Reunion Seating Predictions
I love reunions, and I am really loving this season. I’m sure the reunion is going to filmed soon, and I love predicting the seating. Maybe I’m jumping the gun, but here I am. So here’s mine:
Rulla-Ashley-Alicia-Rosie-Andy-Jo Ellen-Liz-Kelsey
Rulla on the end, she’s definitely been in the least amount of scenes, didn’t attend a cast trip. While she does have drama, so much of it is either off screen or propelled by Jo-Ellen and recently Liz. When Rulla is on screen, she’s just kind of there and floundering.
Ashley I have next. She is an outsider but she’s been more involved. I’ve been enjoying her the more the season goes on. I will admit, at first I didn’t understand why she was there other to bring in bachelor fans, but as the season has gone on and her integrating more I think she’s been a good casting choice. However, I don’t think she’s done enough yet to warrant any higher than third chair. She doesn’t seem to be friends with Rulla but also doesn’t seem to be an enemy either. It wouldn’t be the first time two people who were barely interacting during the season sat next to each other (Whitney and Mary in this last season of SLC comes to mind).
Alicia is second chair. She’s my absolute favorite, and she’s quickly risen to one of my favorite housewives across all the franchises. She is friends with Rulla and seemingly neutral with Ashley and Rosie right now. Plus I think there’s going to be a blowup between her and Liz, they keep bringing that back up, so it has to mean something I feel. Alicia definitely seems to be the most Switzerland on the cast, and even if she’s my favorite, I wouldn’t say she’s brought a first chair performance at this point. But I would not be shocked if she becomes one of the faces of Rhode Island.
First chair is Rosie. My opinion of this woman has certainly gone up, and even if she’s not my favorite, I can admit she’s been messy and a lightning rod for conflict, even if in the beginning I felt it was a bit of her forcing it. However, since Newport it’s clear the trio of Jo-Ellen, Liz, and Kelsey cannot stand her. And the fight with Kelsey this last episode really cemented her being first chair for me. I worry she’ll go down the same path as Whitney Rose or Ashley Darby, and I do think she’ll flame out if so. But right now I think she has a real chance to be first chair.
Andy, to be our moderator.
Jo-Ellen is our next first chair. Honestly, this is the placement I feel the most confident in. She’s had so much going on, so many connections with the cast and an interesting personal storyline. I’m never bored with her on screen, and even if I think her meddling with Rulla is more calculated than she lets on, she’s definitely earned a first chair. And Rulla cannot be on the same couch as her. I think she had a long future in this franchise, potentially the OG who lasts the longest. I’ve become a Jo-Ellen fan.
Liz we have next. It’s clear production loves her, she has center shell, is probably the main narrator of the season. As I said before, I think the seeds are being planted for a Liz and Alicia blow up towards the end of the season. As I said with Alicia and Jo-Ellen, I think she’ll be a face of this franchise.
Kelsey is last. Maybe I’m biased since Kelsey has become my least favorite on the cast. Everything around her reeks phony, and I don’t think Andy particularly enjoyed her on WWHL. I certainly thought it was a rough watch and I did not finish it. Even with my own biases aside, her alliance is with Jo-Ellen and Liz, and there’s no way Kelsey and Rosie will be on the same couch. And Jo-Ellen and Liz have just had more dynamic seasons.
TLDR- Yes, I wrote an essay. But I’d love to hear y’all’s thoughts and own seating charts. I’m most confident in Jo-Ellen being first chair, but I’m open to hearing any dissenting opinions.