Drama part of the sell on real estate reality show

Selling Sunset Streaming, Netflix

SONIA RAO

Selling Sunset is the reality series centred on West Hollywood’s Oppenheim Group, a real estate brokerage employing the sort of agents who might accidentally wear stilettos to a construction site.

None of this is to suggest these agents aren’t good at their jobs, making room for luxury property sales and friendship meltdowns.

But not all drama is created equal. So, in the spirit of pettiness, here is a ranking of this season’s kerfuffles, from worst to best.

5

Christine’s sudden engagement Resident villain Christine Quinn returns from abroad with her beau, Christian. Christine’s co-workers are surprised to learn she is engaged. Estranged bestie Mary Fitzgerald wonders aloud to Chrishell Stause and Heather Rae Young whether there’s any “overlap” between Christian’s relationship with his previous girlfriend and his new one with Christine.

The rift between the two women worsens.

Unlike Mary’s fiancé, Romain Bonnet, Christian does nothing to spice up the plot.

4

Mary and Romain’s wedding planning bickering

Mary and Romain’s wedding planning is fraught. Romain, a model, bans Mary’s co-worker Davina Potratz from the wedding because she insulted him, assuming Mary pays for his entire life.

Davina feels left out and directs her anger toward Mary, who is dealing with Romain’s stubbornness and Christine’s hurt feelings. In the Selling Sunset universe, Mary is basically a superhero.

3

Heather’s impassioned defences of her new relationship

Fans of HGTV might recognize Tarek El Moussa from Flip or Flop. He and Heather have been dating for a little while now. The second season picks up a month into their relationship.

When a few agents express surprise at how early into the relationship Heather met Tarek’s kids, the newest, Amanza Smith, a hardworking single mother, warns Heather to be careful. It can be hard for children to bounce back in the event of a breakup, she says.

Heather interprets Amanza’s concern as an assumption the relationship with Tarek is doomed.

2

The extended tensions over Christine and Chrishell’s fight

Chrishell begins the show married to This Is Us actor Justin Hartley. Chrishell occasionally refers to him, but her vagueness only makes their marriage more mysterious.

The season takes place before Hartley suddenly filed for divorce, meaning viewers watch these episodes with the knowledge that Chrishell, unaware, is on the verge of life-altering change.

Chrishell is still a central figure, but her main role this season is to defend Mary by reminding everyone how difficult it can be to face Christine’s wrath.

Ironically, their drama was sparked last season by Christine defending Mary after Chrishell seemed to question Mary’s relationship with Romain.

1

Mary and Christine’s fractured friendship

Their friendship falters over a difference in how they approach conflict.

Mary is more straightforward, preferring to speak directly. Christine discusses her feelings with other parties first, a method that comes off as gossiping.

The conflict is dramatized, but the fracturing of a friendship is the most realistic part of this show.