4 Stars

Tonight’s finale opened up some old wounds and healed others. It has been a strange season for “The Housewives of Atlanta.” Much has been said about the differences between its freshman season and this one. Sure, the women know they’re a hit and maybe there has been some playing to the camera. Overall, though, there are events that still remind the viewer that this is a reality show. Who would want to meet their father for the first time while a shaky camera taped the whole ordeal? Why would anyone want to cry over their brother’s grave for the whole world to see? Who enjoys taped proof that one couldn’t carry a tune? There’s definitely enough left in the show to warrant its high ratings and hopefully another season. I, for one, am not ready to let the gals go.

Old wounds… a good way to describe the ongoing war between NeNe and Kim. It all began with a song, but that song isn’t “Tardy for the Party.” This battle goes all the way back to a song NeNe sang in the back of a limo. Remember that? The one in which she drunkenly sang about Kim’s lack of singing talent and relationship with a married man. Today, we can blame Kim for not including NeNe on her hit single, but really NeNe’s original tune still resonates. Now, I’m totally on “Team NeNe,” but it’s hard to choose a side in this new off-camera altercation when you know both women have a way of seeing events in ways that make them look like the sane victim. And, if there’s one thing Kim and NeNe aren’t, it’s victims. Is there a chance they’ll ever be friends again? “I’d rather clip my toenails one by one,” NeNe graphically explained. “Than be friends with Kim.” The thing is she said the same thing about Sheree last season (minus the clipping toenails part, of course).

I have to give Lisa props for how she handled herself tonight. With the recession as it is and Ed not playing ball anymore, the couple seem to be preparing for harder times. In a major “come to Jesus” conversation, the two decided they’d downsize and move into Ed’s bachelor pad. To be clear, Ed didn’t live in an apartment or even a condo, he lived in a house dubbed “Chateau Elan.” It’s basically sits on a 9-acre property that the couple plans on building a guesthouse-sized gym on and putting in a pool. So, don’t feel too bad for them. I just know that the “Housewives” series is all about flaunting one’s riches. Talks of downsizing, even if it is a chateau, had to be embarrassing for Lisa no matter how humble she came off in her show interviews.

After the embarrassment of not having her designs completed last season, Sheree is probably closing some wounds tonight. The whole world finally got to see her designs walk down a runway. If it were “Project Runway,” Heidi would be suffering from epileptic seizures. But, it’s Atlanta. The show was all over the place and as a bitter Lisa (who’s obviously still angry over Sheree completely missing her show) pointed out, it was really not cohesive. Plus, the sheer top that had to be blurred, the finale outfit that looked like it was made for an 80s beauty pageant, it wasn’t what I’d call sophisticated. Oh, and I hope that Sheree watches the finale and realizes that the only thing keeping her show from being a total mess, was Da-wight. Ok? But, to paraphrase NeNe at Lisa’s show earlier in the season: If there’s clothes going down a runway, that’s enough to celebrate. Again, it’s Atlanta.

Maybe, the most heartbreaking part of the finale was when Kandi’s mother made good with AJ. She’s a tough critic and I think there couldn’t be any better testament to the guy’s memory than having won over Kandi’s mother. Hopefully, another wound healed.

Did the finale do it for you? I’m not sure everything was tied up in a bow, but definitely that bodes well for a third season… and next week’s reunion special. Something tells me Kim and NeNe won’t be singing a new tune. In fact, I’m banking on it!

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Photo: NeNe Leakes caught in a rare moment of silence on “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Credit: Bravo