The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip is back with its first edition of the series only featuring alum from the same city. Being fired, totally recast, or put on pause thankfully hasn’t bruised the egos of any of the RHONY ladies, all of whom came to St. Barts (Scary Island) to play. It’s a cast full of icons in the Bravoverse, and they all know it and wear it proudly.
A Glimpse of Pre-Reboot RHONY
The first episode of Season 4 of Ultimate Girls Trip is essentially an amalgamation of every cast trip the pre-reboot RHONY ladies had ever taken, as it should be. Someone was trying to thwart Ramona Singer’s attempt to snag the best room only for her to end up in the primary bedroom anyway. Luann de Lesseps was speaking French to anyone who would communicate with her in that language. Sonja Morgan was a hot mess. Dorinda Medley was lecturing someone (mostly Kristen Taekman) at all times. It was as if the RHONY reboot never happened.
And that’s not to say the reboot wasn’t good – it was. Season 13’s cast was untenable, and the new RHONY ladies made for a fun, diverse ensemble, all of whom have major potential as Housewives.
But there’s something special about seeing Singer, de Lesseps, Morgan, Medley, and company on screen together, especially in this environment. They’re back at one of the most iconic filming locations of the entire franchise, and they’re able to freely break the fourth wall. While other seasons of Ultimate Girls Trip have mixed women from different cities, this season feels like an extended sleepover with old friends walking down memory lane. These women know they’re reality TV legends, and they’re allowed to unabashedly bask in it with each other. It’s glorious.
The Future of ‘Ultimate Girls Trip’
What this signals for the future of Ultimate Girls Trip is yet to be determined, but it seems possible that one path forward is more seasons of this ilk. While it’s fun to watch different casts mix and see how certain ‘wives behave outside their normal environments, this focus on a singular franchise is even more appealing. It’s nostalgic yet fresh, and it’s guaranteed to be good television because every cast member has proven herself time and again.
With the already-filmed Morocco season of Ultimate Girls Trip hanging in the balance, hopefully a positive fan response to this season will renew Bravo’s confidence in the series. Beverly Hills, Atlanta, and Orange County could all deliver equally entertaining legacy trips.
The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip is streaming now on Peacock.