u/luxtropolis67

So I know it was explained on the episode, I’m still so confused what the hell it is. Do you just roll dice and yell? The only way I think this could be fun is if it was some sort of drinking game. Other than that, I feel like this is so boring. And Gizelle and Porsha, maybe I’m uncultured about my own culture, but as a white person, I’ve never heard of this myself. Maybe it’s a west coast thing, I dunno. I’m a midwestern boy. Long story short, what is bunko.

For me, I have two.

Meredith in Salt Lake City walking around very sad and alone through Greece cause she couldn’t speak to Brooks on Mother’s Day. I really couldn’t stand the second half of season 6 of SLC, there was way too much plane drama and that Greece trip was awful (I blame Heather but I’m also a Meredith stan)

The second came from Robyn of all people. It was at the season 5 reunion, Robyn was defending Candiace to Ashley, after Ashley said Candiace made rude comments about Ashley’s son. To which Robyn said, “all she said was he looks like your husband,” to which Ashley said that was rude. And Robyn just looked shocked. While I believe unintentional, Robyn basically got Ashley to admit that she thought Michael was ugly. A rare time Robyn actually made someone else look a fool rather than the other way around.

I’ve been thinking this since her departure, so the screenshots haven’t triggered this (I also thought we knew everyone but Rosie was MAGA? I’m glad people are now realizing it), but I do think Liz leaving will lead to a more dark tone in the future of Rhode Island, particularly with Jo-Ellen.

We saw at the reunion how far Jo-Ellen will go. Sure, Liz is a villain, but she just goes after you. Jo-Ellen will go after you and everything you love. I also think Liz is the only one who will check Jo-Ellen effectively. Rosie and Rulla have tried, but Rulla is just outmatched and I don’t think Jo-Ellen respects Rosie to care. Liz has the respect of her and can go up against her effectively. Liz is not perfect by far, but I think she helped Jo-Ellen from being a full on supervillain who is just not fun to watch. I hope I’m wrong, but we will see. Season one was so fun, but I’m scared it’ll become dark very fast, and not in a fun way.

Edit to Add- the only reason I brought up the posts is because I was trying to say it’s irrelevant to these thoughts on the show proper. Some people are acting like Liz is some progressive warrior in light of Jo-Ellen’s likes. That’s not the case. As far as I know, Liz holds those same beliefs. I’m just talking about cast dynamics.

Scroll to the bottom for the TLDR, because I’m aware I write essays, but here’s my reasoning.

Alicia- I think slightly down. She’s still my favorite on the cast, but I think this second part did make her look a little neglectful with the finances. I’m not saying she’s an idiot by any means, but after (rightfully) complaining about her lack of financial freedom and then learning she hasn’t done anything about it wasn’t great. It would have been one thing if Billy was not letting her, but both of them agreed she just wasn’t doing anything about it. I still love her, think she’s charming, hilarious, and authentic. I do think she and Jo-Ellen should have switched places, but Alicia is still my favorite.

Jo-Ellen- This was Jo-Ellen’s reunion. Even if I think she came off a little unhinged and went a bit too hard on Rulla (her fury at Brian was deserved). Even if I believe her and think she’s right, her delivery could’ve been ever so slightly more tactful. I am fully expecting a supervillain arc for her next season, especially if she keeps going down this path. I think her stock went slightly up. She should’ve been first seat over Alicia.

Kelsey- Stock down. It’s clear she cannot keep up with these women verbally and was Jo-Ellen’s mouthpiece. I wasn’t expecting her to do that great, and she didn’t. But Rosie had her looking like a complete fool.

Liz- Stock up. I think she did very well this reunion, kept her cool, explained herself well. The only time I thought she could have gotten to her screaming self was when she was mocking Jo-Ellen for saying she was scared of her, but she got back on track. I also think she handled herself well with Rulla and everything she was doing. I have been on a journey with her this season, I started out enjoying her, then I hated her, now I’m more neutral. I still think she’s a ticking time bomb, but she didn’t explode this time.

Rulla- Miss Rulla, I want to root for you. But you are so frustrating to watch. We will start without the Brian stuff- she came to fight but got ate up every single time. She brought a water gun to a pistol match. She came for Liz for seemingly no reason, made baseless accusations against Jo-Ellen, just overall was made to look ridiculous. Now onto Brian. He’s a terrible liar and Rulla is terrible at covering for him, and then he continues to make her look stupid but revealing things she didn’t know. Now, with all that being said, I root for her and need her to leave this man. She’s clearly intelligent outside of this, and I guess it’s subjective, but she’s gorgeous and is with… Brian who in my opinion is not that great looking and it’s not like he has a stellar personality. I know people have speculated something darker in her marriage, and I hope that’s not the case. Even the story of basically getting Rulla drunk to take her home was disturbing to me. I do think Jo-Ellen had some misplaced anger towards Rulla when it comes to Rulla, and I don’t believe Jo-Ellen’s intentions are as pure as she tries to make it seem. Hoping for a redemption arc for Rulla next season, but I’m not sure. I still say stock down.

