After much speculation, last Fall saw Bravo officially announce the newest instalment of its Housewives franchise – ’The Real Housewives of Potomac.’
Based in the bespoke Maryland town, the series is particularly noteworthy because it’s the first series to feature a cast compromised of women of color since the debut of the Atlanta branch eight years ago.
The gargantuan success NeNe Leakes and co have enjoyed with their show (which is the highest rated in the Housewives portfolio) meant comparisons would be plentiful and that the proverbial bar would be set sky-high.
Now, with the premiere episode having aired last night, debate has turned to whether reality TV’s newest divas delivered.
Of course, the length and breath of the season will bring with it the definitive answer. However, per the first taste, the signs are potently promising. And here’s why…
Affluence Over Attitude
Routinely in the media, depictions of Black-ness tend to be muddied by stereotypes, cliches, and caricatures. However, with the ladies of Potomac, there is a purposeful air of “achieved.” The houses are lavish, the gowns gorgeous, the faces snatched, and the successes real – rather than fictional works-in-progress. What’s more, even the ladies that married into wealth come from a rich cultural heritage, which – even on a Bravo reality show – goes some way to help dispel the linear, rigid depictions of “Blackness” that tend to pervade the media scape. As Gizelle summed up so eloquently, the ladies have “legacy and pedigree.” Come through!
Sassy On Their Own Terms
Shade comes in many flavors, a fact the premiere episode highlighted hilariously. Yes, we all love the in-your-faceness of Kenya and co, but if last night proved anything, it’s that sprinkles of sass can be just as entertaining as the full on splashes we’re used to seeing on its sister show. Though arguably petty, it was refreshing seeing the shade grenades being thrown over who was showcased “etiquette” and who didn’t posses enough of the stuff. Karen’s catty clash with Gizelle, as well as Gizelle’s crab-boil beef with Charrise being two of the prime examples. [Editor’s note: notice which name keeps coming into the conflict mix. Hmm]
Genuine Connections
Perhaps a benefit of the show’s freshman status, however there was something quite warming about seeing a group of women who actually know each other. The “real” in reality TV has always been questionable, but surely we speak for most when saying that it at least needs to seem authentic. Thankfully, with this Potomac quintet, their relationships with one another have a history that precedes the arrival of the camera crew. The result makes watching the show feel like we’re stepping into their world, rather than creating it via social media (see: the various calls for who should comeback, who should switch shows, so on and so forth).
Age Diversity
In many media arenas, being older tends to have negative connotations. Yet, in this show, age is celebrated almost as a means of OG divadom. Karen, the resident Queen Bee, asserts her status by way of being the most seasoned. She assumes the character of the sun almost, behaving as if she gives life while also being able to burn a rival on cue. All in all, the ladies skew a little older than their ATL counterparts and it – as we’re sure producers intended – makes for a “different” dynamic and ultimately a “different” watch.
Compelling Characters
Potomac presents a group of women with engaging stories and vivacious, yet varied personalties. The premiere episode did a commendable job of drip-feeding us what each lady is serving up, while leaving us hungry for more. And though, it’s quite clear (at this junction) who the shade throwers and the care-free kittens are, we’re excited to see how the season plays out because it’s apparent (by way of their juicy backstories) that none of the ladies are one-dimensional.
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By no means a televised revolution, The Real Housewives of Potomac is absolutely built around the same wire-frame of all of the Housewives franchise. As such, it won’t escape the critiques levelled against such shows. That said, it brings with it a fresh perspective – one that we feel has an overflow of potential.
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Yea Sam, I get what you’re saying but the show last night was surely boring. Now, I LOVE seeing some uppity black women defying the ratchet stereotype, but the show still didn’t fully engage me. I like Gizelle though. I’m definitely going to continue watch to see what comes about.
P.S. That biracial, wannabe white bish Katie got on my damn nerves. I hope you know that you are nothing more than a piece of exotic ass for that DL jewish guy as he is NOT going to marry you.
You better say it. Jewish men LOVE black women to death, but they also love to keep the relationships with them private and they usually never marry them. He’s probably looking for a black man instead.
Yes they do! I’m currently re-reading the autobiography of Malcolm X, and I love learning how all of those well-to-do white business men, and freaky housewives loved going to Harlem to get their freak on with people of color. Also, within the first 4 seconds of him on camera I could see that he was sweet…talking about plucking his eyebrows. I knew from that moment that he loves some B**
Shoot, who you telling, hun? Everyone, and I mean every human being, loves them some B**. Now, the issue arrives when you only use the black man for the B** and you don’t wanna commit to the poor guy and show him that you love him by marrying him.
People still watch these?
You should give it a try, maybe it would distract you from Rihanna’s messy era?
Maybe Wayne should join the show since he canceled his pending divorce from Birdman 🙂
Really?? The gay jokes coming from power bottoms really humor me. But sis, maybe Rihanna could get a guest spot on the show since her singing career is defunct.
Sorry, but this shìt was boring as hell.
Zzzzz I’ll stick to the iconic RHOA
I lived for Giselle and Karen’s shade fest. I will be watching the rest of the season.
Ill give it a look
Ok this is my 2 pence. the show has promise for sure!!! the shade was def there aplenty which is kinda refreshing. Im not going to lie i wish they would diversify the skin color a little more im surprised we didn’t get at least 1 or two more chocolate girls but thats my preference, just so we could see a variety odf shades of beautiful eloquent successful women not just one shade. I love Karen she is def the queen bee but i love the realness Gizelle brings which is a gbreath of fresh air. However that skunk rat cherissse was dead ass wrong for talking about ghettos and section 8 chile the kids ate her alive on her Instagram. Any ways all and all this show has promise- as long as I get my shade feast with fashions im in However, what was up with those busted kitchens?! Girl can we get house hunters on Line 1?!
Thx for the great write up Sam! Ppl forget that it took RHOA some time for it to find it’s legs (granted it had break-out stars their 1st season, but still). The fact that Bravo finally gave a shot to an all african american housewives is great…I wish ppl would stop shooting it down after just one episode!!!
Giselle is FIYAHH! Reminds me of Evelyn Lozada
Never heard of the show before
I think I like this show better then rhoa! They all think highly of themselves and each other. It’s clear Giselle is the queen but she don’t say it every 5 mins. There not pulling for story lines either
Giselle is the one Karen is good too she cant take Giselle at all I will be watching again all the women gave me life very over the top
I dont think a lot of the people on this website will like the show due to it not being as ghetto or ratchet as they prefer, but I think its nice to see blacks behaving nicely and not the usual stereotype that seems to be the norm in America.