The Real Housewives of Potomac Reunion Recap: Maternal Instincts

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In many Housewives series, a traditional rule is to mainly concentrate the drama on the actions of the women themselves instead of involving their spouses or children. Generally, followers stick to this boundary, except for instances where partners willingly join in the drama on-screen and online. For instance, Ashley Darby’s former husband made headlines for seasons due to his frequent drunken behavior and (alleged) sexual misconduct during filming; it was challenging to ignore the elephant in the room, as big as Australia, every year.

Over the past two decades, I’ve been a dedicated viewer of the Housewives series, and it’s fascinating to watch their kids grow from children to young adults. It feels like we’re peeking into their lives through our borrowed Peacock accounts, and as we observe the close interactions between parents and children, it’s difficult not to form opinions about their parenting styles and how they’ve influenced their offspring over the years. Sometimes, it even seems like we’re uninvited guests privy to their personal development. Interestingly, the women themselves often evaluate each other based on these very aspects, and the Potomac franchise is particularly stringent in this regard.

One of the essential forces propelling Potomac (and many Black women in particular circles within the DMV) is the portrayal of matriarchy and robust Black family structures, whether genuine or idealized. It’s crucial to remember that at the outset of this franchise, these women were linked primarily because they were all members of the same Jack and Jill of America chapter. For those unfamiliar with it, this is a social club for mothers and their children, although critics might describe it as an elitist or colorist organization upholding a bourgeois identity among Black America. This foundation is evident in how women like Gizelle conduct themselves on camera: they’ll eagerly stir up drama, but they’re equally determined to present themselves as committed and nurturing mothers, just like Wendy and Ashley.

The reason they’ve shown such strong disgust towards Mia’s actions is because her behavior violates the accepted norms within their circle, which is why it stands out so much. It’s one thing to be vague or evasive about personal matters, especially when it comes to marriage. Many reality TV stars have kept quiet about their marital issues until they chose to make a public announcement. For instance, Dorit and Kyle on “Beverly Hills” are currently going through this phase of uncertainty after years of speculation about their relationship. If Mia’s actions were only about maintaining secrecy regarding her relationship with Gordon, it might not have caused such a stir among the cast. However, considering Wendy and Gizelle’s past reactions to similar situations, they might have eventually let it go. But, given that Ashley has been open about being on the verge of divorce for three years, Mia’s apparent lie wouldn’t be entirely unexpected (as far as I can tell, she is still legally married).

In my opinion, the questionable marital situation is one thing, but what truly pushes viewers over the edge is Mia’s reckless handling of her children amidst her chaotic personal life. Over the past year, we’ve witnessed a whirlwind of speculation about her child’s paternity, on-camera conversations discussing divorce, and more discussions about the whereabouts of her kids as she jet-sets between Atlanta, North Carolina, and D.C.

In today’s world, where social media provides constant scrutiny and surveillance, most parents are becoming increasingly cautious about the aspects of their lives they expose to the public, especially when it comes to a child’s inability to fully comprehend or consent to this level of exposure. However, Mia seems to have chosen to flaunt her personal life without regard for the potential harm it might cause.

The primary reason for the harsh criticism directed at her this past year by both cast members and viewers was because they didn’t comprehend why her actions were perceived as so inappropriate. After a season filled with inconsistent narratives and explanations, it became necessary to address these issues publicly. She was aware that Gordon preferred to avoid co-parenting matters on camera, so why did she persistently create situations for those discussions? Last season, she admitted that Jeremiah was conceived through IVF; however, she continued to question the legitimacy of his paternity and invalidate Gordon’s paternity test. If motherhood is important to her, why did she seize the first opportunity to attack Gizelle’s parenting, even going so far as to intimidate her in a newly unveiled scene from the drag night? And, most surprisingly, does she still reside in the DMV full-time or has she secretly relocated to Atlanta and concealed her relationship from the cameras?

