In this episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta,”Fix It Therapy,” Kandi’s marital woes continue. Phaedra continues to lean on NeNe. Claudia wants to take her career in a new direction. And the ladies gather for a therapy session in the hopes of improving their group dynamic.
Money really doesn’t buy happiness, or at least it hasn’t been for Kandi and Todd. The two are doing well financially, but their marriage is broke(en). Todd isn’t big on marriage counseling, and he doesn’t want to do his “homework” either. Todd’s answer to their problem is pretty straightforward: go in the bedroom and knock it out. He thinks they just need to infuse a little spontaneity into their sex life.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: NeNe Devises a Plan to Restore Group Harmony >>>
One and Done
Kandi doesn’t think it’s that simple. She longs for the days when they would make out for hours. Welcome to marriage, Kandi. Nobody can keep up those pheromone-fueled early days of a relationship. She’s determined to make this marriage work because she’s not going to do it again — one and done.
The Lines are Drawn
NeNe pays a visit to her new nearest and dearest, Phaedra. NeNe has taken a lot of slack for her hair, and she’s not helping matters with what she’s got going on in this episode. She looks like the bride of Frankenstein. Actually, sticking her finger in a light socket could only improve on her most recent hair-don’t. I do have to give her props for having the confidence to not only be seen in public but also going on national television with hair that would make a Jersey girl say, “You might want to dial it down, girl.”
Try as I might to concentrate on NeNe and Phaedra’s conversation, I can’t get past the blonde beehive. But I am a professional, so back to business.
Phaedra is still chafed at Cynthia, and she genuinely seems confused by all this Mr. Chocolate stuff. She confirms what NeNe has previously mentioned on Watch What Happens Live — she has a friend named “White Chocolate.” Aside from being annoyed with Cynthia, Phaedra is feeling very hurt by Kandi. These shorties were best buds, but Kandi’s been MIA during all of Phaedra’s recent drama. NeNe questions what the source of the disconnect might be between the two friends, but Phaedra is genuinely flummoxed.
Phaedra is really appreciative of how much NeNe has supported her and states that it doesn’t matter who’s with you when you’re up; it’s who’s with you when you’re down. Truer words have never been spoken.
Drama is Easy, Comedy is Hard
Claudia is having a bit of a career crisis. She’s tired of playing it straight on the Rickey Smiley show. She has aspirations of putting her comic chops to good use. Since she can’t make people laugh as an on-air radio personality, Claudia wants to give stand-up a try. I’m dubious since she hasn’t proven to be funny on RHOA. If you aren’t funny in day-to-day life, it doesn’t bode well for you on stage. Just sayin’.
Claudia is bright enough to do a dry run and drags Demetria to listen to her material. Thank the good lord above that the comedy club is empty. Her material is so bad, even the cockroaches vacated the building.
Too Little, Too Late?
Kandi goes to Phaedra’s office in an attempt to clear the air. Kandi tells Phaedra she wasn’t aware there was tension between them until NeNe brought it up in an effort to get Kandi to agree to go to counseling. Kandi lets Phaedra in on some of the stuff going on in her life that accounts for at least some of what has been misinterpreted as a lack of interest.
Phaedra isn’t about to cut Kandi any slack. She doesn’t see the big deal about A Mother’s Love not going on tour; Kandi’s still a millionaire. To Phaedra, a business deal gone awry doesn’t begin to compare to her trials and tribulations.
Kandi is really bothered by this new and improved relationship between NeNe and Phaedra. She’s a bit too concerned that NeNe was trying to set her straight and not concerned enough that her friend Phaedra was feeling neglected.
Get ready for some more RHOA-specific vernacular. Kandi thinks NeNe is all good until “Mad Day” arrives. NeNe has proven that she can be a great confidant until she gets pissed, then she’ll let all your business hang out. Kandi worries that day of reckoning lays ahead for Phaedra.
Use Your Words
The time comes for the ladies’ group therapy appointment with Dr. Jeff. Phaedra’s out; she’s got no interest in clearing the air with Kenya or Cynthia, whom she now refers to as “Satan’s child.”
NeNe gets the ball rolling by stating that she feels the group vibe is negative. Kenya’s eyes roll back further than a deck chair on a sinking cruise ship. She feels NeNe is at the center of most of the conflict but likes to act otherwise.
Nothing gets past Dr. Jeff. He questions Kenya about her attitude, but before she can say boo, NeNe is cutting her off. Dr. Jeff has his work cut out for him if he hopes to get a word in edgewise with this group.
NeNe turns on the good doctor pretty quickly. This poor guy laid it out for NeNe before the session started. He told her that she would be treated, and expected to behave, just like everyone else. But we all know NeNe doesn’t consider herself to be like everyone else.
Kenya vs. NeNe
Kenya is still confused on the ever-changing status of her and NeNe’s relationship. This goes back to early in the season when Kenya thought the two had made amends, only to be snubbed days later.
NeNe argues that she had agreed to coexist, but that they would never be friends. In fact, NeNe doesn’t think she and Kenya were ever friends. Dr. Jeff doesn’t know which end is up. The guy is coming into the theater to watch a movie that’s half over.
NeNe vs. Claudia
We all know Claudia has issues with NeNe, which harkens back to Kandi’s little sex party where NeNe gave her the cold shoulder. I would think the comment about her c**t leaving her body would be a better place to start, but whatevs.
NeNe says she’s been around the longest and anybody new to the group always comes for her. Claudia argues that dealing with NeNe is a very “bipolar experience.” Claudia feels that NeNe’s need to be the HBIC is driving the woman crazy.
Cynthia vs. NeNe
Cynthia admits that she and NeNe were once tight, but a series of events broke the relationship down — the most obvious being when NeNe called Peter a bitch.
NeNe defends her actions by stating that Peter approached her in a way that put her on the defensive. He must have been walking upright. Cynthia says that Peter did nothing to warrant that level of reaction from NeNe.
Cynthia thinks that the friendship never really healed from that skirmish and that NeNe went above and beyond to destroy what was left.
NeNe’s had just about enough. She calls Cynthia a mean girl and says her former friend is trying to play the victim.
Kandi vs. NeNe
Kandi isn’t down with NeNe’s explanation of why she’s always a catalyst for conflict. Kandi points out that she had issues with NeNe from the get-go, and she was most definitely not gunning for the original housewife.
Kandi also backs up Cynthia, pointing out that after NeNe and Cynthia fell out, NeNe started throwing a lot of shade, even stating that Cynthia was irrelevant to the group. Kandi questions if NeNe is the type of woman who not only tosses friends aside but assassinates their characters as well. You just know Kandi wouldn’t have piped up if NeNe wasn’t infringing on her relationship with Phaedra.
NeNe feels that she’s being unfairly singled-out and exits the therapy session. The one she organized. The one she thought everybody needed to air their grievances at. Dr. Jeff follows NeNe, trying to get her to return. And from the look of the next episode’s preview, he does not meet with success.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8pm on Bravo.
(Image courtesy of Bravo)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
Jennifer has worked as a freelance writer in the entertainment field since 2012. In addition to currently writing feature articles for Screen Rant, Jennifer has contributed content ranging from recaps to listicles to reviews for BuddyTV, PopMatters, TVRage, TVOvermind, and Tell-Tale TV. Links to some of Jennifer’s reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.
