What Happened in The Real Housewives of New York City Season 12? (Full Recap)

Stella Aurora

In Season 12 of The Real Housewives of New York City, the most recent version of Luann de Lesseps’ infamous stage production is being worked on. She wants to get back to her former life now that her probation is done but discovers that old habits are indeed hard to break.

Cast of The Real Housewives of New York City Season 12

  • LuAnn de Lesseps – known singer, model, actor, and socialite in the United States
  • Ramona Singer – a well-known American businessman, author, and TV host
  • Sonja Morgan – a socialite, philanthropist, and media personality from the United States
  • Tinsley Mortimer – a socialite, businesswoman, and television personality from the United States 
  • Dorinda Medley – an entrepreneur and American television personality
  • Leah McSweeney – an American television personality, fashion designer, and entrepreneur

Episode 0 - How They Got Here 2020

RHONY S12 - previous seasons in review

The socialites are back in this uniqueness, including highlights from previous seasons. Return of Bethenny FrankelLuann de Lesseps‘ search for love, Sonja Morgan’s financial recovery, Carole Ann Radziwill‘s romance, Ramona Singer’s re-entry into the dating world, and Dorinda Medley‘s debut.

Episode 1 - Back in the NY Groove

RHONY S12 - Sonja Morgan

The women from New York are back and making progress. After her daughter leaves for college in Season 11, Sonja deals with an empty nest while Luann enjoys the end of her probation. At Dorinda’s end-of-summer party, Tinsley Mortimer and Dorinda’s strained relationship comes to a head.

RHONY Ramona Singeri s on the hunt and seeking a relationship. Leah McSweeney, a brand-new housewife, joins the women to watch the drama unfold.

Episode 2 - Stooping to a Lower Level

RHONY S12 - Tinsley Mortimer

Real housewife Tinsley Mortimer defends herself to Sonja and Leah in the city on her ongoing dispute with Dorinda. The girls spend a long weekend at Ramona’s estate in the Hamptons to mark the summer’s end.

Leah’s tattoos make headlines as Tinsley’s illness renders her silent. Luann apologizes to the woman for her actions over the past year despite being sent to the basement.

Episode 3 - Don't Mansion It

RHONY S12 - the housewives at a nearby vineyard

The girls’ getaway to the Hamptons keeps going. The women visit a nearby winery with Ramona, where they learn about Leah’s background and Dorinda’s presence.

The following evening, Ramona continues to organize a lavish party for a group of new acquaintances she’s trying to win over. Despite Ramona’s repeated warnings to act appropriately, Sonja loses control after being set off by Ramona’s friend Elyse.

Episode 4 - Ain't No Party Like a Hamptons Party

The Hamptons weekend comes to a close with a tennis match between Luann and Ramona, while Luann joins in the fun and Sonja’s dog groomers pay a visit. A girls’ night out at Ramona’s house turns violent as Leah, Tinsley, and Sonja engage in skinny dipping. Tiki torches are hurled, and the chicken piccata contains a vibrator.

Episode 5 - Not So Model Behavior

RHONY S12 - Sonja's fashion show in NY Fashion Week

NYC is hosting fashion week. The ladies watch Tinsley’s significant return to the runway while Sonja is getting ready for her “Sonja, by Sonja Morgan” fashion show from the front row. Leah worries that Sonja dislikes her because of the words she made, while Luann arranges her next cabaret act, “Marry, F, Kill.”

Episode 6 - Just the Sip

RHONY S12 - Dorinda and Tinsley confrontation

Tinsley updates her love life while Leah continues to have troubles with her mother. Sonja acknowledges that business for her clothing brand isn’t as good as she had hoped. Dorinda and Tinsley engage in a verbal duel on Luann’s comic anti-bullying show.

Episode 7 - How Ya Like Them Apples?

Tinsley complains about Dorinda to Leah’s boxing coach. Across town, Sonja receives confirmation from Dorinda that she and John have ended their relationship. Leah is the one to whom Luann confides her relationship with alcohol. On a day trip to a nearby orchard, the women get combative.

Episode 8 - If You Can't Take the Heat, Get Out of the Russian Bath House

RHONY S12 - Ramona and Dorinda confrontation

Leah plans a spa day at a Russian bathhouse since she is anxious about the conflict among the group. Ramona confronts Dorinda about her anger management while Dorinda and Tinsley agree to a ceasefire. After that, Ramona throws a cocktail party when she and Dorinda’s argument erupts.

