We have gathered today to say goodbye to the Real Housewives of New Jersey franchise as we know it. For years, we’ve laughed, screamed, cried, and typically enjoyed watching this once (mostly) family-oriented series. However, as the RHONJ Season 14 Finale Episode, perfectly titled “When All Is Said and Done,” proved, this series is dead, as physical aggression, harmful rhetoric, and zero paths forward have all entered the chat. Did anyone save the number for Margaret’s florist? Either way, here is our Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 Finale recap, where the love, love, love has officially left the building.
Jackie “is dead” to Margaret
Fessler arrives at Margaret’s for some “good red” wine, cronuts, and conversation. Once settled, Marge shows her an image of last week’s flowers, causing Fessler to quip, “Get the f*ck outta here!” In response, Margaret explains, “When someone [Teresa] does something so absurd, they deserve an absurd response.”
Fessler also reveals something. Margaret’s “good red” wine is garbage.
Jackie is equally dead to Margaret, as she attended Teresa’s infomercial session. To say thanks, she hates it, Margaret will “be dropping some bombs” soon, teasing, “If Jackie thought the texts were bad that I revealed to Dolores, Just. You. Wait.”
Dolores heads to Margaret’s house. “Bring red wine. Her wine sucks,” Fessler jokes. Once Dolo arrives, Marge greets her with sage, laughing that Dolores is “at the devil’s house.”
Dolores questions Margaret about her interactions with Luis’ ex. At first, Margaret didn’t reach out to anyone. But after a year filled with information “coming out” about Luis, Margaret changed courses. At this point, “absolutely,” yes, Margaret reached out to his ex, but “never about putting stuff out.”
“Margaret, I don’t know why you would talk to her,” Dolores sighs. Margaret notes she only reached out to validate the Bo Dietl stuff.
“Why would the ex know what Luis was doing if they’re not even allowed to speak to each other?” Dolores asks in her confessional. In-person, Dolores calls Marge out on her Season 13 reunion “summit.” Dolores thanks Margaret for not inviting her, and they fight because Margaret says she did, “in passing.” Paterson comes out of Dolo, and this friendship’s almost over. But, true friends can fight and then squash it; as this pair did here.
Melissa has nothing to say to Teresa
Danielle and Melissa head to Rachel’s, where Danielle fills them in on Teresa’s meeting. Melissa reveals that Luis’ people have approached everyone. So Margaret doesn’t deserve this hate.
They switch courses, discussing “the last supper” that’s coming up, where they plan on airing their grievances. Melissa has nothing to say to Teresa. But we all know she’ll speak when the tensions are high.
Prep for the final RHONJ cast showdown begins
Danielle texts her dad. He answers. It’s nice, and hopefully there’s a path forward for the two of them.
The ladies begin preparing their fits for their last supper. Paulie commends Dolores for “bringing water to the horse,” referencing Teresa’s often misspoken phrases.
At Teresa’s, Luis stresses, “I hope Margaret and her family suffer. She’s a disgusting, vile human being.” Luis zeroes in on Marge’s son, saying he hopes he “suffers like I suffered.” He also hopes Margaret apologizes. Weird way to go about getting one…
As for Margaret, she has a “few final things to say to Teresa. But when she finds out the real truth [about Jackie] all bets are off.”
Luis calls Margaret “garbage,” slams Rachel’s husband, and states that Melissa isn’t worth Tre’s time because “she’s full of sh*t.” Teresa agrees, but she’s glad she kept the peace with her brother while their parents were alive. Multiple flashbacks play, showcasing better times.
I cried. This series used to be great.
RHONJ’s last supper at Rails
The ladies arrive as flashbacks continue playing, further breaking my spirit. Teresa arrives last, immediately saying no to sitting across from Margaret. Dolores asks the ladies to act right.
Danielle begins by telling Aydin that she paid for her charity event. “You’re hustling everybody for free because you can’t afford things,” Aydin answers. She also tells Danielle that she’s jealous of her. Danielle disagrees because Aydin’s “house is empty.”
Aydin calls Danielle a clown. “I go home, my husband is waiting for me at the door,” Danielle quips. “Your husband with the boobs?” Aydin asks. Danielle stands, shoving some of the table’s contents at Jen, as Teresa engages, yelling at Danielle to “cut it out.”
“Cut it out? You’re the queen of this sh*t,” Melissa tells Teresa. “F*ck you,” Teresa yells, as Melissa calls her “white trash.” Teresa calls Mel a “whore” on repeat as Mel smiles, imitating Teresa’s stance.
Production enters, suggesting Danielle should leave. Fessler exits. Everyone else returns to the table. Aydin states she feels safe enough to continue filming alongside Danielle.
Jackie “Judas” Goldschneider
Up next are Margaret and Teresa. “March of 2022 was the first time I ever spoke to the ex,” Marge begins. “Now it’s a different story,” Dolores notes in her interview.
Teresa then brings up Margaret’s “smear campaign” on Luis. Margaret says she never planned any takedowns. Jackie disagrees in her confessional, calling Margaret “full of shit.”
Rachel jumps in, questioning if Luis is forthcoming with Teresa. Teresa throws this back at Rachel, saying John Fuda isn’t “forthcoming with his past.” Rachel then tells Teresa not to bring up her man, and to keep his name out of her “hot dog-lipped mouth.” Teresa notes Rachel did it first.
Margaret then brings up that weird warrior video of Luis, which Teresa accused her of leaking. This is Marge’s bomb. Jackie met with Luis’ ex, so maybe she leaked it, Marge reveals. At first, Jackie denies this, but then she owns up to it, and OH MY LAWD, WHAT?!
“It was Jackie the whole time,” Danielle laughs. Margaret tells Teresa she “subpoenaed the wrong bitch.” As for Jackie, Teresa’s fine, which confuses Jen Aydin. She thinks once the dust has settled and this actually lands for Tre, she’ll be furious; she just didn’t want to give Marge the satisfaction of a win here.
Their lunch ends. “This group is no longer a family,” Dolores The Godfather notes. “This felt like a death,” she ends, as the credits roll on RHONJ Season 14.