[S02.E01: Best of Frenemies]

I actually thought that this was a pretty entertaining first episode! I agree that discussing someone else's sexuality is off-limits. Jen making snarky comments on social media is punching down -- he might be a young adult, but he's still your "friend's" kid, for pete's sake. I think if someone I knew were attempting to publicly disparage my kid, I would be pretty enraged. I know people are annoyed by him (he is annoying), but he was only 19 or so when they shot that first season -- that's not exactly a mature age to manage all of this attention. I cringe when I think of some of the decisions I made at that age.

[Erika Girardi/Erika Jayne: Let them eat cake]

4 hours ago, WhatAmIWatching said:

I have been wondering why on Earth she would sign to film this season, but then I finally realized that she had no idea that things would blow up like this, and blow up so spectacularly DURING filming. She must have been shitting her pants on the daily when the dominos began falling and Tom's usual methods to make things disappear weren't working.

this is such a great point! I bet she thought that the troubles would eventually disappear and that she could have some sort of future story line about Tom’s brain miraculously healing, and how they’ve reconciled. Instead everything just got worse and worse. Just imagine what shit they are used to burying if she assumed she could maintain this level of arrogance during all this. 

[S11.E16: Threats and Promises]

I have been listening to so many podcasts and reading these threads so much i don’t remember who said that it is surprising to realize how much these women track each other’s clothes and purchases. Like Erika not knowing about Kyle’s Gucci pants was a big deal. Then, seeing Kyle looking at all that hideous jewelry and china and competing with Sutton? these dummies are so greedy. 

And, from my perspective, this is at the heart of their confusion with Erika and spending money intended for orphans on private planes and Cartier panther rings. I’m imagining Kyle wondering why they should criticize Erika for having the same nice things they all have or want. And, she lacks the basic critical thinking skills to understand where basic ethics enter the conversation. They are all greedy and selfish (and a couple of them are spectacularly stupid) but Erika takes the cake with her narcissistic rage and aggressiveness. I agree with PK (oh god) — she can’t be guilty of her husband’s embezzlements and fraud, but she can control how she responds to everyone. 

I can’t imagine being on the receiving end of her snapping teeth, but when she said “I’m coming after you” I wish Sutton would have said “How are you going to do that, Erika? judging by the way you are handling this, you will be in no position to come after anyone”. 

[S11.E15: The Dinner Party from Hell: Part Two]

I also meant to add that Erika is displaying textbook characteristics of a narcissist:

• Lacks empathy: unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
• Has a grandiose sense of self-importance. Exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements.
• Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
• Requires excessive admiration
• Believes that he or she is unique or special, and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
• Has a sense of entitlement; unreasonable expectations and favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
• Interpersonally exploitative – takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own needs
• Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
• Often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

https://enough-foundation.com/9-narcissistic-personality-traits-checklist-common-missed-signs/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eesm27j1XyupDHt6UzTkAW04hvsLy6P3QgnP_Pcs7QUYTiQFsyxUkEsaApwFEALw_wcB

Her whole dramatic performance, and pushing people away as punishment, is all part of the manipulation cycle of love/abuse

[S11.E15: The Dinner Party from Hell: Part Two]

4 hours ago, eleanorofaquitaine said:

And Dorit made one of the most important points - Erika can say, "oh, this has nothing to do with you guys" but the fact is that every time an article is written about this mess, their names are brought into it because of the show.  So yes, they are impacted by the mere fact that they are associated with her. Granted, they should not be thought of as "guilty by association" because they are basically just coworkers, but it is disingenuous in the extreme for Erika to pretend that their reputations can't potentially be hurt by their association with her.  Obviously Dorit was careful not to break the fourth wall there but that's clearly what she was saying and it was a valid point, IMO. 

I think you are touching on the most important point -- the 4th wall is in the way here. They can be thought of as complicit, maybe not legally, but if they were on shopping sprees and holidays with Erika while she spent money that was never hers, then they are associated with it. Also, I'll bet money that Dorit did get actual legal advice where they told her to keep her distance so that she isn't pulled into additional legal drama. If Sutton did offer money as a loan at some point, and then talked to a lawyer about it, they likely gave her very strong and strict advice about who she might be dealing with.

[S11.E13: Season’s Grillings]

On 8/20/2021 at 2:14 PM, Cosmocrush said:

I would normally agree but then @njbchlover posted that maybe it was for ease of cleanup and I can see that.  We saw her regular household help working the kitchen and maybe she didn't want them (and her) to spend hours after the party washing platters and bowls  that don't fit in a dishwasher.  She was leaving for Aspen the next day. 

