Stop sleeping on The Real Housewives of Potomac

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When it comes to TV these days, I don’t need a scripted arty detective drama that has a twang theme song that weekly goes further into the gruesome murder of a woman. No thanks; I save all my television-based chaos for reality and most of that reality consisting within what I call 'The Bravo Cinematic Universe'

Within that universe, I'm sure you've heard of shows starting with the title ‘The Real Housewives of…’ and most of the time you'll hear Beverly Hills or New York discussed. But, what I am here today to promote is what I think is the crown jewel in the franchise, that jewel is The Real Housewives of Potomac.

“You’re now probably thinking ‘Where the hell is Potomac?’ ”

Potomac, Maryland is an affluent and exclusive suburban town near Washington, D.C – And, unlike RHONY or RHOBH, it didn’t take RHOP over 10 years to show real representation. RHOP shows women of colour exclusively as the main characters on TV. RHOP is also a corner of television that shows women who are educated, working mothers, exotic bird owners, funny, complex, wealthy and most of all chaotic. Like the cities before it, RHOP has stuck to the key rules of the unspoken Housewives rulebook.

“A housewife must always ‘appear rich’ even if you have no money OR if that money was because of years of tax evasion. A housewife must elude that they’ve “heard rumours” about somebodies significant other and always bring it up on camera. And, always question somebodies drinking, sobriety and habits at all times. ”

RHOP's has contributed to this rulebook, most memorably with: to accuse somebody of renting their home to keep the ‘status’ of living said town.

Enter Karen Huger aka ‘The Grand Dame’, Karen is married to a man named Ray Huger and according to Karen is ‘The Black Bill Gates’ Over the span of this shows 6 seasons Karen and Ray have seemingly mansion hopped around Maryland suburbs, often to the dismay of the cast.

Karen Huger [Image @karenhuger]

What you need to understand about the housewives franchise is there is a lot of exploration for the ‘truth’ and ‘exposing the truth’. This results in watching a group of adult women wanting to catch out their fellow cast members renting homes in order to keep the status of Potomac. In order to seek that specific truth, fellow cast member and 'fan favourite' Robyn Dixon went undercover dressed as a pizza delivery person in order to spring Karen and Ray in their great ‘rental-con’. Alas, Robyn’s phenomenal commitment to the role of Pizza Delivery Man #1 wasn’t enough to spring them.

RHOP I believe also has one of the great matriarchal frenemies pairings of our time not seen since Joan Crawford and Bettie Davis. Gizelle Bryant and Karen Huger are unique in the fact that they are equal adversaries and yet both as delusional and somehow self-aware at the same time. Since RHOP has the most 'OG's of any franchise both women are critical foundations of the show. Gizelle Bryant is a woman who is messy yet plays the role of a producer like a symphony. She and Karen often seem to support each other at times, but yet so easy that will crumble. Most recently their feud left accusations of one having a ‘hot box’ and trips to the prison ‘sing sing’ – meanings to both insults remain unclear to the cast and audience.

RHOP is rare in that it’s also real; with people like Robyn Dixon who plays a unique role in this show, she somehow represents us the audience. Robyn is open about her depression and openly shown the journey to repaire her family after her ex-NBA player-childhood-sweetheart-ex-husband-current fiancé Juan Dixon was unfaithful.

Robyn Dixon [@robyndixon10]

RHOP is the only reality show that has women openly showing the need and want for therapy. I do question a therapist that is ready to get on camera, as a result, the therapy is sometimes questionable, as shown by Candace Dillard and her extremely toxic mother-daughter dynamic with her mother, Dorothy.

Dorothy is also a therapist and between her and Dillard they show the audience an exercise in why communication is vital and how tension can escalate to a handbag being used as a weapon.

Like so many Housewives before it, we see typical musical career aspirations in RHOP. I believe RHOP’s pièce de résistance of music endeavours goes to Ashley Darby performing at Virginia Pride, 2018.

Ashley is married to the main villain in the BCU, Michael Darby. In one memorable moment, we see Ashley decided the best way to represent that her marriage was perfect was to perform her love song written about Michael ‘Coffee and Love’ at Pride with her brother.

Now in its 6th season, this show is still finding fresh ways to evolve, like with Dr Wendy “4 degrees” Osefo. Dr Wendy added a unique level of academia to the show; She is a teacher at John Hopkins University and political commentator who now in her sophomore season has big dreams of candle making.

RHOP is unique in that it's clearly on the pulse of relevancy. The women of RHOP recently were a part of a campaign for exclusive brand Teflar, the brand famously sold out for selling ‘The Bushwick Birkin’. The RHOP housewives are *mostly* all followed by Bravo superfan Rihanna and Nicki Minaj recently went on a comment spree on the RHOP’s Instagram accounts, showing her clear interest in hosting the infamous reunions. Even getting the approval from the godfather of the franchise himself Andy Cohen. The women of RHOP are not without flaws but unlike most reality shows this isn't about the flaws of women but women with flaws.

The current landscape of television has audiences screaming for diversity, especially within NZ and Australia. So while our local shows struggle to even meet minimum diversity efforts. I'd say stop sleeping on The Real Housewives of Potomac.

This article was written in Memory of 'T'Challa' The African Parrot, May he Rest in Bird Paradise.

Words — Harriet Ring
Image — via Vulture & Gab Bois