[PREVIEW] The Hustle-Culture Fantasia Of 'Selling Sunset'

After five too-brief seasons of “Selling Sunset,” it was finally time for us to tackle the realtor reality soap — and finally time for me (Claire) to take a crash course in learning to tell 5-7 almost identical long-legged blondes apart from each other. (It’s a steep learning curve, but I can now reliably tell the difference between Emma and Christine, based on minute differences in lip plumpness.) Like this season’s newcomer, agent Chelsea Lazkani, I plunged sans context into the cesspool of entrenched grievances that is the Oppenheim Group and merrily began to choose allies and enemies. Then I went back and viewed the four previous seasons, watching in enthralled horror as Christine’s friendships blossomed and wilted in an almost comically consistent pattern. Each season of the show is a fascinating document, constructed of lip fillers, couture miniskirts, 6-inch strappy stilettos, wedding invitations unreceived and coffee dates gone awry. Also: escrow. I’m at least 30% closer to understanding what “escrow” means after binging this show, as well as 65% closer to believing, against all evidence, that I will own a $4 million house with an infinity pool by the age of 42. Look, no one ever doesn’t buy a $4 million house on this show, so I can only assume the experience is universal.Since Rich Text is new to “Selling Sunset” — and especially since I was absorbing all five seasons of drama simultaneously — we had endless material and could have talked for 12 hours. We compromised at two hours, in which we discussed the show’s very sleek, very tan, very L.A. aesthetic; whether the Oppenheim boys have charisma; whether we’re team Christina or team Chrishell; the limits of dividing and conquering; and what kind of home we’d buy with a budget like the buyers on this show. NOTE: This episode does not cover the reunion episode! Emma had to move (and I had to get a haircut, equally important and stressful) on Friday, the day of the reunion drop, so we weren’t able to squeeze in a taping. But we will be back later this week with a mini-episode on the reunion (spoiler: AHHHHH) and also touch on some of the season five drama that we forgot to mention because I was so overwhelmed by how often Heather must get her hair professionally braided. Hope you enjoy! xo -ClaireShareWe’ve been reading…Matt James’s surprisingly illuminating memoir, “First Impressions,” which offers more substance and insight than most post-“Bachelor” books (low bar, but nevertheless).Also, the upcoming debut “Schmutz” by Felicia Berliner. It’s a very, uh, explicit novel about a young Hasidic woman who gets a laptop for her accounting studies and quickly becomes addicted to porn. Definitely NSFW. -ClaireFinally started Jennifer Egan’s “The Candy House.” I absolutely loved 2011’s “A Visit From The Goon Squad,” so I’ve been very excited to get into the long-awaited follow-up novel. I also loved Jia Tolentino’s New Yorker essay on the potentially radical nature of public, universal motherhood/care work. -EmmaWe’ve been watching…Five seasons of “Selling Sunset.” Obviously. I’m a professional. -ClaireThe second season of “The Flight Attendant” on HBO Max. I love a thriller vibe, and I love Kaley Kuoco’s zany energy. -EmmaWe’ve been listening to…Some pods about the recent Roe vs. Wade news, including a satisfyingly rude episode from the lefty Supreme Court podcast “Five Four” and an “On the Media” episode about underground networks of activists teaching each other how to administer safe abortions outside of a doctor’s office. -ClaireThe second season of “Queen of the Con” about a scammer CPA in Orange County. You know I love a good scam story. -EmmaWe’ve been buying…A lipstick from Merit Beauty, in hopes of reconnecting with my orange-red-lipstick-wearing roots. Also, an extremely soft nightgown from Hill House’s PJ collection. The days of summer glamour are coming! -ClaireI’ve been moving, so I have mostly been buying a whole lot of home things? My favorites include: these Threshold Coiled Rope bins from Target, this Wirecutter-recommended bath mat, this Backdrop paint in Surf Camp for an accent wall, and this indulgent wallpaper from Anthropologie which I am going to attempt to put up myself in my closet. (Because I am now living with a man, my more maximalist, pattern-driven tastes have been banished from the main living spaces. Rude!!!) -EmmaGive a gift subscription