S9.E1: A Crash Course in Deflection

[pasdetrois]

Karen and her endless grieving...Karen, how devastated do you think other people will be if you kill their loved ones when you get behind the wheel drunk?

[Palimelon]

Or kill yourself. And what that would do to her own family.

[JustbeingReal]

I don't get why Ashley gets so shady with Karen. Ashley used to like drinking beer in the very early seasons. Gizelle can be a hater to Karen. What's wrong with the waiter defending Karen? Eddie seems more chipper,I hope he isn't doing someone on the side. I agree with Gordon about their son. I don't think Ashley likes Mia either. I liked Karen's speech at her party. Gizelle can be so shady. The new women seem like a nice addition. I like that Wendy and Gizelle are getting along. I liked Candiace but I think she can do better than this show. I wish Robyn happiness. I was wondering if Mia and Jacqueline planned their conversation about Karen to the group. Imo Ashley has a 304 personality like Tamra (rhoc) and Melissa (rhnj) where they like the spotlight on them and they want to appear sexy and they'll do something flirty on camera for more attention. But I liked Ashley's style in this premiere.

Edited October 9 by JustbeingReal

[ZettaK]

9 hours ago, amarante said:

The issue isn't whether or not Shannon is an alcoholic and continues to drink because she thinks she can control it.

The issue is the difference in the way they handled their DUI incident.

Shannon admitted she was drunk and didn't make any excuses for her behavior by blaming stress. She didn't claim she couldn't talk about it with the implication that she really hadn't been DUI.

So far Karen hasn't not actually admitted culpability in terms of DUI but has continued to attempt to excuse the behavior by citing "issues" like the death of her parents SIX YEARS AGO or issues in the marriage when "the streets" all know her marriage with Ray has been a marriage of convenience for many years.

Karen's has the same wealth and ability to have attorneys negotiate a favorable deal as Shannon so I think the argument that one has "privilege" and the other doesn't is ridiculous. 

I mentioned that Karen's excuses were ridiculous. As for Karen, she obviously didn't hire PR teams like Shannon to receive advice about how to handle the DUI regarding the public/the viewers. Shannon's public announcement which was filmed for the OC HWs a week before this season's filming started was exactly this: a very obvious/glaring PR announcement. It's only the first episode, so we have no idea if Karen will eventually take accountability. 

3 hours ago, JustbeingReal said:

What's wrong with the waiter defending Karen?

Nothing. It was nice of him.

[pasdetrois]

Since I don't watch OC (or any housewives show at the moment, but I read here), Karen's behavior stands alone. She's on record as making excuses, and I betcha she has driven drunk many times and will continue. (As do many people) Perhaps her children can convince her otherwise.

[Baltimore Betty]

2 hours ago, pasdetrois said:

Since I don't watch OC (or any housewives show at the moment, but I read here), Karen's behavior stands alone. She's on record as making excuses, and I betcha she has driven drunk many times and will continue. (As do many people) Perhaps her children can convince her otherwise.

I am surprised that she didn't say it was the spirit of her dead father that grabbed the steering wheel that caused the crash.

[FlyingEgret]

At the Hattitude Party, did someone really say "it looks well in here"???

[HorrrGoodnight]

Like others have already mentioned, I legit did not notice that Robyn was missing. I do wonder how the Dixons are making out financially. 

Karen seems like someone who has had a drinking problem for many years.

[Yogisbooboo64]

Finally got to see this eppy.

Humph, a gizzard never changes her spot….I’ll wait for the true Gizzard to come back out, FOH with her wanting to make amends.  After what she did with ‘Free Uncle Ben’ and Karen’s tax problem years ago, how can we be sure that she won’t use Karen’s DUI info against her?  And RIP to her daddy, but if you really wanted to make nice with Wendy, ya should have been doing it then. 

Karen – Love you I do and look, next month marks the one-year anniversary of my mother’s death and my 60th birthday.*  But I’d never use her death as an excuse to drink and drive, you could have killed someone lady!!

Stacy’s wardrobe is fire.

On 10/9/2024 at 1:48 PM, pasdetrois said:

Karen and her endless grieving

*Endless grieving?!  I've been listening to a few Potomac podcasts where some have commented on how Karen should have gotten over her parent's death by now.  IMO, grieving is endless....you just have to continue to put one foot in front of the other.  Every...fucking...day the pain of my mother's passing has not let up and I doubt it will ten or twenty years later.

Edited October 16 by Yogisbooboo64

[qtpye]

11 hours ago, HorrrGoodnight said:

Like others have already mentioned, I legit did not notice that Robyn was missing. I do wonder how the Dixons are making out financially. 

