by Jessica Blackwell

 

OK I'll admit it... even though Danielle Staub is the housewife we love to hate, I was nervous when they announced she was leaving The Real Housewives of New Jersey after season 2. Let's face it. Her drama was the WHOLE show!!

 

I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that Melissa Gorga, Teresa's sister in law would more than make up for Danielle's absence.

 

The episode started off with a brief look into the drama to come at a family event. Then, it flashed to the beginning, showing how Teresa and Joe's life had changed due to their bankruptcy. The most notable changes are that Teresa has been making a zillion public appearances in order to help control their debt and Joe now works in a pizza parlor.

 

We catch up with Caroline, who is surprised that her sons have leased an apartment in the city, and will be moving out of her house. It seems she may have a hard time with this one.

 

Enter Jacqueline who decides, for some reason, to visit her daughter Ashley's job where she met her boss. Things seemed normal enough until Jacqueline told Ashley that she would *gasp* have to make money for a living!! This resulted in a minor breakdown as Ashley accepted what most middle class people already know - nothing in life is free. Over lunch, Jacqueline and her husband tried to explain this to Ashley, but she ended up walking out while Chris continued the conversation with Ashley.

 

One thing is for certain: Teresa and her brother Joe have a volatile relationship. We finally learn what Danielle was talking about in the season 2 finale. According to Teresa, it's because of his wife, Melissa. After a stomach lurching scene where Joe basically sucked his wife's toes, Melissa launches into her side of the story. She claims that Joe and Teresa used to be really close, but then after they started to build their business, things got rocky. (During this scene, they flash pictures of a younger Teresa that looks shockingly similar to her oldest daughter, Gia.) Melissa claims that she is spoiled, and given everything that she could ever want, and all she has to do is be a maid, whore, and nanny! The couple says that they love each other's work ethic.

 

Kathy is Joe and Teresa's cousin and the other new addition to the show. She is definitely the least interesting of the two. She is married to a Lebanese man named Rick and has 2 children. The most interesting... or should I say disturbing... thing about her is her young son's hobby of collecting (and playing with) knives.

 

Then comes the day of the brawl, aka the christening of Melissa and Joe's youngest and last son. One thing I found interesting is that Teresa can still afford to hire a professional hair stylist for events, but they can't pay their bills. It's called: learn to use a curling iron. Melissa and Teresa definitely have some competition going, using the same hairdresser, and bickering over who had more people at their baby's christening.

 

Finally, everyone arrives at the reception after the christening. Teresa decides it's time to finally congratulate her brother on his new baby, and all hell breaks loose. A large, rowdy fight breaks out in a room full of children. Insults, tears, and unspoken feelings are unleashed.

 

It's safe to say that this season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey looks to bring plenty the drama! Stay tuned!

 

The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Mondays at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)