Welcome to the Real Housewives of Rhode Island Season 1 finale recap! Last week, Rosie told Rulla about the video (Brian denied it, of course). Rosie also made a tentative truce with Kelsey. Alicia also made peace with Liz. But Liz wouldn’t back down about Jo-Ellen, and both were nervous to see each other on the cast trip to Block Island.
What happened on the Real Housewives of Rhode Island Season 1 Finale?
This week on Real Housewives of Rhode Island Season 1 Episode 12, “The Ferry Tale Is Over,” the Housewives celebrate the end of summer with a trip to Block Island. Jo-Ellen attempts to squash her beefs with both Liz and Rulla. As for the latter, Rulla tries to ignore all the evidence of Brian’s ongoing affair. But things take a turn for the worse.
Can Liz and Jo-Ellen make amends?
Kelsey hopes that Liz’s love of Block Island will make her nicer to Jo-Ellen. As they wait for the ferry, Liz is thrown off by Jo-Ellen’s warm greeting. Jo-Ellen wants to make up with Liz, calling it “like an abusive relationship” and comparing Liz to her mother. As for her other feud, Jo-Ellen is fine going on the trip with Rulla- it’s Brian who’s the problem.
When they arrive, it’s freezing, and the tide is high and choppy. Hopefully that’s not a bad omen.
Jo-Ellen pulls Liz aside and asks if they have a genuine friendship. Liz says yes. She thinks they both said things they didn’t mean in their fights. However, Liz is mad Jo-Ellen accused her of getting physical. Liz, it was on camera, we have footage! But Liz brings up that she repeatedly asked Jo-Ellen to take her hands off of her for hours before that. In her case, Jo-Ellen was trying to comfort Liz.
At first, they disagree with how to move on. Liz asks to start over, but Jo-Ellen wants to go back to how they were. But eventually they enthusiastically make up, with Liz tackling her into the sand and humping her. Liz changes her tune in a confessional and says she really did miss her friend.
Can Rulla stop making Jo-Ellen the villain?
Onto Jo-Ellen’s other feud, Rulla acknowledges that she wasn’t around much over the summer. She again questions Jo-Ellen’s motives. If she were a real friend, she wouldn’t be confronting her with such info at a public event. Was this also directed at Rosie after last week? Speaking of, Rosie realizes that Rulla doesn’t want to accept the truth. If she heard rumors about Rich, she would want to see the evidence, not live in denial.
Rosie tells Jo-Ellen Rulla knows about the video, and without even hearing details, insisted it was fake. Alicia thought Brian was going to “blow his load” when he heard about it. “Blow his load, like cum?” Jo-Ellen laughs.
At this point, Jo-Ellen’s main motivation is to prove she’s not a liar. Jo-Ellen gets so worked up over being blamed for Brian’s actions that she knocks over a glass in her confessional. Rulla asks if the other ladies can talk to Jo-Ellen for her, and they rightfully refuse- Rulla needs to do that herself. Rulla continues to block out that Brian’s affair is ongoing, as they reminisce about their first date right by the hotel.
Will Billy give Alicia her “story tale” proposal?
Despite initially laughing it off, Billy comes around to Alicia’s suggestion of a re-proposal. He first proposed when she was super pregnant and had bronchitis. He didn’t even get on one knee. And she had such bad mucus she needed a fudgsicle. Not the fairy tale she dreamed of.
At the hotel, Alicia marvels at the door knockers of “a mermaid with her tits out” and insists Billy go down the stairs before her because she’s had a thing about stairs since her mom once dropped her. Outside, there are two chairs inside a heart made of candles and roses and a bouquet of roses for Alicia on her chair.
She’s shocked, because he never does anything romantic. It’s still awkward and silly. The others cheer from their hotel rooms, Billy yanks her ring off to re-propose which hurts, and he has to put a napkin down when he kneels so he doesn’t get grass stains. Alicia says yes, and assures him she really loves him to stay this long, because lots of other guys would want her! Billy says it’s time to get married, but Alicia jokes they should have re-proposals every ten years the way some people renew their vows.
When the others congratulate her, Alicia says she wants a “second ring” and Billy reminds her that happens at the wedding. Finally, Alicia starts to dream about a wedding, saying she wants a white mermaid gown and for Celina to wear pink.
Rulla and Jo-Ellen have a much-needed one-on-one
As the other celebrate the re-proposal, Jo-Ellen goes to Rulla’s room to show her the video.