As someone who has spent the very late hours of Christmas Eve washing dishes I'm thinking maybe the disposable stuff wasn't such a bad idea.   Wonder what the dirty dish averse Dorit uses?  

oh, I hear you — I’ve put in late hours for the same reasons. However! If camera crews were filming my dinner for millions of people to watch, and if I’ve already bragged about what a good cook I am, I would be busting out the china or renting some very nice dishes to show my best side. And then I would tell Dorit to rinse her plate before putting it in the dishwasher, ha ha. 

[S11.E13: Season’s Grillings]

14 hours ago, Persnickety1 said:

Now perhaps these vapid women will understand Sutton's concerns about her reputation and being dragged into the legalities of Erika's shit storm.  

I wish Sutton would have said, “we don’t know whose money you were spending when we were on big trips, private planes, and in the Chanel store (and Cartier!). I want to distance myself from being a witness to your spending other people’s money.” At this point, how can there be any question that Erika was spending money honestly/legally earned?

[S11.E13: Season’s Grillings]

Erika looked like the final scene in "Death Becomes Her". You would think that she would have learned a few tricks from her make up crew over the years.

I have to admit, even though Sutton was a jackass at the beginning of this season, I have always liked her. Not sure why, but this last episode really nails it for me. She is definitely eccentric, but she she is smart enough to read the room. And the actual newspaper. These other dummies didn't even try. I think the LA Times aims for a reading level of a 9-10 year old. 

I am NOT a fan of using disposable trays for serving food in my own house. I am shocked that Kyle would keep doing this. At the very least, it's an opportunity to have an amazing presentation, and use beautiful serving dishes! In Kyle's case, it just seems.... lazy? It reminds me of whatsherface in Queen of Versailles, and all their styrofoam cups throughout the house. 

[S01.E03: Enter Number Two]

46 minutes ago, roughing it said:

Seriously, if you're not drunk at your high school reunion, you should be.  Those things are rough *shudder*, never again.

I don't mind the scenes with Siobhan, they provide another dimension to the story.  Maybe it will lead to something significant that we don't see yet, or maybe it's just showing Siobhan.  Anyway, as yet, it looks like Siobhan is the least f-ed up family member.  But is she really?

Interesting family life differences - at Mare's house it's FUCK YOU, NO FUCK YOU, NO FUCK YOU MORE, NO FUCK YOU MORE....etc.  Then across the yard at Frank's house, laughter and board games, "Hey it's your turn" HA HA

Frank does not have any day-to-day responsibilities with his daughter or grandson, or with a hostile parent. No pressures there. If he did feel sorry for Erin and bought her diapers and baby formula out of pity, he didn’t need to lie to Mare, but he did. I’m sure Mare sees the bad side of everyone because of her job, and Frank’s lie would be pretty painful, I’m sure. 

I like this show. I don’t see Mare as being bad at her job, I see her being pretty good at her job (finding the bullet, taking charge at the crime scene, being diligent) but she is cracking under pressure, and no one (except maybe her boss) seems to notice or care. 

[S15.E09: The Lies That Bind]

6 minutes ago, BrownBear2012 said:

I'm starting to think that Braunwyn might be bipolar. She certainly has the mood swings and the mania. The drinking could be an off shoot of her being bipolar as well as the violent behavior and her sudden "discovery" of being gay. So many people who are bipolar have behaviors that swing from one end to the other. At times she's very manic and at other times she's depressed and just wants to hole up in her bedroom. I think her mother has something going on also...I mean, just look at her...going to a rehab that would also include a full psychiatric work up would be the best thing for her. If she's bipolar, she can take appropriate medication that would help her to have a more balanced healthy life instead of this roller coaster ride that is hurting her children and herself.

I was wondering the same thing! Not that I have any right to diagnose anyone's mental health, but my observation is that she most certainly behaves in a sometimes manic/sometimes depressive way. It makes me wonder if her daughter's issues (OCD, anxiety) are simply responses to her mother's erratic and dominating ways. 

[S15.E09: The Lies That Bind]

I am so disgusted by Braunwyn, I don't even know what to say. She is a toxic asshole. Who cares if she wants to stay married, her husband should change the locks as far as I'm concerned.

