Mia Thornton Says She Almost Didn't Marry Gordon Thornton Because He Lacks *This*

Mia Thornton's marriage to Gordon Thornton is in crisis mode on The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8. The pair's rocky relationship concluded after filming wrapped, and viewers are now getting to see what exactly transpired between the two in the months leading up to their separation.

On Season 8, Episode 17 of RHOP, which aired March 17, the now-estranged spouses met with their couples therapist to discuss their marital issues, and Mia revealed why she almost never married Gordon in the first place.

Here's What You May Have Missed on Bravo:

Mia Thornton and Gordon Thornton Discuss Making an "Arrangement" in Their Marriage

Mia Thornton Reveals How Her Marriage to Gordon "Changed" Ahead of Separation

Mia Thornton Shares Something Shocking About Her and Gordon's Financial Situation: "It's True"

RHOP Season 8, Episode 17 Recap: Mia Thornton Reveals Why She Almost Didn't Marry Gordon Thornton

When the couple's therapist asked how the spouses have been when it comes to their intimacy, Mia made a surprising revelation: She almost didn't marry Gordon because he apparently lacks a romantic side. 

"This one is challenging, because we actually had this conversation in premarital counseling, and I actually almost didn't get married because of it," Mia explained. "And, I actually learned that there's a piece of Gordon — he just doesn't have the romantic side of him, and that's just who he is, and so I've learned to be OK without the romance." 

"Romance means different things," Gordon said in his defense. "And the romance you seek, I'm sorry that I'm not giving that to you, but I'm also letting you know that the romance I seek, I'm not getting all of that, either."

As Gordon explained, Mia is often on her phone, so when he tries to touch her or comfort her, he feels "like a bit of a plague."

"I think that the difference between the two of us, in my opinion, is that you want me to change," Gordon said, and Mia retorted by saying that she just wants Gordon to go back to who he was when they first got married in 2012.

Mia Thornton Says She's "Committed" to Gordon Thornton

Though Mia did end up separating from Gordon in the summer of 2023, when RHOP Season 8 filmed, she said that she was "committed" to making their marriage work. 

"I am committed to Gordon through thick and thin, and, so, when I [sought] counsel for a divorce, it was because I wanted to outweigh all of my options because I felt like we were in a space where you were really difficult to cohabitate with..." she said to her husband during the therapy session.

Mia Thornton with her husband Gordon Thornton at therapy together during The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 Episode 17. Photo: Bravo

She also noted that when she spoke to a divorce attorney, Gordon had a strong reaction.

"I mean, truth be told, the first time I hired a divorce attorney, Gordon emptied my bank account all the way to zero and said I can't leave him," Mia said, which you can check out by watching the clip at the top of this post. "No man or female should do that to anybody to try to make them stay..."

Mia Thornton Discusses the "Strain" Her Marriage to Gordon Has Been Under

Mia may have been committed to making her marriage work when she was in couples therapy with Gordon, but she also acknowledged that the two had been through a lot in their relationship.

"There are a lot of things that have transpired over the past few years that caused a strain on our marriage. You know, I went through a health scare, we have financial difficulties with the family business, and Gordon and I are not on the same page [when] it comes to our goals, and what the future looks like," she shared in an interview on the episode. "And I'm just praying that, over the course of the next year, we can get to some type of understanding."

Gordon Thornton Believes He Has the "Best Relationship" with Mia Thornton

During the session, Gordon asked his wife for more of her time. Other than that, he did feel as though they were already in a good place in their marriage. 

"I'm actually already good, because, quite frankly, I think we have one of the best relationships there is on earth," Gordon said. "In spite of the differences, but that's what makes life interesting."

Catch new episodes of The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 on Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo. Stream episodes the next day on Peacock.