Crazy, Cruel, And Completely Compelling: The Year in Reality TV

Did you know: the Arie/Becca incident was THIS YEAR? It feels like so long ago we were screaming at our screens, “JUST GO, ARIE!” as he lingered around a rented house while she sobbed over their sudden breakup. But no, that was a 2018 special.

Reality TV gave us many gifts and even more grief this year, but it was a year that had us watching and talking at an all-time high. Arie’s season of The Bachelor was just as much of a bummer as we’d all anticipated. That it ended in the excruciating “unedited” final moments between Arie and Becca was a surprise in how long they dragged it out for, but not that it happened. The only bright side to that cringe-worthy interaction was that it planted us all firmly on #TeamBecca as she was chosen to be the next Bachelorette.

Sadly, that season was not so smooth either, as allegations of social media and sexual misconduct plagued contestants — even those that stayed in the running for much longer than they should’ve (and even won!). Becca deserved better, but really, so did we. She appears to be very happy, according to Instagram, and I wish her the best, but I won’t be wishing this Colton season of The Bachelor on anyone.

Where reality TV totally delivered in 2018 was making the incredibly wise decision to bring back the pros. Kristin Cavallari’s Very Cavallari on E! proved to be one of the best new reality shows of the year, easily. First of all, Kristin is one of the greatest personalities our screens have ever been blessed with. She had no problem slipping back into the groove, this time as the boss of her own store. In case you forgot, Kristin’s been bossing people around for years — that she’s now paid to do it was even better. Getting a peek inside her professional life was great, but it was the personal life that had us riveted. Kristin’s husband, former NFL star Jay Cutler, was the bitchiest new reality star around and the reason to get your boyfriend to watch this show with you. His give-no-fucks attitude and eagerness to fire his wife’s employees made for truly LOL moments on this show. This season also included a major pregnancy reveal no one saw coming, a lot of pro-farm animal messages, and Kristin even rolling up to a house party if you can believe it. Season 2 returns to E! this year and we. are. ready.

Another group that had to show ’em how it’s done was the cast of Jersey Shore, returning for Jersey Shore Family Vacation this year. From the Jersey Shore to Miami to Vegas and back to the Jersey Shore, we followed the guidos and all the joys that come from watching them: the dancing, the partying, the wisdom, and the Funfettis. The MTV show served as the ultimate reminder that everything and nothing has changed. Ron’s in yet another tumultuous relationship, Big Daddy Sitch, as he is now called, is sober, wiser, and hungrier than ever, and Angelina…is very much still Angelina. And while the hijinks were aplenty, there were also tears too: at the group not participating in Jwoww’s Mother’s Day video (except for you, BDS!), at Deena’s pregnancy, and other moments that served as a reminder: we care about these crazy kids. Jersey Shore Family Vacation was as real as it’s ever been, but it was also funny, ridiculous, modern and classic at the same time, remaining the best example of what’s old is new.

However, it’s not a vacation on a reality show unless something goes really wrong, as we witnessed on The Real Housewives of New York, when the ladies set sail in Cartagena upon what is now referred to as “the boat ride from hell.” In fact, it was so hellish, the cameramen had to stop filming and take cover from the choppy waters. While the moment was built up in the press and promos, it remains debatable just how scary that ride truly was. Tinsley Mortimer, the same woman who brilliantly cried over seeing pictures of her eggs, maintains that it wasn’t that bad, while Ramona Singer, a woman who had to stand up in the middle of the reunion to wake up her sleepy leg, is still traumatized. But really, was the boat ride any more sickening than the dissolution of Bethenny and Carole’s friendship? At least we have fond memories of the women pooping themselves before they returned to the US.

2018 was the year that the Bravo underdogs proved to be the top dogs of the network, with Below Deck Mediterranean having its best season yet, and the currently underway Below Deck‘s near-death moment drawing up the show’s biggest buzz ever. Plus, Southern Charm was as mean and #MeToo as ever, between the arrival of Ashley Jacobs and her outrageous and totally overboard comments, and then the subsequent sexual assault claims against her boyfriend Thomas Ravenel (not from her, but other women), who was first excused from the show’s reunion, and then the show as a whole. The drama continued off the show and onto social media, making it one of the most memorable seasons in recent history. The same goes for Kelly Dodd who singlehandedly resuscitated The Real Housewives of Orange County by calling newbie Emily Simpson’s husband Shane a “little bitch, pussy, dork” and more, setting the season into high-gear.

In fact, the entire reality genre was on fire this year, with the internet chatting about shows such as Celebrity Big Brother, Survivor, 90 Day Fiancé, and RuPaul’s Drag Race all year long. But the biggest moment in reality TV this year was that the genre was not only embraced, but fully and wholly recognized by Netflix. Queer Eye premiered this year (yes, this year!), gifting us with five new fabulous friends and just a few tears along the way. Along with The Great British Baking Show, Terrace House, and even my new favorite genre, magic shows, there were plenty of reality options to choose from on the streaming platform, with even more to come in the new year.

But the platform that really got it, and really got the goods, is Hulu. At the very end of last year, 13 seasons of Made in Chelsea, basically the British version of The Hills, dropped on Hulu and was my favorite binge-watch for the first half of the year. The second half, well, Hulu changed the game by acquiring the UK’s biggest reality show Love Island. An hour-long episode airs nearly every day for over two months during the summer and viewers can vote on their favorite couples and contestants on the island. Yes, a 57-episode season sounds daunting, but once you start it’s impossible to stop. If you’re in the market for a binge-watch that will have you laughing, gasping, and following at least a dozen sexy new friends from across the pond, press play on Love Island right now.

Unlike many of us, reality TV had an incredible 2018. So many of these shows gave us something to be distracted by, to be enthralled with, and most importantly, A LOT to discuss with our friends online and IRL. It was a revolutionary year for the genre, with so many different kinds of reality TV shows available to stream on nearly every platform imaginable — and with plenty more to come in the year ahead. Thank you, reality TV, for keeping it really real in 2018.

Where to stream Love Island