Margaret Louis / 07 December 2024 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, TV Show

Real Housewives Of Dubai

Hooked on the new series Bravo

It is the first time in the longest time a reality show has me completely engaged in the cast of characters. Bravo you have outdone yourselves for a franchise, The Real Housewives which has definitely had it’s highs and lows, real housewives of Cheshire, closely followed by real housewives of jersey failed to reach the compulsive viewing content we have come to expect from the brand.

Did you watch Ladies of London? Not sure how long ago it aired now. A cast headed up by socialites Caroline Stanbury, and Annabelle Neilson, Americans Juliet Angus and Julie Montagu, viscountess of Hinchingbrook and Dutch? royal Caroline Fleming.

I absolutely loved it so could never work out why it disappeared after only three seasons, just as Caroline Stanbury’s marriage and London luxury gift firm; The Gift Library went belly up.(it was subsequently sold to Amara.com before Caroline moved to Dubai)

In 2022 Nina Ali, Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Sara Al Madani and Lesa Milan, joined the now infamous Caroline Stanbury, she was “pals” with Jeffrey Epstein and Guillaime Maxwell in the cast of Real Housewives of Dubai. It premiered on 1 June 2022.

I am catching the first season right now in the UK, which I believe has already aired, I didn’t catch it first time around and as the reunion has just finished and season two just began it feels like the perfect time to take a breath and reflect.

To summarise these women have given us all we expect from the best of the US with the scorching heat of the desert pouring molten lava on already explosive and volatile relationships.

The falling out and making up happens faster than the women change into another “can I out do you” outfit, braving 34 degree heat in wigs and full make up.

Like everything in Dubai the shiny is not always as shiny as things may appear. So the cat fighting and picking at who’s really got what and who’s faking it to make it, has started exposing the cracks which does make for pretty funny viewing. These girls are a bunch of pure and I mean PURE with a capital P hustlers.

More than any other Bravo franchise these girls, most unknown until now, are clawing their way to top in spectacular style.

When fighting at the reunion about each others wealth credentials, Lesa accusing Caroline Stanbury of being unable to secure a mortgage, Andy Cohen pipes up, you’re all rich and leaves it at that.

Yeah I wasn’t so sure about that either. Caroline Stanbury outstaying her welcome so badly with husband Sergio (who paid cash for their new house with earnings from Cryto trading) Her friend Michael, long suffering home owner holds a booting out party for her and her friends, great show content as Stanbury’s daughter attacks the cake figurine of her mother saying I’ve always wanted to bite her head off.

My question, don’t rich people stay in hotels rather than overstay their welcome with their friends?????

There is no question for me it’s Caroline Stanbury’s aloof, cold, business like hustle that is orchestrating the narrative for this series. In series one we saw the other women threatened by her and a failed attempt to isolate her and run rings around her. All I saw was Stanbury doing the opposite, keeping her cool and composure only to be rewarded by Andy Cohen at the end of the first reunion valudation of Bravo’s position, Caroline Stanbury is the casting department’s queen of Dubai.

Chanel Iman may say otherwise providing for me the most heart rending content of the season as she shared her personal FGM female genital mutilation story with the world. It was very shocking to hear her speak of the brutality and pain particularly in this light entertainment format and I think the show was better for it.

Of all the women I think Iman is the least likeable but by letting the audience in we were able to get to know her a bit better and see beyond her fashion armour and cocky comments, billed as humour that don’t always land so well. We see her better and so have more empathy towards her.

It’s a funny place Dubai, the most telling scene was the women sitting in the Dubai mall eating Laduree macaroons in a roped off area whilst ordinary people walked by. Not so exclusive really. Could have been Krispy Cremes.

But I absolutely love a Krispy Creme too.