Karen seems like someone who has had a drinking problem for many years.

The Dixons are probably going to lean heavily on Robyn's mother and father to make sure their second home does not also go into foreclosure.

Luckily, they have some affection for Juan since he was their foster child, even if he does laundry with everyone in the state except Robyn.

 

[Sweet-tea]

On 10/7/2024 at 2:16 AM, drivethroo said:

It was hum drum because Candiace wasn't there & allegedly the showrunner got fired so that toxic energy & environment isn't there anymore. (I don't see Candiace ever returning to this show & I think she only talks to Wendy & Karen.  She didn't even tweet about the show. She's done --and after seeing tonight's episode, she doesn't fit with the cast anymore.)

IMO Candiace's exit affects the cast & cast energy a lot more than Robyn's exit, in particular with Ashley.  Ashley's giving us the same old divorce storyline she's had since season 7.  It is now Season 9 and you're still traipsing down to the lawyer's office talking about getting ready to be getting ready to divorce Michael. IMO Michael refused to film again because Candiace was there but now that she's gone, I wonder if he would film again? Ashley can't pick on Candiace anymore so she's going to have to go after somebody new.  Because I've said since S7 Ashley did not like Mia, they can explore that, although I've heard Ashley gets into it with some of the new girls too.

Gizelle no longer has Candiace around to clique up on and because Candiace is not around, Gizelle is more relaxed.  Which means the rest of the cast is more relaxed.  I think we'll see a S1-2 Gizelle going forward.

Robyn leaving didn't change the energy of the show one way or the other which means she had zero impact and was not needed.  Although I do see her coming back as a friend (and she posted a congratulations to the cast on her social media --trying to keep the door open. Candiace closed the door and left the building).

Blonde is not for everyone.

 

Agree. I don’t miss either of them but especially Robyn as she bored me. I was also frustrated watching the way she handled (or ignored) Juan’s hijinks. 

Karen so carefully moderates her image and words that I don’t think we get anything close to the real version of her, and I’m not just talking about the DUI. I’ve seen this for several seasons. 

Edited October 16 by Sweet-tea

[Sweet-tea]

On 10/7/2024 at 12:02 PM, Keywestclubkid said:

I'm sorry but Mia girl to make your kids paternity a story line for yourself just feels .. ICKY  .. this is something that will follow him for the rest of his life that should be private .. thanks for fucking with your son like that so you can be on television

I think she’s horrible. If it’s true she had an affair for years, then I don’t know why Gordon stayed with her. It obviously bothered him. She acts like she is entitled to do whatever she wants regardless if it hurts her children, husband or other people. 

On 10/7/2024 at 1:33 PM, Baltimore Betty said:

Was one of the charges against Karen driving on a a suspended license? If so, shame on Ray for letting her drive, you don't get to renew your registration and you are not covered by insurance, am I correct?

I wondered about this. Was her license suspended due to another DUI?

And I think grieving was simply Karen’s excuse to explain her drinking. 

Edited October 16 by Sweet-tea

[Sweet-tea]

On 10/8/2024 at 5:56 AM, CrinkleCutCat said:

Karen can barely close her eyes properly: surgery has made her eyelids too tight?

Karen can barely keep her eyes open (in her talking heads and the Hattitude birthday lunch): is she taking something? My husband works in the sector referred to as ‘Alcohol and Other Drugs’ in Australia and refers to it as “on the nod”!

Well she referred to being on medication but didn’t specify. I assumed it was antidepressants but it could be other things. These days if you sneeze or say you’re the least bit sad or stressed, many doctors will prescribe a host of drugs. 

Referring to something upthread: there are different levels of alcoholics. Many are not splashy falling down in the street, missing work days winos.  Some are pretty functional and can go days or weeks without drinking. If they stop, they don’t get the DTs, although they may get other more minor withdrawal symptoms. But many aren’t at the level of DTs.  It’s more about how they act when they do drink. And a big part is a psychological, not just physical, dependence on alcohol. 

Edited October 16 by Sweet-tea

[Yours Truly]

On 10/8/2024 at 9:16 PM, Chatty Cake said:

Yes, sometimes I think viewers expect too much from the housewives after their arrests. LuAnn quit drinking on camera for awhile but started again. I don’t think it’s up to the viewers or other cast members to say someone is an alcoholic because they got a DUI. Karen does need to stop blaming her parents deaths every time she has a problem.

This! I get that it's all kinds of wrong to drink and drive but I think it's extra to clutch the pearls if Karen still has a drink. I looked it up and depending on the courts and what is decided Karen is still free and clear to drink. Drinking and driving doesn't automatically scream alcoholic. What it screams is irresponsible and reckless. People tend to confuse these things under these circumstances. Sad to say that non alcoholic drink and drive ALL THE time. I won't say most but I will say that a lot of people will have a beer or three and still drive home. Or a few glasses of wine or champagne. It's wrong and should not be normalized but at the same time........ don't kill the messenger.

