You’d think after nearly two decades of wine tosses, screeching matches, and spiritual retreats that go off the rails by day two, The Real Housewives of Orange County would know how to stick the landing on a premiere.
But no — Season 19 kicks off not with a bang, but with a whimper (and a whine, naturally).
Yes, there’s drama. Yes, there’s pettiness. But the energy? Mid at best.
Frankly, if Bravo wants fans to stay seated for another season in the OC, they’re going to need more than Tamra Judge’s weekly meltdown and Gina and Emily chasing relevance like it’s the last free canapé at a Botox party.
Let’s start with the most glaring issue: the absence of Alexis Bellino. Say what you will about Jesus Jugs, but her messy involvement with Shannon Beador’s ex-boyfriend had viewers frothing at the mouth last season.
Now? She’s been exiled off-camera, and her name is barely uttered — despite the very real possibility that her return could’ve turned this season into must-watch Housewives instead of background noise during laundry.
Alexis Bellino Deserved Another Shot
Was Alexis the most beloved cast member? No. But her connection to John Janssen and her deliciously delusional self-righteousness was the kind of soap opera gold this franchise used to thrive on.
Instead, we’re left with Tamra still on her tired “I’m evolving, but also I’m going to trash Shannon every five minutes” routine. Girl, pick a struggle.
Speaking of Tamra — my God. The woman cries in therapy one minute, swears she’s doing the work, and then immediately turns around to bash Shannon with Eddie like it’s her side hustle.
Tamra and accountability haven’t shared a scene in well over a decade.
And while I’d love to believe she’s genuinely processing her trauma, her consistent two-faced antics scream “performative growth” louder than her reunion tantrums.
The fact that Tamra continues to weaponize Shannon’s pain while demanding sympathy for her own is peak hypocrisy.
And while we know from filming spoilers that Tamra threatens to quit (lol, okay), we also know she sticks around.
So buckle up for more crocodile tears, more chaos, and more IG Lives where she pretends not to read the comments.
Now let’s talk about the new “villain” on the block: Katie Ginella.
Katie is… interesting. She’s got potential. She’s also got a blog problem. If Housewives history has taught us anything, it’s that talking to bloggers during filming is the cardinal sin of the Bravo universe.
The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 19 Could Be Katie’s Last
Katie allegedly spilled tea — or, at the very least, steeped some leaves off-camera — and that’s put a target squarely on her back. Rookie mistake.
It doesn’t help that Gina and Emily, who’ve been clinging to their oranges by a thread for seven seasons now (!!!), are suddenly pretending to be investigative journalists.
Their ambush coffee date with Katie was the kind of calculated messiness we usually live for — but here, it just felt forced. Like two producers said, “You two haven’t done anything interesting in years, go stir the pot.”
They’re clearly hoping this will be their big “moment,” but the math ain’t mathing. Their pattern is always the same: pick a weaker cast member, blow a minor issue out of proportion, and hope it earns them one more year of screen time. Snooze.
Meanwhile, Shannon is still the star of this show — whether you love her, hate her, or want to shake her. Say what you will about her personal choices (and lord knows Tamra has), but Shannon bares it all for the camera.
She’s chaotic, vulnerable, dramatic, and painfully real — everything a great Housewife should be.
The premiere teases some severe fractures ahead, including Shannon’s icy treatment of Katie for something “illegal.”
Now, considering Shannon herself has a DUI on record, whatever Katie did must’ve been really shady. If that storyline actually delivers, maybe this season won’t be a total wash.
Why Does Shannon Ditch Katie?
But let’s be honest: the premiere needed a bigger pop. There were moments — Tamra’s therapy scenes, the Katie confrontation, Gina and Emily’s desperation — but none of it landed.
Instead of explosive drama, we got low-level sniping and vague foreshadowing. Not exactly appointment television.
Which brings us to the big question: where the hell is the spark? The Real Housewives of Orange County used to set the bar for Housewives drama.
Now it feels like it’s playing catch-up to its flashier cousins (Beverly Hills, Salt Lake City, even Potomac on an off year).
And unless Gretchen Rossi’s return lights a fire under these women, Bravo might want to start rethinking the cast from the ground up.
Final thought: This premiere was a slow start.
There’s potential — there’s always potential — but right now, it’s buried under recycled drama, stale feuds, and Housewives who’ve long since stopped earning their paychecks.
Let’s hope this cast trip to Amsterdam delivers, or we’re in for a long, low-energy season in the OC.
What are your thoughts on the premiere, TV Fanatics?
Do you think the show has had its day, or do you think there’s something to be gained from a blogger scandal?
Hit the comments.
