‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ recap, episode 10 : Soul to Sole

This is the first episode to air since Ashley “A.J.” Jewell died in the parking lot of a strip club last Friday night, but since this was taped and edited months ago, the only reflection of that is the “in memoriam” note at the end of the show.
The episode lacked any particularly dramatic moments and only a couple of deliciously catty remarks. And the first scene is now a bit sad because it features Kandi Burruss talking about A.J. to Kim Zolciak . She restates the deep divide between her mom and A.J. She did offer some news: her mom was willing to meet with Kandi, A.J. and a therapist. We’ll see the session next week, as noted in the trailers.
That scene, at kids clothing store Justice, stemmed from Kim skipping out on Kandi’s party shown in episode 10.
Kim repeated the excuse she used with me in a phone interview last Friday: her daughter Brienna was sick. Kandi gave Kim a bit of a hard time about it but ultimately forgave her because you could tell she wasn’t all that peeved. At Justice, Kim spent $616.32 using a “Titanium” American Express which requires $250,000 in expenditures per year. Kim claims that she got it without Big Poppa’s help. Sure. We all believe you Kim.
If this A.J. death hadn’t happened, I’d call Kim and ask her about that, but alas, that’s not terribly important given the current context of what’s going on.
Otherwise, there wasn’t a single truly noteworthy moment to focus on. Instead, here’s a quick summary of the plotlines:
- Lisa Wu Hartwell tries to get preggers. So far, no luck seeking No. 2 with her second husband Ed Hartwell. Hartwell, who spent six years in the NFL, then two more years trying to get back into the NFL, decided to give up for good since his knee was never going to be the same. Lisa would prefer he not go back but at the same time, is bummed she won’t be seeing that $3.5 million a year salary anymore. She tries to tell Kandi she lives modestly, then Kandi calls her on it.
“You have a bowling alley in your house,” Kandi said. “You complained you couldn’t get an elevator!” (After this season’s taping ended around June, Lisa and Ed do eventually downsize, moving to a more modest home they already owned after short-selling the pad with the bowling alley.)

- Kandi takes another step forward in her efforts to become a solo artist instead of just a successful songwriter. She flew to Los Angeles to meet a rep at Capitol Records. The meeting seems to go well but I haven’t heard of her signing with anybody as of now. Budgets are tight, she said, and it’s tough for an artist of her background to break in as a solo artist even though she had hits as a member of a group in the 1990s.
- NeNe Leakes puts together a fundraiser for her Twisted Hearts Foundaton to help women who have suffered physical and emotional abuse from their former male partners. Her idea: a charity run in high heels. The turnout is not huge but it looks like goofy fun. Skinny gay hairdresser Dwight Eubanks, of course, looks especially absurd in his high heels and a leotard get-up which shows off his, um, package.
NeNe, in the final scene of the hour, talks with a relative and explains how she might be going to Athens to meet Alan, who she thinks may be her actual biological father (as opposed to Curtis, who claimed to be her biological dad but wasn’t.) We then see a trailer showing her meeting said “dad.”
- Sheree Whitfield goes to the W Hotel at the Perimeter with Dwight and plans her fashion show. Or maybe it’s more Dwight planning it and Sheree nodding her head a lot, then bitching about it to the cameras. “Dwight,” she said, “just likes to hear himself talk.”
She also slapped down Lisa’s fashion show from a few episodes ago even though she didn’t even bother to show up. “I don’t settle for average,” Sheree proclaimed. “That’s where Lisa and I differ.” Yes, that was the cattiest remark of the hour.
The scene also included my favorite Dwight quote of the hour: “I was a gift from God sent to Sheree to help her out with this event. This is what I do!” Yes, God is a true bestower of such wonderful gifts. He hands out the Dwight Eubanks of the world like Snickers bars during Halloween.
- Despite getting back together with Big Poppa (at least during the taping), Kim plans to work on her wig line. We see a trailer in which she sees her first sample wig.
Kandi was not up for being on “Watch What Happens,” a live show Bravo airs at midnight after the 10 p.m. episode (repeated at 11). Kim called in: “I saw her tonight at the wake. It was difficult. One of the hardest things I’ve had to go through in my life. It’s tough. She specifically asked me to tell her Twitter, Facebook fans, she’s incredibly grateful and really appreciates the prayers from all you guys.”
She later added, “Kandi and A.J. really loved each other. It’s so tragic and sad. He’s a really good person and had a good heart.”
Next week promises to be a heart tugger.