Anyhoo, my point is that Karen's issue is that she was reckless and irresponsible and knowingly did something illegal that could have caused harm or death to herself or others but it doesn't mean she can't have a glass of wine (unless the courts determine that course of action as a part of their ruling ala Countess.)  

[qtpye]

Well, I finally did it.

I dropped $1.99 on this episode.

"Sound of Poppin' bottles"

Oh, thank God we have dropped that useless appendage called Robyn.

Gizzy is a dorky ass Barbie Doll and I love it. 

Her energy with Karen was good TV.

It's already the best HW episode in years but that is not saying much.

 

Fast forwarded thru the Mia parts...even though Mia is being herself-it, it feels inauthentic and planned.

[qtpye]

Ashley's audition for her own dating show is a huge fail.

Why is her makeup gun stuck on "Joker Face"?

She still is quite pretty, though.

Eddie awing Wendie's PhD was both cute and sad.

Wendy at her email might as well be a Rococo painting of a lady writing with a quill at this point.

[qtpye]

Is this whole season going to be someone making a drinking joke and Karen trying to frown through her Botox?

Cuz, it's already getting old in Episode 1.

Gizzy's Hatitude Tik Toc embraces the cringe and I'm not mad at it.

 

[qtpye]

Stacy trying on dresses was giving reminders of Ashley's and Katie's bikini walk-off from the first season.

Stacy and her daughter are beautiful but I would be wary about bringing my kids to a show like this.  I would have probably blurred out her picture, just to be safe.

I realize "Getting up from the table and away crying" is a tried and true HW thing,  but Mia's scenes feel very forced.

[qtpye]

Gizzy has beautiful eyes.

Do you guys think there is a boutique where the HW's rent out dresses for the talking heads?  The more ridiculous the better.

[qtpye]

I have a feeling someone told Karen the Beyonce "Cowboy Carter' Album cover was going the be the look of the season

[qtpye]

The party looks cheap...so very on- brand for Gizzy.

However, a party to just roast Karen is diabolical.

Having Non-Alcoholic Grand Dame on the menu made me fall out.

[ZettaK]

On 11/15/2024 at 10:00 PM, qtpye said:

Gizzy has beautiful eyes.

Do you guys think there is a boutique where the HW's rent out dresses for the talking heads?  The more ridiculous the better.

I think that it's mostly Bravo's wardrobe (rented/borrowed) because HWs in different franchises wear the same outfits in confessionals. Like that ugly Mugler, which I don't doubt is promotional.

Edited November 18 by ZettaK

[ZettaK]

On 10/22/2024 at 12:18 PM, Yours Truly said:

This! I get that it's all kinds of wrong to drink and drive but I think it's extra to clutch the pearls if Karen still has a drink. I looked it up and depending on the courts and what is decided Karen is still free and clear to drink. Drinking and driving doesn't automatically scream alcoholic. What it screams is irresponsible and reckless. People tend to confuse these things under these circumstances. Sad to say that non alcoholic drink and drive ALL THE time. I won't say most but I will say that a lot of people will have a beer or three and still drive home. Or a few glasses of wine or champagne. It's wrong and should not be normalized but at the same time........ don't kill the messenger.

Anyhoo, my point is that Karen's issue is that she was reckless and irresponsible and knowingly did something illegal that could have caused harm or death to herself or others but it doesn't mean she can't have a glass of wine (unless the courts determine that course of action as a part of their ruling ala Countess.)  

Drinking on tv after a highly publicized DUI is not a good look.

[Yours Truly]

13 hours ago, ZettaK said:

Drinking on tv after a highly publicized DUI is not a good look.

Ehhhh, Not drinking AT ALL doesn't change anything and it would be sorta corny to me to see her avoiding alcohol in casual situations cause all it does is fuel the other side which is "oh, so NOW we are being mindful about alcohol?" or "yeah, sure, you're not drinking anymore, right".  It's a lose, lose so I say fuck it. Her avoiding alcohol "on TV" is just lame. 

I personally think it's a silly requirement to have of her (unless of course the courts decide it is a requirement). Everyone's alcohol journey is for them and them alone to navigate. The idea that an angry mob of fans tsk, tsking someone will change that always intrigues me. I think I'll leave my disapproval with the drinking and driving part because THAT's what's illegal. I'm not gonna treat any drink she has as a crime because quite frankly it isn't and it's ridiculous to treat it as one. At least to me anyway.