“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” has become one of the most popular shows in the Housewives franchise because each season brings the drama that viewers love. The show has given fans a look into the luxurious lives of these women in Salt Lake City and exposed them to the city’s culture.
When the series first started, Jen Shah was seen as the main character because she was friends with most of the cast and brought them together. Jen was known for speaking her mind and always keeping the other ladies on edge because no one ever knew what she might say next.
Jen highly values loyalty, which is a positive trait, but she expects her friends to show extreme levels of loyalty towards her. In the first episode, Jen became upset when the other women were polite to Mary Cosby, who had offended Jen earlier by saying she smelled like a hospital. Jen didn’t like that her friends were talking to Mary, and she had an outburst at the event they were attending.
It was interesting for viewers to see how quickly Jen’s mood could change, but her behavior got worse as the seasons went on. Initially seen as the main character, Jen quickly became the villain because she started causing problems for each cast member, which did not reflect well on her. Meredith Marks was the only one brave enough to confront Jen about her outbursts regarding Mary Cosby.
Jen was surprised by this because she considered Meredith one of her closest friends, so she retaliated by spreading rumors that Meredith was having an affair. Jen began to speak negatively about most of the women, but her reign ended when she was arrested in Season Two for fraud. Although Jen was going through a tough time after her arrest, it didn’t justify her treating everyone poorly.
Still from the season (Peacock)
Whenever someone from the cast tried to ask Jen about her life, she took it personally and would start yelling. She couldn’t have calm conversations, and everyone feared her reactions. If Jen had not been arrested and stayed on the show, she might have made viewers stop watching because she always wanted to be the center of attention.
Jen would have continued trying to make everyone side with her unfairly, which could have ruined this popular franchise. Although Jen was at the center of most conflicts in “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” the women proved they did not need her as they continued the show without her. To be part of “The Real Housewives,” the women need personalities that make viewers want to watch them every week. Their personalities have to be big so that viewers can relate to them and be interested in their lives.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City offered a fresh perspective because it challenged the stereotype of women from Utah. These women showed how Utah’s culture has slowly changed over time. Jen Shah was at the center of the show in 2020 because she already had relationships with all the women before the show began. Jen was the one who connected everyone, making this unique group of women possible.
Although Jen was the central figure, her personality was very extreme, both positively and negatively. After just one episode, viewers saw how intense Jen could get when she felt wronged. She threw a party for Meredith Marks, and during the party, she got angry when she saw Mary Cosby because Mary had made a rude comment about Jen’s smell, knowing she had just come from the hospital.
While Mary’s comment was inappropriate, Jen’s reaction—yelling and making a scene—was embarrassing. Fortunately, she had her friend Heather Gay there to try and calm her down, but it often took a lot of effort to settle her.
For Jen, loyalty was everything, and she always wanted her friends to support her. Heather demonstrated this well, but it wasn’t enough when Meredith got closer to Mary. Jen always needed to be right, and seeing Meredith, one of her best friends, not being loyal upset her deeply. To retaliate, Jen spread rumors that Meredith was cheating on her husband, which Meredith did not appreciate.
Jen slowly began spreading rumors about her friends whenever she felt betrayed. Whitney Rose got involved when she tried to warn Jen that Meredith and Lisa Barlow were afraid of her. It was clear that the cast feared Jen. Whitney even said in her Season One confessional that she was open with Jen because she feared her reaction if the truth got back to her. Whitney’s attempt to be loyal backfired when Jen reacted explosively and threw drinks at her husband’s birthday party.
Jen’s actions not only pushed viewers away but also upset her own family. After the birthday party incident, Jen’s husband, Coach Sharrieff Shah, had to take a break from her because he was embarrassed by her behavior. Viewers criticized him for enabling Jen and not bringing her back to reality. In the Season Two premiere, Jen said about Sharrieff, “Sharrieff felt like he wasn’t a positive influence in my life, like he couldn’t help me.”
Jen’s outbursts were so extreme that Sharrieff even considered divorce. Jen didn’t understand how her actions were affecting her and those closest to her, and her bad behavior was not a good look. After Jen left the show, there was uncertainty about whether the remaining women could still deliver the drama. However, Season Four showed that they never needed Jen, as they managed to bring excitement and entertainment without her.
The core four—Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, and Lisa Barlow—brought new energy to Season Four, alongside Monica Garcia and Angie Katsanevas. Each had their own storylines, with Heather emerging as a standout by revealing Monica as Reality Von Tease. The women proved they could carry the season with their drama and without petty arguments.
As they prepare for their fifth season, Mary Cosby will return as a full-time cast member, and alliances in Salt Lake City will shift once again. Changes are always happening for these Housewives, and this season is no different as they deal with past conflicts involving Reality Von Tease.
Jen Shah is now serving her 5-year jail sentence, but it’s clear that RHOSLC has moved on from her drama, and she is now just a part of the show’s history. “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” premieres on September 18 and is available to stream on Peacock.
Still from the previous season (Peacock)
“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” has moved significantly since its debut, and the exit of Jen Shah marked a turning point for the franchise. While Jen’s dramatic presence initially drove much of the storyline, her erratic behavior and eventual legal troubles cast a shadow over the show.
