The Real Housewives of Potomac Season-Finale Recap: Homecoming

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I usually enjoy season finales that are big and cover everything happening with the cast. They don’t need to be super dramatic like the Monica Gate scandal on Salt Lake City – last season’s Potomac finale was actually pretty funny, mostly showing the women dealing with some messy situations involving dogs! As long as there’s some humor and a sense of growth, that’s enough to keep me interested in the next season.

This season of Potomac featured some major off-screen developments for the cast, including Wendy’s indictment and Karen’s DUI conviction and sentencing. While I’m a bit frustrated by the decision, I get why the finale will be an exclusive one-on-one interview with Karen, led by Andy Cohen, rather than a separate special or an appearance on Watch What Happens Live. It makes sense given the significance of these events.

Overall, this “special episode” was handled surprisingly well. We see quick scenes of Karen after her release from jail, including her first moments with family – a scene they understandably stop filming when she becomes upset. There’s also a touching moment with her larger family and Andy, featuring her older son who’s easy to overlook, and finally, a candid conversation with Andy where she answers nearly every question put to her.

The main takeaways are simple: Karen has acknowledged she needs ongoing recovery for both alcohol and prescription pill misuse, though she hesitates to identify as an alcoholic. She’s currently sober and actively participates in both Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous. Throughout her struggles, her family consistently supported her, with her son and sister particularly stepping in to manage things while she was away. She only watched the video of her arrest with her therapist present, which I find a little hard to believe considering how widely it circulated, but I’m willing to accept her account.

Although much of the interview seemed carefully planned, there were genuine moments of honesty. Karen openly shared that her family confronted her about a problem twenty years ago, and that she had recently started misusing prescription medication again – she wouldn’t say what kind, but it likely helped with withdrawal symptoms. She admitted her marriage was struggling now that her children had left home, and she had been drinking to cope with her problems. She also revealed she’s still dealing with the emotional effects of an assault she experienced in college, which was likely worsened by her recent grief. Finally, she sheepishly confirmed the rumors about a gossip incident at Ashley’s Legal Seafoods, saying it happened about twenty years ago, but denied Wendy’s claims, suggesting Wendy understands the reason for their ongoing conflict.

What really stood out was when Andy asked Karen why she thought she deserved to regain her position with so much fan backlash. Her honest answer – that she wasn’t sure if she did, and even if she did, she’d need to work to earn it back instead of simply having it given to her – was surprisingly thoughtful and hopeful. Whether her feelings are genuine remains to be seen, especially considering how quickly she returned to her glamorous image after a brief period with a simpler hairstyle during her jail time. But anything less would suggest she hadn’t learned from the experience. Real change requires genuine remorse, something other reality stars like Luann de Lesseps have had to face. Now it’s Karen’s turn to rebuild, and hopefully, she’s truly committed to doing the work.

And now for the end-of-season rankings:

Whether you like her or not, Gizelle tried her best to keep things running smoothly this season. She definitely had moments where she acted negatively, but considering how chaotic the rest of the cast was, it’s hard to blame her for letting drama happen sometimes. However, the show needs to give Gizelle a strong rival next season to create more compelling conflict. 7/10

This season, Ashley spent a lot of time defending Gizelle and tried unsuccessfully to start rumors about Stacey’s private life. We also learned she reconciled with her stepfather and started a romantic relationship with a cast member’s son, but both of these happened off-camera. While it’s great she’s enjoying being single, her storylines on the show seem to be losing momentum. I’d give her a 4 out of 10 this season.

Jassi seemed really eager to be on camera, which honestly came across as a bit desperate. While there’s nothing specifically wrong with her, the show once tried to make someone a main cast member based on a friend’s recommendation, and it didn’t go well – think of the Marlo Hampton seasons of Atlanta. I’d rather avoid repeating that mistake. 3.5/10

It’s unfortunate that Wendy is having such a strong season while facing serious legal troubles. Despite some questionable fashion choices, she looks and feels more confident than ever on camera. She’s finally learned how to deliver her signature, slightly snobby commentary in a way that’s entertaining for viewers. While her season wasn’t perfect – aside from the legal issues, her close relationship with Gizelle and family drama caused some unexpected problems – she seemed much happier and more relaxed while filming. Hopefully she enjoyed it as much as it appeared, because she’s likely facing a difficult time ahead. Overall, I’d give her season an 8 out of 10.

Honestly, I don’t think Monique has changed much. She clearly realizes you can’t be a wellness entrepreneur while still getting into dramatic fights. I’m okay with her returning to the show on her own terms, but her appearance showed how distant she’s become from the rest of the group. It’s time to wrap up her storyline and let her go back to her life at the animal conservatory. I’d give it a 6 out of 10.

Stacey has quickly become a standout star on the show, unlike most others. She seems perfectly crafted to appeal to successful Black women and the West Hollywood crowd. Her background in pageantry is clear, and she skillfully uses a combination of seeming naive and upholding proper etiquette to get under the skin of her castmates. She’s consistently outmaneuvering everyone else, and her season was nearly flawless. While she stumbled a couple of times when caught in a lie, she impressively recovered from a difficult reunion and finished the season strong. Bravo. 9.5/10

Keiarna’s season felt like a step backward. Despite avoiding major drama, she ended up moving back in with her ex and didn’t get the engagement she hoped for, receiving only a symbolic empty picture frame and a billboard as a result. Her conflict with Wendy had potential, but she struggled to effectively address the core issues. Maybe Karen could offer guidance if she returns next season. Honestly, I’m willing to give Keiarna another chance largely because of how stunning she is – sometimes, that’s just how things go. Overall, I’d give her season a 3 out of 10.

It’s tough to say, but Angel might be the most unsuccessful one-season cast member ever. (Diana Jenkins is a close second.) The whole experience seemed to be a disaster for her, and I doubt she’d want to return even if asked. Honestly, letting her go might be a kindness, both to her and to the production team who were constantly preparing meals that often went uneaten. I’m almost tempted to give her a zero rating, but I’ll give her a 2 out of 10 because of her husband and her stunning house.

The season is wrapping up with a reunion that’s shaping up to be unforgettable. Karen will finally address some issues with certain cast members after a year of distance, Keiarna will face questions about rumors surrounding her private life, and Wendy’s ongoing legal issues will be a major topic of discussion. Despite a somewhat bumpy season, it’s clear that after ten seasons, the women of Potomac aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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2026-02-02 22:55