A beginner’s guide to The Real Housewives: Part One

The Real Housewives can be broken down into four numbers: 12 cities, 200 women, 2,000+ episodes, one phenomenon. What started in 2006 as a peek behind the gates of an affluent Orange County community has become a reality-TV institution that, twenty years later, still dominates the pop culture conversation. At this point, it’s almost a given that the world’s biggest stars, from Michelle Obama and Julia Roberts to Jennifer Lawrence and Jon Hamm, will be asked for—and will enthusiastically give—their Housewives hot takes on a press tour.

So, what has made these shows endure for so long? I’ve been a loyal viewer since the first episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County aired in 2006. I may have been a 12-year-old unable to understand their marital woes, but I was SAT. And I still am, twenty years later. So I feel qualified to weigh in and say it’s not just the screaming matches, table flips, and spectacular feuds that have held our collective attention for literal decades. We’ve watched marriages dissolve, babies grow up, parents die, friendships and family relationships implode and repair themselves, careers rise and fall, prison sentences, addiction, abusive relationships, and all kinds of real-world shit play out alongside the ridiculousness.

That’s the magic of Housewives: the drama pulls you in, but the history and vulnerability keep you watching.

But Housewives fans already know all this. That’s why today, I’m directly talking to those of you who don’t know your Brooks Ayers from your Brooks Marks, and who have no idea what “Scary Island” is—but you want to know! I understand why starting now feels entirely overwhelming when you’re staring down hundreds of episodes and feuds that require knowledge of something that happened at a christening 15 years ago. Plus, not all Housewives franchises are created equal. Along with the truly iconic shows, there are the flops like Dallas, Dubai, and the New York reboot.

Whether you’re a longtime fan trying to convert a friend or a newbie wondering where the hell to start, I think I’ve finally nailed the entry points for every kind of viewer. Here’s the secret: Don’t start at the beginning; start with the franchise that matches what you want out of reality TV.

Enjoy Part One; I’ll be back with Part Two next week (which includes 3 of my all-time favorites). Maybe I’ll finally come up with my own Housewives tagline in the meantime... Do you have one? Please share!

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