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Reality TV fans know what to expect when it comes to the Real Housewives, and an explosive finale episode is one of them. Whether the season closer features cast members outing each other for running a gossip account or Housewives flipping tables out of anger, the grand finale always keeps watchers wanting more. Below are five of the most explosive the franchise has ever seen.
Salt Lake City (Season 4)
When it comes to creating explosive television for the Real Housewives franchise, nobody does it quite like the Salt Lake City ladies. After debuting their first season in 2021, the iteration quickly became a fan favorite. The series’ over-the-top characters, including Heather Gay, Mary Cosby, and Lisa Barlow, have been instrumental to the show’s success.
The cast has primarily stayed the same over the years. However, Season 4 saw the addition of 39-year-old Monica Garcia. Although she didn’t have deep bonds with the other ladies prior to filming the series, they were familiar with each other due to former cast member Jen Shah. Monica had worked for the latter prior to her pleading guilty to fraud and being sentenced to nearly seven years in prison.
Monica’s time on the show was not without trouble. During her brief stint on the small screen, the freshman Housewife clashed with Meredith Marks, Angie Katsanevas, and, of course, Barlow. Still, her most explosive altercation occurred during the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4 finale. During their dinner, Heather confronted Monica about her alleged involvement in Reality Von Tease—a troll social media account that viciously attacked the cast. After a fiery exchange, the night ended with tears and Monica being sent home on a separate flight. “I, more than anyone, know that nothing stays in the dark, and everything comes to light. I knew that this information would come out. Even Gossip Girl couldn’t stay Gossip Girl forever,” Monica said during her final confessional of the season.
New York City (Season 15)
Even though the Real Housewives of New York Season 15 finale just aired in January 2025, it’s already been declared one of the best the franchise has ever seen. During their cast trip to Puerto Rico, Housewives Brynn Whitfield and Ubah Hassan became engaged in a highly contentious altercation. Their incessant arguing, of course, was not new to watchers. The pair had been beefing since Season 14. However, their feud during the Season 15 finale was unlike anything seen before.
After getting into it during dinner, Ubah made an inappropriate comment about how Brynn makes her money. Brynn, clearly upset, confided in the other ladies about how Ubah’s comments impacted her. She told her co-stars that she had been sexually assaulted and that she was still processing that traumatic experience. Brynn also told the ladies that Ubah knew, so her comment earlier in the night was unacceptable.
Things really escalated, though, when Jessel Taank relayed the above information to Ubah. “This b-tch is lying,” Ubah screamed. Producers decided to separate the ladies, sending Ubah and Jessel to a hotel while keeping the other Housewives in the villa. During this time, Brynn told her fellow co-stars that she believed she had told Ubah about her experience, but there was a chance that “she didn’t clock it.”
Understandably, Brynn’s comments did not sit well with her co-stars, leaving many of them to question whether they could trust her. The season ended with the ladies breaking the fourth wall during their introduction shoot and sharing if they could see their group moving forward. Ubah closed the show with a powerful message. “If I hold this grudge for her, I will never trust. She would cut my wings, so I have to forgive her for me to move on. For me to live my life.”
New Jersey (Season 1)
There can’t be a list of explosive Real Housewives finale episodes, and it does not mention New Jersey’s Season 1 closer. The 45-minute episode featured an enraged Teresa Giudice, who flipped a table on her co-star, Danielle Staub. “You were f-cking engaged 19 times?” Giudice asked Staub while slamming her hands on the table. “You f-cking stupid b-tch.” That moment alone sealed the deal for Teresa Giudice, instantly making her one of the most iconic stars the franchise has ever seen. (There may even be another table flip during a heated Season 12 moment, too!)
Potomac (Season 5)
The fifth season of the Real Housewives of Potomac was already turbulent due to the physical fight between Candiace Dillard Bassett and Monique Samuels. But it did not stop there. Several of the House-husbands were beefing, too. During the finale, Michael Darby, who is a bit of a misfit in the group due to his past behavior, sets things off. After approaching Candiace’s husband, Chris Bassett, he told the professional chef to get his wife under control. “You should get out of my face,” Chris replied. “Shut the f-ck up,” Michael fired back before coming face to face with his season enemy. The tension between the two men prompted the other ladies to get involved, which ignited yelling, cursing, and extreme threats. Sound like chaos? That’s because it was. “Do you want to touch me, Michael?” Candiace shouted. “I mother-f-cking dare your ass.”
Beverly Hills (Season 1)
Like New Jersey, listing the Season 1 finale of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is a no-brainer for a list like this. It centered around sisters Kyle and Kim Richards, who had an unstable relationship due to the latter’s unhealthy drinking patterns. During the finale party, things reached an all-time low when they began arguing over past disagreements. “Unbelievable that mom had to die worrying about you and stressing about you and leave this sh-t on my shoulders,” Kyle told Kim.
However, Kim had grievances of her own to air. “You stole my G-d damn house,” she screamed, sending Kyle over the edge. “Are you out of your mind?” Kyle replied. “You are so sick. Did you hear what you just said? You are a liar and sick and an alcoholic.”
The argument between the famous sisters about Kim’s sobriety would be the first of many on the popular reality show. Kim departed the series after Season 5; however, would return for future seasons as a guest.
