5 best reality show on Netflix to watch and 2 to skip
By Ricky Valero
Since its groundbreaking debut with Ultimate Beastmaster on February 24, 2017, Netflix has been a pioneer in reality TV. From the unique concept of finding love inside pods to the high-stakes drama of ultimatums and the thrill of selling houses, Netflix's reality TV shows offer a diverse range of entertainment. They've not only taken over the reality TV world but also continue to push boundaries, offering a list of shows that are both worth watching and ones you can skip.
The popularity of Netflix's reality TV shows hit an all-time high in 2023 with season 4 of Love is Blind. So much so that they attempted to do a live reunion, which turned out not to air live because of a mix of production and the number of people trying to tune in. The hit series has turned into a global phenomenon, with seasons of the show released in other countries.
5 best reality shows on Netflix to watch
Selling Sunset
The Oppehnheim Group is a high-end real estate brokerage firm in Los Angeles, California, with offices in West Hollywood and Newport Beach. The series follows a group of agents who navigate the world of real estate and their personal lives. The show's popularity has led to several spin-offs (Selling Tampa and Selling the OC). Between the lavish houses and big personalities, this show is a must-watch.
Debut: March 21, 2019
How Many Seasons: 7 (8th debuting in 2024)
Cast: Brett Oppenheim, Jason Oppenheim, Mary Fitzgerald, Heather El Moussa, Maya Vander, Christine Quinn, Davina Potratz, Romain Bonnet, Amanza Smith, Emma Hernan, Vanessa Villela, Bre Tiesi, Nicole Young
Selling the OC
The Oppenheim Group is a high-end real estate brokerage firm in Los Angeles, California, with offices in West Hollywood and Newport Beach. The series follows a group of agents who navigate the world of real estate and their personal lives. The show's popularity has led to several spin-offs (Selling Tampa and Selling the OC). Between the lavish houses and big personalities, this show is a must-watch.
Debut: March 21, 2019
How Many Seasons: 7 (8th debuting in 2024)
Cast: Brett Oppenheim, Jason Oppenheim, Mary Fitzgerald, Heather El Moussa, Maya Vander, Christine Quinn, Davina Potratz, Romain Bonnet, Amanza Smith, Emma Hernan, Vanessa Villela, Bre Tiesi, Nicole Young
Love is Blind
A social experiment in which single men and women look for love and get engaged without ever seeing the person. Love is Blind follows couples who get engaged over three to four weeks before they head to the altar to say I do. Throughout the show's first four seasons, seven couples remain married for at least two years, with couples Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton and Amber Pike and Matthew Barnett still married from season 1.
Debut: February 13, 2020
How Many Seasons: 6 (Renewed for 2 more)
Host: Nick and Vanessa Lachey
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On is a social experiment that brings couples to the show. Each pair features one person ready to get married and another who isn't. Each pair has eight weeks to decide whether to get engaged or split forever. In the process, the couples are split and must choose a new partner from the rest of the group and move in with them for three weeks. You can also catch the spin-off of the show The Ultimatum: Queer Love which was a big hit.
Debut: April 6, 2022
How Many Seasons: 2 (New season in 2024)
Host: Nick and Vanessa Lachey
Quarterback
Quarterback Season 1 followed quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota as they chased the Super Bowl Championship. The series gave an unprecedented look inside the lives of each quarterback on and off the football field. It was a massive hit on Netflix, leading to a quick renewal for a second season.
Debut: July 12, 2023
How Many Seasons: 1 (Renewed for another season)
2 reality shows on Netflix to skip
Too Hot to Handle
The show revolves around men and women who have meaningless flings and can't form long-lasting relationships. They are placed in a house together on a tropical island for four weeks. Although each contestant is under the impression that they are on a show raunchy reality show, virtual assistant Lana puts them in their place really fast. The contestants start with $100,000 in the pot and reduce if any rule (no kiss, sex, heavypetting, etc.) is broken. The show was strong for the first two seasons but quickly became redundant and far away from what made it fun.
Debut: April 17, 2020
How Many Seasons: 5 (Renewed for another season)
Host: Virtual Assistant Lana
Wrestlers
Wrestlers followed Al Snow and the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion as they were amid chaos. The company is possibly on the verge of closing after not being able to bring in enough funds. Co-owner Matt Jones has put in place a summer tour in hopes of at least getting the show back on its feet. This was an excellent insight into the world of professional wrestling, but the story's inaccuracies weighed down the series' pros.
Debut: September 13, 2024
How Many Seasons: 1