This is a BIG day in Real Housewives history because Dom and Kyla are watching a new franchise live, with few prior connections (Hey Dolores of RHONJ), and being introduced to a brand-new region of the United States. 

How one episode makes you immediately feel like we have known these ladies for at least four seasons is pure magic. Congratulations to Andy Cohen and Rhode Island for being so small, and the tea being so hot. 

In just one episode, we were introduced to six cast members: Liz, Jo-Ellen, Rosie, Alicia, Kelsey, and Ashley (ranked by who we are most excited to watch), and we immediately felt like we knew these ladies for at least four seasons. Ashley is the prominent outsider, a Virginia native married to Jared Iaconetti, a Rhode Island native.

As Kyla Denanyoh notes in this Real Housewives recap episode, everyone knows everyone else’s secrets, so there’s little shame in the conversations or confrontations. We are being entertained. We are sat and instantly engaged with this cast. There is a freshness and energy that these women are bringing to the screen. As Dom Torres mentions, this franchise feels a lot like the old school Real Housewives. 

Dom and Kyla discuss parenting, relationship entanglements, small-state dynamics, and Bachelor television stars. This season is going to be really unique when the collective cast agrees that driving 15 minutes to arrive anywhere is a big deal. Welcome to Rhode Island! 

This episode is produced by Skip The Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives: skiptheboringstuff.com.