Calabasas Confidential Review: Calabasas is, as I am told by Wikipedia, a sprawling city in California that houses only mansions and some very annoying kids who are nothing but copies of one another (the last part is my opinion). Thus, with their glittering houses, clothes, makeup, nails, and a drink from La La Land, who, I am sure, have some sort of product placement deal, bring nothing interesting to the table other than petty fights about high school and some stupid thing or another.
It is, thus, a surprise to no one that this trash reality TV, which is desperately trying to find more people like the Kardashians who can give the streaming giant unending drama to keep future seasons alive. Alas, that dream might just not take off.
Who is in the Cast of Calabasas Confidential Netflix?
Alexie Olivo, Ben Favaedi, Dylan Wolf, Emilie Nelson, Emma Medrano, Hercy Miller, Jemma Durrant, Jodie Woods, Kimora Lewis, Nicole Sahebi, Preston Pippen, Raine Michaels, Sterling Retzlaff, Suede Brooks
The series has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 60 minutes.
Calabasas Confidential Review
Welcome to the Land of Nepo Babies and Immature Drama
When the series starts, you know what you are in for. Featuring slow-motion shots of the next gen of nepo babies who are trying to be “influencers,” we are given a rundown of several people who were born with a gold spoon, telling us that their lives have been hard. We are meant to feel bad for them in some capacity, as they tell us that lasting friendships are difficult in a place like Calabasas. This is, of course, said with complete sincerity, as every one of them sits in front of their sprawling mansions or gigantic swimming pools inside said mansion.
Netflix has always asked its viewers to go for the ride, however insane it may seem from the outside. And while trash TV is a fun, mindless time for most, there has to be something interesting happening in it for it to be amusing in some way. Unfortunately for Calabasas Confidential, none of its nepos has a distinct personality that might separate them from their peers. People cry over high school crushes, men continue to act appallingly and mistreat women greatly, and people make out with one another, hoping to create drama.
The Drama Feels Manufactured… But Also Weirdly Addictive
It becomes quite clear from the first episode that the drama is forced by how extreme it gets quickly. As mentioned earlier, women fight over men they had dated for no reason other than to fight, making people choose sides and throwing fits. It’s so immature and unnecessary that you see through the stupidity and question the point. While most reality TV is scripted in some way, even the manufactured content needs to look realistic. However, Calabasas Confidential doesn’t ground itself well, and you don’t root for anyone.
Plus, the drama, too, is just so juvenile that it’s hard to take a side. While most reality TV is immature, it has to be something more than fighting about boys. In the year 2026, this just isn’t it. But, it’s still bingeable… like scrolling social media mindlessly. It feels good to forget about the terrible realities and watch uber-rich kids fight about whatever during a luxury party in a mansion.
Luxury, Influence and the Performance of Being “Real”
The season leans into this notion of rich kids with complicated lives formula that has somehow become a staple for the streaming giant. Calabasas Confidential is nothing less and further tries to make for these people who cry over banal stuff and don’t have to think about how to pay the rent next month. I mean, sure, most are influencers with a ton of followers, but it’s easier to get said followers when you shop high-end since childhood.
The lack of emotional intelligence and maturity is appalling, considering all of them are adults, and you wonder how easy they must have it when their main concern is how dare their friend talk to their ex. It’s like peaking into people’s lives who have never seen how hard it can be for regular people who work a 9-to-5.
Interestingly, the series showcases how fake and curated social media has become too well. Albeit nothing special, the cast are constantly trying to get the latest gossip or capture the latest disaster to win social media points, which highlights how dependent we have become on manufactured drama. It’s proof of how performative reality TV and modern life have become.
The Cast is Basically Social Media Brought to Life
As I said earlier, the cast of Calabasas Confidential somehow tries to be like the next big Kardashians, but with 14 people hogging the spotlight and basically nothing differentiating them, it’s hard to find anyone who truly sticks out. While they constantly gossip and clash with one another, things start to feel repetitive. The cast constantly feels one argument away from disaster. Unfortunately, these clashes don’t even feel genuine because you are acutely aware that the cast is doing this mostly for the camera, and so things never go overboard, and not a hair is ever out of place.
Netflix Knows Exactly What Audience This Is For
At this point, it goes without saying that Netflix knows what it’s bringing to the table. The series is designed to be fast-paced, unserious and a guilty pleasure with good-looking people wearing beautiful clothes and constantly made up, creating a ruckus for no reason. Although it is fun watching this manufactured content, viewers can’t help but be aware of the privilege that these people have while the world struggles to pay rent and buy groceries.
Final Verdict
In the end, Calabasas Confidential has nothing that can distinguish it from its peers. It’s a repetitive mess that always manufactures drama to get people to keep watching. Still, it never really showcases any of its cast’s personalities that will get genuine attention from viewers. It’s like every other reality TV show on the internet; beyond being great as a casual watch, it’s generic slop that adds nothing to our lives.
What are your thoughts on Calabasas Confidential on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
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