Photo Courtesy of Tommy Garcia, Virginia Sherwood, Jonathan Zizzo & Bravo

So, this week I want to talk about the show’s title sequence. Normally, I gloss over this, but let me just say, this week’s title was a moment. Bravo apparently took some time to make it completely 80s themed, and for a second, it felt like we were watching the Real Housewives of the “Full House.” 

So I must ask, Uncle Joey? DJ? Michelle? Stephanie? Anyone? Can you save us from finishing this season on a low note? 

I hope that they can, because after the last two episodes, the energy around “The Real Housewives of Dallas” has been low. This episode was marginally better, but I hope that the final episode of the season next week is jammed packed with drama.

Anyway, take a look at this week’s recap below.

Episode 15:  “Straight Outta The 80s”

Anyway, after the totally tubular title, we get some insight into why it’s happening. Brandi Redmond is throwing a party at Southfork Ranch, where she used to spend some time as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. She wants the Dallas dames to have some time together where they can focus on themselves and be themselves, so why not go to what is basically a “Dallas” TV show museum? Sounds like a great plan to me!

Meanwhile, D’Andra Simmons is back with her shaman Darrin who we spent some time with on her poorly received Medicine Monday event earlier in the season. She’s discussing her upcoming get together with her stepmom, who she is trying to reconnect with after years of little to no communication. She has a lot of fears, and she really just wants to go forward, not back. Darrins says that “sometimes people just want to be heard,” and D’Andra seems to really be soaking it all in. She’s going to try to control herself at their meeting, and her and Darrin then do a ceremony to set her intentions. “Working with Darrin, I’ve put so much work into my soul and my spirit, and centering and becoming a better version of myself,” D’Andra says.

Dr. Tiffany Moon, on the other hand, is giving her young girls some glam. She invited her manicurist over to her house, and they’re having a spa day. While with her girls, she receives a text from her mother. Last week, Tiffany and her mother, Grace, decided that they wanted to spend more time together and be more open about their love for one another. This week, it seems like that is being put into action, as Grace is reaching out to make some plans with Tiffany. Things seem to be on the up and up for Dr. Moon, but she says that “there’s this little nagging voice inside my head that’s like something bad is going to happen.” Only time will tell Tiff.

Then, we whip over to Kary Brittingham, who is with her daughters at a Mexican restaurant. She is hoping to share some of her culture and past with her daughters, as her mother would take her to a restaurant every Sunday when she was little. The chefs at the restaurant are teaching all of the women how to make carne asada, and it’s a very hands on experience. It’s a softer side of Kary that’s not always seen, and she then FaceTimes her mom with all of her daughters. Someone call the Hallmark channel, because her daughters also bring up that Kary has broken the cycle of alcoholism in her family.

Of course, the editors of “The Real Housewives of Dallas” don’t let this pass, as we have a quick flash forward to a week later, where all of the housewives (sans Kary) are talking about her drinking problem. Some blatant foreshadowing to some impending drama? It seems like it to this recapper.

Back to D’Andra, who is getting ready for her meeting with her stepmom. Before the meeting, she calls her mom, Dee, to talk about the situation. D’Andra doesn’t know how it’s going to go, but she’s hoping to go from no communication to a thread of a relationship. To me, it seems like D’Andra’s intentions are in the right place, and Dee says that “confidence is silent, and insecurity is going to be loud.” She also advocates for D’Andra to not take any crap, and if her stepmom starts to come for her, D’Andra should just walk out. Dee is clearly getting D’Andra riled up, as she’s pursing her lips and barely responded. Jeremy, D’Andra’s husband, looks on, and after Dee hangs up, Jeremy says that he disagrees with Dee’s advice. Cut to commercial.

After the break, Jeremy explains what he meant. Jeremy points out that if D’Andra goes in on the attack, as Dee was somewhat advocating for her to do, it’s not going to turn out well. She has to go in there with her heart on her sleeve, as her goal is to have a relationship. D’Andra agrees, and she’s thankful that her husband could “turn this situation around.” 

They then get in the car and head to the meeting spot, calling their mission “Operation Relationship Repair.” D’Andra is obviously nervous, fidgeting, and when they arrive, she asks Jeremy to stay and wait. The meeting is not filmed at the request of D’Andra’s stepmom, and it humanizes D’Andra in a really important way. She wants this relationship, it’s not just for some television drama.

Two and half hours later (poor Jeremy), D’Andra calls Jeremy to pick her up. We learn that she handled the situation well, showing growth, and she took a moment to realize that they both have different versions of the truth. In order for them to move forward, they both just have to move past the inconsistency. This is incredibly mature, and it seems like it was a productive meeting. Unfortunately, however, D’Andra learns that her brother didn’t want a relationship with her. D’Andra did all that she could, and that has to be good enough for her. “I’m ready to just chill out, to take a deep breath again,” D’Andra says.

Next is a harsh transition to Brandi’s party, which we find out will also have a murder mystery night and a Texas-themed dinner with the husbands. Brandi dropped off an itinerary to all of the women’s houses, and 80s night is up first. 

After some brief moments with the ladies as they prepare for the trip and a great one liner from Kameron Westcott (“You can match any shade of pink with a pink,” Kameron says), we flash over to Brandi’s house where all of the women start arriving. They’ll be traveling in style via a white limousine. 

At Southfork, the women arrive and are immediately given alcohol. They’re given a tour of the house, which all of the women know just a bit about, but D’Andra says that “New York has MOMA, Guggenheim, LA has the Getty, and we have Southfork.” Somewhat of a Dallas landmark, each of the rooms crafted with a character in mind. 

Then, it’s time to get ready for the party. All of the women get gift baskets in their rooms, and Brandi put Kary and D’Andra together in the smallest room because she likes to hear Kary complain, and they all get glammed up for the 80s bash. Once downstairs in basically prom outfits, they start dancing on the furniture in heels, much to Brandi’s dismay. Brandi will NOT be billed for the furniture.

Then, the murder mystery party starts. Kary is a popstar, Kameron is a doctor, Stephanie Hollman is a hot dog attorney, Tiffany is a keytarist, friend of the housewives Jen is a Blockbuster stock girl and Brandi is…well…Brandy with a “y.” They are flocked by actors, making me unfortunately relive my college days, and they are given a task to solve a murder. Tiffany rightfully points out that all of these women have motive and opportunity to commit a murder. It should be an interesting night.

And just as Brandi is leaving room (I’m thinking to be the murder victim), the episode ends.

Will Brandi be the victim? Who will solve the crime? What was that mysterious flash forward with Kary and what will happen in the FINAL episode of the season? Well, I guess we’ll find out next week.

“The Real Housewives of Dallas” airs Tuesdays on Bravo at 8 p.m. CST.