Episode 9 - Hurricane Leah

The girls take a much-needed weekend break to Newport, Rhode Island. Ramona is upset when Leah invites her sister Sarah to go on the trip. Leah loses her calm at the evening clambake as the conflict between Tinsley and Dorinda intensifies.

Episode 10 - Something's Brewing

The group has supper with Tinsley on their final night in Newport. Ramona is sidetracked by a man at the bar, and the dinner deviates. The evening starts to spin out of control. Once everyone is back in the city, Dorinda and Luann co-host a tea party to help the women unwind and regroup.

Episode 11 - Love Him and Leave ThemEpisode 11 - Love Him and Leave Them

RHONY S12 - housewives having a Halloween Party

The ladies experience Blood Manor’s terrifying tour as they celebrate Halloween in the city. After returning from Chicago with a significant relationship update and life-altering decision, Tinsley quickly learns that some of the women aren’t interested. To assist with organizing her birthday party, Ramona brings Dorinda and Sonja to Long Island.

Episode 12 - Eat, Drink, and Be Scary

RHONY S12 - Luann hosts a Voodo-theme Halloween Party

Ramona meets with a matchmaker in search of love once more. Hannah Danger Lynch and Dorinda talk about Dorinda’s current troubles in their conversation. And to celebrate the conclusion of Halloween week, Luann throws a dinner party with a voodoo theme where Ramona draws everyone’s witchy ire.

Ramona definitely hauled Dorinda up to Long Island the week before so she could get a deal from her social media-hungry party planner, which especially irks Dorinda. Sonja finds it incredibly frustrating that Ramona never seems interested in hearing about Sonja’s life, including her new position as “chief lifestyle officer” at Century 21.

Episode 13 - Not Feeling Jovani

RHONY S12 - Dorinda and Sonja

It appears that the focus of the drama will be on the fact that everyone is upset with Ramona when the show opens. Dorinda gives her housekeeper Len clear orders not to let Ramona use her like hotel room service. Dorinda and Sonja are upset that Ramona hauled them to Long Island to pose for her party planner’s Instagram account so she could enjoy a free birthday.

Dorinda intervenes to defend Sonja as Sonja confronts Luann about paying her less than she should have been paid for appearing in her cabaret show. Elyse approaches Ramona in the meantime to inquire about their friendship status.

Episode 14 - Remember Your Blue Stone Manners

RHONY S12 - Dorinda and Luann fight in the Berkshires

The ladies awaken to find Luann has departed Blue Stone Manor after a night of drinking rosé. The women travel to the city for some much-needed group and shopping therapy. Dorinda hosts a formal dinner party, and chaos ensues to commemorate their last night in the Berkshires.

Dorinda and Ramona provide commentary from the other room as Luann. Sonja discusses the incident where Luann flipped out at Sonja for disclosing. That she doesn’t even pay her enough to cover her hair and makeup to perform in her cabaret show.

Episode 15 - Sheer Madness

Spending time with women who have been imprisoned while attending a meeting at the Fortune Society is something Luann and Sonja do. At a beloved Upper East Side eatery, Ramona and her family reunite with Avery Ann Singer and Mario Singer. The ladies get up for Ramona’s birthday party, but things get awkward when Leah exposes more skin than Ramona can bear.

Because her pals prefer to “dance and groove” rather than sit still, Ramona has styled her party as a living room. As she tells Leah with each new occurrence of what’s to come, Ramona repeatedly emphasizes to Leah how enjoyable, and fancy-free this party will be.

Episode 16 - Not Very Merry-achi

Ramona decides to entirely ignore Leah to avoid losing her mind to her at her party. This is awkward because of the Fortune Society women. Those so kind and courteous do not deserve to have these inebriated banshees crash their relaxation event.

They are having a spa day that Luann throws the following day. Luann hosts a spa day for the women she met through the Fortune Society. Leah gets the cold shoulder from Ramona while Sonja receives a talking to about her birthday night misbehavior.

The women travel to Cancun, Mexico. It is where Leah confronts Ramona about her “unspeakable crimes.” Sonja overindulges in alcohol too fast.

Episode 17 - Back on the Hump

RHONY S12 - Sonja and Leah

Sonja and Leah appear to be less concerned about having their flaws exposed, and as a result, they spend less time trying to disclose their friends’ weaknesses first. Instead, they are content to act as Ramona or Dorinda’s hype man as they diagnose each other’s issues. When Luann walks down to talk to her, Ramona is the only restrained person.

