We’re really coming to the end of Beverly Hills and New York and I’m feeling so sad about it! The first episode of the three part RHOBH reunion was really good, with the ladies bringing new informations and accusations that we hadn’t heard one million times before. When Erika went off on Denise—watch out! I also thought the ladies looked amazing (especially Garcelle and Erika). RHONY sputtered out its season finale with another episode derailed by Dorinda’s anger issues, but it was bittersweet to watch now that we know she’s off the show. With Hannah gone on Below Deck Med, I almost didn’t bother to tune in this week, but Aesha is one of my all time favorites, so I had to see what she was up to and, as usual, she made me laugh out loud and was the bright spot on a very boring ship.  

Who’s Not Invited:

Malia and Tom: Are they the most boring couple ever? Tom is definitely not meant for reality TV, as his food turns out perfectly every time and everyone has to tip toe around him in the kitchen. Did you see how afraid people were to tell him when the plate of food dropped? The way that Malia caters to him really pains me after seeing her lay down the law with the deck crew, and I’m still upset that we had to lose Hannah so that those two could share a bunk in a very unsexy way.

Robert: Another guys who was just not made for reality tv. He’s incredibly handsome, but also mopey and very in his own head. We need someone who can share the drama with us, instead of internalizing all of it. Also, who tells their boss and supervisor that they’re checked out of work??

Denise: I’m still on team Denise for the threesome talk. She is happy to talk about sex with her adult friends but doesn’t want to do it when her children are nearby, and whispering an aside about sex to the person next to her is very different than eight women shouting about group sex. I think most people would understand that distinction, but the women are being deliberately obtuse about this because they think she was trying to make them look like bad mothers. Denise didn’t do a good job of articulating they point and standing up for herself in this episode, and I honestly think that she has a hard time arguing with the women, as her instinct is just to flee arguments. That has probably served her well when she was married to Charlie Sheen, but it doesn’t work in the Housewives setting. They’re sitting with Twitter receipts and prepared songs about gaslighting and Denise ends up reacting to them rather than seizing control of the conversation.

Wendy: I think T’Challa got the best of her in their fight this episode. Also, for a professor, she didn’t seem to understand the difference between being a new mother and the mother of a newborn, which was funny to me. I did feel badly for her when she got to the house and realized that Ashley had brought her baby-I think it was really difficult and stressful for her to leave her baby at home and she had my sympathies for that.

Michael Darby: Is the worst every time he’s on screen. Ashley could do so much better!

Dorinda: Is she still holding a grudge against Tinsley? You know that saying about how when you’re angry at someone, you’re only punishing yourself? Tinsley is off gadding about Chicago and Dorinda is still in New York, nursing her anger and resentment and brining herself down. 

Who Made the Guest List:

Aesha: I am so happy that one of my favorite stews ever returned to lighten up this boring boat with her quips and sunny attitude. Just hearing her greet Capt Sandy with “ in that over the top accent made me happy and she brought so many great one liners this episode. 

Alex: I’ve really grown to love this teddy bear of a guy and I really hope that he wins Bugsy over when he puts the moves on her next episode.

Sutton and Garcelle: The new girls were in the hot seat in this part of the reunion and I thought they both were honest, unapologetic and came out swinging. Sutton really took down Dorit and I loved her “casual disdain” for Teddi’s wardrobe, but also her realization that none of it was that important. Garcelle looked amazing and also brought the right mix of brutal honesty and thoughtfulness.  I felt badly for Garcelle when Kyle said that she hadn’t paid for her auction bid-it seems most likely that was an administrative mistake on her end and not intentional. Their ability to argue but to also let it go is such a fresh contrast to the other women harping on little details about what Denise said, that it made that conflict seem very stale. 

T’Challa: This bird is definitely going for the MVP of Potomac this season. 

Monique: She took the time to really talk to Wendy after her fight with Ashley and to make Wendy feel understood and I thought that was so kind. I always feel bad for the new girl if they come in with no friends or alliances, especially if you immediately have Gizelle and Robyn picking apart everything you say, so I thought it was great that Monique took the time to talk it through with Wendy and get to the root of the conflict. Also, Monique has a golf cart to drive around her lake property and that is something I really aspire to have one day.

Leah: How amazing did she look at Dorinda’s party? And she claims that she enjoyed LuAnn’s cabaret and song-she really is a good person! 

LuAnn: She’s still creating singles that are more about talking than singing, but she’s doing it with a sense of humor and a smidge of humility, so I’m in for it…Viva La Diva!