The “Real Housewives of Potomac” premiere ended with Mia Thornton sobbing in the bathroom after Gizelle Bryant and Karen Huger implied that she was a bad mom for moving on so quickly with her boyfriend Inc.
Jaqueline Blake and Jassi Rideaux run after Mia and try to make her feel better. At the table, Gizelle points out that Mia’s estranged husband Gordon Thornton went to the media and was clearly angry about her and Inc’s relationship. She thinks it was because Inc was introduced to the kids way before the separation was announced.
Mia eventually comes back to the group and Gizelle and Karen apologize. She tells them, “Okay.” In a confessional, she reveals, “I definitely am bothered by their comments but I know the truth.”
Gizelle Bryant and Wendy Osefo make nice
Poor Gizelle is without her fellow “Real Housewives of Potomac” green-eyed bandit Robyn Dixon this season so whatever is she to do? Why, find a new storyline of course! She meets up with her mortal enemy Wendy Osefo in an attempt to forge a new alliance.
Dr. Osefo is no longer in her professor era and comes in wearing a feathered jacket and a black crop top with a deep V-neck showing off Happy and Ness.
After they order their oysters and branzino, Gizelle tells Wendy that her issue with her is that she acts condescending when she’s mad. “There’s no room for friendship when you’re coming to somebody in a demeaning way. That’s all I’m saying.”
Wendy tells her, “That’s fair,” but also points out that she can’t expect her to temper her emotions after Gizelle spread rumors that her husband was cheating.
The two come to an understanding and they find a common ground about Inc’s height. Apparently, he’s so short that he stands in front of Mia in their Instagram pics. There may be hope for Gizelle and Wendy’s friendship after all.
Ashley Darby and Stacey Rusch have a bonding moment
“Real Housewives of Potomac” newcomer Stacey Rusch is practicing Spanish and German with her daughter Arabella while the nanny makes arepas. She reveals that she and her estranged husband are still living together but sleeping in separate bedrooms.
Stacey has a crash pad in D.C. that she uses while her husband is home and he travels often so it works out. At the moment, they’re both not telling Arabella about the divorce until all the logistics are ironed out.
Later, Ashley Darby visits and they go on a hike. Ashley finds out that Stacey and her ex are living together and she says, “Girl, what are doing?” Girl, did you forget that you were living with Michael Darby whilst separated and are still not divorced?
As a Black woman with a biracial child, Stacey asks Ashley how she navigates it. Ashley has been raised by Black women and is lucky to have grown up in that culture. She tells Stacey that she’s trying to expose them more to her culture through books.
Stacey’s family is in Detroit so she doesn’t have a lot of Black influence surrounding her daughter. “I want my daughter to know who she is,” she says. This is something that Ashley understands.
The conversation turns to Stacey’s marriage and she reveals that she’s in a relationship with someone who won’t have sex with her until they’re married. This is not something that Ashley understands. “Ma’am, I’ll tell you one thing. Couldn’t be me.” Same girl, same.
Karen Huger is unreasonably shady
Karen takes an Uber over to Gizelle’s for a play date of lovely chocolate chip cookies and a non-alcoholic drink.
Gizelle asks Karen what she thought about her birthday party and she replies that it was like the “Inquisition.” She tells her that adding a non-alcoholic option and naming it after herself was “messy.”
Speaking of messy, Karen tells Gizelle that she’s annoyed at Jacqueline for implying that once the facts come out about her DUI, everyone will be able to come to their own conclusions. “See, my real friends, they’re riding with me no matter what outcome there is,” Karen says.
Gizelle mentions her G&A event, which is no longer about athleisure. She and Ashley have pivoted to health and are throwing a fundraiser in honor of Gizelle’s father, who died of a brain tumor.
Karen says that she will be there but informs Gizelle that she has her own event earlier that day. Apparently, she’s getting a Femme Powered award for some reason but promises Gizelle she’ll be at her fundraiser.
The next day, Karen sends a group text at an ungodly hour telling the “Real Housewives of Potomac” ladies that her event is scheduled at the same time as Gizelle’s. Oop.
She wants them to go to both events and says she’ll provide a car service from her venue to Gizelle’s. Gizelle is big mad and their truce is officially over.
G&A vs. Femme Powered
Gizelle and Ashley are at their brain tumor fundraising event and they don’t even want the ladies to show up late as an afterthought.
Jassi has hired a van to take Mia, Wendy, Stacey, and Keiarna Stewart to Karen’s ceremony. They plan to make a stop there and then head over to Gizelle’s party. How they’re going to do it within 30 minutes in Potomac traffic is the driver Fahmi’s divine.
Meanwhile, Vivien Agbakoba and Jacqueline understand the laws of RSVP and have arrived at Gizelle’s event.
Jassi calls Ashley to let her know what the plans are. Ashley informs her that Gizelle is not happy about the bouncing around and to be there before 8:00 pm, as the party will end at 9. They promise to do so. Wendy and Keiarna are team Karen so they’re just going to support her and leave Gizelle in the dust.
Ashley informs Gizelle of the other ladies’ plans. “That’s so rude, Ashley. They’re f*cking rude. Not rude. F*cking rude,” Gizelle says.
Everyone is having a grand old time and at 8:03, the Sprinter van crew rolls in. This is too little too late for Gizelle and she tells them to leave.
They’re all too shocked to comprehend what’s happening so it takes a good three minutes for it to register that they’re being kicked out despite trekking across Potomac in the rain to make it to her event.
No one is moving so Gizelle calls security. Big William doesn’t know how to remove five ladies without getting a lawsuit and we’ll see what happens in the next episode.
