Paul Drinkwater/BravoAnd we're off! The first part of The Real Housewives of Orange County contained a whole lot of … nothing! Viewers were brought back up to speed about Meghan King Edmonds, Shannon Beador's judge-y eyes and colonics ("I used the apparatus this morning," she said), Tamra Judge's new faith and Vicki Gunvalson losing her mother. Oh, and there was an email from Alexis Bellino, yes she who was dubbed Jesus Jugs.
Here are the parts you need to know about, especially if you want to talk to your significant other's mother this weekend:
Vicki sill misses her mom. A lot. "It's actually gotten worse," she said. "Our void has gotten worse. I need my mom…I don't feel like I have anybody watching over me." Vicki said she always joked that she would have to die before her mom so she wouldn't have to have the pain of losing her mom. She related a story about how her mom was arrested for keying a guy's classic motorcycle at 80 years old. It was sweet. "I'm having a real tough time just having peace without having her in my life," Vicki said.
As for whether she regrets having cameras on her when she found out about her mother's passing, she still is fine with it and said everybody at Bravo, including Andy Cohen, were really kind and courteous. Vicki's family decided not to do an autopsy, so her mom's cause of death remains a mystery, but they believe it was a heart attack or brain aneurysm.
Meanwhile, Tamra explained her newfound faith that was on full display this season. It all started when she was finally allowed custody of her kids, and Sidney, her teen daughter, told her she ruined Simon's life and she didn't want to live with Tamra anymore. "I had no idea where it was coming from," Tamra said. "She basically left that day and two years later has not come back."
The two made some headway briefly, but tabloid gossip fractured them again. Tamra explained the court-appointed therapist suggested Sidney get more help, but Simon fought them on it and won. Since Sidney is 17, she can decide where she wants to live. Tamra and Simon's son Spencer won't speak to his father and lives with Tamra full-time now. While all this was going on, Tamra said she was approached by a woman who asked if she wanted to go to church. "I really feel like I'm going to die right now," Tarma said she said. So she went to church and sat there "crying and crying and crying." She went back. "It felt right, it just gave me what I needed in life," she said. Meanwhile, Sidney has gone to court and testified against Tamra. That was the last time she saw her.
Tamra's faith was on full display this year and the season ended with her getting baptized. This did not sit well with former RHOC cast member Alexis Bellino. Alexis, who had been dubbed Jesus Jugs by Tamra when they were on the show together, sent Andy an email. In the note, she said she knew she would be judged by her appearance and love of Jesus, and that Tamra would be the aggressor. She said her love of Jesus would not allow her to sit back and "watch a mockery be made of my savior" and criticized Tamra's newfound faith and baptism. "Someone's faith is not for entertainment," Alexis wrote. "It's their sole reason for existence."
The Real Housewives of Orange County reunion continues next week on Monday at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)