The peaches are back, and Season 17 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” wasted zero time reminding everyone why this franchise became a legend.
The Season 17 premiere aired last night at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. If you missed it, it’s already streaming on Peacock.
Two new faces joined the group, a newly single Porsha Williams set the table, and the drama started before the first commercial break.
The Premiere at a Glance
Episode 1, titled “A Warm Welcome,” kicked off with Porsha inviting everyone to the mansion she won in her divorce from Simon Guobadia, a flex and a fresh start all in one. She threw an over-the-top “Mystic Island” dinner party, which she accidentally called “Majestic Island” at one point.
It was a couples event, which felt a little pointed given the circumstances, but Porsha came prepared. She arrived with a new man she referred to only as her “friend-friend” Mike. Fans paying close attention will recognize him. He previously appeared on OWN’s dating series “Ready to Love,” according to Reality Tea.
Porsha left her own premiere with a line that may define her season: “I feel like I was a gracious host. I wasn’t very ratchet. I wasn’t reading anybody. I’m saving that for later.”
Drew Sidora’s Situation Is a Lot
Drew arrived at the party with a FaceTime date, entrepreneur Blakk Tatted, and broke the fourth wall almost immediately when a producer asked if she was seeing someone. “I knew you were gonna ask me that,” she said with a laugh. When pushed on whether the friendship extends to after-dark hours, she coyly replied: “We do a lot of things on the phone,” according to Bravo.
But the bigger storyline is at home. Drew revealed her estranged husband Ralph is still living in the basement of their shared family home while their divorce drags into its third year. “Did I ever imagine it would be two years, and I still have a man underneath the stairs?” she said.
The Party Gets Tense
Shamea Morton Mwangi attended the party despite her explosive falling out with Porsha last season. Porsha wanted to move forward in a positive direction, and things were surprisingly cordial between the former besties, until Drew brought her own beef into the room.
According to Reality Tea, Drew accused Shamea of shading her in a post-Season 16 YouTube apology video. Shamea turned it right back around, accusing Drew of doubting Angela Oakley’s statements at the reunion. The RHOA editors pulled the receipts immediately. Shamea had, in fact, shaded Drew and accused her of having lying tendencies.
That opened the door for Phaedra and Angela to relitigate their own drama. Angela had claimed at the reunion that she was accosted by one of Phaedra’s friends at an Atlanta Hawks game. Phaedra, not missing a beat, said she has security camera footage from the arena that tells a different story. The season has not even hit episode two, and Phaedra already has receipts loaded.
Meet the New Peaches
K. Michelle is the most anticipated addition in years. She made it clear in the premiere that she is in a completely different stage than her “Love & Hip Hop” days. She is focused on her country music career and, in a major plot twist, freshly married. She tied the knot with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Dr. Kastan two weeks before filming began.
Porsha served as her bridge into the group, giving her the full download on everyone, including her ex-best friend Shamea, before the party. K. admitted she felt nervous walking into a new group of Atlanta reality stars.
Pinky Cole is the CEO behind the Slutty Vegan empire. She arrives with a headline-making storyline about reclaiming her business after losing it, and is a mother of five who is married to Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks founder Derrick Hayes. Shamea brought Pinky to the group. Whether that is a gift or a liability remains to be seen.
The Returning Cast
Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell all return as full-time Housewives, with Cynthia Bailey back as a friend of the show, according to Parade.
Phaedra is heading into her first full season back after an eight-year absence from the franchise, equipped with her signature wit and razor-sharp ends.
Brit Eady is the only departure from last season’s cast.
The Big Picture
RHOA was once Bravo’s buzziest franchise, but ratings have declined over recent years with shows like “Summer House” and “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” now drawing larger audiences, according to Art Threat.
Image credit: Phaedra Parks/Instagram
Want the daily reality TV drama — no spam, just the good stuff?
Subscribe