'I write about reality TV for my job. These 5 reality shows are sinfully underrated.'

I was born to write about reality TV for a living. 

As a child raised by the '00s seasons of Big Brother, I spent the majority of my formative years living vicariously through strangers eating and sleeping in a big house in Dreamworld. 

Then came Australian Idol, and later The Bachelor and MasterChef, and eventually Married at First Sight. I needed nothing else in this world, as there's nothing better than becoming immersed in a new reality show, especially if the series has a huge back catalogue of seasons. 

I distinctly remember the joy of discovering The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and sexy spin-off Vanderpump Rules in 2018 (yep, long before Scandoval sent us into a tailspin) and knowing that I had so much ahead of me. I've since plunged through New York City (the best), Atlanta (the messiest), and Salt Lake City (the most controversial) and I'm a better person for it!  

In short, there's no reality show that I probably haven't at least tried to watch. From the US to the UK and back to Australia (without sounding too cocky), I have a wealth of knowledge on what reality shows deserve more praise. 

So, if you're looking for a new show to fill the Scandoval-shaped hole in your heart, look no further than these overlooked reality shows that are sinfully underrated.

Summer House.

This series is essentially the Bravo lovechild of Vanderpump Rules and The Real Housewives of New York. It focuses on a group of 20 and 30-somethings living in New York City who venture to the Hamptons every weekend to party at their, you guessed it, summer house. 

The series first launched as a Vanderpump Rules spin-off, with the likes Stassi Schroeder and Tom Sandoval (big yikes!) appearing in episodes each season, but it's since fully come into its own.

For new fans, I'd recommend starting at season three if you want to dive right into the drama. The first two seasons featured a rotation of cast members with most leaving before the third season commenced. 

Fair warning: season five was filmed completely in COVID lockdown but this also means it was the most unhinged season so far, as cabin fever hit an all-time high. 

Watch the biggest fight in Summer House history. Post continues after video.

Unlike a lot of reality shows on this list, this series feels the most real and unfiltered. Two cast members have gotten engaged, another couple got married, and friendships have begun and ended through the show. 

The drama might be exaggerated but the stakes feel genuinely high, especially when it comes to the female friendships between the cast.  

I won't spoil but there's been a friendship breakup on the latest season that has felt like a knife to the heart. 

Watch this if you like: Vanderpump Rules.

You can stream Summer House on Hayu.

Made In Chelsea.

This long-running UK series is the one show I tell anyone and everyone about. 

It's like a posh cousin of The Only Way Is Essex, set in the exclusive neighbourhood of Chelsea in London. The series follows a group of friends who routinely date each other and occasionally throw champagne at each other. 

I've watched it since the beginning when it premiered in 2011 and unlike some of the trashier offerings on this list, this show feels closest to the scripted reality show The Hills in how it's so sleekly produced and stylised. 

Image: Hayu.

Like TOWIE, the earliest seasons are the best with all the core cast dropping out as each new season ticked by. Start at season one and prepare for fights delivered with perfect manners!

Watch this if you like: The Hills but with posh Brits.

You can stream Made In Chelsea on Hayu.

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The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Housewives fans are a special breed of human: we're messy, we crave drama, we don't respect boundaries, and we see no problem throwing drinks in each other's faces. 

In the last few years, Beverly Hills and Salt Lake City have dominated the discourse, due largely to the trials of BH's Erika Jayne and the recent conviction and imprisonment of SLC's Jen Shah. 

These are both amazing reality shows, but Potomac is equally enthralling. And the good news is that the reality series already has seven seasons under its belt so there are plenty of episodes to binge. 

Lock yourself in your house for a week! Go nuts! No judgement! 

Image: Bravo.

Watch this if you like: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

You can stream The Real Housewives of Potomac on Hayu. 

Are You The One?

It's a simple concept but with chaotic results: 10 men and 10 women are sent to a tropical place, they are each matched up with their soulmates, and they have to identify their perfect match in order to win a sizeable prize fund.

The only problem? They're all too horny to focus on finding genuine connections. Expect big drama, big fights, and a few love stories scattered in for good measure. 

This MTV series is a lot of fun! 

They're having fun! Image: MTV. 

Watch this if you like: Love Is Blind.

You can stream Are You The One? on Binge and Paramount Plus.

Love Triangle.

It's unsurprising that a concept from the (sick) minds behind Married at First Sight would make a dating show that's deeply trashy, weird, yet addictive. There are even weekly dinner parties if you're still craving that MAFS tradition. 

The season begins with singles trying to make connections over texts and phone calls with a bunch of potential suitors until they decide on their two favourite contenders.

From here, they decide on one to move in but the twist is: the third person (aka the other side of the triangle) also moves in too. Sounds messy? You bet. The first season proved to be absolute carnage, mostly due to one contestant named Patrick who was unlike any man I've ever encountered. 

It's uniquely Aussie, it's deeply cringe – but highly watchable. 

MAFS dinner parties, eat your heart out. Image: Stan.

Watch this if you like: Married at First Sight.

You can stream on Love Triangle on Stan.

Feature image: Bravo + Hayu + Mamamia. 

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