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After hearing the news that Garcelle is done with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, watching this finale seems bittersweet. But it’s clear she has had enough. The Sutton pile-on continues to guide the episode and Jennifer gets called out by Erika. The alliances remain, despite Bozoma’s attempt to bring the group together with a Carnival themed evening of fun.
The boat gang-up has left Sutton seething and feeling unsupported. Jennifer is amazed at how much the ladies do not like Sutton, and so she is not shocked that Erika is criticizing her friend. Boz is not sure where to go from here, but it seems like this fight is not bothering Dorit and Erika all that much. They jump in the water (even though PK is not there bribing Dorit with a Birkin bag) and go about the rest of their time.
Once on land, the women prepare for dinner in a few ways: by crunching on some Cheetos (Kathy) or by getting glammed up (the rest of the group). Boz has set up an evening of fun, but Sutton has trepidations about being around Dorit and Erika. Erika claims she told Sutton how she was feeling “in the name of sisterhood.”
As they prep for the evening, Jennifer feels like the alliance between Erika and Dorit was more like a planned attack. After all, they were saying many of the same things about Sutton and it almost seemed prepared. Garcelle wastes no time pointing out that once again, Kyle did not stand up for Sutton and it is unclear why Sutton STILL so desperately wants to be friends with Kyle. Kyle’s silence, and occasionally joining in on the pile-on, while on the boat spoke volumes. It is clear that Kyle is more loyal to Erika and Dorit.
An emotional Sutton breaks down in tears as she points out that she never had anyone apologize to her and she believes that these ladies have been wanting to break her…for years now. #ShesNotWrong. The montage of the constant Sutton fights really does show evidence that Sutton has been under attack for quite some time. Garcelle realizes that Sutton is not always an angel, especially when she is angry and feels like she is cornered, and some might argue that Sutton is playing the victim, which is not a good look…
The women gather for the evening, well all except Sutton. Jennifer explains, “There’s a glitch in the matrix and now she is being repaired” (aka Sutton is not ready to be around the group yet). Erika innocently claims that all she did was ask a question…something that Sutton had no problem doing a few years ago to her.
Jennifer goes on to say that Sutton felt as though Dorit and Erika planned this gang-up. Erika is insulted, simply calling what she said her “f*cking opinion,” not something she coordinated with Dorit. According to Erika, Sutton has always been dishing it.
Garcelle points out that all Sutton wants is blind loyalty from Kyle, who is shocked to be getting called out, particularly because Garcelle and Jennifer (Sutton’s two closest friends) also stayed quiet during the boat fight! Erika reminds us why Kyle should not be loyal to Sutton- remember back in 2023 when Sutton kept poking at Kyle’s marriage troubles?
Because Sutton refuses for the women to get the best of her AND because she has a cute outfit on, she goes to dinner. She is a little annoyed that Jennifer told the group she is upset, but Kyle walks over to confront Sutton. The classic Sutton move of repeating and interrupting ensues, but all Kyle wants to say is that she kept her mouth quiet because she thinks what Erika was saying is true. Sutton reminds Kyle it has been five years of fighting, but maybe Kyle is too “self-absorbed” to notice. Sutton tearfully asks for some compassion, begging just to be a “Barbie” for the night.
Kyle runs to Boz and lets her know that Sutton cannot hear any word of criticism. This a problem, considering they are about to sit down for Erika and Dorit’s birthday dinner. Are they supposed to sit in silence and ignore the fight that ensued? Dorit thinks that Sutton would believe they conspired because that is something SHE would do.
Sutton is the last to arrive at the table and dreads the future that awaits her. The awkward silence gets broken by Dorit shrieking for a drink and Kathy having an outfit change because she “tinkled in her shorts.” WTF.
Garcelle asks about impersonations- a slippery slope- and Kyle does a great job of emulating Jennifer. In her confessional, Garcelle nails Erika’s snowstorm-car-wreck-woes, but when Dorit and Sutton attempt a Sutton voice, things turn. Jennifer bemoans being there and Sutton refuses to have any birthday cake, evacuating the premises as soon as she can.
The next morning, Sutton and Boz head to a chocolate class in an attempt to get closer. In the meantime, Jennifer, Kyle, and Garcelle lounge on the beach. They discuss the night before and Kyle refuses to be blamed for staying quiet during the fight. Garcelle explains that Sutton wants Kyle to save the day, but Kyle reminds Garcelle that NO ONE said anything to defend Sutton. Seems like the standards for Kyle are higher than they are for everyone else…
Garcelle uses this to piggyback on where Kyle is with Mo. Jennifer warns Kyle about lawyering up, because when SHE did, she got a piece of the Simpsons. Ka-ching.
As they wait for their chocolate to freeze, Sutton and Boz discuss where the Erika of it all came from. Sutton is confused because Dorit and Kyle asked THE questions of Erika and their husbands even made fun of Erika, yet Sutton is the bad guy! Why the double…triple-standard within this group? Kyle and Erika are allegiant to each other, yet when Sutton apologizes, she gets nowhere. Perhaps it is because Sutton always acts better than the rest of the women?
But, Dorit and Erika feel as though Sutton is performative and that she lacks sincerity. However, its Jennifer saying the Dorit/Erika attack on Sutton was coordinated that really burns Erika up.
Later, the ladies are celebrating Carnival, a huge celebration in St. Lucia. Boz has supplied the group with over the top costumes to wear. Watching the ladies attempt to sit in chairs with these feathers on is hilarious, but in the words of Dorit, “fashion always comes first.” They toast to the last night in St. Lucia and then Erika begins.
She demands to know who said Dorit and Erika planned the attack on Sutton. She eyes Sutton and Jennifer menacingly. Erika already had a conversation with Sutton about this five hours earlier, and when no one volunteers at the table, Erika claims not to care. Her opinion is her opinion, but it was not a coordinated attack on Sutton. Garcelle understands that this is a “toxic sisterhood,” but is ready to work on more relationships within the group.
Men on stilts arrive to really get the party going. There is dancing, there are fire breathers, and there are the end of season blurbs.
Garcelle loves being on set and being a grandma. Boz finally got an “I love you” from her man and they are still trying for a baby. Sutton admits she needs to be a better friend and daughter and wishes she handled her friendship with Dorit better. Kyle knows that decisions need to be made about her marriage, but wants to remain open to love. Dorit realizes she is tougher than she thought. Now she is ready to fight for peace and happiness in her relationships and friendships.
And Erika…well one month later, Erika finds herself struggling not to fall back into a dark hole. On August 27, Tom Girardi was found guilty of embezzlement: four counts of wire fraud. Erika claims she never saw this coming.
Kyle is there for support as Erika blames Tom for putting her through it all. Tom, represented by a public defender, has been given like “80 years, but that man ain’t got 80 days.” Erika refuses to apologize for her feelings, but things with Tom have not always been easy.
This has been four-year battle they have been fighting, but now Erika is ready to move on. She tells Kyle, “You and I have a unique opportunity to be a different version of ourselves right now. We deserve some fun.” I think Erika reprising her role of Roxie on Broadway is one way to do it. The world truly is your oyster, ladies.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RHOBH FINALE?