Rulla says the way Jo-Ellen went about getting her proof rubbed her the wrong way. It was when she was “on my deathbed” (I laughed) and she showed everyone instead of showing Rulla first. Meanwhile, Gary calls out Brian for painting Jo-Ellen as a liar. Brian breaks almost immediately and admits Jo-Ellen isn’t a liar and there is a video!
Rulla still refuses to watch the video. She emphasizes how much this has hurt her all summer, and that she just wants to move past it. Jo-Ellen respects that and swears to let it go.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island last supper
The proposal reignited Alicia’s love for Billy. She calls him a “Greek stallion” and gushes over how much she loves him. Now he needs to put her name on the house!!
Kelsey proposes a game, passing around questions written on seashells. People can either answer it or pass to another table guest. It starts out fun. Alicia says her favorite moments were the castle and her fight with Rosie. Kelsey praises everyone’s honesty at the masquerade dinner. Liz is asked to reveal a secret. Everyone wishes she’d pass it to Brian, but she picks Jared. He gushes about his home state even as Liz gets bored.
However, Rulla gets stuck with a question about the most embarrassing thing your spouse has done. She passes to Gary, who says Jo-Ellen hasn’t embarrassed him. Kelsey gets asked to name the biggest backstabber, but instead of picking Rosie, she passes it to Rulla. While she admits she would’ve said Jo-Ellen before, Rulla now says she doesn’t feel that way about anyone in the group. She’s optimistic for the RHORI cast’s future as friends … as long as they move past her story.
Rulla breaks down
Brian makes a toast, thanking the group for making them the most popular couple. When Rulla references their hard times, she starts crying. Alicia assures her no one is perfect, and Jo-Ellen knows that (Gary asks everyone to stop bringing his wife into this). Alicia prompts Jo-Ellen to tell Rulla she did have her back, but Jo-Ellen tells her they talked about it earlier and want to leave it there. Rosie and Rich say it’s unfair to blame Jo-Ellen, as the only person at fault is Brian. Jo-Ellen really appreciates this. She and Rosie have come so far since the premiere!
Brian assures Rulla that he loves her and is proud of her for putting her “ego” or rather her “pride” aside for their family. As Liz looks on, she remarks that Rulla must know it’s still going on and not consider it grounds for divorce.
Kelsey gives a toast about the friend group coming together, referencing her issues with Rosie. Speaking of, Rosie’s house is currently 5000 square feet, and she’s still happily childfree with Rich. As for Kelsey, she pays her own rent now and learned how to write a check.
Dolores didn’t appear this episode, but she and Liz still plan to release their menopause gummy. Liz’s stepdaughter is expecting a girl and got engaged at the gender reveal.
Jo-Ellen is still working on her relationship with her mom … and is still in touch with Brian’s mistress. Alicia is running Pizza Mamma and has a line of crackers in the works. Jared is still holding onto Audrey’s, which I’m sure will see a boost from RHORI! This means he and Ashley are still Rhode Island residents “for now.”
Then, we get to Rulla…
Why RHORI cameras picked back up
A month later, Brian was arrested for tracking Rulla. Kelsey, Ashley, Alicia, and Rosie go to see Rulla, while Jo-Ellen goes to Liz’s.
Rulla had suspicions and the BMW dealership told her only police could remove a tracker. That’s why Brian was arrested for domestic violence. She insists that he’s never done anything physical to her. Jo-Ellen heard the mistress picked Brian up from the police station. She feels vindicated, and tried texting Rulla, who just replied “TY.”
Kelsey asks if any part of Rulla wants to thank Jo-Ellen. Not really. For now, Brian isn’t allowed near Rulla or the house, but she insists it’s overblown in the press. She thinks he was tracking her to know when she would stop by his office or if she’d drive by the mistress’ house. So, she seems to admit the affair is still ongoing. Rosie points out how much Brian’s hurt her. Whatever she does, the girls say they’ll support her. While Rulla ends the episode unsure, we know she took him back.
The finale ends with a preview of the two-part reunion. Brian is in the hot seat, Jo-Ellen has receipts, and when Rulla calls her a psychopath, she smiles and agrees.
Real Housewives of Rhode Island airs Sundays 9/10c on Bravo. Episodes can be streamed on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE RHORI SEASON FINALE? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SEASON OVERALL? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO FROM THE REUNION?