Earlier this yr, I vented my frustrations about how The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City was not Bravo’s diamond within the tough.
With the authorized woes of Jen Shah taking on the entire screentime, the collection had turn out to be a shell of its former self.
In one of many greatest surprises in actuality TV historical past, the collection managed to recalibrate following Shah’s departure.
Jen thrived off being the focal point, and her presence had a halo impact by each storyline within the first three seasons, main many to imagine the present would sink additional into oblivion.
12 episodes into The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4, I can confidently say it is the strongest season but — and among the finest seasons of Real Housewives. Ever.
Jen Shah, Who?
It’s onerous to imagine the actuality TV collection has managed this late-stage comeback, but it surely’s a testomony to the solid clocking in and realizing they wanted to save lots of their present.
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We’ve witnessed many of those exhibits get the pink slip for changing into too poisonous, which most likely explains why the returning OGs have been engaged on their friendships.
Who would have thought Lisa Barlow and Meredith Marks can be on speaking phrases after that hot-mic second and the ensuing fallout?
The better part?
Lisa’s conscious of her good friend’s flaws and is not afraid to level them out, including some much-needed depth to all the things that is occurred up to now with the unique stars.
But that does not imply the unique solid would not have beef, but it surely is not as darkish as a number of the stuff in prior seasons.
Don’t Come for My Bathtub!
We’ve had Meredith complaining about Whitney coming for her bathtub and Mary claiming that Whitney referred to as her one thing pornographic, referencing feedback Whitney made up to now.
The supply of that scene within the Sprinter van could have been comedic, but it surely highlighted that these ladies are right here to placed on an amazing present that may get the followers speaking.
Monica Garcia’s Big Impact
Adding Monica Garcia as Jen’s substitute was a stroke of casting genius for a lot of causes.
From the second she arrived on the scene, Monica has proven exceptional resilience regardless of navigating meandering relationships with the ladies.
It’s onerous to inform who she’s pals with at this stage, but it surely’s clear that she did not come on the present to make pals.
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Monica has a character that is good for the small display, and after serving to steer the collection in the suitable route, she deserved to be rewarded with first seat on the reunion.
It’s uncommon for a first-time housewife to get that coveted seat, however her impression on the season has been simple.
She’s been part of the largest arguments, and if the teasers for the solid journey to Bermuda are to be believed, that will not change any time quickly.
We know that Heather discovered one thing about certainly one of her co-stars through the journey, and given the Bad Mormon writer’s latest feedback about not eager to movie with Monica, this has acquired to be about Monica.
If you watch The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on-line, that Monica had shut ties to the incarcerated Jen Shah, so there is a good likelihood the fateful telephone name in Bermuda has to do with one thing about Jen’s case.
Despite getting a front-row seat into Monica’s life, there’s nonetheless a lot we do not know, that means that there is a excessive likelihood she’ll be with the present for a lot of seasons.
If the women refuse to movie together with her for subsequent season, it would not shock me if producers launched a good friend or two for Monica to assist hold her on the present.
She might not be everybody’s cup of tea, however she’s a pure in entrance of the digicam and delivers good commentary in confessionals.
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The massive check for Monica shall be how the reunion pans out as a result of there is a chance the women will come armed with loads of tales to discredit Monica.
The different new full-time housewife this season who has made an impression is Angie Katsanevas.
Jen’s authorized woes marred Angie’s visitor function on RHOSLC Season 3, however the producers elevating her to a full-time solid member is one other side of the present that labored.
It’s clear Angie needs to be full-time and has been placing the work in to get in entrance of the digicam whereas concurrently delivering comical moments.
The funniest a part of all of it is how Angie launched Monica to the women, after which the pair acquired into the mom of all feuds, with receipts being shared throughout social media after the episodes aired.
But Angie might also be the one that forgives Monica and movies together with her subsequent season as a result of they have a tendency to restore issues shortly although they’ve had their arguments.
Mary Cosby Needs to Go
The greatest eye-roll this season has been the addition of Mary Cosby, who spent the primary two seasons as a full-fledged housewive earlier than bailing.
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Bringing her again would all the time result in wild moments, and whereas she makes for nice TV, we have been seeing a a lot nastier facet of her character.
She not often needs to interact with the women, and when she does, she complains about what they’re sporting, says they give the impression of being “inbred,” and even calls service workers lazy.
There’s a positive line between love and hate, and one thing tells me Mary is not straddling that positive line with viewers.
She’s hopped to the “hate” facet and hasn’t regarded again.
Her random friendship with Monica is one other massive second, too, as a result of it looks like Mary is attempting to construct connections with the entire ladies, sans Whitney.
Is she attempting to safe a full-time return subsequent season? Her actions this season have been obnoxious, so I can not think about what she’d do if she reclaimed her snowflake.
For now, we now have a handful of episodes left, adopted by the reunion, and it guarantees to be a rollercoaster trip to the end line.
What are your ideas on the present’s comeback?
Who do you need to be on the solid for Season 5?
Hit the feedback.
Catch new episodes Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
