Remember Orange County? Oh Honey, Let's Rewind!
Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Let's be honest, it's a time capsule. Big hair, bigger houses, and drama? Absolutely.
But was it *good*? That's the question that keeps me up at night (okay, maybe just for a few minutes). Get ready, I have some thoughts.
Jeana Keough: The OG Cool Mom
Jeana was the original housewife I wanted to be friends with. She sold houses! She was a single mom! Very relatable.
Her kids seemed relatively normal, considering. I always admired her chillness.
Vicki Gunvalson: Work. Family. Whoo-hoo!
Okay, Vicki Gunvalson. She's the one we all love to hate. And hate to love, maybe?
Her insurance business was her life. "Whoo-hoo!" was her battle cry. Iconic.
Kimberly Bryant: A Little...Boring?
Kimberly felt a bit like a fish out of water. She was the "normal" one, almost. Which, in reality TV, can be a death sentence.
I felt bad for her with the whole cancer scare. That was genuinely scary.
Jo De La Viña: Young Love Gone Wrong
Poor Jo. So young. So naive. What was she thinking with Slade?!
Their relationship was a train wreck from the start. It was hard to watch.
Lauri Waring Peterson: The Underdog Story
Lauri was the one I rooted for. She was struggling. She was real.
Her kids were a handful. But she was trying. She truly had a tough situation.
Unpopular Opinion Time! (Brace Yourselves)
Okay, here comes the hot takes. Are you ready?
First, the season was slow. Like, really slow. It took a while to heat up.
Second, the fashion...well, it was the early 2000s. Enough said. Lots of frosted lipstick and questionable jeans.
Was Season 1 Actually...Boring?
Yes, I said it! Season 1 of RHOC wasn't a total dumpster fire. But I think the other seasons were a lot better.
It laid the foundation. But it lacked the crazy we now expect. It was reality TV training wheels.
The Saving Grace: The Authenticity (Sort Of)
What saved the first season was its rawness. It felt (relatively) real. Before everyone was so aware of the cameras.
The women seemed genuinely surprised by the drama. Now, they practically script it.
RHOC season 1 may not be perfect. But it's a piece of reality TV history. And it's fun to look back and cringe a little.
So, let's raise a glass to the OG Housewives. For better or worse, they started it all.
Do you agree with my takes? Let me know!
