The Real Housewives of New Jersey as fans know it came to an end on Monday, July 15, when cast members from the hit Bravo show gathered at their beloved hangout Rails Steakhouse for the network’s answer to their cancelled reunion.
PEOPLE was first to report about the switch up, which came after a fractured season that saw longstanding rifts only continue to drive costars Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral, Rachel Fuda, Jackie Goldschneider and Jenn Fessler further apart.
It’s the first time in the history of the East Coast-based reality series there will not be a traditional reunion. The only other time a reunion was canceled in the Real Housewives franchise was in season 13 of The Real Housewives of New York City. For Season 14, the series was rebooted with a whole new cast, with all the season 13 ladies fired in the process.
That seems to be a possibility for RHONJ‘s future. During a live episode of his self-titled SiriusXM show, executive producer Andy Cohen teased that a “rebrand” was in the works — though that no decisions would be made until well after the finale airs. “We’re gonna figure something out,” Cohen shared, responding to a fan who suggested they throw most of the cast out. “We are all on the same page about that.”
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Cohen wasn’t present at Monday’s taping, but sources confirm to PEOPLE what went down when the cameras were up.
Taking a page from the Vanderpump Rules season 10 finale, cast members — who are typically sent screeners of the episodes before they air, but lost that privilege this season thanks to well-reported leaks — were gathered into two groups to watch season 14’s final episode for the first time.
As fans could likely figure out, feuding sister-in-laws Giudice and Gorga were separated. Giudice was seated with Aydin, Catania and Goldschneider, while Gorga was joined by Josephs, Fuda, Cabral and Fessler.
The househusbands, who are a staple at the RHONJ reunion, were not in attendance, insiders tell PEOPLE. Last year’s reunion was highly centered on drama involving Joe Gorga and Luis Ruelas.
Unlike the traditional ball gowns worn by Housewives for reunions, sources say the women were all dressed in daytime lunch attire.
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Though they were split in two, cast members were given the option to move freely between both rooms, sources say — though Dolores was the only one who took advantage of that, popping into Melissa’s room for a brief interaction with that group before returning to Teresa HQ.
The RHONJ season 14 finale, also filmed at Rails, is said to have many bombshell moments that end in a full on fireworks display between the cast. In fact, the RHONJ premiere began with a preview of the ending, with a defeated Dolores sitting amongst rubble at a table alone, pondering how things got so bad between everyone.
Insiders tell PEOPLE Monday’s finale screening did not yield the same explosive results, but did include at least one major revelation that sent shockwaves through both rooms. It is not the moment Teresa has long claimed will leave her “vindicated,” either
There also was some surprise resolution to conflicts seen throughout the season.
After screening the episode, sources say the women were invited, one-by-one, to sit for confessional interviews.
The RHONJ season 14 wrap-up special is expected to air on Aug. 11, a week after the season 14 finale airs. Variety, who was first to report about the taping, noted that it’s unclear it it will be split into multiple parts.
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Though the fate of the franchise remains in the balance, Cohen has said that fans will feel satisfied by how season 14 wraps.
“It’s in the great tradition of absolute shocking, dramatic Jersey finales and they have this final epic group encounter, which is like, it feels like The Last Supper and is just so Jersey,” the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host said back in June. “And it’s shocking and it’s dramatic and it’s amazing TV.”
“People will be talking about for a long time to come,” he noted.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo. Previous seasons can be streamed on Peacock.
