Get in, losers. We’re going to Calabasas. Netflix‘s latest reality series, Calabasas Confidential, brings viewers into the famous Californian city to follow the highs and lows of a recently reunited group of high school friends. Now out of college and back to living with their parents, this group of spoon-fed nepo babies and aspiring influencers is figuring out their next steps, all while reconciling relationships that were left damaged after high school.
Opening Shot: Days before Coachella, influencers Suede Brooks and Nicole Sahebi catch up with the latter’s fellow Calabasas High School alum Jemma Durrant on the beach. As one does when they return to their hometown, the trio gossips about their old friend group and opens up about residual trauma from high school.
The Gist: After four years away at college, a group of Gen Z nepo babies and aspiring influencers return to their parents’ estates in Calabasas, where they navigate unresolved high school drama, shifting dynamics, shocking love triangles, and the next chapters of their lives.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? If you liked Next Gen NYC on Bravo, you will love Calabasas Confidential. It’s also giving Gen Z’s version of Laguna Beach.
Our Take: Over the last few years, there’s been a heightened interest in the lives of nepo babies. But can you really blame anyone? As proven with the success of Bravo’s Next Gen NYC, which stars several children of Real Housewives icons and will soon feature the daughter of actress Brooke Shields, audiences are equally as fascinated by how the next generation navigates fame and privilege as they are by their famous parents. Calabasas Confidential takes us to the town the Kardashians made famous to follow a group of young 20-somethings as they return home from college to figure out the next steps in their lives. Among the group are Raine Michaels, daughter of Poison frontman Bret Michaels, Hercy Miller, son of rapper Master P, Preston Pippen, son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen and Real Housewives of Miami star Larsa Pippen, and Jodie Woods, sister of Kyle Jenner’s best friend Jordan Woods. The cast also stars successful influencers like Suede Brooks and Nicole Sahebi.
It’s clear that Calabasas Confidential is not shot like the average reality show. The glitzy cinematography reflects the glamour, wealth, and somewhat over-produced aura that both the city of Calabasas—and the people who live there—seem to radiate, almost to the point where, if I didn’t know any better, I would think it’s a scripted show. That said, the cast is truly laying it all out there. Those born into legacy families are clearly trying to break away from their namesakes and forge their own paths, while others are simply trying to heal some of the hurt they’ve felt since leaving high school. When it comes to drama, love triangles and betrayals are at the forefront of the conversation. I’d even argue that some of what goes down this season is oddly reminiscent of Summer House’s “Scamanda” scandal, specifically when it comes to Suede dating Dylan Wolf despite his history with Jemma. With The Kardashians taking forever to release their next season, trust and believe that this show will fill that Calabasas-sized hole in your heart in the meantime.
Sex and Skin: None.
Parting Shot: The premiere episode ends with Jemma confronting Emma Medrano about her budding relationship with Dylan Wolf, Jemma’s ex-situationship.
Sleeper Star: Calabasas Confidential might be using its nepo-baby cast members to bolster itself into cultural relevance, but the breakout star of the show is not even the offspring of a celebrity. Jemma is the clear story-driver from Episode 1, giving that Stassi Schroeder-like energy that hasn’t been seen in what feels like a lifetime. Unwavering when it comes to loyalty and unafraid to confront drama head-on, Jemma is, at the very least, made for reality TV.
Most Pilot-y Line: “Calabasas is probably one of the hardest places to grow up as a young impressionable girl. It’s just a very superficial city. But it also made me stronger. Now, I’m very confident in myself. Because you have to be, otherwise you’d be eaten alive.” Jemma’s description of Calabasas does a great job at shedding background on why some of these people are the way they are.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Calabasas Confidential has what it takes to become Netflix’s next big reality show.
How to watch Calabasas Confidential:
Netflix offers three subscription plans to fit your streaming needs. The plans start at $7.99/month for standard with ads and go up to $24.99/month for unlimited ad-free streaming in up to 4K UHD quality.