Cat

I need to watch the episode again! Certainly social media is dragging the hell out of Brynn at the moment. I get it. She's doing too much to antagonise, start drama, and then she reverses into victimhood if things don't go her way. She's landed on Ubah because she thinks Ubah can be easily antagonised into going ballistic. And speaking of victims.... Kyle's Tears are making multiple guest appearances on this coming season of Encino Bay. "Kyle says PK texts her." Oooo -- things are getting spicy. From Mo to PK -- how far we fall, Kyle! I fear this will be the only story on BH this season -- we saw nothing of Erika, for example. (Not that I need another round of Erika's budget concerts in Vegas).

Interesting that production left that in, because it was SO blatant. It was almost breaking the fourth wall. It also contextualizes why Ubah called Brynn a snake. It's not just trying to shut Ubah down from expressing herself. It's the fact that Brynn is playing a certain game now and is not trustworthy. Ubah has said it, Erin has said it, Sai has said it. They all are playing THE game to an extent, but there are some friendships there that may be more than just alliances (Erin and Ubah, for example). The fact that Brynn is going over and above is shaking the group dynamic and may be worth highlighting on the show itself, instead of shuffling it to Behind The Scenes. I want to clarify that while I enjoy Brynn creating drama in this episode, I am not Team Brynn when it comes to her situation with Ubah. I am Team Ubah. My mom is a foreigner, and English is not her first language. She has struggled to defend herself against people who can, verbally, run rings around her in English, distract her from her train of thought, etc. Even my dad has done it to get his way. It is verbal gaslighting. I've been her advocate when she needs to write legalistic letters or emails. It doesn't mean my mom is not smart, because she is -- she thinks in more than one language and cannot always get to the punch in 5 seconds or less. It is for that reason I wish Erin had stuck up for her BFF Ubah more. So I feel for Ubah and I see what Brynn is doing. Brynn is super smart (in English -- does she speak Swahili?), and she's quick-witted, and her brain is 5 seconds ahead of her mouth. The way she was lounging as Ubah talked, you know that Brynn knows. She did indeed pull the victim act as you say, maybe because she saw how unexpectedly in control Ubah was in that moment. But! I also think Brynn was impacted by the previous morning's shouting match, because it is actually really stressful to be shouted at! Who knew? The episode was the most watchable of nuRHONY thus far. It felt, as you mentioned, a little like OG RHONY in the Hamptons. I liked their vibe with each other. Some casts (naming no names -- 👀 SLC) despise each other. Not this cast. They genuinely seem to enjoy each other's company in most circumstances. Ubah and Brynn about to make up was actually pretty sweet to say -- until it went left. Or Jenna lending Brynn her diamonds. Raquel confessing to Brynn and Jessel. The Prank. These were highlights. I'm psyched for the Clueless party next week. The quotes from that epic film are already filling up my brain (Cher's dad had the best ones).

Great RHONY episode in the Hamptons. Raquel talking about her father showed why she was given a HW spot. And Brynn remains the MVP of the group. As messy as she is, as much as I understand what Ubah was trying to say about English not being her first language and Brynn running circles around her verbally and cutting her right to speak, I love Messy Aquarian Brynn. And I love the friendships being formed by this group. Even Sai was fun this episode.

So much YES to all those. Early years 90210 was so exciting to watch! That whole summer season at the country club was GOLD. When the Walshes were busted out of their Beverly Hills home during the college years, 90210 lost a lynchpin and its moorings. And yes, while my parents were strict and would probably ban me from a cellphone were I a teenager today, when it came to Melrose and other shows, my parents kind of shrugged and my mom said "Billy is such a nice looking young fellow. He should really cut his hair, though!" Good episode. I've said it before, but Gizelle's dorters and Kal really humanise her and do a lot to burnish her image. La Dame is playing her cards close to her chest, and does not trust either Gizelle or Jacqueline or Mia. I'm looking forward to next week but I'm not sure if everyone going after her is going to necessarily win ne over to their side. Jacqueline, as you said, is basically Mia's proxy and mouthpiece now. Anything to stay on the show. Mia is giving us content galore, but I don't like how she's using Jeremiah as a pawn to keep Inc engaged and Gordon on a string. Stacey is giving me Kenya vibes, but in a good way. I think her relationship with JT (unlike Kenya's hired hand that first season) is real. Keiarna's man, meanwhile, does not seem like he's into her. Wendy feels displaced from the group, though the idea of Eddie's family coming back to the fold is interesting. Meanwhile, Ashley getting dragged by Karen and the newbies is overdue and welcome.

