Television

Real Housewives of Vancouver ready to ‘throw it down’ at start of a new season

‘I want to make a difference — and I can’t do that drunk.’

Canada’s favourite mean girls from The Real Housewives of Vancouver kicked off their second season last night and while there was little actual drama, the snarky and at times dumbfounding commentary provided plenty of entertainment.

First we’re reintroduced to West Vancouver jet-setter Ronnie Negus, who, in light of her new sobriety, shares these words of wisdom: “I want to go out and make a difference in the world — and I can’t do that drunk.”

Negus explains that she is hosting an intimate bash for those who helped save her daughter Remington during a choking incident. Throughout the episode, however, she and her friends more or less invite anyone and everyone they meet to the affair —art consultant, horse riding instructor, recovering alcoholic, etc.

Over at the Claman’s British Properties’ mansion, Jody and Mia, 26, have a typical mother-daughter conversation, with Jody reaffirming that Mia’s new nose is “very cute.”

As a favour to her daughter, Jody has a meeting with new housewife Amanda Hansen, who is starting a kombucha tea business. When she inquires about the benefits of the tea, Hansen stumbles a bit before confessing, “I don’t really know what it does, but they say it’s good for you.”

She then reveals her struggles with alcoholism and claims she’s now “addicted to sex and working out.” Her figure, she explains, is very important to her. “I’m a girl, I want to look starving.” And perhaps setting the tone for the rest of the season, Hansen volunteers that she could “throw it down” if she got into a catfight.

Meanwhile, Mary Zilba, scouts out some new art at a downtown gallery, but when she spots some racy pieces it’s clear that she’s out of her visual comfort zone.

“The reclining va-jay-jay is not going to go good in my house,” she says. She does make a new friend in Russian curator Ioulia Reynolds, whose husband is 20 years her senior and who insists she’s “not a mail-order bride,”and invites her to Negus’ party along with the other curious guests.

Rounding out the cast is horse-riding instructor Robin Reichman, who takes Negus’s daughter Remington out for a ride. Originally from Texas, Reichman moved to Vancouver for love, although she shows disdain for the city’s straight and narrowness.

“Living in Vancouver, everyone just obeys the law,” she complains. “Vancouver women need to just loosen up a little bit.”

The ladies meet up at Negus’ barbecue and there are several cringe-worthy attempts to mimic the accents of Reynolds and Reichman. But aside from the residual friction between Zilba and Claman, and a tense exchange during which Reichman tells Hansen that alcoholics should stop making excuses and “step it up,” the party goes smoothly. This prompts Negus to declare that she thinks everyone will get along just fine this year. To judge by the screaming matches in the sneak peek at next week, that’s not about to happen.

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