While each episode in Bravo's Real Housewives franchise is a welcome one, as drama is never far behind, there are a few that stick out the most. These episodes have become iconic whether they have a hilarious or entertaining quote, a massive fight, or they move a big storyline forward. These tend to be the episodes that people think of when they talk about this popular franchise.
Whether looking back on Teresa and her co-stars in New Jersey, the women of New York City, or one of Vicki's biggest moments on The Real Housewives of Orange County, there are many juicy episodes that created so much drama and conversation that fans will always remember them.
RHONJ: "Finale" (S1, E6)
Out of 11 seasons of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, the season 1 finale is the most famous one. Teresa's table flip is a memorable Real Housewives moment among a long list of scenes that made viewers cover their mouths in total shock.
If any Real Housewives episode will go down in history, it's this one, as it showed fans that Teresa has a temper and that she isn't afraid to show people how angry she can get. Over the next few seasons, Teresa screamed at several co-stars, but nothing got as wild or intense as this dinner.
RHONY: "Sun, Sand And Psychosis" (S3, E12)
The Real Housewives of New York City has it all, from an urban environment that attracts brave and honest people to long-time cast members who know how to push each other's buttons. In this infamous episode, the cast went to St. John and no one had a lovely time on this beautiful island. Kelly's co-stars stared at her in utter horror as she didn't make any sense.
Whether talking about jelly beans or how Bethenny was going after her, Kelly's comments seemed to come out of nowhere and that's why fans call this episode "Scary Island." When fans look back on the franchise, they're always going to count this episode among the most memorable, along with the most confusing.
RHOC: "Is This All There Is?" (S5, E15)
The season 5 finale of RHOC marked the conclusion of Tamra and Simon's marriage, which hadn't been happy for a long time. Fans watched in amazement as Tamra told Simon that she wanted to get divorced as they took a limo to a party.
Some might not have thought that Tamra should have said these words while being filmed for a reality show, but many fans appreciated Tamra's honesty and knew that she needed to get into a healthier relationship. Many other RHOC episodes focus on fancy and dramatic parties or the ongoing problems that Vicki and Tamra had in their friendship, so this episode stands out for being all about this tough moment in Tamra's life.
RHOBH: "There's No Place Like Rome" (S10, E14)
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills told a season-long story about Denise and Brandi allegedly having a romantic relationship. In this particular season 10 episode, the cast talked about this rumor and it was clear that they were having a tricky time figuring out the actual truth.
In a moment that now has a lot of meaning behind it, Garcelle wondered if Brandi had text messages that could serve as evidence. While Denise said no, this is exactly what ended up happening as the cast thought Brandi was right when they saw those texts later on. No one will ever forget this episode, especially because Denise kept saying that it was a lie, and this plotline is ultimately what made Denise exit the show early.
RHOA: "Pillow Talk Or Pillow Fight" (S6, E13)
The Real Housewives of Atlanta had a dramatic season 6 and this episode left the most powerful impression. There was a lot happening, from NeNe hosting a pajama party to Kenya going to a doctor to talk about her fertility.
While fans sympathized with Kenya, who dreamed of becoming a parent, it was at the pajama party that things really got intense. NeNe explained the party as "almost like a free couple’s counseling…in pajamas," which can be counted among NeNe's best quotes on RHOA, but a massive fight broke out when NeNe brought up the questions that everyone had about Natalie and Christopher's relationship. NeNe said that Kenya had heard that they were "common law," and fans were in awe when Christopher grabbed Kenya and there was a lot of noise and commotion. This was definitely not a peaceful party.
RHONJ: "In The Name Of The Father" (S3, E1)
Melissa's son Joey's christening took place in this season 3 episode, and because a psychical fight broke out, it has become a historical Real Housewives episode. When Teresa said "congrats," Melissa was upset because Teresa and her husband and kids were late, and Melissa said "family comes first." Joe Gorga got so mad that he began banging on the table and then he got up and lunged at Joe Giudice.
Since everyone around Teresa and Melissa's husbands began screaming, this was an unforgettable moment, and fans still can't believe how angry these cast members got. It seemed like something that could have been worked out with a calm conversation, but RHONJ viewers know that Teresa and Melissa have a long history of bad blood and big arguments.
RHOA: "Reunion Part 1" (S6, E23)
RHOA has featured many reunion fights, and the one at the end of season 6 has gone down in history.
Porsha grabbed Kenya's hair extensions and actually dragged her on the floor while Andy Cohen looked on with a shocked expression on his face. Kenya said Porsha was unfaithful to her husband, and Porsha had enough, deciding to go for violence. It was shocking and sad to see co-stars fighting like this and everyone hoped that there would be a peaceful resolution by the next season. No one ever expects a reunion episode to get so violent and it's no wonder that fans still remember it today.
RHOC: "Baptism By Fire" (S10, E19)
RHOC fans can all recall the dramatic season 10 which revolved around Vicki and her boyfriend Brooks. When Vicki arrived at Tamra's baptism, everyone was chatting about whether or not Brooks had cancer, and Vicki was incredibly angry.
This is a historical RHOC episode since Vicki is known for screaming "I'm being nailed to the cross like Jesus." Many fans thought this was a little much and that she should have understood why her co-stars were so concerned about her. They just wanted her to be in a good relationship, but Vicki felt abandoned.
RHONY: "Toomfolery" (S8, E19)
Bethenny is often RHONY's most relatable housewife and sometimes, she was put in a difficult and awkward position because she cared about her friends so much. In this famous season 8 episode, Bethenny told Luann about Luann's fiancé Tom allegedly cheating. Bethenny had a photo of Tom kissing another woman, which was definitely hard to ignore.
Just like Luann couldn't move on from this moment, as her impending marriage didn't seem so rosy after all, Real Housewives viewers knew that this would become a significant episode. It's a reminder of what a good friend Bethenny is as she was willing to have Luann be angry at her but she knew she should tell the truth.
RHOBH: "The Dinner Party From Hell" (S1, E9)
When people look back on RHOBH, they're always going to bring up the season 1 episode when Camille hosted a dinner party.
There is so much to remember about this episode, from Camille's statement that Faye Resnick was "morally corrupt" to the fact that it was probably the least relaxing or fun party that the cast had ever been to. Viewers weren't sure why Camille was so mad at Faye for posing in Playboy, especially since Camille had also posed for the publication. While nothing was really resolved after this evening and everyone had hurt feelings, this episode will always be part of Housewives history.