By Kimberly, Our New Zealand Correspondent
We are nine episodes in and there are a few surprises in the women. I thought I’d not like Gilda at all but I’ve come to like her quite a lot. She’s still waters that run deep. I quite like Louise as well. She’s very Hollywood in ‘love the one you’re with’ but she’s not just a pretty face on the screen. Anne has been a bit boring. I thought she’d be more witty. I find her to be more of the rich old cat lady. Sadly because I do like her just wish she was more relevant. I like Michelle the least. I don’t think she’s nice on the inside. Animals know and not one animal she ever gets near likes her one little bit. Angela is definitely permanently away with the fairies.
Gilda’s home is beautiful, smaller than you’d expect but beautiful. She has Louise and Michelle over for a preview of her book. Though she has set all refreshments out in the kitchen they review the book in the formal dining room. It’s decorated beautifully but it’s a small room (as dining rooms go). The camera shot had both opposing walls in it. It had high ceilings with tall red taffeta drapes and a HUGE red crystal chandelier. The accoutrements were just too overpowering for such a small room. The room needed to be four times bigger. But it was elegant.
Angela decides Lea’ needs to get behind the wheel again after her little fender bender. Lea’ starts off trying to drive from the passenger side of the car (they drive opposite to New Zealand in France). There is no way to describe Angela’s accent but it would drive me to distraction to have her as my mother and listen to her. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. Lea’ almost gets into another wreck. Then its excruciating to watch Angela help Lea’ parallel park. I just can’t anymore.
Louise, Julia, Michelle and Anne meet to discuss the book launches. Julia says ‘clearing my social calendar for book launches is really not the most exciting thing’. What she really means is having to move some of her skin, hair and face appointments around. Vapid.
They all feel sorry for Angela and Kirk in his choice to walk out on her. Michelle says she wouldn’t take back a man who walked out on her. Louise then asks if she would expect her husband to accept her back if she walked out on him. After a long pause she said yes. Louise reckons it’s David’s bank account that keeps Michelle interested. She goes on to say that David must write HUGE checks every month to keep Michelle happy and she wouldn’t want to be in his position.
Angela’s book launch has arrived. Kirk has chosen not to come. She gets flowers from Gilda because she’s not going to make it to the book launch. Everyone is to wear white. Anne has spent $2KNZ on a dress. Anne and Louise arrive and there is literally six to eight other people there. Julia arrives a little later and it’s a bit fuller. There are no decorations to speak of. Not everyone has worn white and Anne is annoyed. Julia can’t understand why Michelle didn’t delay her anniversary dinner to the weekend to come to the book launch. Angela shows up and hour and a half late on the arm of two stripper boys who barely look like they reached puberty. One still has acne on his chest. Kinda creepy. There is barely 20 people at this launch. Angela just walks in on the arm of these boys with no fanfare or announcement. Very awkward.
Then out of the blue some woman who was standing in the crowd a moment before just started dancing. Everyone found it bizarre. According to Angela it symbolised freedom and expression. Ok. So Angela is going on about her book and how ‘it’s a baby she’s been waiting to be borne’. Yep. She said that. Angela’s healer MCs the evening and asks for two strong men to help open the door to the room where the actual launch will happen. There were no men so they settled for the two half dressed boys. They get to the next room and it looks like the room they just left. The healer goes on Angela lemons she would dissect it and lecture it. She gets the title of the book wrong too. After her intro she brings out a small bottle she mists three times and this suppose to be a baptism for the book to birth it into the world. Angela then reads excerpts from her book which don’t make ANY sense. She ends the reading with a look of reverence on her face as if she’s just put forth the answers to the universe. Julia stirs the pot by telling Angela Louise and Anne have bagged out her book launch.
