The Real Housewives of Rhode Island series premiere is finally here! It’s so exciting to watch the first new Real Housewives series on Bravo since Real Housewives of Salt Lake City! In the lead up to the series premiere, we got hints about the RHORI ladies, especially some of the Housewives’ unconventional love lives and partners.
In the first episode, we get to know the ladies better. And, amazingly, by the end of the episode, I was able to tell all these similar looking brunettes apart. The power of strong personalities! So, what happened on the Real Housewives of Rhode Island series premiere?
What happened on Real Housewives of Rhode Island Season 1 Episode 1?
On Real Housewives of Rhode Island Season 1 Episode 1, “Welcome to Rhode Island,” we meet most of our newest Real Housewives cast. Rulla doesn’t appear in the series premiere. But judging by the previews, she’s going to be a major force of drama this season. As we get to know the Rhode Island ladies, a familiar face to Real Housewives fans pops in. Dolores Catania of Real Housewives of New Jersey, appears in the RHORI season premiere as a friend of. What else happened in the inaugural episode?
Alicia is the Real Housewives of Rhode Island flip-flopper
The first Real Housewife of Rhode Island we meet is Alicia, a self-described flip flopper. We see her go from cursing a castmate out to hugging them in a flash. Alicia is a lifelong Rhode Island resident, and all her aunts live 15 minutes away (which to them is an eternity). Alicia is engaged to Bill, who proposed when she was pregnant. Their now nine-year-old daughter is Alicia’s mini-me. But despite the very long engagement, she’s in no rush to wed Bill.
Alicia has known her fellow Real Housewife Liz since she was born. Aside from Ashley and Rosie, everyone in this cast has deep roots with each other.
Liz is the Queen of Weed
Alicia says Liz lives in a castle, and she’s not wrong. Committing to the aesthetic, Liz drinks from goblets in her confessionals.
She considers her husband Gerry the King of Cannabis, so she’s the Queen of Weed. Gerry and Liz own one of the East Coast’s first cannabis dispensaries.
“Some people say I’m scary….boo,” Liz says to introduce herself. I’m not sure if quotes can do her kooky confessionals justice! Later in the episode, she says Dolores knows where the “berries are bodied” (meaning the bodies are buried).
Speaking of, Liz looks so much like Dolores, it’s uncanny. Though she admits that’s partially because they go to the same surgeon and dentist. But it’s hard to believe they’re not related.
Liz is related, however, to her husband. They were already married six months before an ancestry DNA test showed this. It seems like they’re distant relatives, at least? Their marriage also made Liz a stepmom to three girls.
I can already see Liz becoming a fan favorite. Her intro package starts with her walking her cat on a leash, and ends with her looking like a badass taking a dinghy to meet Kelsey at a restaurant. She’s already excellent Housewives material.
Don’t call Kelsey a sugar baby
Liz grew up with Kelsey’s much-older boyfriend, who is from one of the state’s most prominent families. This man is never named, and his face is ripped out of the pictures they show. For the first half of the year, Kelsey’s boyfriend is in Miami … with his other partner.
Kelsey describes herself as a “lady of leisure,” but not a sugar baby (because she’s actually attracted to her boyfriend). The former Miss Rhode Island is having an existential crisis about her lifestyle now that she’s 31. She wants a committed relationship with one person. But since she met her boyfriend so young, this life is all she’s ever known.
Is Jo-Ellen RHORI’s villain?
Jo-Ellen is the frontrunner for RHORI Season 1’s villain. From the start, Jo-Ellen admits she has a big mouth. She’s best friends with Kelsey and Liz. She’s married to Gary, who she crushed on in high school…when he dated her sister Jen. Gary and Jen were both friends with Alicia in school.
Currently, she’s feeling stressed with three young kids. She has unresolved tension with her own mother, who babysits. It looks like their strained relationship will be a major part of Jo-Ellen’s freshman season storyline.
Kelsey met Jo-Ellen when she was in high school. At the time, Jo-Ellen was hooking up with the owner of a tanning salon … and his wife. Jo-Ellen also dated Kelsey’s boyfriend’s brother.