However, the remaining cast members have shown resilience, stepping up to fill the void and proving that the series does not rely on one person to succeed. With new and returning faces like Monica Garcia, Angie Katsanevas, and Mary Cosby, the Housewives are more dynamic and engaging than ever.
As the show moves into its fifth season, the focus is on the growing friendships, shifting alliances, and personal growth of the women. The Housewives of Salt Lake City continue to challenge stereotypes and provide a look into the complexities of their lives.
They bring a mix of humor, heart, and unfiltered drama that keeps fans coming back for more. The ability of the cast to adapt and thrive without Jen Shah demonstrates the strength of the franchise. As new storylines unfold and old tensions resurface, viewers can expect the unexpected, ensuring that “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” remains a must-watch series in the ever-expanding Housewives universe.
Last year, Tina Satter released “Reality,” a powerful film about Reality Winner’s arrest. It used the FBI interrogation transcript to show Winner being questioned about leaking a classified document. Sydney Sweeney gave a great performance as Winner, an Air Force veteran who felt Americans needed to know the truth about their country, even though it cost her a lot. Reality Winner’s story is a reminder of the risks people take to do the right thing.
However, turning Reality Winner’s story into a comedy seems like an odd choice. That’s what Susanna Fogel’s new film “Winner” tries to do, but it feels misguided from the start. Emilia Jones plays Reality Winner with a heavy Southern accent, making jokes about her name and using humor that doesn’t really land. While there’s nothing wrong with different takes on the same story, this approach doesn’t seem to work.
“Reality” focused on a specific part of Winner’s life, but “Winner” goes back further. It shows her interest in languages, her time in the Air Force, her relationships, and her work as an NSA contractor.
The script by Fogel and Kerry Howley highlights her growing frustration with the government, but this doesn’t clearly connect to her decision to leak the document about Russia’s interference in the U.S. election. The film wants to show where Winner came from and what led to this big moment in her life, but these parts feel disconnected from the main story.
In “Winner,” there isn’t much of a story arc. The film starts with Winner’s arrest and her saying she was trying to reveal the government’s lies. However, her character goes from distrusting the government in the first scene to still distrusting it by the end.
Throughout the movie, we see why she has issues with the government, but none of this explains why she thought leaking the document was the solution. It seems like every time she gets disappointed by the government, it surprises her again.
Cast in the film (YouTube)
Fogel and Howley add a lot of unnecessary narration that tries to keep things light and humorous, but the jokes are weak and often just state the obvious. While it’s not fair to compare “Reality” and “Winner” directly, “Winner” feels like it’s trying to build up to a story that’s already been told better.
This makes the arrest scene lose the tension it should have. Turning such a serious story into a comedy isn’t easy, and the film’s jokes often miss the mark, hurting the impact of the story.
Although the expanded look at Winner’s life doesn’t always work, it does give some strong supporting performances, especially when it shows her family. Zach Galifianakis plays Reality’s father Ronald, showing where Reality’s drive to do the right thing comes from.
His role demonstrates Galifianakis’ skills as a serious actor. Kathryn Newton, playing Reality’s sister Brittany, shows how Reality’s actions affected her family and their support for her. Emilia Jones does a good job as Winner, but the script doesn’t do her any favors.
The film does well in showing what happened after Winner’s arrest, including the effect it had on her family and the lack of public impact. For such a significant choice, the disappointing response it gets is tragic, making the aftermath one of the film’s most effective parts.
Between “Winner” and last year’s “Cat Person,” Fogel has taken on challenging projects but hasn’t quite nailed the tone these stories need. “Cat Person” was a mix of awkward romance and comedy that didn’t stick to the original story well. “Winner” is an even bigger mess because it doesn’t give a clear reason why we needed a backstory for Reality Winner, or why a comedic take was necessary.
The best moments in “Winner” are after the arrest, which are also the most serious parts—a sign that the lighter approach might not have been the best choice. It’s disappointing because, as a co-writer on “Booksmart,” Fogel showed she could handle a tricky concept—a touching and funny story about two best friends. But the careful attention to tone and what the story needs just isn’t there in “Winner.”
Winner Movie Scene (Big Beach)
“Winner” is an interesting idea that quickly turns into a confused film. As a comedy, it doesn’t work, but it has moments of drama that do. “Winner” had potential, but both “Cat Person” and this film show that Fogel might not have been ready for such a tough task.
Winner” attempts to take Reality Winner’s serious and dramatic story and make it into a comedy, but the film struggles with tone and purpose. While it offers some insight into Winner’s background, it fails to connect her life experiences to her choice to leak a classified document about Russian interference in the U.S. election.
The film’s humor often falls flat, and the narration tries too hard to be light-hearted, which detracts from the gravity of Winner’s real-life situation. Although strong performances by the supporting cast, like Zach Galifianakis as Winner’s father and Kathryn Newton as her sister, add some depth, they aren’t enough to overcome the film’s tonal inconsistencies.
The post-arrest portion of the film is where it finally gains some traction, highlighting the personal cost of Winner’s decision and the lackluster public response it received. This section underscores the emotional toll on Winner and her family, making it the most effective and poignant part of the movie.
Despite the ambition of Susanna Fogel in tackling this project, “Winner” doesn’t quite deliver on its premise. It leaves viewers wondering if a more focused dramatic approach might have been the better choice to tell Reality Winner’s complex story.
