It’s no secret that the two rarely saw eye-to-eye during Alexis’ four-season run on The Real Housewives of Orange County, as they engaged in multiple explosive fights that included petty name-calling as well as allegations of betrayal and bullying. Any hope for reconciliation was seemingly squashed after Season 8, which was presumably Alexis’ Bravo swan song; but, to the surprise of many, Tamra and Alexis managed to settle their differences this past year and are now closer than ever.

Fans will get a deeper look at the unlikely friendship in the new RHOC season, which saw Alexis return in a “friend of” capacity.

Tamra says she and Alexis “became very close” after BravoCon 2023

Photo: Tamra Judge/Instagram

Tamra was asked about Alexis’ comeback in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, which was published just hours before the Season 18 premiere.

“If you were to ask me that two years ago, I would say, ‘Hell no, I don’t want her back,’” Tamra told the outlet. “But I met her at BravoCon [2023], and with Andy [Cohen] standing over us, we had a very deep conversation about the past and where she is today, and regrets and things like that and we became very close.”

Tamra teases a “completely different” Alexis in RHOC Season 18

Tamra went on to say that Alexis has changed a lot over the past 10 years and will seem like a completely different person in Season 18.

“You’re going to see an Alexis that is not being held back. One that’s very vocal and one that’s funny, quirky, loud, sad,” Tamra said before touching on the OC mom’s recent struggles and life changes. “She was going through a lot, and this is what makes it so sad is that she’s getting beat up. But people don’t know she had lost her mom recently. She had broken off an engagement. She was going through a lot of stuff… I’m hoping that people aren’t judging her just because she’s dating John Janssen.”

Alexis is “thankful” for her friendship with Tamra

Photo: Tamra Judge/Instagram

Alexis, like many Bravo fans, was also surprised by her friendship with Tamra. She touched on the subject in RHOC Season 18, Episode 1: “Have we had our downside? Yes. Have we shit on each other? Yes. But I’m so thankful for our friendship now.”

A day after the season premiere, Tamra took to Instagram to defend Alexis’ polarizing return, suspecting viewers may warm up to her as the season progresses.

“Everybody is so quick to judge Alexis, it’s sad,” she wrote in a Story. “But as the season goes on, I think you’ll see what I see. She has a huge heart and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”

Heather Dubrow says she’s been calling for Alexis’ RHOC return

Photo: JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images; Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for GLAAD

OC ’Wife Heather Dubrow echoed Tamra, saying the controversy surrounding Alexis and John’s relationship has been hard for everyone involved.

“I’ve been campaigning for Alexis to come back for two years. I was really excited,” Heather told THR. “I know the whole thing with John Janssen is odd and difficult… It’s difficult for all of us figuring out how to navigate the whole thing. But I think apart from that, I really hope that the audience gets to see how much Alexis has evolved as a person since they last saw her. Because she is different. She is strong and independent and great.”