'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' Premiere Breathes New Life Into Bravo's Beloved Series

Bravo fans, you get to exhale now. Not only is The Real Housewives of Atlanta back, but it's great again. Nearly two years since it last was on the air (and longer since it was in great shape), Bravo's ATL-based Real Housewives series returned this weekend, bringing a perfect fusion of old and new to our screens and breathing new life into one of the most beloved reality TV shows to ever air on the network.

Since its inception, RHOA has always maintained a certain je ne sais quoi. Arguably the most hilarious entry in The Real Housewives canon, the series is also perhaps the franchise's biggest star-maker. Nene Leakes. Shereé Whitfield. Kandi Burruss. Kenya Moore. Phaedra Parks. Porsha Williams. Cynthia Bailey. Kim Zolciack. These aren't just any old Real Housewives; these are household names and some of the best to ever do it in the genre.

For the last four or five years, however, RHOA struggled to maintain that greatness, thus losing its hold on the fandom at large (while ratings remained relatively steady). The abrupt (and dramatic) exit of Leakes, and then Williams, forced the show to restructure almost every season, until what we were watching was more of a group of co-workers and less the cohesive and solid cast that we had been used to for years. After Season 15, RHOA took an extended break, with Burruss leaving after a massive 14-season run, Whitfield leaving for a third time, and mainstay Marlo Hampton departing as well.

Related: Andy Cohen Teases Kenya Moore's 'Supporting Role' on 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' Season 16

For some time, many wondered if RHOA would go the way of RHONY, completely rebooting its cast. Thankfully, the show opted for The Real Housewives of Miami approach, mixing a little old with a little new. They brought back Williams, Parks (who we will see later in the season), Shamea Morton and Bailey (in a Friend role), kept Moore (not for long) and Drew Sidora, while ushering in three newbies (Brit Eady, Kelli Ferrell and Angela Oakley). While we've waited over a year to see how this shakeup would play out, the series finally returned on Sunday, and by the look of that stellar premiere, Bravo just about did the impossible: Atlanta is in incredible shape once again.

The episode wastes no time introducing this new-ish group, anchored not by Porsha, but Shamea! Morton is very familiar to longtime RHOA fans, as she spent years as Porsha's friend on the series. Now, she finally gets a moment to shine, grabbing a peach (and a center peach at that). Shamea is the glue to this group, connected to every cast member.

The show also finds itself at its most lavish thanks to Shamea. We spend much of the episode in her stunning $9 million mansion, both at the top of the episode and at the first full group event. The show still has that signature RHOA humor as well, thanks to the return of confessional assassins Cynthia and Porsha, and plenty of spice from the newbies as well. Drew also returns, with plenty of story to give as she continues to move past her relationship to her stranged husband Ralph Pittman. While Drew's antics have polarized fans, there is something refreshingly familiar about reuniting with her in the premiere, giving us something else to latch onto amid all of the fresh energy the new housewives are giving us.

Speaking of those new wives, they came ready to play this season! Kelli clearly set her sights on Porsha, wasting no time asking her about her estranged husband Simon Guobadia and the murky details surrounding their courtship. Then we have Brit, who starts off on the wrong foot with Kenya, the beginnings of a feud fans have been eagerly awaiting for months now (as we reported, Moore abruptly left the series while filming this season amid an alleged back and forth between her and Brit).

Related: Will Karen Huger Return for 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' Season 10?

That brings us to the only setback to the premiere. If there is any complaint at all, it is the lack of confessional presence for Kenya. The all-star is certainly a big part of the premiere (we see her in a one-on-one scene with Drew, and she arguably makes all of the action happen at the group event), but unfortunately we get no confessionals from her. This means that while we will get to see the back and forth between her and Brit play out, we won't get her perspective, and as we know, perspective is everything in the world of The Real Housewives.

Despite that minor detail, the premiere episode is a knockout. A blockbuster return for the series, which feels like it finally is on the right track. What a pleasure to delight in RHOA again, for it to feel lavish, aspirational, hilarious, and shady again. Our peaches are sweet as ever ... let us rejoice!

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