And just like that, the end of RHONJ is here.
While we still have a low stakes “reunion” watch party on the horizon, we should consider this the grand finale. Possibly forever.
The finale promised to be a high-octane climax, but like the ladies when they left Teresa’s roundtable, we were left unsatisfied and wanting more.
Before the Rails meet up, we have a few intense moments.
Marge Vs. Dolores
Things were rather copacetic initially. Cronuts and a delicious tub of banana pudding greeted Dolo as she painstakingly waltzed into Margaret’s colorful abode.
However, once Marge alluded to Dolores not wanting to attend the “take down Louie party” the night before the season 13 reunion, Dolo went ballistic.
The vein in her forehead almost socked Marge faster than the f bombs she was hurling.
Switzerland Dolores left Teresa’s house and Patterson Dolores arrived at Margaret’s.
The audience was left confused by Dolores’ misplaced outburst. Even if you don’t like Margaret, you couldn’t help but empathize with her in that moment.
Word to the wise, don’t ever accuse Dolores Catania of something she didn’t do!
Just like the anticipation we all felt leading up the Last Supper, I won’t bore you with any more of my passing thoughts. Bravo should have taken that same approach instead of shoving one of the only interesting parts of the season into 15 minutes.
RHONJ off the Rails
The ladies came dressed in all black. Except for Jennifer Aydin. Very apropos of the group considering the show’s trajectory.
Our gracious hostess were Dolores Catania and Jennifer Fessler.
Teresa shows up late (on par) and immediately targets Margaret as she’s placed across from her at the table.
Once Teresa is seated in the no splash zone, the drama begins.
Danielle Cabral and Jennifer Aydin start the chain reaction of chaos.
Both Danielle and Jen threw low blows in reference to their fight earlier in the season. What made the conversation turn violent was Jennifer alluding to Nate having “boobs” and Danielle having “brawn.”
Quick side note, Nate is such a great partner to Danielle. He’s been the liaison and helped to mend Danielle and her father’s relationship. He definitely didn’t deserve to get caught in Jen’s crosshairs.
The ladies love to insult the husbands. They all do it, but when it happens to them? Pearls are clutched!
Back to the Last Supper.
Jen Aydin and Danielle getting physical resulted in Jennifer Fessler exiting her party stage left.
“If you ask me, I doubt we’ll ever see Jen Fessler again.”
Melissa V. Teresa
In Teresa’s attempt to calm down the fight between Danielle and Jennifer Aydin, Melissa uses this as an opportunity to side swipe Teresa. Melissa’s outburst seemed aggressive given Teresa’s attempt to diffuse the situation.
To me, this read as a last ditch effort on Melissa’s part to antagonize Teresa. Truthfully, it *kind of* worked. Teresa calls Melissa a “wh-re” only after Melissa slings “white trash” her sister-in-laws direction.
These two are donezo.
Margaret V. Teresa
Teresa was not buying anything that Margaret was selling. Understandably so. She went the entire season thinking Margaret was the source of all the drama between Louie and his ex. From her perspective, I get why she was so insistent on questioning Margaret’s culpability.
However, the bomb that Teresa thought she was dropping by way of Jim Leonard came at the hand of Margaret Josephs.
Teresa, “subpoenaed the wrong bitch.”
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Margaret reveals Jackie Goldschneider actually was in contact with Louie’s ex.
I don’t quite believe that Marge only communicated with the ex 3 times. However, none of that seems to matter with a Jackie-sized smoking gun.
Is Jackie Goldschneider the Monica Garcia of RHONJ?
Lets be clear, I don’t find Marge to be without fault, but in a way, she is vindicated.
The episode concludes no better than it starts. No resolve is made, and tensions are higher than ever.
I doubt we’ll get any closer during next week’s watch party as the ladies watch the finale in separate camps.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think this season’s fate was sealed before it started. Melissa and Teresa’s refusal to film together divided the group in two. Resolution was impossible.
It’s always a bitter sweet moment when flashbacks of the Gorgas as a family unit air. Teresa and Joe tried so hard for their parents, and now that the glue is gone, they are untethered as ever.
I hope in a few years time Teresa and Joe’s family can mend fences. At the very least, it no longer has a place on RHONJ. In order for the show to progress we need the ladies to come together. I just don’t see it happening with the current cast.
