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There’s a scene in Season 2 of Selling the OC, Netflix’s reality TV real estate spinoff of Selling Sunset, where top agent Gio Helou throws himself a party for hitting $100 million in sales. He commissions an ice sculpture of himself for the event, arrives late on a speedboat, and then gives a speech celebrating this “huge milestone” in his career.
“Surpassing this threshold in such a short amount of time proves I’ve not only lived up to, but far exceeded, no doubt, your expectations,” he says, addressing his boss and colleagues. “But I hope it’s a challenge to my fellow realtors to step up to my level.”
Does that sound over the top? You haven’t seen anything yet. Selling the OC follows in the footsteps of its sister series, combining high levels of money and drama and – if anything – taking the latter to whole new dizzying heights. It’s a truly ridiculous show, and I can’t stop watching it.
Gio, cruising in fashionably late.
Credit: Netflix
What’s Selling the OC about?
While Selling Sunset followed realtors at LA-based agency The Oppenheimer Group, Selling the OC follows agents at the group’s new offices down the coast. Twin bosses Jason and Brett, who run the agency, are the main thread that runs between the two shows, but the agents we meet in the Orange County office are entirely new. (You could easily watch Selling the OC without first watching all six seasons of Selling Sunset, in other words, although I’d heartily recommend you watch both.)
Season 1 of Selling the OC introduced us to these new realtors, the houses they’re hoping to sell and their personal lives, which are sometimes often awkwardly entwined with their professional ones. There’s gossip, fallouts, and arguments in every episode without fail. Season 2 picks up where the first season left off, with one major difference — Tyler Stanaland, a realtor who was married to Pitch Perfect star Brittany Snow in Season 1, is now in the process of getting a divorce. His newly single status acts as a catalyst for a large amount of the chaos that follows.
Tyler and Alex Hall’s changing relationship is a big S2 storyline.
Credit: Netflix
The drama levels are through the roof.
When I got the automated Netflix email notifying me that Selling the OC Season 2 had been added, I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t get an immediate pang of excitement. I tried to tell myself I didn’t really care what the dynamic would be between Tyler and his colleagues post-separation – I don’t know these people, after all – but my heart told me that was a lie. I did care. I needed to know what happened next.
This is how Selling the OC gets you on the end of its hook. No matter how much you try and fight it, the drama is irresistible. The producers, camera crew and editors have done an impressive job of shaping the lives of these realtors into a story punctuated with so much tension it’s near impossible to look away. It’s reality TV at its most painfully addictive — the arguments flare up out of nowhere, and are often so ridiculous, that you can’t help but find yourself getting angry on behalf of the people you’re watching.
One of many big arguments.
Credit: Netflix
Selling the OC is worth watching for the houses alone.
Although the drama in Selling the OC is near-constant, it’s worth noting that beautiful homes do also play a part. Getting an inside look at California’s most expensive houses – some listed in the tens of millions – was actually one of the first things that drew me to watch the show, and it’s remained a constant thread in every Season. Infinity pools, underground nightclubs, cinema rooms and always-stunning views are a staple, and it’s fascinating to see the type of people buying and selling these places and the negotiations involved.
The houses may not be the main focus of the show, but they do form a large and beautiful backdrop — and gazing longingly at them makes for a nice breather in between the bouts of verbal sparring.
Does the show have any weaknesses?
Selling the OC won’t be for everyone. It can be awkward to watch at times, and enraging at others. Some of the realtors will rub you up the wrong way. With the ongoing conversation about reality TV fame and mental health, I also found myself wondering how much support is being offered to these realtors who are opening up their lives for the sake of our entertainment (I reached out to Netflix to ask what support is provided, and will update this story if I hear back). As with all reality TV, there’s also the obvious question about how much of what we’re watching is manufactured and how much is actually real.
If you’re looking for a documentary-style exploration of the real estate market, or want a realistic portrayal of what life is like in the Orange County, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. But if you want some entertainingly soapy drama couple with beautiful houses, you’ll be in your element.
How to watch: Selling the OC Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix.
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