Bethenny Frankel was at the center of Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City until she left after season 11, which many believe was the demise of the show. A straight shooter, Bethenny was never afraid to call it how she saw it and provided countless iconic RHONY moments. Her initial departure from the series left a gap that is yet to be filled and marked the start of the show's downfall.
The world was introduced to RHONY two years into The Real Housewives franchise. With The Big Apple as its backdrop, RHONY took things to new heights, new levels of wealth, and bigger personalities to play with. One such personality was Bethenny. She had drive, ambition, big dreams, and a passion for what she did. From season 1, Bethenny proved herself as a worthy cast member in a show profiling wealthy New York housewives with plenty to say and nowhere to hide. Few in The Real Housewives universe, or even RHONY, have never stepped up to match the no-holds-barred attitude and quick wit of Bethenny.
Whether it was putting Kelly Bensimon in her place on the Virgin Islands, confronting Luann de Lesseps at a fashion show, or her famous feud with Jill Zarin, Bethenny's first run as a RHONY housewife was action-packed. She was able to hold her own in every disagreement and, while doing so, gave fans countless one-liners to re-watch over and over again. This coupled with her poised demeanor and commitment to being a true friend to those close to her, made her a well-rounded, likable piece of the RHONY puzzle.
During her time away from the show between 2010 and 2015, Bethenny filmed two spin-offs and gave birth to her daughter Bryn. Meanwhile, the likes of Cindy Barshop and Aviva Drescher came and went on RHONY in her absence and original housewife Luann was even demoted to being a 'friend of' in season 6 of the show. Ratings declined in the three years without Bethenny, and when she finally returned for season 7, ratings were at an all-time high, proving that Bethenny's presence was more than just felt; it was practically necessary for RHONY's success.
Bethenny's five-season run from 2015 to 2019 further solidified and proved that everything made a lot more sense while she was around. With even more success to her name and the adoration of Bravo fans at her feet, Bethenny's presence as a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist gave RHONY back its dimension. As she skyrocketed to fame in her own right, it was clear that she was still herself. Bethenny was able to bitingly retaliate against those who crossed her without going lower and still presenting class and intelligence in her fights.
The last two seasons of RHONY have severely lacked Bethenny's energy. Even with new cast additions like Leah McSweeney and Eboni K. Williams, the decadence, wealth, and high society element of New York City seems to have vanished from the show. Tensions constantly reach an unreasonable boiling point, cast members are rarely called out for their actions, and low blows are delivered time and time again without consequence. Without a powerful, well-rounded figure like Bethenny, The Real Housewives of New York City appears to have lost its way. Whether a full cast shake-up and Legacy season can save it, only time will tell.