Since 2009, I have religiously sat in front of the boob tube to watch the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Like many loyal followers, I’ve watched Teresa Giudice’s table flip. I have seen Caroline Manzo give the mob talk of her life. I’ve witnessed cast members come and go. I sat through a ten-year family feud that did not have a resolution. But even through all that, I somehow could stand by the Garden State women. But something about the Season 14 finale sickened me. I didn’t want to believe it, but the franchise had been given a poisoned apple, and everyone took a bite.
Unpopular opinion, but I hated the finale
Since May, Bravo has been riling viewers up, stating this would be a finale for the record books. But we saw this exact scene back in Season 4 with Jacqueline Laurita in the same dining room. While I appreciate everyone dressing up in their best mob attire, no one really acted that badass to begin with. There was lots of bleeping and shouting, which made sure that no one was getting their point across. Which left me asking, “What was the point of this lunch?” Even Jennifer Fessler, a host, bailed on the event.
The episode shouldn’t have even made the cutting room floor because it was hard to understand what was happening. I had to watch with subtitles and rewind multiple times! Fans have had to endure 14 years of schoolyard battles, which mainly go something like this;
RHONJ castmeber: You’re a liar. Tre: No, YOU’RE a liar.
RHONJ cast member: Don’t talk about my family! Tre: You don’t talk about MY family!
This type of merry-go-round fighting has exhausted me, and I have to get off the ride now.
Real Housewives of New Jersey became too toxic
I was still holding out hope up until the finale. But it is apparent that the women—every single one of them—have become way too noxious. From the moment each one had their runway walk into Rails, fans could feel that the stage was set for a takedown. I wasn’t even there, and I could tell the dining room felt dark and ominous. Honestly, it probably needed an exorcism by a priest. I needed a day to process what I watched before I could even start writing about how I felt. And I don’t think I was alone.
I used to think Teresa only made up stories to secure her career on the Real Housewives of New Jersey, but sadly, it wasn’t just her. Teresa always knew how to play the game. I just never expected some ladies would learn to do it better. I thought one Tre was enough, but having two or three women who would stop at nothing to ensure they held their spot was just too much for me. The finale proved to me that no one on the cast was above making things up or dropping life-changing bombs if they felt slighted in any way. At some point, the show no longer became about reality but more about the women’s perception of what made for good primetime TV.
I’m at peace with a reboot
During the Season 14 finale, I said a few Hail Marys, especially when Jackie Goldschneider was revealed as the villain. If the series could turn the lawyer into a story-digging, brown-nosing, moral-ignoring housewife, I wanted no part of it. I’ve made peace with the fact that the women I once made sure to watch every week will most likely not be returning to my screen. It’s fine because most have changed their lips so much I don’t even recognize them. However, I may not ever be able to look at a hot dog the same way again.
I’ve always loved the Real Housewives franchise, especially New Jersey. But to watch how far some would deep dive just for 15 minutes of fame isn’t worth it to me anymore. I don’t want to watch Jennifer Aydin’s body or wealth shame. I don’t want to see Danielle Cabral jump over a table. And I don’t want to see Dolores Catania keep enabling her friend’s bad behavior. So bring it on, Bravo. I think viewers are more than ready for some new faces.
Real Housewives of New Jersey can be streamed on Peacock.
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