A New Addition to the Real Housewives Franchise
The latest addition to the Real Housewives franchise has made its debut in the UK capital, featuring a group of six intensely wealthy women who navigate their lives within the same super-rich circles. This new series promises to deliver drama and intrigue, much like its predecessors, with cast members already teasing feuds so intense that production had to intervene and cut the cameras.
One of the standout figures in this series is Amanda, a self-proclaimed small-town girl turned skincare brand founder. She drives around a particularly swanky part of west London in her gleaming Bentley, embodying the “no cost-of-living crisis here!” attitude that seems to be the show’s theme.
In the lead-up to the series airing, the cast have shared stories of feuds that could potentially rival previous moments from the franchise, such as Jen labeling Mary as a “Grandpa f**ker” (Salt Lake City) and a lighthearted pyjama party escalating into a full-blown physical brawl (Atlanta). These moments set high expectations for the series, but the first episode’s dramatic tension was somewhat underwhelming.
The initial conflict centered around an incredibly convoluted and petty feud involving a dentist. After rewatching the section three times, it became clear that the issue stemmed from a dentist refusing to fix Panthea’s son’s braces and instead giving him a mouthful of fillings. This incident led to Panthea being upset with one of the show’s two almost-indistinguishable Juliets, creating a tense situation at every soiree.
While the drama might not be hitting the mark, the first episode largely focuses on introducing the cast. The series features aerial shots of royal palaces and quick-cut scenes of expensive mansions and flashy cars in Chelsea. Each character brings their own unique flair to the show, making for an entertaining introduction.
Fashion designer Karen proudly declares, “I may be from the Commonwealth, but there’s nothing common about me!” as she installs a swimming pool in her house, despite not knowing how to swim. Australian Juliet mentions having a stuffed swan named Gertrude in her “drawing room,” while baker-to-the-Royals Nessie compares Amanda to “Snow White and the seven dwarfs, if you were to replace the dwarfs with personal assistants.”
The group is equally detached from most Londoners’ realities, spending their time trotting through Hyde Park on horseback, taking their dogs for spa-style facials, and proudly describing themselves as trad-wives without a shred of irony. Buckingham Palace is evidently this lot’s Berghain, with the cast continually boasting about how many times they’ve managed to get in the door.
Panthea, who is often seen being served a cup of tea in bed by her high-flying lawyer husband, exclaims, “I just feel exhausted!” while admitting, “I don’t even do anything! I don’t even work!” Her self-awareness adds a touch of humor to the otherwise extravagant lifestyle.
Although it’s still early days for the series, more compelling feuds are expected to unfold. However, the initial episodes fall disappointingly short of the drama that fans have come to expect. While some enjoy watching rich people bickering and whining about non-problems, there’s not nearly enough to get your teeth into in this season.
The Real Housewives of London is streaming now on Hayu.
