Credit: Martha Galvan/Bravo
We are celebrating 20 years in Orange County. From 2006-2026, the times may have changed, but the OGs are back and doing what they do best: making the drama. Rewatching the good times and the bad times reminds us all that Vicki STILL thinks she is the OG of The Real Housewives of Orange County and that sometimes, you just have to whoop it up. But when Heather gets called out for talking behind Tamra‘s back, where does that leave their friendship?
Shannon greets Vicki on the Mexican beach, where she talks about her zero-stress life. Vicki is lighter and happier, and she claims that she is different from the last time she was a housewife. Vicki seems to be doing well with her boyfriend of four years, Michael. Whereas Shannon’s house is full… of dogs now that all of the girls are out.
All Vicki knows is work, but she can’t overwork herself forever. Sometimes Shannon does not see Vicki as often, but they are back to being the dos amigas, falling down and everything for old time’s sake.
Heather hosts Tamra and Gina at a scarf dyeing class, something she no doubt saw on TikTok and got #influenced. Gina is “in her engagement era” rocking her fake “prototype” ring. Heather speaks to her briefly about hosting the upcoming hearts and heels party, but when Tamra enters, the mood changes.
Gina gets right to it. She boldly asks Tamra if she is “here today to burn it down,” a dig at a quote Tamra said on a podcast during her angriest time. Kudos to Gina for confronting Tamra on the things she says. Gina does not want Tamra to feel like no one was there for her, but Tamra reminds her that everyone took a group picture at the reunion and left her out. Heather points out that she invited Tamra to dinner after the reunion, but Tamra feels as though Heather’s actions are not the same as her words.
Heather is annoyed because Tamra lumped her into a group of apparent “sh*tty friends,” and she does not believe she deserves that label. But something has to change, especially with Tamra and Shannon. While filming for the Ultimate Trip, there was a sit-down dinner at none other than The Quiet Woman.
Shannon thinks that Tamra was trying to stir the pot when she told Shannon, “You can’t get a man, and you don’t even own a house.” Heather calls the situation embarrassing and lets Tamra know there was a lot of talk. Tamra admits that she has a problem with Shannon, especially because of the videos Shannon has been putting out on TikTok. How will Tamra handle seeing Shannon now that some time has passed?
Over in Puerto Vallarta, Vicki admits to struggling with a knee injury. That doesn’t stop her from heading to Andale’s, an RHOC destination that Vicki claims she put on the map. Vicki’s love tank is full with Mike, but she is in for a real treat once she gets reunited with the ladies back in the OC.
Jen and Emily meet for dinner. They are the unlikely friend duo no one ever saw coming. Emily talks about how she is taking care of herself and how her son, Luke, is still going through it. He has since been to a P.A.N.D.A.S. expert and is in a new school, but it’s been hard. Jen understands how raising older kids can be difficult. Her son, Greyson, got pulled over for speeding, which is totally out of character for him! Emily admits that Heather and Shannon have been good friends to get advice about kids.
Speaking of Shannon, she is still unsure where she is going with Tamra. Vicki understands that Tamra can be difficult; in fact, she stopped talking to her for a year and a half. Vicki has since made up with Tamra, and so she refuses to get into the weeds with Shannon.
Emily is unsure why Tamra is p*ssed at HER, but nothing seems to make sense these days. Take, for instance, the “friendship” between Tamra and Heather. It seems to Jen that Heather does not have a boundary with Tamra due to their history. But Jen thinks that it’s odd that Heather led the charge of all the negative talk about Tamra during the post-reunion dinner (which Tamra did not attend), yet was the first to call and check on Tamra the next day. Hello, two-faced-Heather?
The kids of the OC seem to be doing all right. Tamra’s daughter is moving out to her own apartment, Emily’s daughter is staying true to her “raised-by-wolves” character, and Shannon’s daughters are thriving, nowhere geographically located near Shannon. But don’t worry, Shannon’s hands are full with dogs, and she is very happy.
To get a Mexican residency, you have to be patient, and Vicki can’t leave Mexico until she gets it. And so, it is a big fat question mark if she will be able to attend Heather’s upcoming Valentine’s Day party.
According to Gina, the Gated Group has been booming, and Gina is thrilled to be entering a good time in her life, something that is very new to her. Gina talks about her engagement to Travis in Big Bear. It was a big surprise, considering there is so much going on with Travis and his divorce situation. Gina talks to her mother about changing her name and shares that Travis wants Gina to take his last name. Gina’s kids have been her constant, and so she wants to stay connected with them and share that name with them, plus making her current name hyphenated is just waaaay too many letters.
Heather is very happy that her mother has moved closer now that she is almost 84. Heather’s mom has really missed out on a lot for the kids, and it is a bone of contention between the mother-daughter duo.
It’s the day of Heather’s Valentine’s party. Tamra promises that she will not react as she normally would (same old story), and Heather is thrilled to see that the $75,000 to decorate the space has truly paid off.
Emily explains that Jen brought a new friend, Carmella, to dinner the other night. Carmella and Jen have used the same hairdresser for years, and she used to be a Playmate!
Tamra hardly recognizes Emily because she is super skinny now, but according to Emily, Tamra remains the same old version, lacking accountability. The group jokes about Gina getting married before Jen, and Carmella makes her “new girl” entrance.
Heather is not thrilled with Vicki as of late, since she has made some comments that they inherited everything they have. Therefore, Heather is not dying for Vicki to make it out of Mexico in time to attend the party.
Heather’s son, Nicky, acts as the MC, making cheesy jokes… just like his father. Carmella feels as though this party is giving early 2000’s Playboy energy, which would absolutely crush Heather.
It is one thing after another for Vicki. Not only does she have a knee injury, but she also just had a cyst removed, so you know she is hooting and hollering. She ultimately makes it to Heather’s event because she got a Mexican exit pass. Vicki meets Carmella, and she jokes about being “Queen Victoria.”
Heather makes a speech (of course) about celebrating friendship, especially “historical friends.” It seems like everyone is annoyed that Heather is not being honest about how she feels about Tamra. When the group is alone without Tamra, Heather bashes Tamra, but it’s a different story when they are together. Gina and Jen feel like Shannon should speak up about this.
Gina lets Heather know that Shannon is upset with her because she feels like Heather is not completely honest about her friendship with Tamra. Heather admits that she does not agree with everything that Tamra does, but that does not mean she is turning her back on Tamra.
In the meantime, Tamra lets Vicki know that Gina and Heather were basically wondering why they are friends again. As Heather walks past Vicki, she lets her know that none of their money was inherited; in fact, both of their mothers are alive, so how could that work? They jokingly fight, and we learn that Terry worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken before he became Mr. Fancy Pants.
Tamra does not think that this venue is the place to address her issues with Shannon, but Jen is ready to stir the pot. She lets Tamra know that Heather has said she compartmentalizes her friendship with Tamra. This takes Tamra back, but she does not flip out fully, which is growth.
When Heather makes her way over, Tamra backs away because she has learned that Heather talks behind her back. Jen tells Heather what transpired, and Gina realizes that “Jen is stepping in sh*t right now.” Heather is annoyed because there was forward motion with Tamra, and now, they are going three steps back. Can this group’s fractured friendships ever get repaired?
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THIS PREMIERE EPISODE OF RHOC?