Overview of RHOSLC S7E1: “Homegoing”
Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam recap the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 7 premiere, which opens on a deeply emotional note as the show addresses the death of Mary Cosby’s son, Robert Jr. The hosts praise the episode for handling the tragedy with unusual sincerity and restraint, even as the cast’s natural campiness and Bravo absurdity still peek through. After the heavy memorial material, the episode begins setting up the season’s usual mess: Lisa and John’s repaired marriage, Bronwyn’s messy separation and new boyfriend, Heather’s surprise romance, and Whitney’s attempt to pivot into a drinking/apology storyline.
Key Plotlines From the Episode
Mary Cosby and Robert Jr.’s death
- The episode centers on Mary grieving her son Robert Jr., who died shortly after filming began.
- Cast members recount receiving the news and reacting with shock and sadness.
- A memorial/homegoing service becomes the emotional centerpiece of the premiere.
- The hosts note that the episode stays present with Mary’s grief rather than turning it into a gimmick.
Lisa Barlow and John
- Lisa has a surprisingly tender domestic scene making grilled cheese for her sons.
- John opens up about being miserable last season and apologizes for past behavior.
- Lisa says the apology made her feel closer to him and that they’re in a much better place.
- The hosts mock but also enjoy how sincerely the show plays the “repaired husband” arc.
Bronwyn’s breakup and new model boyfriend
- Bronwyn reflects on her marriage to Todd, saying they functioned better as a duo in public than in private.
- She explains that Todd’s failure to do anything for her 40th birthday was a major breaking point.
- She’s now dating a younger, hot model-type boyfriend named Brandon.
- Her mother is shown reacting with Mormon concern and quiet judgment while still offering support.
Heather’s new romance
- Heather reveals she’s dating Tripp, a handyman she met through work years ago.
- Her daughter Georgia interrogates him like a skeptical teen detective.
- Heather frames the relationship as a surprise but also as the first real chance she’s had to date freely.
- Ben and Ronnie joke that the setup feels suspiciously staged, though they find it entertaining.
Whitney’s apology/redemption angle
- Whitney says she’s drinking less and claims alcohol isn’t serving her anymore.
- Her real issue this season appears to be fallout from a drag brunch incident where she publicly insulted Meredith and Lisa.
- The hosts are unconvinced by her self-redemption arc and think she’s trying to use sobriety language to dodge accountability.
- They also spend time joking about drag brunches in general, especially Whitney being an especially bad fit for one.
Host Takeaways
The premiere works because it balances grief and classic Salt Lake weirdness
- Ben and Ronnie say this is one of the saddest Housewives episodes ever filmed, but it still feels unmistakably like RHOSLC.
- They appreciate that the show didn’t overproduce the sadness with gimmicks or “wacky” on-screen bits.
- At the same time, the cast’s delivery, accents, and bizarre little Bravo flourishes keep it from becoming too solemn.
The season is already setting up familiar conflicts
- Whitney’s apology storyline looks flimsy.
- Bronwyn’s relationship and Heather’s new boyfriend both feel like “explainer” storylines that may or may not hold up.
- Mary’s grief seems likely to anchor the season emotionally before the show returns to its usual petty warfare.
Mary’s support system is becoming the emotional core
- The women rally around Mary in a way the hosts found genuinely moving.
- The episode emphasizes that the Housewives have become the family showing up for her.
- The final montage of Robert Jr. lands as a fitting, heartbreaking close.
Notable Moments
- Lisa making a grilled cheese while acting like it’s a high-stakes kitchen challenge
- Heather’s daughter Georgia asking Tripp a series of deadpan, skeptical questions
- Bronwyn and her mom discussing divorce, dating, and the optics of a model boyfriend
- Whitney trying to turn her drag brunch behavior into a “I’m changing” storyline
- The memorial scenes, which the hosts describe as devastating but handled beautifully
Final Thoughts
Ben and Ronnie end the recap emotional, especially about Mary and Robert Jr., but also confident that RHOSLC will soon return to its usual mix of absurdity and interpersonal chaos. The premiere is presented as a strong, respectful start to the season that also lays the groundwork for the cast’s inevitable squabbles.