Ramona immediately starts a monologue about drinking water so she won’t become like some other females. As they had only recently arrived in Mexico, Luann advises Ramona to refrain from attacking Dorinda for drinking while being impartial. Cancun remains in a state of turmoil.

In the meantime, Ramona tries to make amends with Leah for her actions at her birthday party. At the same time, Luann confronts Dorinda about her rage. Before they celebrate Sonja’s birthday, Dorinda arranges camel rides and a lunch on the beach to foster some much-needed bonding.

Episode 18 - Hitting All the Wrong Cenotes

RHONY S12 - Leah and Luann walking on the beach

The ladies exercise caution on their third day in Mexico as Dorinda snaps at Sonja and Leah after breakfast. While strolling the beach, Luann and Leah pick up two single males and bring them back to the villa. The women enjoy a beautiful meal with their new male acquaintances while Dorinda stays in bed.

Ramona emerges just as Luann welcomes the men back. They take a drink but decide to meet the men later because it is 11 in the morning. Luann has already worked out, eaten eggs from the area, gotten into an argument, strolled on the beach, and picked up two strangers.

Leah tells her lunch companions that she visits a witch in New York. Those who instructed her to place a crystal egg in her vagina to expunge her ex-boyfriend’s negative energy left over.

Episode 19 - 21st Century Sonja

RHONY S12 - Ramona responds to Dorinda's rage issues

Ramona responds in a group text to Dorinda’s rage issues on the ladies’ final night in Cancun. Leah attempts to strengthen her bond with her mother while Ramona visits a therapist at home in New York City. Sonja throws a party to celebrate the debut of her clothesline as Luann gets ready for her cabaret workshop.

Episode 20 - No Party Like a Mob Party

RHONY S12 - Dorinda and Luann

Leah throws a party for her company, Married to the Mob, to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Dorinda goes out on the town with the ladies and John to celebrate her birthday. At the same time, Luann meets with a ghostwriter for her forthcoming novel.

The celebration typically goes off without a hitch. Still, Dorinda snaps at Luann when she asks her not to check her phone at the table-a rule she had just been told not to break in Mexico-when she does so. Dorinda never met a thick climax or hypocrisy that she didn’t like.

Episode 21 - Viva la Dysfunction

RHONY S12 - housewives at Drag Queen Bingo Party

The women try to escape the past in the season finale but cannot do so. A new song that Luann records intending to include it in her next cabaret. Leah is still working to mend her mother’s relationship.

Ramona and Sonja disagree on how to get the townhouse ready for sale. Dorinda is looking back at her turbulent year after an invasive procedure. When the ladies gather for Sonja’s Drag Queen Bingo party, an old wound is pulled open, turning the otherwise fantastic evening into a nasty one.

Episode 22 - Reunion Part 1

RHONY S12 - Reunion Part 1

The cast recounts some of the craziest incidents during the season. Still, they vent their anger about one of the women’s actions during quarantine. Leah looks back on the highs and lows of her debut season and reveals how the uptown ladies reacted to her attitude toward the city.

The ladies are given a favorable report on Tinsley’s relationship with Scott and her life in Chicago. Still, things quickly get heated when Dorinda criticizes her for not being honest with the group and wrapping up the season early.

Episode 23 - Reunion Part 2

RHONY S12 - Reunion Part 2

The women talk about their trips to Mexico, the Hamptons, Newport, and all the turmoil between them. Ramona confronts Leah about her actions, and things get heated when she says that Leah spoiled her birthday celebration with her suggestive dance skills. Luann updates the women on her “Lu and better” perspective and expresses excitement for her upcoming cabaret.

Episode 24 - Reunion Part 3

RHONY S12 - Reunion Part 3

When Ramona is criticized by Dorinda for failing to support her, the drama escalates, but Ramona defends herself by displaying receipts. Dorinda tears as she responds to claims that she struggles to control her anger.

Episode 25 - Secrets Revealed

RHONY S12 - housewives on shocking revelations

The women respond to never-before-seen footage and discuss candid outfit choices.

Episode 26 - Best of Leah Moments

RHONY S12 - Leah McSweeney

The top moments from Leah McSweeney’s debut season of Real Housewives of New York City are collected here.

The Real Housewives of New York City Quick Facts

  • a reality television program in America 
  • premiered on April 2 to October 1, 2020, on Bravo TV 
  • filming took place in New York City
  • Barrie Bernstein, Andrew Hoegl, Lisa Shannon, Pam Healy, and Andy Cohena are the executive producers
  • consisted of 26 episodes (Episode 0 not included)

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