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Property shows always seem to have dominated the daytime television landscape. Whether it’s a couple refurbishing a recently acquired, derelict property or a family deciding to up-sticks and move halfway across the world to start afresh in a new home, these shows have always had the capacity to tap into our inborn curiosity. Since the millennial boom of the reality show, we have witnessed a marked transition. From the likes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Jersey Shore to Love Island and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, we have seen all manner of programs adopt the reality show format.
While MTV Cribs, when an often minor celebrity would summon us into their not-so-humble abode by pretentiously screaming, “Hello MTV, Welcome to my Crib!” gave us our first proper taste of the intriguing fusion of the reality property show in this more grandiose, in-your-face format, this specific reality spin-off was yet to truly impose itself on this select, exclusive assortment of programs that had established themselves as industry front-runners.
Yet, in 2019, Netflix launched Selling Sunset, a dramatic offering that had love, scandals, drama, and, of course, property at its very heart. While initially a slow-burner in terms of viewing figures, this show, which has its predominant focus on the Real Estate market in Los Angeles, soon began to gain traction, and now, seven seasons in, Selling Sunset has begun to dominate the reality show terrain on Netflix, but what makes it so popular?
The Never-Ending Soap Opera That Is Selling Sunset
There are several factors that draw mass audiences to these shows. However, there is one that naturally stands out from the crowd: the personalities that inhabit our screens. In the case of Selling Sunset, which boasts an eclectic mix of mostly fiercely independent and often very confrontational women, the audience is handed its primary requirement of entertaining, soap-opera-esque characters. Fueled by toxic bitchiness and immense rivalry, which are two of the driving forces in the show’s entertainment value, make Selling Sunset a must-watch reality show because you never know who is simply playing a game.
It is a series that contains all the components of a fictitious soap opera, from the primary antagonist, which, in this case, is head-honcho Jason Oppenheim, as well as the devious diva Chrishell Stause, to the likable Mary Fitzgerald. There is always something to contest, and with such an acrimonious, hostile, and frequently tense environment, unsurprisingly, these deeply polarizing personalities clash considerably. From affairs of the heart that concern its most prominent characters to the likes of infidelity, broken friendships, and even divorce, Selling Sunset offers unprecedented access into the personal lives of those who appear.
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An Intriguing Look Behind the Curtain of Celebrity
As previously mentioned, Selling Sunset evokes a curiosity within us around the cultish mystique of celebrity. Aside from those who star in the show, who, as a byproduct, have become celebrities, the program lifts the lid on the previously unknown. These gigantic, multi-acre estates are often owned by the rich, famous, and powerful, meaning that we, the viewers, get the chance to see A-list celebs’ multi-million dollar pads up, close and personal.
From Ellen Degeneres and Orlando Bloom to Dakota Johnson and Nicole Scherzinger, many celebrities’ houses have been featured on the show in a buying or selling capacity. As the show regularly deals with high-profile people’s houses, there have been a number of notable cameo appearances over the years, such as Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, rapper French Montana, as well as Marvel star Simu Liu.
Related: The Best Movies and TV Shows That Skewer Extreme Wealth
Selling Sunset Speaks to Aspirational Living
Understandably, Selling Sunset’s sells its audience this aspirational way of living, making the show more than just an exhibition of what the incredibly affluent can buy. This program is inherently motivational in nature and explores the American Dream in its most extreme sense, as a group of real estate agents are in relentless pursuit of their next chunk of commission. As such, Selling Sunset embraces the capitalist propensities of America and the West, personified by the hard-negotiating and money-motivated actions of its titular influences, Jason and Brett, and their team of agents.
While the show’s sole focus isn’t just on property, with the subplots and the exploration of the relationships between its stars making Selling Sunset such an irresistible watch, the real estate aspect of the show speaks to our intrigue and the idea of social prestige. This is a show that, by all intents and purposes, is tone-deaf because it is so far detached from real-world issues that plague society, especially the cost of living crisis that has affected billions worldwide. As such, Selling Sunset offers this vicarious escapism, providing a temporary reprieve from the hardships of prosaic, everyday life in this temporary dreamland on America’s West Coast.
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