(Spoiler Alert)
The season 5 finale of Real Housewives of Orange County aired on Thursday (March 4) on BRAVO, and there was defiantly no shortage of drama.
The last episode left Simon and Tamra Barney celebrating her 42nd birthday on a gondola- kissing. This week…not so much kissing.
Tamra and Simon started off the show as they dressed for the last party of the summer. Which is when all the housewives (including previous housewives, Jeana Keough, Lauri Waring Peterson and Quinn Fry), and their families gather for cocktails and snide remarks behind each other’s backs? Tamra, trying to coordinate with her husband, she asks Simon, “What are you wearing? I’ve got this dress which you’ll probably hate. It’s totally backless.” Simon responds, “It looks like something a 20-year-old would wear. Why would you buy a dress like that?”
Tamra visibly looked distraught as she picked out a little black dress with a modest neckline and said, “I can understand he doesn’t want my boobs hanging out, and I totally respect that.” But, of course Simon says, as he tries to wear down her self-confidence, “Skirt’s kind of short. It almost looks like something Lynne would wear. I don’t know if its age appropriate. You’re a married woman. Dress like a married woman.”
And as we see Tamra slowly growing a backbone and standing up for herself, replies, “I like it. I want to wear it even more because you don’t.”
But, that’s not the end of it, as the Barney’s get into a limo, on their way to the party. “You’re like Vicki. You talk to me like I’m Donn and I’m sick of it,” Simon said. And he continues by telling her that she spends too much time with Vicki and not enough with her kids. And as we’ve seen in the past, that is Tamra’s button (her kids). She exploded, telling her husband, “You’re a nasty, vile person. You can go f*ck yourself . I want a divorce! F*ck you!” Simon, afraid of his image, tried to smooth things over with a hug, and an apology before they walked into the party.
Donn and Vicki Gunvalson arrived at the party with thier two children, Michael and Briana. But, in the limo, Vicki made sure to hound her son for dressing properly. Vicki wore a short, backless yellow dress, and she looked wonderful.
Perhaps, Simon should have said Tamra was trying to dress like Vicki instead of Lynne.
Gretchen Rossi and housewife hopper boyfriend Slade Smiley, arrived at the party, while he wore a modified tux, and she had on a little white dress and an updo. Vicki said they looked “like the little plastic things that sit on top of a wedding cake.” While Tamra said the couple looked like “Cinderella and her toad…I mean, Prince.”
Lauri attended with her husband, George Peterson. And at one point, Lauri confronts Gretchen about her relationship with Slade. She almost warns her about Slade’s intentions because he has been with so many of the housewives previously. Gretchen responds to this with, “Slade said that you two never dated.” Lauri says, “We definitely did go out.” And of course, Gretchen defends her attention whore boyfriend, as usual.
Not too long after everyone was wondering the whereabouts of Lynne Curtin and family, in comes more drama. Lynne and her drunk teen daughters quickly grabbed attention as Raquel and Alexa screamed, laughed and talked about how drunk they were or weren’t. “Raquel and Alexa got into something they weren’t supposed to get into on the way in the limo,” Lynne said. “Oblivious me doesn’t even realize they’re taking the alcohol and filling it up in the water bottles.”
The Curtin girls tried to order margaritas and martinis, but were turned away. The two got into a fight and Raquel ditched her younger sister at the party. Alexa left and had a breakdown outside the hotel but Jeana and daughter Kara Keough came to offer Alexa and Lynne comfort.
It was a wonder that Tamra kept herself together for as long as she did, however, the party wasn’t going to end without her breaking down. “I tend to hold a lot of emotional issues in. I just keep everything buried inside until it just explodes,” she said. “Simon pissed me off . I just couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to talk to somebody.” So, she pulls Vicki away from the party to talk about her problems with Simon. Soon, Simon heard from other partygoers that his wife was crying. Simon found his wife and asked why she was crying and he demanded to know if she was telling Vicki about their fight in the car.
“I just want you guys to make up,” Tamra lied. “I want it to be fine between you and Vicki.”
“I don’t think Tamra was truthful with Simon because I think she’s afraid of him,” Vicki said.
Simon, who is always looking out for himself and his self-image, left the party, took the limo and left Tamra stranded.
The ladies ended the show, as usual, with their final group photo of the season, as we are updated on their lives now.
Gretchen and Slade are still together, but not married. Alexis is no longer a stay-at-home mom, she now works for her plastic surgeon- and Jim lets her! Vicki and Donn are doing well, continuing their “renewed “ marriage. After being evicted from their home, Lynne, Frank, and her girls have moved into an “affordable” condo. And Simon and Tamra sold their house on a short sale and moved out, separately. Simon filed for divorce.
And that is that…until season 6!