‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ season 8 premiere reaction: Does it work without NeNe Leakes?

Sunday night marked the season 8 premiere of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” which of course promptly took over social media for a variety of different reasons. It’s controversial, it is gossip-worthy, and at times it is completely insane and impossible to understand.

Still, there was a very large shadow cast throughout the premiere by the absence of NeNe Leakes. We know that she will eventually return this season in some capacity, but she is missing in action for at least the first chunk of the season. The show is moving on without her for now, and the good is that the premiere was ripe with familiar faces old and new.

Not only did you get a chance to see a little bit of Sheree Whitfield, who is back on the show after being a force in earlier seasons, but there was major movement in the lives of other ‘Wives. Kandi Burruss is now pregnant, and her husband Todd Tucker had a little bit of tea to spill about Apollo Nida and the interaction that he currently has with Phaedra Parks while behind bars.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Bailey was back, and things between her and Peter Thomas have hit a little bit of a rough patch. What’s going on here? Think along the lines of rumors starting up about him and a woman in a restaurant after there was some footage that came out of it. Not all may have been as it seemed, but don’t you think this will be an issue down the road.

Also, Porsha Williams is back full-time. Be prepared for whatever is going to happen as a result of that.

What did you think about the premiere of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”? Did you even notice NeNe not being a part of the show? Share in the comments right now, and head over here to get some other updates when it comes to the show! Also, be sure to sign up over here to score some other updates on everything we cover, sent right over to you courtesy of our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: Bravo.)