Calabasas Confidential was released on Netflix on May 29, and the response from viewers is already overwhelmingly negative. Mirroring the site’s official review, commenters in the Ready Steady Cut community complain that it is boring, poorly produced, and filled with unlikable or out-of-touch cast members. The Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts executive-produced reality show is already being dubbed a “snoozefest” and one of the “top 5 worst releases” on the platform. Ouch!
Here are the key problems being raised by viewers.
Production Quality & “Cheap” Feel
While reality shows usually have a lower bar for quality, Netflix has invested heavily in production over the years. Viewers have called out the show for failing to meet the technical standards we have come to expect from a Netflix reality production.
Commenters note that it feels low-budget, messy, and poorly edited, making the narrative difficult to follow. Many agree that the bizarre “fishbowl lens” does not make Calabasas Confidential feel stylistic at all – just cheap.
“The way it’s filmed doesn’t really feel like Netflix, it seems low quality and boring tbh.”
“The fishbowl lens is so jarring and not quality.”
“I’m 8 minutes in right now, and it’s very boring. The way they talk annoys me.”
You know a show is ultimate brain rot material when several viewers admit the only reason they haven’t turned it off is that they are using it strictly as “background noise” while doing other things. A reality show has to be at least somewhat engaging.
“Out of Touch”
It is not surprising that Calabasas Confidential is seen as out of touch – it follows influencer culture, after all. However, it appears that the wealthy lifestyles on the show have immediately alienated audiences, especially when one cast member declared how difficult their upbringing was in affluent Calabasas. Viewers flagged this as peak privilege, pointing out how painfully out of touch the cast is with reality.
“Might be enough once I heard “Calabasas is the hardest place to grow up… Be fr’eal.”
One viewer was alarmed that, despite the cast members having graduated from college, they act like high schoolers and lack basic charisma or emotional intelligence.
“They’ve graduated college, yet there’s zero emotional intelligence.”
“It feels ultra cringy, and this generation talks about millennials, it’s so messy, and every scene has made me second hand embarrassed for them.”
It probably does not help that almost the entire cast consists of high-profile “Nepo Babies,” so it is not surprising that it fails to connect to the audience. The cast includes Preston Pippen (son of Scottie and Larsa Pippen), Raine Michaels (daughter of Bret Michaels), Hercy Miller (son of Master P), and Jodie Woods (younger sister of Jordyn Woods).
Cast Reaction Is Not Good
Usually, a few cast members fare well in popularity following the launch of a Netflix reality show. That is not the case for Calabasas Confidential.
Suede Brooks is a polarizing figure for viewers, with some commenters calling her “fake” and criticizing her for acting like a “wise IT girl” while chasing after Dylan, only to get a harsh reality check.
“Suede thinks she’s this hot-shit-“wise”-it-girl, but she is obvi itching for Dylan from the beginning. She thought Dylan will change for her, but she just got slapped with reality. It’s funny.”
There is also a strange sense of familiarity with Suede due to her voice, which has become a massive talking point. Multiple viewers pointed out that she sounds exactly like Leah Kateb from Love Island USA Season 6, while another commenter thought she visually resembled Katherine Heigl.
Dylan Wolf, whose messy dating history on the show has viewers calling him and Suede ‘toxic soulmates’ (Photo: Netflix)
“Suede Brooks sounds EXACTLY like someone famous, and I cannot figure out who. please help!”
“Not FAMOUS famous but she reminds me of Leah Kateb from Love Island just with blonde hair.”
“To me she strongly resembles Katherine Heigl.”
Dylan is also heavily disliked. Viewers have labeled him “terrible” and “painfully awkward,” with one predicting he and Suede will just end up together as “toxic soulmates.”
“Dylan gets on my last nerve.”
“He really is but honestly so is she. Thinking they’ll end up together like only the truest of toxic soulmates do.”
On TikTok, Dylan brands himself as “Malibu’s Cowboy,” as he rides bulls and works with horses. His “bad boy” persona has obviously not translated well from shorts to the television screen.
Brandi Glanville’s “Unhinged” Cameo
By far, the most shocking reaction to Calabasas Confidential surrounds a mortifying, boundary-crossing scene involving reality TV veteran Brandi Glanville (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) and her son.
Viewers described her cameo as completely “unhinged,” specifically calling out a scene where she overshares graphic details about her sex life (and her son’s) directly to him. Not only has this been deemed cringe, but viewers found it highly inappropriate.
“This show sucks, but I’ve had it playing in the background and BRANDI GLANVILLE. Can we please talk about her??? I didn’t expect to see her in this show, but she is truly unhinged, and I would be mortified to have her as my mom… holy shit she’s talking about her son spanking a girl in his room and that’s how she knew he wasn’t a virgin and how she hasn’t had sex in two years… I feel so bad for her son.”
“She needs a muzzle. She was unhinged enough on Real Housewives, but to have that conversation with your son?! She’s so mortifying.”
Demographics and Format Fatigue
Older reality TV fans have questioned exactly who Netflix is making this show for. One commenter pointed out that habitual reality TV watchers are often looking for something different than a group of privileged 20-somethings complaining about minor problems. There appears to be a distinct exhaustion with the trend of casting content creators who lack the raw authenticity or flair that we have become accustomed to with traditional reality TV stars.
“Genuinely. How old are the cast? Are we aiming for a younger demographic, Netflix?
The people who are watching reality television, habitually are easy 40+ Our kids only tried stranger things because we recommended it, and said they could…
We have more in common with the parents. Give me a show where we have nuggets from master P. Brett Michaels. Scottie. Or, even Families of supermodels… I don’t want to see the kids and their first world problems. I want to know how their parents came from nothing and gained everything! Maybe I’m just old.”
Calabasas Confidential has been unfavorably compared to other major reality franchises. Viewers argue that the show fails to capture the necessary hook or energy to survive the genre’s current over-saturation.
“On episode one, and it’s a snoozefest. Are they all influencers/rich kids? Circle seems so small.”
“Currently on episode 5 a bit of a bore and I wanted to quit watching on episode 2 tbh.”
What’s Next for Calabasas Confidential?
Reality shows are known for being controversial – that is often what fuels them, and viewers expect to be entertained by energetic drama and good storylines. But the early viewer consensus is that simply putting pretty, wealthy social media stars in front of a camera isn’t enough to make a compelling show anymore. Viewers want charisma and real-world stakes, and so far, this series has not delivered on that promise.
Although maybe there is still some hope for entertainment via accidental background trivia. As one viewer pointed out regarding a bizarre editing oversight: “Anyone else see that giant horse’s penis on episode three? I am shocked they didn’t even notice that lol.”
