'Real Housewives of Atlanta' recap ('Shade for Days'): season 8, episode 9

Of course, Todd is a businessman and while he could live without the $8,425 he's owed, he found Phaedra's avoidance of the issue after two years annoying. It's clear Phaedra is not broke and could afford to pay it. For Todd, it's the principle of the issue.

For Phaedra, she feels he is being picayune, that she has no desire or intention to release the video (since it's a pregnancy exercise video featuring Phaedra and her jailed hubby Apollo). So why should she pay?

Todd and Phaedra met at her office. The discussion didn't appear to resolve anything because Phaedra did not write a check on the spot.

Phaedra gave Todd this excuse: "It has been a very rough time for me so my priority was my family and health."

Todd to Bravo cameras found this lame: "Phaedra can't pay me because she's a single mother? Come on! Cut the check and stop playing."

He showed her the two cancelled checks she did pay, or 2/3 of the bill. He said all he needs the check and a photo and the DVD would be ready to go.

"It's my name on the video," Phaedra told Bravo later. "I'll say when it's done and when Todd collects his check. Thank you."

***

We also return to Kandi's manager DonJuan and how he got all heated when he overheard Porsha dishing with Phaedra about the exercise video dispute. Porsha was echoing back what Phaedra was telling her with her own spin about why Phaedra and Kandi were arguing, something about how a little coin was causing their problems. (It is only part of the problem in reality.)

At a Cynthia Bailey party, Porsha asked to meet with Kandi "privately." But Kandi didn't trust Porsha and had her posse (Carmon and DonJuan) tag along. Porsha did not like this at all.

"When did Kandi need backup to have a conversation?" Porsha said.

DonJuan apologized for his tone from the earlier argument but not the substance of what he said. Porsha was peeved about this but tried to be the bigger person and accepted it.

But Porsha couldn't get over the fact she feels being ganged up on so she eventually walked away. Shamea Morton tried to calm her down but when Carmon interceded, Porsha wasn't having it and walked away yet again. "You just ratchet as hell," Porsha said as she left. "Girl bye!"

And Kenya Moore can't help but throw her usual shade: 'It's mighty convenient Phaedra wasn't here. She's a kid on playground. She throws a rock and she runs."

Later, Porsha did have a one-on-one with Kandi. Neither were happy. "DonJuan has filled Kandi's head with all sorts of nonsense," Porsha said.

She told Kandi she thought because Porsha is now buds with Phaedra, Kandi didn't trust her anymore. She claimed she isn't taking sides, which Kandi didn't believe.

"You seem okay with everything she tells you," Kandi said. "You jump on the bandwagon."

Porsha then got real: "She needs me a little more." She noted how she empathized with Phaedra given that she herself got divorced.

Kandi, to the cameras, said: "Phaedra is an attorney. She knows how to manipulate the situation. Just don't do it at my expense."

Nothing seemed to get fully resolved but Kandi decided to just let it go. Porsha said she sincerely wanted to still be friends with Kandi. "I want to be there for you," Porsha said.

We'll see...

In other storylines:

OVERNIGHT RATINGS

The episode 8 overnight ratings of 2.98 million is not far off the mark of last year's comparable episode, which drew 3.16 million. Ratings have been fairly stable this season, averaging just shy of 3 million overnight viewers. I have some data from Bravo about viewership counting three days of DVR usage and the show over its first five episodes averaged 3.5 million, down about 250,000 viewers from a year ago.