Stakes are always high in Potomac, and savage clap backs are never too far away. The Real Housewives of Potomac has been one of the most engaging shows of the Real Housewives franchise; not only are the castmates entertaining and know their assignment perfectly, but the storylines are quite distinct and refreshing from other shows of the franchise.
It's safe to say that Karen and Candiace are the clap back queens of RHOP, but other cast members often give away crucial information about themselves when they're defending their friends or shading someone. The show has had some of the most unforgettable showdowns, and some of the quotes do all the work of defining the housewives.
Wendy: I'm Putting Your Ass On Notice
Wendy has been on the other end of some of Gizelle's biggest fights on RHOP and has garnered a reputation as a straight shooter; she pulled no punches and never shied away from spilling harsh truths. She got quite worked up when she realized Ashley and Gizelle had talked about Wendy's husband having an affair. "I’m putting your ass on notice because what you’re not going to do—let’s be very clear—is you’re not going to play with my husband’s name," she told Gizelle.
This line shows how no-nonsense Wendy can be when she felt attacked, and she certainly keeps her guards up when she is around some of her castmates, though she also gets defensive quite quickly.
Ashley: Don't Let These People See You Cry
Ashley has often been referred to as 'the politician.' She works hard to keep up appearances, and, clearly, her stoicism is how she copes with the hurdles in her life. Ashley actually said these words to herself in a bathroom right after she had a spat with her partner Michael, and this line encapsulates Ashley's personality perfectly.
She does not want to show people her vulnerable side, she does not trust everyone in her social circle and doesn't want them to see find her at a disadvantage. In this context, this self-cheering pep talk makes a lot of sense.
Robyn: Why Do You Continue To Slam Me?
The Real Housewives franchise has its share of pot-stirring cast members, along with quite a few peacekeepers, and Robyn is definitely the latter. Robyn does not go looking for drama and certainly does not entertain any slander about herself. She has been quite transparent about her loyalties, and she is also secure enough to not exploit someone's weak moment.
So, when Ashley attacked her personal life during the season 2 reunion, she asked Ashley for an explanation to keep things above water. "Why are you so judgmental towards my situation? I do not talk one bad thing about you and Michael. Why do you continue to slam me?" she asked Ashley. Robyn's castmates and her fans support her approach to resolving conflicts, and it has definitely helped her reputation as a peacekeeper.
Charisse: Own Your Sh*t And Apologize
Charisse did start some fires, but she was never one to shut someone out; she was approachable and was able to keep allies because she believed in resolving tensions face-to-face. Charisse was offended when Karen didn't invite her to spend the day with Monique, Gizelle, and herself. So, when Karen brought it up on the cruise, Charisse was honest about why she was upset.
"You know you offended me, own your sh*t and apologize. Are you capable of that?" Charisse said. This says a lot about Charisse's way of dealing with setbacks; she was quite balanced about her priorities, and she did value the friendships in her life, but she wasn't prepared to compromise on certain aspects.
Katie: I'm Not Gonna Be Cute About It
Age gaps have led to some of the biggest feuds in RHOP, as well as in other shows of the franchise, and OG cast members are often seen clashing with the newbies. But, how Katie handled being treated like a newcomer said a lot about her head-on approach to smoothening out tensions.
In season 1, she felt offended when Gizelle called her a little girl and made fun of her parenting skills, but she did not shut her out or make everyone else uncomfortable. At the same time, she wasn't okay with being a doormat. She approached Gizelle one-on-one to hash things out and aired her grievances with a lot of poise, and her gesture was direct, effective, and grown-up. "The way you interjected into my life was not respectful. I'm not a little girl, I don't want to be treated like that. I'm not going to be cute about it," Katie said.
Candiace: I'm Not Purchasing The Merchandise
Candiace has had some of the best reality TV one-liners in Real Housewives history, and, though she has a reputation for being a pot-stirrer, in reality, she has demonstrated incredible poise in the face of tensions. A good example would be how she refused to bring up an unsavory secret she knew about Ashley's husband during her fight with her because she did not want to make things difficult for the couple.
At the same time, Candiace is extremely hard to fool, especially because she has no patience for fake narratives, and she has often been vocal about some of Ashley's seemingly pretentious antics. During her lunch with Gizelle in season 4, she comes clean about how she doubts many aspects of Ashley's sob stories—mainly because she didn't trust her. "I don't buy it, I'm not purchasing the merchandise," she tells Gizelle. This quote also goes to show how Candiace has her guard up against anyone who she doesn't implicitly trust.
Gizelle: Star Wars, Really? That's What We're Doing?
Gizelle's burns may be one of the most relatable things about her because they're not too toxic and feel improvised, and almost every friend group has a Gizelle who Karen referred to as a "self-appointed hazer." Her reaction to meeting Monique for the first time says a lot about her personality; she does not go after people because she's insecure, but, for Gizelle, the icy, humiliating questions are like a power move.
Right after meeting Monique, she shaded her hair and compared her to Princess Leia from Star Wars. It's an unnecessary blow, but Gizelle did the same thing when she met Ashley and asked her about her sex life with her older partner. So, in a way, this line really does sum up her character.
Monique: Of Course, I'm Going To Bring My Receipts
Monique said this in reference to her infamous binder from the season 5 reunion, and both the binder and the quote are actually very telling. Monique believes in transparency, which means she also likes to have the last word, especially in an argument that drags her integrity into question.
Her decision to back up her accusations in a binder hint towards her self-preservation antics, which is a really smart move. Monique does not take lightly to slander, and she doesn't usually go for low blows unless provoked. As she explained why she had made the binder, fans also realized how exactly she guards herself in a toxic environment.
Karen: People Come For Me All The Time, They Just Don't Find Me
The Grand Dame of RHOP has some of the best zingers that effervescently spell out her priorities. Karen is often the most prepared person in the room when someone decides to attack her out-of-the-blue; she is self-aware and has a very good idea of how she is perceived. This empowers her to be more secure in her identity not just on the show, but also in general.
When she said "you're an old book I read yesterday," or "people come for me all the time, they just don't find me," it suggests that it's very difficult to haze Karen, even when she's going through a crisis, as she usually owns up to her reality. In fact, she's one of the most engaging cast members because she refuses to design a fake personality for the show.