Rosie stirs the pot
Jo-Ellen’s biggest rival is definitely Rosie, a former news anchor. The host is messy, and she admits it, calling herself “Nosey Rosie.” Rosie announces her big personality as soon as she pulls up onscreen in a hot pink Jeep. She was brought into the group thanks to Alicia, who met Rosie through the girl who does her Botox. Rosie is married to Rich, a Frank Sinatra singer (NOT impersonator).
Recently, Rosie offended Jo-Ellen by bringing her a cheap bottle of wine. She then heard Jo-Ellen say awful things behind her back. Rosie also reveals that Jo-Ellen is rumored to be a swinger!
Jo-Ellen and Rosie are RHORI’s biggest rivals
Rosie moved from reporting to hosting a lifestyle show, though Jo-Ellen pokes fun at how low her view counts are. But Rosie’s show gives us the first event of the series, where the ladies gather for a picnic. Joining the crowd is Rosie’s friend Ashley of Bachelor Nation. Unlike the other Housewives, Ashley isn’t from Rhode Island. She moved there with her husband Jared, a RI native who she met on Bachelor in Paradise.
As they play a game of Never Have I Ever, Kelsey’s unconventional relationship comes up. Jo-Ellen doesn’t want to give away her BFF’s business, but she hints that Kelsey’s going through it.
Rosie pries into rumors Kelsey has another boyfriend. Jo-Ellen calls her out, and Rosie fires back that she heard Jo-Ellen say she was evil and that “even children wouldn’t like me.” Jo-Ellen doesn’t remember saying that, but she does feel that way. She also tells her to “shut the f*ck up.” They both accuse each other of playing the victim. Rosie starts to cry that Jo-Ellen continues to be mean even after she invited her as an olive branch. Eventually, as an attempt to start fresh, Jo-Ellen invites Rosie to her 4th of July party.
Ashley sheds light on life after Bachelor in Paradise
Ashley and Jared own Audrey’s, which she boasts is the second highest rated celebrity owned restaurant (Jon Bon Jovi has the first). But it’s not as financially successful as she and Jared would like. She’s also concerned that Jared spends too much time and energy on the cafe (though he’s stopped working 100 hours per week).
As she tries to tell him about the drama with the girls, she keeps getting interrupted by him calling out names of people’s coffee orders. As she says in a confessional, Bachelor fans gush that their love is so inspiring. But now, she’s showing how things change when the honeymoon phase ends and real life happens.
Rosie brings the literal and figurative fireworks to Jo-Ellen’s Fourth of July party
The RHORI premiere ends with Jo-Ellen’s 4th of July party. Dolores makes her first RHORI appearance as Liz’s guest. They met at a cannabis convention. I’m already obsessed with this duo. Dolores’ boyfriend Paulie reveals they’re staying in Rhode Island all summer, so hopefully we’ll see plenty of her on RHORI!
As a peace offering, Rosie brings a bottle of (not cheap) champagne and a bouqet of fireworks. Jo-Ellen is a little confused by the fireworks bouquet gift.
Meanwhile, Jo-Ellen tells Kelsey that Rosie asked questions about her relationship. Kelsey disses Rosie as “not a girl’s girl.”
When Kelsey confronts Rosie, the reporter claims she was just asking questions after Jo-Ellen brought her relationship up. Jo-Ellen didn’t mention she brought it up. Kelsey doesn’t know who to trust. “Rumors in Rhode Island…it’s just part of the culture of our state,” she says.
As the episode ends, Alicia and Ashley both hint at huge secrets- and cheating scandals– that will come out about the group. Liz warns that the truth always comes out. Jo-Ellen insists she’s an open book- if someone asks her questions about what she’s done, she’ll ask if they want details. “If you’re going to say rumors about me, I’m going to share rumors about you,” Rosie warns, “And I’ve held my tongue all summer long.”
Real Housewives of Rhode Island will air 9 PM/ET Sundays on Bravo. Episodes can be streamed on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF RHODE ISLAND SERIES PREMIERE? WHICH REAL HOUSEWIVES OF RHODE ISLAND ARE YOUR FAVORITES SO FAR?
