The BEST episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County
Every episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County!
Bravo brings you into the lives of five women and their families who live in one of the wealthiest communities in the country. They take the viewer "inside the gates" to show their lives aren't always perfect.
#1 - Whine Pairings
Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/1/2011
Peggy and Micah throwing their annual dinner party and hire celebrity chefs, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Miliken of Border Grill, to cater the event. Tamra’s new boyfriend, Eddie, meets the ladies for the first time. During the party, Alexis causes a scene and flees the table, leaving Peggy livid and Donn is shocked by Vicki’s comment to the group about wishing they had started their own family together. Mary Sue Miliken of Border Grill is a contestant on Top Chef Masters 3.
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#3 - Is This All There Is?
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/4/2010
Season 5 finale. The housewives prepare to attend the season finale party. Vicki, still hurt by the San Francisco trip, vows to stay clear of drama. Gretchen and Slade color-coordinate outfits, looking (according to Vicki) as the plastic toppers of a wedding cake. Lynn's daughters arrive at the party obviously under the influence, and Lynn excuses herself for knowing stating that the limo was big and she didn't know what her daughter's were up to. Tamra and Simon have a heated argument in the limo on the way to the party, with Tamra stating that she wants a divorce. The show ends with a recap of each housewife as is the tradition, and the last summary is that Tamra and Simon are divorcing.
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#5 - Fashion Victim
Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/22/2011
Peggy orchestrates a surprise trip to Las Vegas with her husband. Also there to spin giddy in Sin City: Tamra and Eddie. Meanwhile, Gretchen corners Slade about the debt-related problems of their relationship. And a fashion show is held, but a medical emergency causes a no-show and mounting drama.
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#8 - Who's Laughing Now
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/28/2012
Tamra tries to convince Vicki that her friendship with Gretchen won't overshadow their bond, while on the other side of town, Alexis and Heather meet for a doomed lunch to try and work out their differences. Vicki and her daughter Briana have a heart-to-heart about Vicki's new boyfriend, and Briana informs her mother of an upcoming surgery she must undergo. Meanwhile, Slade is trying out a new career -- comedy -- and against Gretchen's wishes, his routine at the Improv is laden with Housewife-insulting jokes. How will Gretchen react when Slade ridicules her friends in public?
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#9 - Under the Knife
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/19/2012
A nervous Alexis undergoes sinus surgery, where her plastic surgeon additionally removes a bump from her nose. Meanwhile, Vicki is distraught as Briana's thyroid surgery went worse than expected. Tamra visits her doctor and decides to have her breast implants removed. Then, Heather plans a glamorous trip to L.A. to get some advice on opening a restaurant, but who needs freeways when you can take a helicopter? Gretchen watches a rehearsal of the Pussycat Dolls in preparation for her Las Vegas debut, but will she realize that she's in over her head?
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#10 - Dinner Party Disaster
Season 18 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/8/2024
Tensions are high when Gina is caught between Katie and Heather after the staged paparazzi allegations; Emily and Shane celebrate their 15th anniversary; the Tres Amigas come together for the first time, but things quickly go sideways.
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#11 - Sunday Roasted
Season 18 - Episode 16 - Aired 10/24/2024
Jenn demands answers about the background check on Ryan, but Tamra explains the twisted truth as Shannon departs from the group to meet up with her daughters; Heather learns that Katie is spreading rumors about her that involve the kids.
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#13 - Girl Fight
Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/5/2011
In the Season 6 finale, Vicki leaves the hospital and continues to deal with her personal problems. Despite all this, she still hosts her annual fall party. Drama lets loose at the bash, especially when ex-cast member Jeana Keough reenters the picture.
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#14 - The Party's Over
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/13/2012
The Bunco Party takes an uncomfortable turn when Slade and some of the O.C. men, invited by Tamra, join the party. Confronted immediately about the insulting things he said about Vicki in his comedy routine, Slade aggressively defends himself. And though Vicki tries to make a graceful exit, she soon finds herself drawn back inside to have the last word. Jumping to Slade's defense, Gretchen and Vicki get into a vicious screaming match, where Gretchen accuses Vicki of being a hypocrite. And just when everyone thinks the drama is over, Alexis gets defensive when Tamra and Heather call her out on her upcoming nose job. Later, once the party drama has passed, Alexis goes in for her surgery, and Vicki's daughter Briana heads to the hospital to have her thyroid removed, fearing the worst -- cancer.
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#18 - Let's Bow Our Heads and Pray
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/18/2010
The ladies are finishing their lunch in San Francisco. What started out as a fight between Alexis Bellino and Vicki Gunvalson ends up with everyone taking the opportunity to tell Vicki just what they think of her. Back in Orange County, Lynne’s daughter, Raquel, tells her friends about the family’s eviction. Tamra Barney and Vicki try to figure out where their friendship stands. Alexis and her husband, Jim, invite their pastor and his wife to breakfast. They talk about the role of modern day Christians and how Alexis feels judged for her beauty and looks. Gretchen and her boyfriend, Slade Smiley, are off to Palm Springs for a weekend getaway with her parents. It’s Tamra’s 42nd birthday and her husband, Simon, takes her out for a romantic dinner.
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#19 - The Honeymoon is Over
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/21/2012
Tamra's budding friendship with Gretchen affects Vicki; Alexis and Heather try to make amends over lunch; Vicki and her daughter have a deep conversation about Vicki's new boyfriend; and Slade tries to launch a new career as a comic.
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#21 - The Gloves Are Off
Season 18 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/22/2024
In La Quinta, Shannon breaks down over the impending lawsuit with John, and tension between Gina and Emily finally bubbles over; the ladies bond over divorce, but when they pack up to leave, Alexis gets a call from John that sends her spiraling.
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#22 - Dirty Dancing in Mexico
Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/10/2013
While still in Puerto Vallarta, Vicki, Lydia and Tamra continue their night away partying — while Heather and Gretchen continue to sit back in the limo. Gretchen tells Vicki how much she was annoyed by her antics but Tamra shocks the ladies when she tells the specifics of her past to Gretchen. Back at the resort, Mexican strippers arrive to spice up the night but Lydia is a bit nervous about the whole situation. Alexis, home in Orange County, asks Jim for an item that he is unwilling to purchase.
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#23 - Here Comes The Bride
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/22/2008
Season 3's finale brought new beginnings and some endings to the OC, the biggest of which being the celebration of Lauri and George's wedding. Lauri continued to work things out with her son, Josh, with the help of a mediator, and Josh made it to his mom's special day. Viewers finally met "Roxie," Quinn's alter ego, but it wasn't enough to save Quinn's relationship with Billy, which ended. And finally, Jo returned to make an appearance at one of Jeana's many outdoor get-togethers, updating the ladies on the status of her musical career.
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Season 18 - Episode 20 - Aired 11/21/2024
The reunion concludes with a heated faceoff between Shannon and Alexis as they discuss discrepancies in the lawsuit with John Janssen and their dating timelines. Emotions run high as Tamra and Shannon discuss the future of their friendship. The ladies react to unseen footage of John's interview where he opens up about his relationship with Shannon.
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