It started with a tiny dog. One single, small dog named Lucy Lucy Apple Juice. Honestly, if you told a casual viewer that an entire year of television—and the permanent exit of a literal Hollywood legend—would hinge on a Chihuahua mix from a rescue center, they’d think you were joking. But Real Housewives of BH Season 9 wasn't a joke. It was a 24-episode demolition derby that changed the trajectory of the Beverly Hills franchise forever.
We saw friendships that had lasted decades crumble in the span of a single lunch at Villa Rosa. It felt heavy. For fans who had watched Lisa Vanderpump rule the roost since 2010, seeing the "Goodbye Kyle!" moment felt like the series finale of an era, even though the show is still chugging along today.
The Messy Reality of Lucy Lucy Apple Juice
Let's get into the weeds because the timeline is actually kind of confusing if you aren't paying close attention. Dorit Kemsley adopted a dog from Vanderpump Dogs. That’s fact one. Fact two: the dog allegedly bit Dorit’s husband, PK, and her kids. Instead of bringing the dog back to Lisa Vanderpump—which was a contractual requirement to avoid a $5,000 fine—Dorit gave the dog to a "beautiful home."
That home? Not so beautiful.
The dog ended up in a kill shelter. Vanderpump Dogs found out because the dog was microchipped to them. This is where Real Housewives of BH Season 9 stops being a show about shopping and starts being a legal thriller.
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The conflict wasn't just about the dog. It was about the leak. When Radar Online published a story detailing the whole saga, everyone pointed a finger at Lisa Vanderpump. They accused her of "selling stories." Lisa denied it. She even took a lie detector test—a move so extra it could only happen in 90210.
The problem was that the rest of the cast, led by Kyle Richards, was tired. They were tired of what they perceived as Lisa’s "manipulative" ways. They called it "Bobby Fischer" gameplay. It’s funny because, in any other season, a dog being sent to a shelter would be the villainous act. But because the cast turned on Lisa so aggressively, the audience largely swung the other way. We felt bad for her. She was mourning her brother, Mark, who had recently passed away. She was vulnerable, and the sharks smelled blood in the water.
Why Real Housewives of BH Season 9 Was a Turning Point
Before this year, the show had a clear hierarchy. Lisa Vanderpump was the queen, Kyle was the relatable sister, and everyone else filled in the gaps. Season 9 shattered that.
- The "Fox Force Five" was born. This alliance—Kyle Richards, Teddi Mellencamp, Erika Girardi, Lisa Rinna, and Dorit Kemsley—became a solid wall. You couldn't break them. This changed the show's dynamic from individual conflicts to "team vs. individual" warfare.
- Camille Grammer’s chaotic return. Camille came back as a "friend of" and ended up being the only person willing to call out the group's hypocrisy. Her performance at the reunion (before she walked off) was legendary. She brought up the Kavanaugh hearings, she brought up Denise Richards' wedding, and she basically acted as a human flamethrower.
- The Debut of Denise Richards. Everyone loved Denise this season. She was the "cool girl." She ate pizza. She didn't care about the glam. It’s wild looking back now, knowing how badly things went for her in Season 10, but in Season 9, she was the breath of fresh air the show desperately needed.
The season traveled from the Bahamas to France, but the scenery didn't matter. The tension was suffocating. In the Bahamas, we saw the first cracks when Teddi and Kyle confronted Lisa at dinner. It felt scripted but also deeply personal. You could see the hurt on Lisa’s face. She wasn't just losing a scene; she was losing her social circle.
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The Kitchen Scene Heard 'Round the World
If you ask any Bravo fan about Real Housewives of BH Season 9, they’ll mention the kitchen. Ken Todd standing in his kitchen, pointing a finger at Kyle Richards, and yelling, "Goodbye, Kyle!"
It’s a meme now. You can buy it on a t-shirt. But at the time? It was jarring. Kyle and Lisa had been the heartbeat of the show. Their friendship was the anchor. Watching Lisa’s husband kick Kyle out of their home marked the official end of an epoch. Lisa didn't even show up to the reunion. Think about that. A founding member, a pillar of the brand, skipped the reunion because the environment had become that toxic.
There’s a lot of debate about whether Lisa actually leaked the story. John Sessa and John Blizzard—employees at Vanderpump Dogs—were deeply involved. Teddi Mellencamp admitted to being part of a plot to bring the dog story on camera but then claimed Lisa set her up to do it. It’s a "he said, she said" that never truly got resolved.
The nuance here is that Lisa probably wasn't a saint, but the delivery of the "take down" felt cruel given her grief. The fans noticed. Ratings were high, but the sentiment was low. People were angry at Kyle. They were angry at Teddi.
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Moving Past the Puppy Gate Fatigue
Eventually, the show had to talk about something else. We got Camille’s house burning down in the tragic Woolsey Fire. We saw the ladies go to Hawaii for Denise’s wedding, which was planned in like, two days. It was a weird wedding. Rum-infused? Sure. Everyone wearing shorts? Why not.
But the ghost of the dog stayed in the room. Even when they were in Provence, drinking wine and wearing floral crowns, the conversation always drifted back to "transparency" and "honesty." These are the buzzwords the Beverly Hills cast uses when they want to grill someone.
One thing that gets overlooked in Real Housewives of BH Season 9 is Erika Girardi’s relative quietness. She was there, she was supportive of the group, but she wasn't the center of the storm. It was the Rinna and Teddi show. Rinna, specifically, took on the role of the "enforcer." She was the one pushing the narrative that Lisa needed to own her actions.
Actionable Takeaways for the Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch Real Housewives of BH Season 9 on Peacock or looking for context on why the current seasons feel the way they do, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the eyes. In the early episodes at Vanderpump Dogs, look at the staff. They are doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the plot. It’s a great study in how producers use "friends" and employees to bridge the gap between stars.
- Pay attention to Teddi’s "Accountability" brand. It’s the irony of the season. The person who prizes herself on never telling a lie gets caught in a massive web of text messages about the dog. It’s a masterclass in how reality TV can dismantle a person's carefully crafted image.
- Note the shift in Kyle Richards. This is the season she officially stepped into the "Producer on Screen" role. She’s the one moving people from room to room, asking the hard questions, and keeping the plot moving. Whether you love her or hate her, her work ethic this season was undeniable.
- Check the dates. Lisa Vanderpump’s brother died just before filming started. When you watch her reactions to the ladies, keep that timeline in your head. It changes how you view her "defensiveness."
Real Housewives of BH Season 9 wasn't just about a dog. It was a power vacuum. With Lisa gone, the throne was empty. The following years have been an ongoing struggle to see who actually leads this group. Usually, it's a committee. Sometimes it's a mess. But it all started with Lucy Lucy Apple Juice and a very loud "Goodbye" in a Beverly Hills mansion.
If you want to understand the current alliances, you have to start here. The resentment from this year still bubbles up in the "recollections" of the cast today. It’s the foundation of the modern era of Beverly Hills, for better or worse. Mostly worse for the dogs involved, but great for the ratings.