by Jessica Blackwell

 

In Jersey, the time has come for the sh**tfest disguised as a healing retreat. As they packed their bags, the kids were trying to jump in the luggage to come along, and the adults just wanted to get out of it. 

 

Melissa, Kathy, and their respective families rode together in an RV, while Teresa and Joe drove up alone. Melissa I'm sure was just going for the benefit of her husband, although I'm sure she was harboring some hope that things would get better. Who wants to have a terrible relationship with their sister in-law? As Rich pondered if Teresa knew how to spell the word retreat, Kat just wanted to get all the issues resolved with her cousin so it would stop affecting their parents. 

 

Teresa, as it seems, just wanted everyone to apologize to her, and wanted her brother to fall at her feet, divorce his wife, and be miserable like her. I don't think for one second she planned on taking any personal responsibility for her actions and she continued to blame Jacqueline for breaking up her family. Even though Jacqueline told Melissa that Teresa was the one to set her up last season at the Posh Fashion Show, if Teresa didn't do it, there is a reason why her family was able to believe that she would do something like that. Despite telling her husband that she didn't really want Jacqueline to go on the retreat, she was PISSED when she didn't show up. So pissed in fact, that the other guests didn't even have time to take their shoes off before she threw a hissy fit, demanding to now why Jacqueline didn't come. 

 

Even when she got her answer, she still wasn't satisfied, citing Jacqueline's tweet about her a few days before as a reason why she couldn't possibly be having a hard time with her autistic son. Then Joe Giudice put his foot in his mouth by saying that Jacqueline uses her son as an excuse, and that autism isn't a bad disease. He literally said "aren't some of them scientists?" Teresa tried to defend her husband, saying that sometimes he doesn't know what he says, and that he doesn't have a mean bone in his body. TERESA!! This is the man who called you a c*** on national television - come off it!  Despite her quick attempt to run damage control after his comment, the damage has been done. He'll probably have a million mothers of children with autism  cursing him on Twitter tomorrow - and he deserves it. I mean, how ignorant can you be? 

 

Right away, Teresa put on this sweet act that no one cared to play along with, dubbing her brother the king of the castle and exclaiming with joy over the desert options at lunch. She and Joe G almost got right into it when she blamed Melissa for the demise of their relationship, but Ritchie smartly advised them to wait for the team builders to arrive. 

 

Stephanie and Steve arrived, and while they were sweet enough, they didn't really seem like they would be able to handle the intense conflict running through this family. Even Steve's admission that he was working in the middle east didn't seem to be enough evidence that they could handle things - because they couldn't. They started doing some exercise that resembled Twister, and when the arguments ensued, their meek little attempts to turn things around were far from effective. 

 

Of course, Teresa played the victim/martyr role, exclaiming that she will always be loyal to her brother no matter what "he" does to her. Oh please! Rosie, sensing that Joe Giudice's presence wasn't going to allow their conflicts to be resolved, took him outside. Inside, Teresa kept refusing to take any of the blame for anything, prompting Melissa to fall to her knees, literally begging Teresa to stop hurting them. Despite her begging, Teresa didn't take the bait.  When Joe Gorga realized that the debating wasn't going anywhere, he resorted to making true, yet childish statements about his sister. Teresa ignorantly stated that he should stick with his blood, over his own wife I guess, and he in turn, called her scum. 

 

Teresa promptly did what is now expected of her - she turned and fled, screaming that she wanted to "get out of there." When Juicy Joe caught wind of the scum comment, he finally got the opportunity to do what he has been talking about doing for at least a half an hour to Rosie - he pummeled Joe Gorga. When he aggressively  stepped back into the house, Joe Gorga realized he wanted to fight, so he actually charged at him first and a fight between Joe squared ensued.  Melissa began freaking out, pleading with Teresa to help her brother, but it appears that Teresa ran out of the house. 

 

Next week we get to see the aftermath of the devastating fight. It looked like Joe Gorga was getting his butt handed to him, but maybe he regained his footing and gave it right back to Juicy. I guess we'll see! Stay tuned! 

 

The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays at 8/9c

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)