There was a fanzine called I Hate Brenda! which captured and encouraged the mood at the time. The organization did emphasize that it was not anti-Shannen Doherty, but rather anti-the character, and apparently they did meet Shannen at the time and ended up kind of loving her! Nevertheless, this was a time when people (including writers and producers) couldn't tell the difference between Hate and Love to Hate. Brenda was definitely in the latter group. I remember watching 90210 with groups of friends, and Brenda would be jeered, but the energy would increase the moment she entered a scene. Once she left the show, I literally had no desire to watch, and numbers across the board dwindles for those later seasons (even another OG Brenda, Vanessa Marcil, couldn't turn it around, though she tried hard and was the most watchable part of the latter years). No shade to Dylan & Kelly fans, but that couple just didn't have the longevity. The season after Shannen left, TPTB had Dylan marrying somebody else and doing his Godfather moment when his father-in-law accidentally killed Dylan's wife and his own daughter -- shades of Click Boom! Moreover, the season you talk about, that freshman-college season, was when I felt most supportive of Brenda. Everything that happened to her, the pain, the loneliness as her friends abandoned her and told her to 'just get over it!', the growth, the pulling away from old friendships, I could relate to it all. The fact that Brenda had the strength to leave and go it alone to discover her own path was a wonderfully fitting epitaph for the character. She will always be The One That Got Away, not just for Dylan but for the show itself.

RHOC Catching up on OC, and this season is one of the best I've seen across all franchises in some time. The cast is tight, it has history with each other, and little individual quirks that keep individual interactions percolating. Whether it's Shannon with Tamra and Heather, Heather's inability to form meaningful friendships with the ladies, Emily becoming mean whenever she hangs with Tamra, the greatness of Jenn, and Katie is shaping up to be a really good addition with compelling backstory. I hope we get to see her meeting her Korean birth mom. It's not just because they are in London that this trip feels kind of luxurious and special-- eagle-eyed longtime viewers may recognise the hotel from RHONY's cast trip in S6, hosted by Heather, or from old-school Made in Chelsea. The SLs are building to a crescendo, and Jenn confronting Tamra was Chef's Kiss. Finally Tamra called out on her underhand methods. Tamra is a necessary evil on the show IMO, bit that doesn't mean she should not be called to account. And she has been. #fullmoon Haa given me the most difficult work month of my career. I totally understand not being to read people or comments. I'm sorry I wasn't clearer. I just wanted to defend Karen a bit, but this season may change all our perceptions, who knows. My YouTube is giving me clips of 90210 during the freshman college season, and Shannen was incandescent in it. Harshly treated by the writers and audience at the time, in hindsight she was the lynchpin of the show and 90210 was never the same after she departed.

I know you dont hate her, I was just messing with you! Tha'ts Potomac for you. We go up and down on these women with a dime. And P.S.: I love your Brenda avatar. ❤️

*GASP * NO, Taoboi, say it isn't so! Hate? Please don't say you hate Karen Huger! 😅 She has disappointed you. I get it. For the life of me, I don't know why she would, out of the blue, do this. Obviously she's done petty sh!t like this before. I honestly think that Karen miscalculated. She may have thought this would be the usual, petty, 'duelling events' type stuff we used to see in S1. (Cue 5 straight episodes talking about etiquette). Instead, it's now become personal for Gizelle, and maybe parts of the audience who remember Gizelle's father and his iconic guest appearances (I mean, the tour of the plantation alone was up there with RHOA's episode in a township in South Africa. Also his hot mic moment about Jamal Bryant!). I imagine this drams will play for weeks. And weeks. If i were Production and Gizelle were my asset, I'd be thanking Karen for uniting most of the audience behind Gizelle for once, and helping to create a drama which prompted more viewers to tune in this week. As for the show as a whole, it is harking back to the early, lighter seasons this year. That's probably a good thing. For someone usually instinctively astute (if vicious in her execution).I am sort of stunned how badly Tamra has played her hand this season. There were signs of this last season when she went too hard at Heather and failed. I can't believe she thought ganging up on someone who had a DUI, has struggled with alcohol, and is facing lawsuits, would be a smart move this year. She keeps doubling down on her Shannon-hate, but now that her proxy Alexis has been almost run off the show, she's picked a fight with someone she thought would be the weak link -- Jenn. Completely underestimating how Jenn's naturalness and life story would endear the audience to her. This 'autism' move is so ill-informed, I have to imagine Tamra is now worried for her job and is just throwing anything out there to see what sticks.

