Hopes were high for Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Alas, most fans were disappointed by the season. After Garcelle Beauvais peaced out after the Season 14 reunion, Bravo added two new housewives.
While one was a newbie to reality TV, the other was a beloved Bravolebrity. Rachel Zoe, who previously helmed The Rachel Zoe Project, picked up a diamond. Plus, the fashionista had a strong storyline, filing for divorce while the cameras rolled for Season 15.
Meanwhile, “Money Queen” Amanda Frances was a polarizing pick. On the plus side, she had everyone talking, from the cast to the viewers. It’s rare for one cast member to annoy all of their co-stars, but Amanda wouldn’t be denied this honor. She kept everyone on their toes, from her wild backstory of being in a cult to her business involving the energetic side of money.
Still, Season 15 crept along at a crawl, dragging out arguments for multiple episodes. When both RHOBH and The Valley weren’t mentioned in Bravo’s renewals, fans reacted. Later, Kyle Richards confirmed that RHOBH wasn’t paused.
According to some fans, following this season’s performance, RHOBH needs a reset.
Why RHOBH fans say the show feels different now
During the early seasons of RHOBH, it was all about well-heeled ladies, showing off their fabulous lifestyles and dramatic friendships. The relationships felt authentic, and viewers cared about the cast members and their lives. Remember the lavish wedding that Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, gifted their daughter, Pandora Sabo? And Kyle and her husband, Mauricio Umansky’s, epic annual White Party?
As Lisa said in her Season 3 tagline, “Life isn’t all diamonds and Rosé, but it should be.” However, as the seasons progressed, so did the intensity of the drama. During Season 15, it felt as if the cast fell into two groups. One group backed Kyle, while another sided with Dorit Kemsley.
Dorit’s falling out with longtime friends Kyle and Erika Jayne served as the backbone of the season. In Italy, Dorit stranded her two friends, leaving them to call for another van to pick them up. The ensuing arguments among the trio were brutal and nasty.
Meanwhile, Kyle, Dorit, and Rachel were all embroiled in marital separations or navigating divorces. As for Sutton Stracke? She was putting her best foot forward and making some lifestyle changes, like cutting down on drinking as she adjusted to an empty nest. And Bozoma Saint John became engaged to Keely Watson.
While there was plenty of material for storylines, it seemed as if the same ones were being recycled. Cue Kyle and Dorit’s arguments from Season 14. And, at times, it felt as if some of the women had no authentic connection. Overall, this season lacked the feel-good factor that viewers always adored.
The biggest problems facing RHOBH today
RHOBH needs to bring back the feeling of fans peeking into the luxe lives of its cast members. Don’t just show viewers a shopping trip and the totals that Dorit spent. We want to see more of the RHOBH ladies at home, with their families, and on fabulous vacations.
Of course, one criticism leveled at Beverly Hills is that some cast members don’t show their lives. During Season 15, Kyle spoke of being in a relationship with someone after her separation from Mauricio. However, she wouldn’t confirm the person’s identity. So, besides some regrets about her separation from Mauricio and planning her daughter, Alexia Umansky’s wedding, Kyle didn’t show much to viewers.
Meanwhile, Dorit’s divorce claimed a ton of screen time. However, we didn’t see Dorit spending time at home with her children.
In addition, I applauded Erika for opening up about a past domestic violence incident. Still, I would have loved to witness her relationship dynamic with her new boyfriend, John “Shrek” McPhee.
Not only do RHOBH fans need to see the ladies’ lives, but we also need to care about their connections. And that has been difficult during Season 15. Since the cast didn’t generate buzz or create a bond with viewers, talk of a cast refresh surfaced.
What Bravo could change to revive RHOBH and its cast
Some RHOBH fans felt that the show could use a brief pause to update the cast. While Amanda certainly created chaos with her baby voice and unwillingness to argue, the fans seemed split about her return. And although Rachel gifted us some amazing confessionals and her divorce storyline, some fans felt uncomfortable with the way she quizzed her sons on-camera.
Meanwhile, after Dorit’s rude behavior during the season, some viewers wondered if it was time for her to take a breather. And others called out Kyle’s 15 years on the series and questioned whether she was still interested in filming.
Overall, the show needs a cast with real connections, which automatically ups the stakes and the drama. Two people who barely know each other arguing didn’t give old-school RHOBH. It gave meh.
After all, a light cast refresh could invigorate RHOBH. If Bravo replaced a couple of cast members with newbies who had connections to current housewives, it could give the franchise new energy.
Plus, if Bravo promoted Jennifer Tilly to full-time, and hired some new faces who are wealthy, quirky, and fashionable like she is, Season 16 could be a home run.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – SHOULD RHOBH BE PUT ON PAUSE?