[S15.E08: The Calm Before the Storm]

I agree with the posts expressing concern with Braunwyn's son performing on camera. I think she is exploiting her child's personal growth for her own benefit, and her poor children buy into this because they receive such positive attention from their Mom. She is a co-dependent narcissist, and I wouldn't be surprised if Braunwyn herself had to be overly performative and dramatic to get her own mother's attention. It's very sad, and her husband needs to see a therapist and learn some intervention methods to help his own kids break this cycle.

ETA: Just want to be clear that I don't believe that her son's identity and development is performative, just all the mugging for the camera stuff, along with the daughter's "baddest queen" comments, etc. Let the kid discover his/her/themselves without the pressures of pleasing their mother by performing every second of it. 

[S15.E08: The Calm Before the Storm]

2 hours ago, Boo Boo said:

So Braun talks over her daughter and her husband about her concerns on her AA meeting cancellations due to COVID, but when her daughter has a thoughtful moment to express concern about her fellow teens not having that outlet, Braun tells her basically to shut up and stop worrying -- that it's her OCD.  Then proceeds to yell at them that no one is listening. 

She needs therapy for her intense narcissism in addition to her alcoholism.

I came here to say the same thing. She's treating her alcoholism, which is great, but now she needs to address whatever it is in her brain that makes her an asshole to her own children. It's not the alcohol, evidently. 

Also, lol at these women breaking down at the slightest hint of inconvenience. Shannon is a goddamn dysfunctional mess.

[S10.E20: Secrets Revealed]

I said I wasn't going to watch anymore for a while, but I cheated and watched this ep. Lisa Rinna better watch out: if Sutton sticks around, she is bound to have better parties and bring in more interesting people than anyone else in this crappy group: it sounds like her mom Reba is loads more entertaining as a character than Lois. (not a stab at Lois, who seems like a nice lady who had a particularly horrifying life experience, but she's not the wacky character that Rinna wants her to be).

[S10.E18: Reunion (Part 2)]

I haven't watched any of the reunion episodes of Beverly Hills or New York, and I don't think I'm going to. I wanted to watch these shows to either have a laugh at the antics, or to wonder at the houses and holidays these women have had. If I wanted to experience this level of toxicity, I'd turn on the news, or just start embracing the dregs of twitter. I think these recent seasons of both franchises has released me to move on to other things. I might start watching Salt Lake City, or I just might give it all up. I just don't feel like toxic relationships and women at their bitchiness is entertaining.

I still enjoy the recap podcasts out there -- maybe I'll stick with them. 

[S10.E16: Denise and Desist]

Here's the thing about Denise, in my opinion. Dealing with her narcissistic and sociopathic ex-husband doesn't make her a "fighter" or a "champ" or an "expert" in dealing with confrontation and toxicity. She did what she had to do with Charlie to ensure her kids live good and healthy lives, and she was likely blindsided by toxic confrontations by people she thought she could trust. That can leave a person without any tools, thus the incompetence in lying about social commitments. If I were in her place, and felt like I couldn't do anything right with these bitches, and was so disappointed that my friends would willingly try to publicly humiliate me, I would lie about not feeling well or whatever rather than have to get into yet another confrontation by saying "I'm not showing up to your event because I don't have the energy to keep combating all of you".  It's passive aggressive, but who cares. 

There is literally nothing that Denise has done in this season that is remotely equivalent to these women publicly OUTING Denise and trying to ruin her marriage by insisting that she publicly admits to cheating on her husband. 

[S10.E15: Sex, Lies and Text Messages]

Also, I should have added that if Bravo is losing the one single person of colour and bringing back two bottle blondes, it's a huge mistake. They should be diversifying their housewives, period. I would hope that the diversity of people would also bring a diversity of storylines and activities, rather than this monotonous/monotone crap that keeps occurring with this group of pseudo-rich white women.

[S10.E15: Sex, Lies and Text Messages]

Denise is no more self-contradictory or hypocritical than the rest of them. If the big controversy stayed at what you can say to Denise in front of her kids, and what she says to the women on camera re: sex stuff, then fine. Go nuts. But, demanding that she admits publicly that she cheated on her husband is beyond the pale.

Denise has not gone after anyone to create a story line, unlike Kyle, Rinna, and Teddy. She has pushed back and called Teddi a shit-stirrer (accurate, IMO), which is the extent of her "mean-ness". 