Essentially, Mia seems unable to provide satisfactory answers to everyone’s questions and her emotional responses are not convincing at all. This has led the women to believe that Gordon Inc., Mia, and perhaps even herself are involved in a deal intentionally causing chaos on camera. While I’m not entirely convinced of this theory, Gordon’s behavior does remind me of people experiencing manic episodes. However, whether it’s a secret agreement or not is largely immaterial – it makes no sense for Mia to continue discussing this issue and maintaining her new relationship on camera when everything is so uncertain. Her children are the ones who suffer most from instability, and Mia’s current lifestyle is the antithesis of stability. Therefore, Gizelle felt justified in calling out Mia as a bad mother without hesitation, a sentiment she had been harboring for some time.

Upon joining the series, Mia’s resilience against insults proved beneficial; a contentious cast can spell doom for any franchise. However, over time, her carefree attitude has evolved into an unwillingness to accept constructive criticism, whether it’s genuine or perceived, often viewing it as unjustified hostility towards the turmoil in her life. Even if these women were her actual friends in real life, true friends wouldn’t allow destructive behavior; they would confront, hold accountable, and guide when needed. Sadly, Mia has never been open to such feedback on the show, resorting only to tears and mumbled apologies when backed into a corner. This season, however, there are no more justifications or partial truths she can use to mask her actions; all the women have contempt for her. True to form, she attempted to pull a dramatic exit by leaving the stage. Unfortunately for her, she’s run out of goodwill among this group, and not even kind-hearted Jacqueline felt compelled to chase after her.

See you all next week for the conclusion of the reunion!

Cherry Blossoms:

In summary, the girls made an attempt to diversify their fashion styles this season, which I appreciate, as we got some amusing instances to highlight their missteps. Wendy’s blue dress resembled Popeye’s arms, Mia seems to be drawn to Fashion Nova outfits, and Keiarna’s confessionals with the sharp shoulders were a disaster, but I’ll acknowledge their determination, even if it results in a swing and a miss. Ashley Darby, on the other hand, will never opt for an oversized shirt, I suspect – her recent enhancements have given her a new vitality, and it appears she intends to maximize her investment return.

It’s understandable that Ashley might want to bring more topics into discussion at the reunion instead of solely focusing on her marriage for four consecutive seasons, but taking offense at Wendy calling her new partner “Jack Harlow” seems like a stretch, even for Ashley. I mean, there are countless celebrity likenesses that could be considered much more offensive. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg in his gold chain era, T.J. Miller’s character from Silicon Valley, Napoleon Dynamite, or Sam Bankman-Fried after a recent bleach job. While Ashley is entitled to her feelings, it’s not a significant offense in the grand scheme of things; I’m relieved Wendy swiftly moved past this minor issue.

It seems Jacqueline isn’t discussing the specifics of her pregnancy, her personal life, or defending Mia’s actions effectively. Also, Karen is not there for Jacqueline to seek revenge against, and it doesn’t appear that Jacqueline has the ability to deliver a witty retort if she did. Jassi only lasted a short time, yet we must endure Jacqueline’s aimless conversation for another week?

Stacey Rusch has been maintaining a suspenseful dynamic, and this week, we caught a glimpse of the hidden side beneath her polished exterior. Her supposedly proper demeanor appeared to be a mask, as she was seen angrily scolding Vivien about her dresses (who retaliated) and asserting that her relationship with TJ ended amicably following their tumultuous friendship portrayed on TV. The upcoming episode promises to unveil more details about the situation, and I can’t wait to see how Stacey navigates this unexpected turn of events. Additionally, it was refreshing to address the elephant in the room regarding her wig installations; she is undeniably a beautiful woman, and I’m confident that this brief style mention will serve her well next season.

In an unusual turn of events, I’ve never encountered a couple who have moved in together, moved out, and are planning to move back into a new home while one buys a condo for themselves, managing to reach this point. It seems possible that Keiarna may be the first to achieve this, but it appears she is prolonging the seemingly inevitable end of her relationship due to understandable fear of making a clean break. Excluding the romantic aspect, she won’t be able to continue with another season of her partner glaring at the camera if producers choose to stay; if she intends to return, she will likely have to let him go on his own.

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2025-02-24 21:59