Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18, Episode 1 Recap: Shannon and Alexis Go Head-To-Head

Finally, after months of waiting, The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18 premiere is upon us. I’ve prepared everything orange for this occasion. I’m wearing an orange shirt, have a mimosa with Veuve, and my trusty notebook to write down all the tea. So hello, my gilded gate-loving followers, and welcome to the RHOC Season 18, Episode 1 recap for “Exes and OCs.”

The premiere episode showed Alexis and Shannon interacting right out of the gate. Tamra is still hoping she will one day reunite with her daughter Sydney. And Gina is stuck between a rock and a hard place regarding her relationship. So, let’s get straight into it and see how these women turned oranges into orangeade.

Shannon has a mountain to climb in RHOC Season 18

There is no way to sugar-coat this, but Shannon has quite the mountain to climb. None of the ladies seem too excited about continuing their friendship with her. Even Tamra explains in a confessional why she decided to pull back.

According to Tammy Sue, she canceled an appearance together shortly after Shannon’s DUI because she thought it was “in bad taste” to do a comedy show about drinking when her friend had just been arrested. The math is in fact mathing on this one.

What’s that saying? Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Cue Shannon, who is having a hard time digging herself out of this hole she has found herself in. Gina promptly points out that after years of being tortured by Shannon for her own DUI, she has no empathy for the mom of three. “Shannon spiraled. Right into a house,” she quips. Harsh words, but accurate. And kinda funny.

Gina makes a revelation in the RHOC Season 18 premiere

Gina is at her wits’ end with Travis’ baggage, aka his ex-wife. Gina shared that the “hardest part of her relationship is not the relationship,” hinting at outside factors. When the couple started dating four-and-a-half years ago, they were both freshly divorced.

Gina is thriving in her co-parenting relationship with Matt, but it seems Travis’ ex is playing hardball and causing more destruction than she knows. So much so that Gina decided to move out of her shared condo and into a place of her own until he finalizes the divorce.

Travis and his soon-to-be ex-wife are currently bifurcated, which is when the divorcing parties ask the judge to resolve specific issues in a separate hearing rather than waiting to resolve these issues after the entire divorce process ends. Either way, Gina is unhappy and tells Emily, “Honestly, we need to live separately and see where the chips land.”

Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18, Episode 1 sees Alexis make her grand return

Okay, firstly, Alexis looks fabulous. The moment she stepped out of that UberBLACK SUV, I realized how badly she needed an orange back in those well-manicured hands. In all fairness, we’ve come a long way since Tamra threw Alexis out of the OC.

Of course Alexis comes in hot, extensions and all. Heather has brought her back into the group with open arms, noting she needs friends right now after Alexis’ mother passed away earlier in the year.

Immediately, Alexis shares her infamous love story heard around the Bravoverse. She explains that “November 18, John Janssen walked into my life. I met John at The Quiet Woman. Shannon does not own The Quiet Woman. I’ve been going there for over a decade.” Shots fired!

Alexis continues, “But anywho, John walks in and ends up sitting in my booth. We tried to fight the feelings. Unfortunately, the heart wants what it wants.”

The lunch closes with Alexis sharing her new beau’s nickname, Johnny J. I have a slight case of the ick. But Heather, in all her glory, notes, “I don’t think I have heard a better rebrand since Mayo went to Aioli.”

Shannon 12.0 makes an overdue apology

Shannon meets with her lawyer, who notes that if she completes her probation, she can petition the courts to withdraw the plea of no contest, enter a plea of not guilty, and have the case dismissed. Shannon is either beating herself up over the DUI, or she should win an Oscar for Best Actress. What I will say, is that Shannon was gutsy for deciding to attend Heather’s party. Her main concern seemed to be not getting wrinkles in her dress as she lay down like a mummy in the backseat.

However, upon walking through the door, Shannon almost immediately made a beeline to Gina and apologized. Gina was stunned at the words coming out of Shannon’s mouth. Shannon wasted no time saying, “I apologize for anything and everything I did to hurt you.”

It was apparent Gina never expected any apology sharing, “I have no idea what version of Shannon we are on at this point- 2.0, 3.0, 10.0. 12.0, but whichever version this is, I hope it sticks.” You and me both, Gina!

Find your good light

Honestly, Shannon is on a roll in the RHOC Season 18 premiere. She grabs what I can only hope is a mocktail and strolls right over to Alexis, asking for a chat. Never underestimate a woman scorned, because Shannon single-handedly moved a patio table to the shade so the other type of shade could start being thrown.

Shannon started strong, calmly talking about the lawsuit with Jim. Alexis just kept nodding, which should have been the first red flag.

Alexis didn’t entertain the conversation, noting it was in their past. She then goes for the jugular, noting it must be hard since, “you’re the ex, and I’m the new.” The conversation intensifies and includes swinging arms and villain-like smiles. Shannon was on the hamster wheel that was the lawsuit, finally asking, “Are you going to write me a check for $300,000?” I swear, at that moment, the devil on Alexis’ shoulder took over, as she stated, “I think the real issue here is I have your boyfriend.”

“You’re never going to get a dollar from me. If you don’t like it, there is the door, Shannon Beador.” In one sentence, fans are told exactly how this season of the Real Housewives of Orange County will go.

Then, in one final crack, Gina said what we were all thinking: “I just don’t care about John Janssen and his anaconda.” Neither do we, G.

The Real Housewives of Orange County continues on Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo.

TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY SEASON 18, EPISODE 1? DID THE PREMIERE LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

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