See, now you are thinking like a top-tier RH producer. I'm not sure this crew running RHOP are that, but I am betting on what happened this episode being dragged out and talked about all season long. By the way, I like newbie Stacey. Does she remind anybody a little of newbie Katie on OC?

I'm glad you posted this, because I was ready to tear Wendy a new one for running to Gizelle in her most overpriced hoochie-bird outfit for that womp-womp of a lunch. Giz didn't even bother to change out of her floral hoisedress! It appeared as if Wendy was letting the whole mess fly by, like the root of the fight was Gizelle not saying hello to Wendy at some event? When all I remember with Gizelle doubling down at reunion (despite Andy giving her about 12 outs) on her assertion that it was cool that Wendy got assaulted by Mia "because I. Don't. Like. Huh." So I'm glad Wendy did namecheck the incident and im side-eying Production for once again covering for that harpy. Haven't seen the gala event yet so maybe my view on Gizelle will soften. However, I did love seeing Keairna again. I wondered why she wasn't part of the show this season.

I love NYC too -- it's the show I look forward to watching straight out of the gate each week. Love the fashions, decor and whole vibe. There's story with Erin and Abe and the women's interactions, and it feels fresh and well judged. I can't believe a 'newbie' show is giving me the entertainment I'm looking for, but here we are. By the same token, I'm also enjoying the grandmammy of RHs: OC. The fact that an organic, outside event is impacting the group has refreshed the show. Tamra is trying way too hard to force story, but we need a villain to root against, and I'm rooting for Shannon, who ended Dumb Alexis's brief tenure on the show in one elegant, fell swoop. Potomac: Karen is my fave HW of all current HWs, and I feel automatically protective of her. Even if she's going about the DUI in the opposite way Shannon is. I guess because Shannon couldn't hide from the CC TV footage we all saw. Karen seems to be following her lawyer's advice to neither deny nor admit to anything until the legal process plays out. We will see how she handles it this season. Mia and Wendy are gunning for her. And I wish she didn't have to cosy up to Gizelle who, I feel, is only nice to her in order to get the tea and bring her down. If Charrisse and Robyn were still on the show, they'd be going hard for her and bringing the entire group against her. Ashley got a reprieve and is trying to justify her place, but im not feeling it. I'm not feeling Wendy either, who is just not natural on camera in expressing her true self. Mia's story is compelling, but whenever Gordon is on, I find myself sympathizing with him much more than her. I still watch and want to watch RHs. It is far from its glory era, but i still hope the franchises pull through. The night ratings are disappointing to say the least, but it's clear so many of us stream the shows during the course of the week. I'd give anything to know the streaming numbers as well, because IMO they are the game changer. I suspect Potomac is doing moderately OK in streaming. The weird month of no RHs this spring did not help, nor did forcing NJ in its current incarnation on the world. People are exhausted by that cast. But to your point about tighter seasons and episode orders, I agree completely. The problem is that Bravo has become lumbering and slow-reacting, as opposed to proactive with these shows.

NuRHONY: As lowkey as this premiere was, I am thrilled my insecure Millennial poptarts are back. Too early to tell how the newbie will turn out (and it looks like Rebecca Minkoff is being almost entirely edited out of the season), but I'm good with the dynamics between Sai, Brynn, Erin, Jenna and Jessel. Sai is owning it somewhat, so I'll give her props, even though her blow-up at Brynn at the end reminded me of the old, performatively-outraged Sai looking to blame someone else. Looks like Brynn is the villain this season -- or at least, Erin and Sai are super-eager to paint her the villain. I still enjoy her, and her new apartment is seriously one of the best single-girl apartments I have seen on a RH show. The design alone is Chef's Kiss. Erin is Erin, superbly self-centered, but the tension with Abe is a new twist. Pavit still entertains the hell out of me.

For me, it was during S1. Heather was such a doormat to Jen, but I just couldn't connect the words of self-deprecation she was saying with her confident smirk. So I figured she was playing victim. The S1 finale confirmed it, as did reunion. She was OTT in her self-righteous indignation. This is one reason I've had a hard time connecting with SLC sometimes -- Jen Shah was awful from the first episode, Heather was always suspect, Lisa has never deviated from her innate vapidity, Whitney is nowhere near as smart & strategic as she thinks she is. I've always rated Meredith, though.

And that is why DH's loss is so seismic: he was one of the most central figures on set for the cast and crew. They looked to him for support, love, laughs and leadership. He fulfilled on all counts, and now there is a huge hole in that Days community.

