For the last few seasons, The Real Housewives of Orange County has been in a real slump, and that's mostly because half of the cast was very unlikable. Don't get me wrong, I understand the appeal of a Housewife you love to hate, but there were several cast members who were, frankly, just hatable.

You know the saying, "Everyone knows where they were when John Lennon was shot"? Well, I'm replacing it with, "Everyone knows where they were when they got the news that Heather 'Fancy Pants' Dubrow was coming back to save RHOC."

I spoke with Gina Kirschenheiter, who joined the franchise in Season 13 (Heather left after Season 11) and of course, I had to get her take on the return of the Orange County OG. Since Gina and Heather had never starred on the series together before, what was it like? And were those initial good vibes we saw in the premiere real?

Below, Gina and I get into that, plus she tells me why her relationship with Shannon Beador is "a journey."

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Samantha Bush for The Dipp:

As the season goes, I'm so excited to watch you and Heather become friends. It seems like you guys have a really natural rapport with one another.

When you first heard the news that Heather was coming back, did you have any preconceived notions about who she was? What was your first impression when you met her?

Gina Kirschenheiter:
It's actually really interesting because, okay. So when I found out she was coming on the show, I mean, I watched the show when she was on it and I was always, like, she seems very rational. "This is going to be fine," I thought. She's from New York.