s notable that she hasn’t explicitly denied her past relationship with a drug dealer, and she was correct when she told Mia that she’s not one to judge others about their history.

Jacqueline: For someone who is technically making a return to the franchise, I am stunned by how she remains uncomfortable with the process of making a TV show. Tonight’s episode perfectly exemplifies the cringe factor she adds to the cast. There are numerous moments where she desperately tries to stick in a one liner or snarky witticism, only to be summarily ignored or for the jab to land with a thud. She made the ill-advised choice, clearly influenced by Mia, to take a stand against Karen, only for Karen to return fire Jacqueline wasn’t ready for. She seems to be the type to anxiously fill a space with humor, only to find out the hard way that no one is laughing with her. It comes out in the worst ways when she lays claim over her vaguely sapphic relationship with Mia. In this episode alone, we watched her (1) sniff Mia’s vagina to let her know that she was, indeed, minty fresh, and (2) blurt out that she and Mia had hooked up before, which was probably the world’s worst-kept secret. I don’t know if Jacqueline is just generally in an unsettled phase of her life, but she is coming off clingy, anxious, and rattled. The issue isn’t her lingering erotic fantasies about her supposed best friend; it’s that her embarrassment is simply uncomfortable to watch.

Stacey: I’m still getting a read on Stacey, but in general, her sense of whimsy and goofy is a welcome foil to the other women. When she said she was transferring her sexual energy into “working out” and “going to the zoo,” I genuinely screamed out loud. Her relationship with TJ leaves many open questions, for sure: “I’m in a committed celibate relationship with a television actor who lives full time in L.A.” sounds a lot like “my girlfriend lives in Canada,” but he has, at the very least, been willing to show face on camera, to give him some credit. The cast being agog about her celibacy will get old quickly. Still, I do find it compelling that she just gets under Mia’s skin simply for existing, simply because she clearly represents a veneer of “respectability” that Mia will never be able to attain. So far, she’s done a good job of rolling with the punches, so we will keep a close eye as it develops.

In the initial drama surrounding Karen and Gizelle’s contests, it was evident that Jassi’s character stood out. As we delve deeper into her personal story, though, we discover that not everything that sparkles is actually a diamond. Stacey, feeling tired of discussing her private life, unexpectedly exposed Jassi when she revealed details about Jassi’s engagement situation, which seemed inconsistent over time. From what I can gather, Jassi appears to be engaging in a subtle linguistic trick by claiming that since she and her partner were not officially together when he fathered another child, it doesn’t qualify as infidelity. However, simple mathematics suggests otherwise—2+2 equals infidelity. I wish her well in navigating this situation, but I suspect this group of women will eventually make Jassi reconsider the wisdom of being so candid about an issue that she clearly still struggles with emotionally.

Vivien: Unfortunately, she has barely been on camera to leave any mark.

Cherry Blossoms

In the sixth episode, Ashley’s content appears to lack the necessary appeal for viewers, given that she isn’t central to the season’s chaos. This leaves us with a somewhat monotonous mix of her track “Healing and Thriving,” a song not many had anticipated. It seems she paid $250 to a 19-year-old in Lithuania for a quick remix, which was undoubtedly appreciated, but without the backdrop of her tumultuous relationship with the troll under the bridge she’s still married to, her presentation feels lackluster. Her latest attempt at a personal story even prompted Gizelle to create a humorous parody in the confessional, causing me to laugh uncontrollably.

On Wendy’s birthday, it was amusingly awkward when Mia led the girls on a field trip to a chiropractic office she doesn’t own herself. The staff there seemed unfamiliar with her, and her self-satisfied expression suggested a recent high school graduate returning to their alma mater after homecoming. Remarkably, they didn’t even receive any adjustments! I’m curious about how Mia can continue to claim ownership of so many branches while apparently struggling financially – does she get cash injections from sales or must she share the proceeds with Gordon’s ex-partners? The legal framework behind this situation is unclear.

• What the hell was that white getup that Wendy was wearing at the rooftop dinner? She looked like the wife of a riverboat captain. That said, her speech and the subsequent toasts at the birthday dinner were probably the most open and gentle she has ever been on screen. It was lovely to watch the women (except Jacqueline) pour into her and for her to share her transparency about struggling to find her footing and really land on her passion — something that has been painfully obvious as viewers as we watched her jump from hobby to hobby, but a great moment of introspection to catch on camera.

Keiarna has a striking beauty, yet her blonde confession style doesn’t quite work for me. She seemed more like a character from the Lollygag Guild.

Regardless of the growing frictions within their circle, what makes this gathering so enjoyable is that every woman is dedicated to creating as much fun as they can. Watching them engage in a lively game of ‘fuck, marry, kill’ was entertaining, and even some unexpected replies were shared. It seems Stacey, who abstains, might choose Mia Thornton if given the chance – perhaps there are hidden aspects of Stacey we haven’t discovered yet.

2024-11-12 00:54

The Real Housewives of Potomac Recap: Stiff Where?

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