Gilda’s book launch is much better. There are people everywhere, drink flowing and music. Gilda botches her speech. She’s obviously not a public speaker. But that aside its a good launch. Angela of course is late and arrives the minute Gilda is done with her speech from behind the curtain where the speeches were made. Michelle is instant barracuda on Angela for her thunder stealing. This splits the girls in two factions. Julia and Angela then everyone else. Of course the girls need to read Angela’s book on how to be real. Anne gets drunk and cries because she has decided Gilda isn’t the goldigger she’s been made out to be.
Next time: surprise party for Michelle.
This episode was hysterical. I loved Lea being on the show again. We need more Lea somehow even though it seems there will be no season two.
Both book launches were hysterical. Angela was responsible for all of the hilarity. She is reality TV gold.
We only have one episode left and I am still not sure of everyone’s names. It’s the cat lady whose name I can’t remember. Oh, it’s Ann. I am watching Ann cry to Gilda about misjudging her as a gold digger.
I can’t understand why they are not giving us another season of this comedy gold.
Big shout out to Kimberly for all of the recaps.
The boat scene that got heavily edited out in the States is a big reason why they aren’t looking at season 2 just yet.
there’s no season 2? I do like this one. Im from US, so I love seeing the scenes of the NZ landscape.
ME TOO! There is no season two because apparently they didn’t have the budget even though the only paid the ladies $15KNZ for the whole fucking season! I’m disappointed. However when I heard Lea was a real person and not the actress I thought she was, and that she went back to France to speak French, I am not QUITE as disappointed. She was my favorite person on the whole show.
I love AUCKLAND. I know every scene with Angela is gonna be worth watching. She is so delusional that its like a stand up comedy. I dont ffwd through any of the scenes because these chics are LIT. They put the shadow on throwing shade. Andy did a good job casting for this show.
This is the best of all housewives shows so far. These women are another level. It is hysterical. We don’t get another season? Boo
Bring on Season 2!! Angela is disturbing…there’s a psycho hiding behind that glazed over look. Is she a producer? Why so much airtime. And Julia, you are a pot-stirrer!
I like this show too. Are they having a reunion at least? Gilda looks like Gloria Estefan and Michelle could have Omarosa temper given the situation.
Good observation!! Michelle has scary temper and looks like Angry Spice
Apparently besides funding the reason there was no season two was because a LOT of NZers were NOT happy about the show or it’s portrayal of NZ people. Reading news at the time it wasn’t that popular in NZ. Yes sadly, no reunion…..and we didn’t even get kissed.
Have they seen other RHO shows…nobody looks good. But they did come across as elitist (Louis said “I wouldnt marry a pauper…why would she?”)
There you are, Kimberly! I was hoping you were reading. Thanks so much for doing all of these recaps for us last year.
I really hate to hear there’s not going to be a season 2! I have really enjoyed being able to watch this on a lazy Saturday afternoon when nothing else is on. And OMG, could Angela’s launch party have been any more uncomfortably awkward?? God, that girl is just a straight-up whack job and she’s also totally disillusioned about anything remotely close to “being real!” She is so obnoxiously fake that she becomes really annoying to watch and desperately needs a lesson about how not to overcompensatE. Ugh. As the episodes have passed, I’ve really decided that Louise and Gilda are definitely my faves too. Though Ann was totally impressive for her age during the hip hop dance scene, there’s just something about her that doesn’t allow me to put her into the group of my favorites. Man, I really wish they would continue on with season 2!
When that woman started to dance at Angela’s book launch, I wanted to hide away from the screen..! In fact there were so awkward moments going on there so it is hard to know where to begin.
Please a season on 2 though..want to see more of Louise and Gilda.
I am so sad they won’t be back. I loved the quirky, zany but fun ladies on this show. Aside from that nasty boat scene they were quirky and fun. Loved the scenery so muck.
I loved seeing Anne take all those classes, though her laugh, not so much. But at least she was laughing a lot.
I would love Angela to meet Lydia and maybe Cameron. They could do a show on all their fun eccentricities.
Thank you so much Kimberly. It was fun and you were great. I really wish there was more. NZ’s have no fear…. you are fabulous. You should see some of our awful HW’s.