Southern Charm New Orleans Recap: Date Night
May 21, 2018
Southern Charm New Orleans has been a wonderful addition to my Sunday night. Jeff Charleston is so damn nice. All of these men are. I’ll go to one of their guys’ nights and promise not to complain when naked ladies make an appearance. Last night’s episode was no exception as to how kind, fun, and level-headed these gentlemen are.
After a thankfully uneventful night at the Myrtles, the crew is packing their bags. Jon Moody was missing his sock when he woke up, but the noises that freaked out Tamica Lee and Barry Smith were courtesy of their friend Susan and cousin Jared. Justin Reese completely ghosted with girlfriend Kelsey to spend the night at a hotel. The group convenes for lunch, and Justin isn’t scared to admit he’s terrified of ghosts. As Justin continues to say he’s fine, and Tamica takes the opportunity to share a story about her father dying of a heart attack at a young age. Barry interrupts to ask her to pass some sauce, and she is livid. While it is rude behavior, I don’t think Barry was listening to his wife’s conversation given the large number of people at the long table.
However, Tamica isn’t buying what he’s selling even when her brother comes to Barry’s defense. She needs to go easier on him as Barry would never intentionally be dismissive. The conversation morphs into whether Tamica needs therapy and if she’s insecure. Oooh, we all know that word is a trigger for her! Tamica is the most secure person on the planet. Barry concurs, but this time Tamica is tuning him out completely. The men head off to play golf as they ladies shop. Kelsey shares some advice from her mother that you have to daily make a decision to choose your partner. Tamica recognizes that a lot of things Barry does drive her insane, but she knows he probably feels the same way. The ladies hit up a boutique that is haunted by a romantic ghost named George. They can’t seem to get away from the paranormal.
The guys are having a blast on the golf course…except for Jon who has never played. The men are getting an ab workout from laughing at his missed swings. After a roller coaster-esque cart ride, Jeff thoughtfully approaches Barry about the tiff at lunch. He understands Barry’s struggle as he is also married to a very type-A lady. Jeff offers up some nuggets he discovered through counseling and while perusing the world wide web. Bondage! Well, not really, but it was some catchy click bait that provided Jeff with some tools to help him better communicate with Reagan. While shopping, Reagan has a similar discussion with Tamica, although she recognizes she may not be the best person to give marriage advice at the moment. Reagan tries to suggest to Tamica that she may tune out Barry without realizing it, like when he was telling her she needed better balance in her life. Tamica isn’t here to listen to Reagan’s chatter…so she perfects her tuning out on her friend.
Back home in New Orleans, Barry’s mom is trying to teach her grandchildren the significance behind red beans and rice, but she has a hard time talking over Tamica’s constant interruptions and need for attention. We get it, we get it. She’s not a good cook. She gets stressed in the kitchen with her mother-in-law who can whip up the perfect meal. In the French Quarter, Jeff and Reagan are enjoying the same meal but with much less drama. It’s sweet of Jeff to bring his wife dinner because he’s worried she’ll skip the meal in lieu of studying. They recap the weekend at the Myrtles, and Jeff fills her in on how helpful therapy has been for him.
I’d like to think that Tamica’s relationship with her mother-in-law is more fun than it looks. The two pick at each other and Tamica compares her to white noise. Barry makes the comment that he wishes they had more family time together, and Tamica goes off on a tangent about how busy her days are. Their schedules won’t allow for family time. Barry isn’t sold on this excuse, and for once he’s not going to smile and nod. The following day, Justin enlists Barry’s help to pick out a first anniversary gift for Kelsey. He is looking at jewelry, but he’s not ready to purchase an engagement ring yet. Barry advises his friend not to wait to propose based on what’s in the bank account, but rather how he feels. Both men leave with treats for their ladies, so Barry is back to trying to please his wife.
Meanwhile, Jon’s sister Shari is checking in on him. He’s working too hard, and he’s never satisfied with the art he is creating. His sister is super supportive, but she laughs hysterically when he says his pieces are life changing. At Tamica and Barry’s house, he’s trying to set the table when Tamica and their daughter come in from a mother-daughter tea. Their daughter is having a meltdown, and Tamica has zero patience for it. As Barry tries to hear his daughter’s side of the story, Tamica shares that Rani is pouting because she didn’t win anything in the raffle. In Tamica’s talking head, she explains her parenting philosophy. She isn’t raising kids, she’s raising adults. Second place is just first loser. As Barry asks his wife to have more patience, she storms off followed by Rani. Barry needs something in this dynamic to change.
Justin and Kelsey are prepping to celebrate their one year anniversary, and Tamica and Barry are also having a much needed date night. Kelsey is very excited about this evening, but I hope she’s not expecting that ring. They both agree it has been a wonderful year, and Justin reminds Kelsey that they are still young. It’s not like they are twice divorced and in their fifties. Kelsey agrees. They’ve only been dating for one year. That said, she isn’t getting any younger, and she’s ready to settle down. Life is about the next steps, and it’s time for them to take theirs. Justin decides this is the perfect time to give her the present he selected. She can’t contain her excitement when she sees the jewelry box. Is this the moment? Nope. There is a glimmer of disappointment, but she quickly regains her composure. Barry is trying to regain the connection with his wife. He is trying to convey his feelings, but she’s all over the place. Tamica reminds him again that she’s super busy. She’s too tired to have sex, but he counters that she goes to events most nights. Barry implores her to prioritize time for the family. Tamica will try, but you know, she’s super busy.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF LAST NIGHT’S EPISODE? SHOULD JUSTIN HAVE PROPOSED? WILL TAMICA MAKE MORE OF AN EFFORT IN HER MARRIAGE?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]