As a longtime fan of the Real Housewives franchise, I must say that this season premiere was quite the rollercoaster ride! The tension between Mia and Karen felt like a replay of a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with each woman trying to outmaneuver the other. It’s clear that their friendship hit a major roadblock last season, and it seems like they’re both struggling to find solid ground again.
Previously, I expressed my disappointment that the Potomac ladies’ series seemed stuck in a cycle of disputes and unhappiness, reminiscent of season five’s clash between Candiace and Monique. For several seasons now, the cast had been divided into unyielding groups with only a few exceptions, such as Karen and Mia who seemed to thrive on stirring up drama at every turn. Watching my cherished Potomac ladies struggle in an endless cycle of unresolved disagreements was not only frustrating for viewers but also appeared to be taking a toll on the cast members themselves. A shift was necessary, urgently so, to get the group back on track and entertaining us again with their antics.
As Gloria Hallelujah Woods, a renowned philosopher and preacher, once said, “Every day may not be sunny, but that’s what makes tomorrows so special.” It’s been around half a year since we last saw a cherry blossom on our screens, and during this period, many things have transformed. The Dixons decided to step back from the camera, a move intended to give their relationship a chance to survive outside of the ever-watchful Bravo audience. Candiace is now focusing on creating her own family, finding solace in an environment that helps her avoid emotional outbursts triggered by each conflict. Unfortunately, Nneka’s unique presence, including her claims about shrine and witchcraft, was limited to just one season. We are now stepping into a soft-reboot phase, similar to RHONY season five and RHOC season 16. Here’s hoping this change brings a revitalizing breeze to the struggling franchise.
Originally, only three cast members from the first season of “Potomac” remain: Gizelle, Karen, and Ashley. Each has undergone substantial changes since then. Gizelle, who was once closely bonded with Robyn Dixon, will enter this ninth season without her partner in crime following their separation, and she’s also dealing with the recent loss of her father. This has led to a more conciliatory and open version of Gizelle, less focused on stirring up drama and more engaged with her fellow cast members.
The storyline progresses following Karen’s DUI incident and car accident. An unusual portrayal of the crash by the editing team precedes a somber title sequence, leading me to anticipate a morally focused episode. However, my apprehensions were soon alleviated as we skip ahead a month, finding Gizelle visiting Karen to discuss her current situation. Both women don coordinating denim outfits en route to Tally Ho’s, Karen’s favorite brunch spot where they even have a breakfast dish named after her due to her frequent visits. In their car conversation, the wives share a list of offenses and violations that Karen has been charged with, including a suspended license (likely from her first DUI) and reckless driving/speeding. Despite disclosing some details about her injuries (ribs and ankle) and totaled vehicle, Karen quickly switches gears to her habitual tactic of being evasive.
Gizelle gently listens as Karen repeats familiar excuses that never fully admit fault for her actions; she’s been wrestling with the sorrow of losing her parents, and her marriage is experiencing difficulties, while legal restrictions prevent her from discussing the matter more openly until it’s resolved. I understand the lengthy grieving process and how deeply personal losses can linger throughout one’s life — I’ve experienced that myself. However, viewers who have been following for a long time are accustomed to hearing these same explanations whenever Karen is under scrutiny. With six years having passed since season three, the context no longer carries the same weight to shield her from criticism, especially when she fails to clarify whether or not she was drinking that particular night.
Gizelle is managing the situation with an unexpected depth, sometimes nudging Karen in certain directions, and at other times letting Karen stumble on her own. In contrast to two seasons past, where Gizelle would have forced Karen to confess her alcohol issues like Charrisse did with the group last season, she’s now handling it tactfully, allowing Karen’s contradictions and inconsistencies to hang in the air. Is there anyone who doubts that Karen hasn’t indulged in a few glasses of prosecco or more at the bar near her Potomac home? Of course not, but it’s entertaining to see her argue with the waiter about abstaining from alcohol on camera.
Eventually, Gizelle proposes the first group event of the season: a ‘Hatitude’ birthday lunch for Karen, where Gizelle will wear a series of ostentatiously garish hats. However, before we delve into this spectacle, let’s briefly visit Mia and Gordon. Their lives have been nothing short of bewildering since we last saw them. After a season apart filled with public squabbles and sensational accusations in the media, Mia and Gordon are now legally separated. They reside in the same building, with Gordon living independently and their children nearby. The aftermath of airing their disputes on camera has caused quite a stir, and there are ongoing questions about the paternity of their son Jeremiah, among other matters that remain unresolved.