Catching up on OC, and wow Tamra is really burning those bridges with the audience. It's not even that Ryan is some stand-up guy -- he comes across as a kiss-ass. His podcast comments were not the smartest. But I respect Eddie's attitude of 'I'll say hello, but won't engage with you because I don't like what you did' versus Tamra's constant baiting and looking for a fight. The way Eddie looked at her, and significantly, did not follow her out when she did her dramatic walk-off spoke volumes. Also Tamra's glee over Shannon's legal troubles and the butt-dial thing wasn't her greatest look. I'm still trying to figure out if the butt-dial was scripted or legitimately happened.

He was so beloved by crew, cast, and Daytime peers.

I am in absolute shock. Drake Hogestyn as John was an indelible part of my life growing up. John & Marlena were the most magical supercouple experience that, yes, fulfilled my youthful need for romantic stories, but on another level, taught me about the importance of challenge, struggle, sacrifice in forging an honorable spirit. We don't write heroes today with the same depth that JER did for John in the early 90s. After I first read this thread, in shock, I stumbled to YouTube to find some Days scenes involving Drake from that era. I am guilty of having joked about his acting (the eyebrow) on this very forum, as Days edged into a more parodic era. Watching those scenes back today, though, I am touched by his presence, his talent, his commitment to the material. The quiet moments of pause in the dialogue, the intensity, the sheer charisma. Drake Hogestyn was the real deal. And by so many accounts, Drake was as committed, kind and giving as the character he imbued. He was devoted to nurturing a community of actors at Days, team players he called them, giving them space to shine as well as learning to support their colleagues. He seemed devoted to his family, too. It goes without saying what a huge loss he is to them, to his work-family at NBC, and to us all in this soap opera community. May he RIP. I am so sorry. I know you are a longtime fan of John & Marlena, and Drake & Dee, also. Thinking of you and all fans of theirs. I am so sorry for your loss to this horrific disease. Sending prayers your way.

You bet, baby! I love RHONY (old and nu), and I've missed my kooky Millennials! I'm very excited to have them back and hope it's soon because I need that upbeat energy going into fall. I'm even willing to give Sai her due! Yes, it's been that long. Jenna's tagline is the standout but, honestly they are all pretty good. Including Sai and Brynn's. Thank you for posting!

Oh same here. During Jenn's fiesta party, I think the other women realised what it would mean to have Alexis around full-time and Shannon gone, and were like "Uh oh." It's really astounding how Alexis thought she'd show up, humiliate Shannon, and come out smelling of roses in all this. Johnny J is looking like a nasty extortion agent and she's backing him up blindly. Even Tamra and Heather are backing away from the mess. Do you think Heather meant to give Emily the 'fat' clothes, or is Emily just trying to have a moment? Tamra is awful. Gina and her shiny silver pants... I know she thinks she's making a fashion statement, but she looks so bulky and awkward rustling around in those things. Jenn Pedranti as a HW is awesome. She is like a through line from old OC to current OC. Especially that scene with her son.

RH live ratings are down across the board and I think streaming is the main reason why. I would love to see the +48 hours streaming numbers for SLC and every other RH franchise this year. Nevertheless, I totally understand your point comparing this opener with the TV ratings for reunion. Reunion was a watercooler hit for Bravo, in that word-of-mouth brought the live viewer numbers. I will never understand why Bravo put Monica out to pasture when she kick-started so much story for the show. As for this episode, I agree with you. It was entertaining and pacey, and way better than many episodes in S2 and S3. However, it was also very performative. Everyone bent over backwards to 'prove' they can make it without Monica. Lots of emphasis on wealth, given that this was the area in which Monica was lacking. Brittani had it out for Mary, in order to be relevant on this show after her calling card, the Osmond offspring, dumped her. I imagine the Osmonds were not pleased Brittani joined a show with a fair number of lapsed Mormons. Bronwyn looked ridiculous walking down Park City's freezing main drag in what looked like a cheetah bikini, pretending to be this edgy fashion plate. She looked like a clown. Whitney getting dragged by the three other cast members was long overdue. And I can see that Heather is really going to annoy me even more than usual this season. No, I'm talking about the story that Brooks put Ayan on speaker and Lesa heard Ayan disparage her, or something. Honestly, with all the screeching I had no clue what the story was. Is anyone enjoying OC? I really am. It's their best season in about a decade.

