controversial The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jane Shah Her prison sentence was reduced again. The news has led to renewed speculation that Jen may return to RHOSLC following her release. There is precedent for such a thing, after all. Teresa Giudice returned to Real Housewives of New Jersey after her sentencing. In this case, Rong took a waiting period to wait for Teresa to be released.
Of course, there are some notable differences between Jane and Theresa. Trey had been in prison, serving time for fraud, for less than a year. Jane, at this point, is behind bars until 2027. Many can’t imagine Rong without Teresa. But it’s safe to say that RHOSLC has been getting better and better since Jen left after season three.
However, Jen is still an important part of the show and is referenced often. So it is not unlikely that you will be able to return. Now, let’s take a look at the arguments for and against Shah Mazingh’s possible return.
Jen Shah still keeps in touch with her Real Housewives of Salt Lake City co-stars
The main argument against the return of the evil Monica Garcia in Season 4 is that no one wants to film with her. But unlike Monica, there are some RHOSLC cast members who might still film with Jen if she returns. For example, Meredith Marks still keeps in touch with Jane’s husband. In Season 3, the dramatic feud between Meredith and Jane suddenly ended, with Meredith firmly on Jane’s side.
Lisa Barlow also recently made waves for saying that Jane is “harmless unless you’re old.” These comments did not sit well with Monica. Previously, Lisa brought up Jen for criticizing Angie Katsanivas on social media. There is also a very complicated relationship between Jane and Heather Jay. Some are speculating that Jen may be Heather’s “arch enemy” that RHOSLC referred to in the season 5 trailer.
At this point, a few of the RHOSLC ladies may be rekindling their friendship with Jen after her exit. According to Lisa, Jane wants to have a relationship with her and Meredith. So her return will be very organic.
Jin Shah will have to show true remorse and make big changes
Another precedent for Jane’s potential return would be the return of Mary Cosby. Mary was promoted to full-time housewife this year, for the first time since season two. Her comeback has been a huge success so far. This is because she made positive changes, while remaining true to her unique personality. Fans never thought they’d see the day that Marie and Whitney Rose became friends, but they get along famously!
When Jen was on RHOSLC, she was very combative. To be honest, she was a bully. Heather said so herself in the explosive Season 4 finale. While Jane is supposed to have a very charismatic personality, this is never shown on screen. Instead of being the type of villain who loves to hate, it wasn’t fun to watch. In one notable moment, she threatened to drown Whitney and then screamed at a photographer. According to Monica, Reality VonTease started because Jen mistreated her employees.
Of course, people can change. It’s possible that Jane will come back and truly regret her actions. She may want to mend her friendships with women. And as Marie showed us this season, you can never rule that out with this crew.
Would RHOSLC fans want to see Jen Shah and Heather Jay resolve their differences?
To say that Jen and Heather have a complicated relationship is a massive understatement. There is a lot between them that has not been resolved. The question is: Will television be compelling?
In the season 4 finale, Heather finally revealed that Gene gave her the black eye. Jen denied this and also threatened to sue Heather and Bravo over the allegation. Heather’s revelation caused some backlash, even as she also rose to the top job on RHOSLC in order to remove the famous Reality VonTease. Fans were expecting some answers at the reunion but they didn’t get any satisfactory answers. Instead, Heather said she didn’t remember. On the one hand, Jane’s perspective may finally provide some answers. On the other hand, it might be better to leave the black eye story behind. However, if Jane returns, she will have to appear again.
After the season 4 finale, Heather’s comments about Jen and her comparisons to Monica left a bad taste in people’s mouths. Many people wondered why Jane’s control over Heather remained so strong. Their relationship didn’t seem healthy, so was meeting on camera the best idea? It might be better for Heather personally, and as a reality TV personality, if this friendship doesn’t dissolve.
Are Jane’s crimes too much for RHOSLC fans to handle?
The biggest obstacle to Jin Shah’s possible return is the reasons for her imprisonment. Simply put, Jane’s crimes were terrible, targeting the most vulnerable part of the population. Her actions had very serious consequences, and her telemarketing schemes hurt people. It wasn’t in good taste for Lisa to make a scandalous comment about that, let alone invite Jane back to a popular TV show.
For many viewers, the redemption arc will be difficult to accept. But also, this is Bravo where we have other formerly incarcerated Real Housewives and a couple of DUI ladies, too — so let’s not be too judgmental. We hope that Jane is truly remorseful and is making an effort to right her wrongs. But it’s fair to assume that a lot of people don’t want to see this as a Real Housewives storyline. After all, Erika Jayne got backlash for meeting with victims of her estranged husband. No matter how you slice it, Jen’s return to RHOSLC could be a reward for bad behavior, which Bravo is known for. Just look at the response to Anna Delvey’s attempt to use reality TV as a comeback.
Will Jin Shah’s return hurt or help the show?
Season 4 was the best season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City yet. And the very strong fifth season is already shaping up to be even better. By contrast, Season 3 was the worst yet, and focused largely on Jane and her criminal case. At this point, would Jen’s return be detrimental to the success of RHOSLC?
Although Jane is referenced often, viewers are willing to move on. Jane’s drama was very dark, to put it mildly. This season, fans are happy with the minor drama between Meredith and Whitney, and the silly friendship between Mary and Angie K.
Ultimately, even with Jane’s sentence commuted, there are still a few years left before her return to the show is a serious matter. A lot could change before then. But the last two seasons definitely prove that RHOSLC doesn’t need Jen Shah to be entertaining.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs on Peacock.
TELL US – Do you think Jen Shah should return to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City? Why or why not?