Best RHOA Episodes: Must-Watch Episodes

The past 17 seasons of The Real Housewives of Atlanta showcase just how wild, iconic, and fun the ladies of Georgia can be. They’ve produced some legendary Bravo lines, moments, and episodes over the years, and these RHOA episodes are just a taste of them.

In honor of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, which will see seven iconic Real Housewives hit the road (and stop in Atlanta, of course), Peacock put together a collection of the best RHOA episodes.

RHOA Season 1, Episode 6: Dream A Little Nightmare

• Original air date: November 11, 2008
• Main cast: Nene Leakes, Kim Zolciak, Shereé Whitfield, Lisa Wu-Hartwell, DeShawn Snow
• Official description: “Shereé and Kim make the best of a boating trip on Atlanta’s Lake Lanier; Nene pursues DNA testing.”
• Why it’s iconic: Shereé introduced the world to her fashion line, She by Shereé, resulting in Nene’s friend, Dwight Eubanks, calling it a “fashion show with no fashions. How dreadful.” Although Shereé was eventually able to pull together her line of “joggers,” this episode was the birth of the very memorable brand.

RHOA Season 2, Episode 3: Unbeweavable

• Original air date: August 13, 2009
• Main cast: Nene Leakes, Kim Zolciak, Shereé Whitfield, Lisa Wu-Hartwell, Kandi Burruss
• Official description: “Kim throws a wig party; Dwight holds a circus-themed birthday party.”
• Why it’s iconic: Shereé pulls on Kim’s wig after an explosive fight at dinner in the first 2 minutes and 50 seconds of the episode. Enough said. “I did not try to pull it off, I did not want to pull it off. I just wanted to shift it a little bit,” Shereé confessed to a producer.

RHOA Season 4, Episode 20: Happiness and Joy

• Original air date: April 8, 2012
• Main cast: Nene Leakes, Kim Zolciak, Shereé Whitfield, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Phaedra Parks
• Official description: “Cynthia hosts a model call; Nene makes a big decision about her marriage.”
• Why it’s iconic: The Season 4 finale features some classic “Nene-isms” like when she calls Kandi’s party for her sex toy line, “dickland.” She also goes off after being gifted a Rolex, stating: “Bling, bling, bling, bitches is mad.” Elsewhere, the finale features the first RHOA appearance from Bolo (more on him down below), marking the start of his iconic RHOA legacy.

RHOA Season 6, Episode 8: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

• Original air date: December 15, 2013
• Main cast: Nene Leakes, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Phaedra Parks, Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore
• Official description: “The ladies go to a haunted mansion in Savannah; Nene gets frustrated with Kandi.”
• Why it’s iconic: This is the episode where Porsha admits that she thought the Underground Railroad was an actual train that ran underground. 

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RHOA Season 9, Episode 13: If These Woods Could Talk

• Original air date: February 12, 2017
• Main cast: Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Phaedra Parks, Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore, Shereé Whitfield
• Official description: “The women embark on a weekend of glamping; Kandi learns of the rumors being spread about her.”
• Why it’s iconic: When the women go on a camping weekend, rumors are spread that Kandi might be a lesbian. When confronted with this, Kandi only had one thing to say: “I am not a lesbian. I love my husband and I love his dick.” Kandi, meanwhile, also accused Porsha of fooling around with women.

RHOA Season 13, Episode 10: What Happened In The Dungeon?

• Original air date: February 21, 2021
• Main cast: Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore, Drew Sidora
• Official description: “The ladies participate in a dungeon-themed bachelorette party that leads to accusations and denials.”
• Why it’s iconic: Bolo is back, bringing the drama and some spiciness with him. After Kandi throws Cynthia a dungeon-themed bachelorette party with Bolo as the guest male dancer, things get wild. Porsha declares she’s a “lesbian” in the late night hours, while some of the women got to see what Bolo was all about. The women also caught a shark during a fishing trip in the episode, proving that RHOA is anything but predictable.

RHOA Season 15, Episode 1: Who’s Gonna Check My New Boo?

• Original air date: August 20, 2023
• Main cast: Kandi Burruss, Drew Sidora, Shereé Whitfield, Kenya Moore, Sanya Richards-Ross, Marlo Hampton
• Official description: “When Shereé introduces the ladies to her latest squeeze at Ross’ 40th birthday, the ladies put the ‘squeeze’ on her by revealing her new boo might be up to no good. As the walls close in on Sanya and her family, cracks start to reveal that their living situation isn’t so comfy. Kandi has to show a guest at Ross’ party who’s really boss.”
• Why it’s iconic: When Shereé introduces the women to her new man, they have some serious questions about how genuine he is. This episode is a classic RHOA caper, showing just how much the women can get down to the bottom of things and how much fun they can have.

RELATED: Every Real Housewife Appearing on RHUGT: Roaring 20th (UPDATING)

RHOA Season 16, Episode 1: Welcome Back Peaches

• Original air date: March 9, 2025
• Main cast: Drew Sidora, Porsha Williams, Kelli Potter, Shamea Morton-Mwangi, Angela Oakley, Brit Eady
• Official description: “Porsha steps back into the limelight in the midst of her challenging divorce, but not everyone receives her with open arms. As Drew manages an awkward living arrangement with her estranged husband, a rumor about her and Porsha’s ex ripples throughout the friend group. Shamea’s birthday party brings out all of Atlanta as new friendships are tried and old friendships are tested.”
• Why it’s iconic: This episode marked Shamea’s first as a permanent cast member and Porsha’s return to RHOA following her exit after RHOA Season 13. Porsha’s return also marked the women asking questions about her divorce at Shamea’s white party, leading Shamea to have to stick up for her childhood BFF.

RHOA Season 17, Episode 1: A Warm Welcome

• Original air date: April 5, 2026
• Main cast: Drew Sidora, Phaedra Parks, Porsha Williams, Kelli Potter, Shamea Morton-Mwangi, Angela Oakley, Pinky Cole, K. Michelle
• Official description: “Porsha hosts a couple’s night that ends in anything but celebratory vibes.”
• Why it’s iconic: The episode started with Cynthia watching highlights from the season before, breaking the fourth wall — and it only goes up from there. The premiere episode for Season 17 introduced the season-long feud between Porsha and Shamea, as well as newcomers Pinky and K. Michelle who were so ready to stir the peach tea.

Check out Peacock’s collection of the best Real Housewives of Orange County episodes.