[S10.E15: Sex, Lies and Text Messages]

I've been watching this show from the beginning, and if they are bringing Brandi back and people like Denise and Garcelle are leaving, then I'm not sure I'm interested in watching anymore. I honestly don't have a problem with Denise's inconsistencies. She was not mean to anyone, and certainly didn't try to ruin anyone's personal life by generating sick gossip in front of the camera. She would have been fine sticking with girls' trips and idiotic arguments, but this is 100% toxic. It's fine to bring in controversy (like, who called Radar online or whatever bullshit that is), but Brandi has already shown herself to be a truly awful person who sticks the knife in so deep that people just leave the show. I hope Lisa Rinna watches her back. She might get more than she bargained.

[S10.E14: That's Not Amore]

Denise does not owe anyone an explanation about anything. Why does anyone believe she needs to address rumours and gossip from Teddy and Kyle? Teddy obviously doesn't like Denise, so why does she care if Denise likes her or has shared her opinion about her? It's not like Denise told someone that Teddy had sex with someone other than her husband. What a bunch of assholes this group is. 

[S10.E11: Kiss and Tell All]

This is Kyle Richards, Kim Richards, Teddi, and that human trash bag Brandi Glanville stooping to a new low. First of all, a mighty Fuck You to producers and KYLE who think the viewers are stupid enough to believe this heavily produced scene with Brandi and Kim wearing Microphones was accidental or happenstance. It's a contrived piece of bullshit. On this basis alone, Denise could just simply say, it didn't happen, it would never happen, and the biggest mistake I ever made was befriending that piece of shit named Brandi. 

Also, that crack about Denise's kids being "Charlie Sheen's kids" and therefore don't merit any consideration is DISGUSTING and SHAMEFUL and illustrates exactly what we've been saying for weeks. 

Brandi's face is BUSTED. She can't disguise the ugliness of her insides. She clearly conspired to get back on camera and prepared with god knows what plastic surgery to look her best. When that botox wears off, it looks like half her face is going to slide into her neck. Fuck her. She is toxic. Kim Richards looks like she donated all the contents in her face to inject it into Brandi. She needs to drink waaaaay more water. I can't imagine how saggy her face looks when she doesn't pull her hair back.

I'm so mad, you guys! And this is just a tv show, lol. I'm just shocked that these women would try to damage someone's life like this. As someone else already mentioned on these threads, if Brandi were truly concerned with what happened between her and Denise, she would work it out with Denise. She is desperate for attention, and is prepared to sell anyone out. Kyle already knew this when she contacted Poor Poor lonely Brandi. 

[S12.E14: Remember Your Blue Stone Manners]

Dorinda: she "waitressed her whole life" to get out of the Berkshires, and "told on everyone and brown nosed" her "way to the top". Dorinda as the workplace snitch and backstabber seems on brand with her current toxic personality.

[S10.E10: Black Ties and White Lies]

We may not like Aaron, or his fear of the 5G network, but I am always glad when the husbands are a part of things. It's a good disruption of the monotonous freight train of the singular topic that these housewives get locked into, and it reveals a lot of the relationships that these WIVEs have with their partners. It makes things interesting. And, when we don't have a Ken anymore losing his shit when his wife gets upset, and when Maurico's participation is reduced down to suggesting they call Ghostbusters and then disappearing for the rest of the time, I'm happy for Aaron's nutbar interventions and PK's intervention with Aaron to prevent future interventions, lol. It's all good, and thank god for some diversity of opinions. He can go ahead and be a sexist mansplainer for all I care, just provide some diversity of thought with that crowd. 

Lisa Vanderpump was good at this. Whether she leaked gossip to the tabloids or not, she knew how to intervene and pivot the conversations — unlike Rinna, who has no idea on how to subtly manipulate anyone or anything. Vanderpump clearly understands when to pivot in the business of reality tv as well. I'm sure she took stock of her Vanderpump Rules assets (they are mostly liabilities) and is pivoting to this. I'm going to guess that her main focus is the Dog place and TomTom. I hope Jax is updating his resume.

2 hours ago, Mar said:

I’m not sure where to post this, but my first thought is how much this must be enraging Lisa Rinna 🤣😂

[S10.E10: Black Ties and White Lies]

I'm still watching this ep and just got to the auction part and I just realized that it's the guy + wife from Storage Wars. With all these character crossovers this is starting to feel like the Marvel Universe, except that rather than expecting heroes to work together to save the world, we just have these assholes talking-shit about each other and spending their time applying lip gloss.

[S10.E10: Black Ties and White Lies]

While I am commenting on other people's faces, UH HOLY CRAP, Brandi's face looks glued on. What a mess.