'Real Housewives of Atlanta' recap ('Divide and Ki-Ki'): season 7, episode 11

But I can't think up a perfectly tangible rhyming combo for the shifts this time in Puerto Rico.

Phaedra Parks and Kandi Burruss, part of the "Smalls" group in 2011, are now on NeNe Leakes' team, along with Porsha Williams. Cynthia Bailey, in a separation from NeNe, has aligned with the three newbies: Kenya Moore, who joined the show season five, and this year's arrivals Demetria McKinney and Claudia Jordan.

After Claudia went after NeNe for her shadiness last week, the pair continued a bit longer with their insults in this week's episode, Claudia mostly going after NeNe's wig while NeNe mocked Claudia's spaghetti straps and bob. To the cameras, NeNe also made fun of Claudia's lack of a husband, her small car and the lack of food in her fridge. It was as silly as it sounds, yes. Sixth graders could have come up with better material.

And NeNe basically contradicted her own opening about not being so nasty and rude because she was all nasty and rude toward Claudia and Demetria. It's as if she takes offense at anybody new on the show who might steal her thunder in any way. For someone who has managed so much success away from this show, she sure has some serious insecurities.

But the other ladies lapped it all up for its pure entertainment value.

"Claudia has said everything everyone thought of saying to NeNe," Kandi chortled to the cameras (while oddly  sticking with NeNe during the trip.)

"You can put a lipstick on a pig but it's still a beast,"Kenya said.

"I just couldn't take the fakeness any more. I had to tell that raggedy a** bitch what time it was," Claudia said.

And so it went until NeNe felt a pang of remorse the next day. She told her team that she felt sorry she went there. Claudia did the same with her group.

For the next day, each quartet went their separate ways and had good times on the beach and shopping. That night, Kandi reunited the eight women for a re-do of her Kandi sex toy games she had tried last season that went all sideways. This time, all went smoothly, even as they goofed around with dildos.

Still, things weren't 100% resolved. Demetria the next day went over to Phaedra's room and apologized sincerely for throwing shade at her about Apollo. Phaedra kinda sorta apologized for her shady commentary, which she (sincerely?) claimed was just her warped sense of humor.

Later, on the bus to Demetria's musical performance, Claudia couldn't pull a "Frozen" and "let it go." She wanted an apology from NeNe for her ratchet-y comments the day before. And surprise! She got it. NeNe was reasonably sincere and only mildly defensive in her apology to Claudia. Claudia was seeking something a bit more heartfelt but wasn't going to get it. She wanted NeNe's undue respect, something that wasn't going to happen, probably ever, because NeNe honestly sees she is above everyone else on the show.

So sorry, Claudia, an apology is the best you're going to get. Respect? Leave that to Aretha Franklin.

Claudia then needlessly went after Porsha and her so-called married African boyfriend. Porsha called her comments slanderous but shed no real light on him. She claimed she paid for her Porsha on her own. Kenya doesn't believe it. Does anybody?

They arrive late to Demetria's musical performance but Demetria makes no note of it and she apparently does well because nobody insulted her. Demetria even brought Da Brat in as guest rapper. Phaedra was impressed. "Demetria can blow!" she said - and not in a shady way. And Kandi said while she isn't necessarily pop star material, she could do well in R&B. Coming from Kandi, that's something.

TRAILER FOR NEXT WEEK

Apollo is about to leave. NeNe is annoyed she had to apologize Claudia so much. Cynthia burns the best-friend contract. Todd and Kandi go to a doctor to see why they're having such a tough time getting a baby. Kordell rears his ugly head again.

Ratings: Last Sunday, the show hit a season high of 3.53 million viewers and a 1.7 18-49 rating. But the same show a year ago drew an eye-popping 4.53 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating. So it's still popular-- just more like season five popular not season six crazy popular.