@Taoboi @Soaplovers @NothinButAttitude Someone will have to explain what the hell the Dubai women were screeching about in the last 10 minutes of that episode, because I could not absorb one iota of information from that mess. It was an awkward and chaotic end to what was a pacey and enjoyable season. I was disappointed, frankly. First of all: agree with @NothinButAttitude that Taleen needed to calm down and stop screaming, because she was exhausting. However, i was Team Taleen when Brooks came to see her at lunchtime and tried to sweep everything under the carpet. Brooks may have a got a beautiful new face, but she's so unlikeable. I much preferred her at Season 1 reunion when we got a complete, complex woman revealing herself and her vulnerabilities. This time around, seeing her cackle at Lesa and Ayan's fight, or admit to putting Ayan on speaker to catch her out, I feel like Brooks has lost a human part of herself that made her interesting and slightly mysterious in S1. And I wish I could like Lesa more. Lesa is soulfully beautiful. Whoever did her immaculate, glossy marvel wave of hair deserves an Emmy, because that was a work of art. But Lesa is a bit-player who thinks she is LVP. She thinks she can outmanoeuver these women, and Reunion proved she can't. Plus she lied about not knowing that Ayan had shared the voice note. Ayan may have only told her minutes before they started filming (so technically still in a grey area of shock), but the pretence of shock and anger she cultivated over an episode makes me look at her differently now. The fact is, Lesa cannot stand that Stanbury and Ayan are higher than her in the show's pecking order. And she is acting out because of that. Inchallah, as they say in Dubai. God willing Dubai will be given another lease of life in S3 -- with slippery Sara in the cast.

RHODubai First of all, Bravo buried this on the same night as the presidential debate. Of all the times to take a pause during a season, this was one of them! Secondly, this cast really is the most photogenic out of the franchises. Most of the women looked like supermodels coming onto the reunion stage. Stanbury's facelift is top-tier work. She looks exactly like herself (and can move her face), she just looks a lot younger, like her Ladies of London days. I also loved her hyperclassic, minimalist 90s evening gown. Someone else also had a facial refresh: Brooks. And while she does look beautiful, she also looks different from how she used to. I can't quite explain it -- the nose, cheeks, jawline, lips have been perfectly tweaked. Brooks is very beautiful, but you get the feeling that life and some abusive relationships have hardened her to people in general. I'm not sure she likes or trusts many people. Even with this insta-alliance with Lesa, you feel that both of these women would throw each other under a bus at a moment's notice. This reunion is turning me off Lesa and Brooks somewhat. Both are insanely jealous of Stanbury. Both have come into reunion primed to attack. Ayan, too, by the way. I was actually shocked at how well Taleen handled herself, to be honest. Part 1 of reunion was a little slow in some ways, bit I'm hopeful Part 2 will pick up pace and ask the question: what the hell happened between Sara and Saba?? Ratings have been really low, but I hold out hope that Dubai is getting better streaming numbers. It's an insecurity complex which she tries to cover with superiority. I'm not surprised about Project Runaway, that she would try and humiliate someone she views as lower than her. It wasn't until her second season that i really understood how insecure Wendy was within this group, how lacking she felt about her looks (i thought she looked great first season, classy and strong), and how much she wanted to be part of the GEB clique. A classy post from a classy lady. I'm sad she's going through this, but as usual she looks for the positive while raising awareness about postpartum anxiety to her followers. When she said she was not returning as a 'full-time cast member,' this gives me hope that she will be back (if RHOM gets another season after this one), and may even pop up in this current season. After all, Nicole and Guerdy are close IRL.

ITA. Wendy's first season was her most authentic, as humorless and inflexible as she was. In the seasons that followed, I was torn between feeling bad for her (the GEBs were truly horrific), to wrestling with my inability to connect to her. Part of this was the inexplicable 're-branding' from university-professor/political commentator (which was really solid, I thought) to sticking her name on any old random crap. Part of it was the fact that she has no natural humor and therefore has to script/rehearse every one of her reads and VTs. When she's not in rehearsed mode, she's lecturing somebody. I've tried to listen to her interviews on a RH podcast here and there, but rarely make it to the end.

They put a lid on the outright toxicity, although the sudden love-in is a shock after +2 years of "BECAUSE. I. DON'T. LIKE. HUH." This was an easy shift for Wendy, though -- she has long craved Gizelle's approval, and it personally devastated her that Gizelle couldn't stand her. Without Robin and Candiace there to detract attention, though the trailer exposes the fact that Wendy is a so-so RH. She's not naturally funny or spontaneous or whip-smart. She feels rehearsed. I am waiting to see what the beef with Karen is about before I cast big judgment, though.

She is,too good for the show, and she does not need Bravo. Nevertheless, I will miss her and do think she is a crucial cast member. Larsa OTOH is completely dime-a-dozen expendable.