(S02E01) "You're part of the crazy bunch now." - Caroline to Nicholas, Jacqueline's new baby boy

In the season two premiere of 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey,' tensions are still running extremely high after the big table-turn from last season. On the one hand, it seems like Danielle truly is trying to change and move on. But...

When she nearly crashed Caroline's fundraiser, it's clear that Danielle DOES care that she wasn't invited, even if she says she doesn't. What really bugged me about that little car ride was that she had her kids in tow -- and her kids were the ones with the common sense, telling Danielle not to stop by the event. At least she listened to them, so that's something.

Still, there's this ominous threat wrapped around a prayer:

"I wanna pray for everybody, especially those who have done me grave wrongs. For what they've done to me, they're gonna need all the prayers they can get." - Danielle

So Danielle's still got issues, but so does Caroline. Why carry all that hate and baggage around? Leave the past in the past. Danielle says she's paid for her history, why not leave it there? Granted, most people don't have stripping, kidnapping and extortion in their past, but she's trying to make the best of it. And it seems like Dina's forgiven her.

And by the way, those cats are a hoot -- Grandma Wrinkles (or as I like to call her, the hairless wonder) and Ladybug (the shorn sheep). Maybe the housewives all need to be more like those "little Buddhas."

How two-faced is Kim? At the beginning, you could tell there was a lot more brewing between her and Danielle than she was letting on. First, she's all chummy and best friends (though they looked like they could bite each others' head off). Then at the fundraiser, she completely turns on Danielle and tells the others she doesn't know her well enough to be a friend.

I loved the scenes with Teresa making red sauce with her kids and family. It looked like a major operation, and kudos to her for taking it on while she's about ready to pop out a baby. But I had no idea that you're not allowed to make red sauce during "time of the month," lest you spoil the tomatoes.

I also loved seeing little Nicholas (so cute!), as well as Caroline and Albert's shopping spree at Barney's. Caroline really is all about the family, but yikes, $8-9K for the suit, shirt, tie and sport coat? They live large out in Jersey.

A few other things:

Even though I think everyone needs to move on, I totally get where Chris is coming from, not wanting to have Danielle in their lives. Let's face it -- she's a drama queen. But it seems like trouble ahead if Jacqueline says she's not going to shut Danielle out just because Chris wants her to.

Awkward conversation with Jacqueline talking to Ashley about birth control with Derek right there. He does seem fairly level-headed, though. And I thought it was cheesy when Chris was sharpening the knives while talking to him. What the heck ...

What did you guys think of this episode? Think Caroline should forgive Danielle? Is Ashley headed for trouble moving out of the house? Does Danielle need to drop her obsession over what the other housewives think of her? And should Jacqueline not contact Danielle because her hubby says so?

And I'd love to hear from some Jersey folks on my poll!



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