I won’t dwell on the topic of Jeremiah’s fatherhood, as it feels inappropriate and questionable to me, a sentiment that appears to escape Mia during our conversation at Karen’s birthday brunch. However, there are other intriguing aspects worth exploring – for instance, Mia has integrated Inc fully into her life and they spent most of the summer traveling together. In fact, Inc helped Gordon with his laundry, which left me startled. As a tall woman like Mia, it’s amusing to see how she manipulates their Instagram posts to make Inc appear taller: She stands in front to create an illusion, and even goes as far as staging “candid” shots of herself hunched over to minimize the height difference. As Karen joked, we all know that Inc needs a stepstool to meet Mia eye-to-eye. Long live your diminutive prince!
Regardless of Gizelle’s questionable hat choices, ranging from bowler hats to boaters, top hats, taco hats, and even banana hats, which seemed oddly punitive, the event proceeded smoothly with the entire cast, along with newcomers Stacey and Vivien, attending. Gizelle extended an olive branch to Wendy for the first time since their confrontation at the Reasonably Shady event in season six by inviting her to the gathering. The exchanges of subtle jabs were present but generally light-hearted: Gizelle named a non-alcoholic drink from the custom menu “grand dame,” and Ashley brought a “bounce back” DUI basket filled with amusing items like a Stanley cup, Uber cards, and a birdhouse kit. This gift was both petty and comical, as is typical of Ashley’s style.
In due time, the group starts to discuss openly the awkward issue among them. Karen has been rather quiet about her upcoming court hearings and her current situation, but Mia breaks the silence by bringing up that it appears Karen made a drunken call to Jacqueline recently, causing a ripple of unease around the table. Wendy finds the tone of the discussion off-putting, saying “I’m not interested.” It seems Mia has some unresolved issues with Karen following their fallout last season, but this approach isn’t helping matters. A DUI is indeed a risky and embarrassing act, but it doesn’t mean that the person responsible must immediately swear off alcohol to make amends. They just need to stop driving under the influence.
Karen, accustomed to premeditated questioning from the group, steps into a potentially volatile situation with caution, subtly adopting a tough, mob-like demeanor. She issues a veiled threat, “Watch your step,” hinting at a slight trace of hostility. Her question is direct: “Who truly stands by Karen Huger?” The women are left speechless. “I’m seeking out the loyal ones,” she declares, expressing her desire to distance herself from any disloyal individuals. This confrontation bears striking resemblance to a scene from a mafia film, and yet delivered with such conviction that it seems as though Karen is being questioned about a RICO case rather than an accident involving her own vehicle.
In essence, Mia’s effort to make Karen feel uncomfortable backfires, as she’s now the one being questioned intensively by the cast about her personal life. Jacqueline, in an attempt to lighten the mood for Mia, describes her past relationship with Gordon as a “business partnership,” but this remark only adds to the confusion. It seems like people are wondering if Gordon was more of a financial benefactor and if their funds have since dried up. Last season, Mia emphasized that she was financially independent; this new stance appears to be a shift in her narrative.
Regardless of the circumstances, Karen finds an opening to retaliate swiftly, and she doesn’t hold back, casting criticism at Mia for allowing her children to be entangled in the chaos of her personal affairs. This criticism is valid, as Mia and Gordon’s actions have turned their children’s activities into tabloid news and a hot topic for numerous interviews, which Mia finds hard to accept responsibility for. It might be true that Gordon became harsh and abusive as their marriage fell apart, but as Gizelle points out, Mia didn’t do enough to shield her kids from harm. This is a tough truth to swallow, especially for someone like Mia, who is somewhat self-absorbed, and she doesn’t respond well to the suggestion, wrapping up the episode in tears after listing all the ways her children are succeeding. The scene is tense, setting the tone for the rest of the season. The friendships of past seasons no longer exist, and anyone could face scrutiny in the upcoming weeks.
To sum up, our initial performance was robust and we have a brighter forecast for the remainder of this season compared to recent ones. It’s great to be back in Maryland, folks. Catch you again next week!
Cherry Blossoms
Ashley showcased an impressive new style during her confessionals, featuring a recently applied sun-kissed glow and stylish short blonde haircut. Absolutely breathtaking, and a powerful choice for her first appearance.
“I wasn’t expecting Wendy Osefo to be a Taylor Swift fan, but I really need video footage of her stumbling over lyrics at the Eras tour as soon as possible. ‘Pull up in Sri Lanka’ is one of those Housewives moments I’ll never forget.
Ashley’s legal representative had mentioned their aim to resolve the issue through mediation and wrap it up by approximately Labor Day. However, it’s been a month now, and Ashley is yet to finalize the divorce. This situation seems to be resembling the prolonged separation of Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.
In this episode, we get a quick introduction to some new characters: Stacey, a former QVC host who recently went through a separation; Vivien, a businesswoman running a boutique; and Jassi, associated with an NFL player. We’ll delve deeper into their stories in the upcoming week, following the resolution of the Eileen Davidson Accords.
GNA’s style has evolved into what they call GNA Fusion, incorporating a wellness aspect into their range of leggings and graphic t-shirts. In other words, expect more health-conscious designs in their clothing line.
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2024-10-07 04:54