Rosie- Stock way up. I thought she handled herself very well and calmly ate up Kelsey. I do think she handled Rulla way better than Jo-Ellen. I originally thought she was gonna be like Ashley Darby or Whitney Rose, but she’s way better as a housewife (right now). I still could see her going down that path, but right now she’s fine.

Ashley- Stock the same. She really didn’t have much to say, but in fairness her role really isn’t as a fighter like the others. I am glad she told Rulla she’s better than Brian, because she’s right. I hope she continues to come out of her shell more, I’ve enjoyed watching her this season.

TLDR

Alicia- Stock slightly down
Jo-Ellen- Stock slightly up
Kelsey- Stock down
Liz- Stock up
Rulla- Stock down
Rosie- Stock way up
Ashley- Stock the same

Scroll to the bottom for the TLDR, because I’m aware I write essays, but here’s my reasoning.

Alicia- I think slightly down. She’s still my favorite on the cast, but I think this second part did make her look a little neglectful with the finances. I’m not saying she’s an idiot by any means, but after (rightfully) complaining about her lack of financial freedom and then learning she hasn’t done anything about it wasn’t great. It would have been one thing if Billy was not letting her, but both of them agreed she just wasn’t doing anything about it. I still love her, think she’s charming, hilarious, and authentic. I do think she and Jo-Ellen should have switched places, but Alicia is still my favorite.

Jo-Ellen- This was Jo-Ellen’s reunion. Even if I think she came off a little unhinged and went a bit too hard on Rulla (her fury at Brian was deserved). Even if I believe her and think she’s right, her delivery could’ve been ever so slightly more tactful. I am fully expecting a supervillain arc for her next season, especially if she keeps going down this path. I think her stock went slightly up. She should’ve been first seat over Alicia.

Kelsey- Stock down. It’s clear she cannot keep up with these women verbally and was Jo-Ellen’s mouthpiece. I wasn’t expecting her to do that great, and she didn’t. But Rosie had her looking like a complete fool.

Liz- Stock up. I think she did very well this reunion, kept her cool, explained herself well. The only time I thought she could have gotten to her screaming self was when she was mocking Jo-Ellen for saying she was scared of her, but she got back on track. I also think she handled herself well with Rulla and everything she was doing. I have been on a journey with her this season, I started out enjoying her, then I hated her, now I’m more neutral. I still think she’s a ticking time bomb, but she didn’t explode this time.

Rulla- Miss Rulla, I want to root for you. But you are so frustrating to watch. We will start without the Brian stuff- she came to fight but got ate up every single time. She brought a water gun to a pistol match. She came for Liz for seemingly no reason, made baseless accusations against Jo-Ellen, just overall was made to look ridiculous. Now onto Brian. He’s a terrible liar and Rulla is terrible at covering for him, and then he continues to make her look stupid but revealing things she didn’t know. Now, with all that being said, I root for her and need her to leave this man. She’s clearly intelligent outside of this, and I guess it’s subjective, but she’s gorgeous and is with… Brian who in my opinion is not that great looking and it’s not like he has a stellar personality. I know people have speculated something darker in her marriage, and I hope that’s not the case. Even the story of basically getting Rulla drunk to take her home was disturbing to me. I do think Jo-Ellen had some misplaced anger towards Rulla when it comes to Rulla, and I don’t believe Jo-Ellen’s intentions are as pure as she tries to make it seem. Hoping for a redemption arc for Rulla next season, but I’m not sure. I still say stock down.

Rosie- Stock way up. I thought she handled herself very well and calmly ate up Kelsey. I do think she handled Rulla way better than Jo-Ellen. I originally thought she was gonna be like Ashley Darby or Whitney Rose, but she’s way better as a housewife (right now). I still could see her going down that path, but right now she’s fine.

Ashley- Stock the same. She really didn’t have much to say, but in fairness her role really isn’t as a fighter like the others. I am glad she told Rulla she’s better than Brian, because she’s right. I hope she continues to come out of her shell more, I’ve enjoyed watching her this season.

TLDR

Alicia- Stock slightly down
Jo-Ellen- Stock slightly up
Kelsey- Stock down
Liz- Stock up
Rulla- Stock down
Rosie- Stock way up
Ashley- Stock the same

And it was like… fine? It was enjoyable but people saying it could be an awards contender I think may be way too optimistic. Obviously the best chance is Inde Navarrette, and she is great in it, but even that seems like a long shot. Maybe if it’s an extremely weak year she could get in, but I feel like we were saying that about Amy Madigan last year and I don’t think that it was a weak year in supporting actress. But at the same time, Amy Madigan is a longtime actress with a lot of respect, this is Inde Navarrette’s breakout role.

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.