Without a doubt, the Real Housewives of New York was a beloved cult classic of the Bravosphere. When the series premiered back in March 2008, it was the height of entertainment. Viewers were thrust into the lives of well-off, Big Apple women who lived a life many of us could only dream of. The drama was as Avant-garde as some of their fashion, but we loved it. So, when Bravo decided on a reboot, viewers were worried about its success rate.
Was RHONY Season 14 just a fluke?
Naturally, everyone was apprehensive when the Real Housewives of New York Season 14 first premiered. Also, these were all new women and much younger. Would viewers even understand this New York? Luckily, the concrete jungle is an ever-changing landscape that always somehow feels like home. The group of new women stepped up. They gave us fights over sunglasses and not being able to call our parents after arriving home for a girl’s dinner. Amid the fighting, there was bonding and laughing. There was hope.
If the premiere of Season 15 was any indication, the season is going to be a wild ride. Brynn Whitfield is on her heels as pretty much everyone has turned against the golden girl. But one successful episode doesn’t make a season. As viewers know, there have been flops before. The key to keeping the momentum going is consistency. The sneak peek shows us that the fights only intensify, leading to a major fallout between Brynn and Ubah Hassan. Fans have their fingers crossed that this franchise won’t let us down.
The low-stakes RHONY drama has to heat up
One thing that was so easily enjoyed about the Real Housewives of New York Season 14 was the ladies’ low-key drama. I’ll never forget watching Sai De Silva morph into the Hulk after she became hangry. And how she complained about the events of having no food. The same could be said for Jessel Taank’s husband, who was crucified for flying to Vietnam for a snack. Something about the entire narrative was so deliciously chaotic without the stench of foul play.
Bravo viewers were urged to give the reboot a chance. And we did. Fans were repeatedly told that the reboot would not be like the original RHONY, and we heeded the warning. So now we want to make sure the piper is paid. I think it is safe to say that the sphere of reality TV has changed. If it didn’t, we would still be watching the OGs. But the fact is ratings slipped, meaning a lot of us gave up on the group. With the ever-changing landscape, fans now wanted to see the women’s raw reactions. They want to witness the good, the bad, and the ugly. The reboot needs to succeed because the Bravo audience is smart. We won’t buy what the women are selling if it isn’t real.
Bravo has to move away from the RHONY OGs
As much as it pains me to write this for Season 15 to succeed, I think the network has to step out of the shadow of the OGs. No one is going to win in a battle of comparison. The RHONY ladies who started it all came from a different mold. But if the network leans into the newer generation, I think they can have a model that stands the test of time. It’s obvious that many feel that the show would be more successful if they had some of the OGs in the mix, but I disagree. I think viewers would find the crossover extremely confusing.
I mean, why would Sonja Morgan be hanging out with Jenna Lyons? Erin Lichy wouldn’t even entertain the idea of Ramona Singer and her loose lips. The women are from two very different generations. For the Real Housewives of New York Season 15 to be successful, it will need to forge its own path away from the already traveled road. Frankly, Bravo needs the reboot to be a hit. The blueprint is already set up to flip a few other franchises. And if RHONY somehow doesn’t work out what laurels would the company have to stand on?
Real Housewives of New York is currently streaming on Peacock.
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