“Selling the O.C.” almost has it all. It has the Oppenheim twins. Brittany Snow’s hot husband. Double-digit listings with infinity pools. Acres of cleavage sheathed in bandage dresses.

But it does lack a few key things — a protagonist, for example. Deliriously fun fashion. Any overt mention of the MAGA energy dripping from several of its main cast members. A clear and compelling narrative arc behind the chaotic and superficial drama that drives the season.

Naturally, as soon as we could get our grubby little hands on the first season of Netflix’s “Selling the O.C.,” baby sister to reality soap smash “Selling Sunset,” we watched every episode. And yes, there was some joy to be found in there, in ogling the garish, soulless modern palaces being flogged by the O Group and trying to unspool the threads of conflict behind each confrontation.

But so much of the show was lackluster compared to its big sister. The cast is mostly quite bland and, frankly, unlikable; it was actually surprising to realize how appealing many of the “Selling Sunset” agents actually are, despite the constant drama. Mary, Chrishell, Amanza, Maya, and even Heather look grounded and pleasant compared to their counterparts in Newport Beach, who are constantly in a competition to be more two-faced and nasty than their colleagues. The drama that ensues seems ginned up and shallow, perhaps in part because it is such a new office — most of these agents barely know each other. And yet the show didn’t manage to capture what conflict did happen onscreen; there’s always vague, poorly explained off-screen beef that translates into confusing, unsatisfying fights.

We discuss how the show’s characters and storylines disappointed us, as well as the show’s fashion (sexy conservative, á la Fox News host), real estate aesthetic (inside of a cruise ship) and much more in this week’s episode. Hope you enjoy! xo

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We’ve been reading…

I’m nearing the end of Tess Gunty’s “The Rabbit Hutch,” which, as it unfolds, is digging more into some familiar sociopolitical questions: The #MeToo era and exploitative sexual relationships; life under the shadow of Trump; late capitalism and the distortions created by massive wealth and fame; and the void that once was, or could be, filled by religious faith and community. Two of her characters, in particular — the ethereal, anguished teenager Blandine Watkins and the troubled grown son of a famous TV star — give voice to aching screeds about the brokenness of the lives they’ve been given. Her pain involves loneliness, heartbreak; his also involves Morgellons disease, a controversial syndrome in which those afflicted claim to find fibers emerging from their skin. With increasing urgency, they try to find a religious, or at least quasi-religious, meaning to transmute their suffering into transcendence. This may sound plodding, but it’s actually a page-turner! -Claire

I have been ripping through some perfect beach reads during my vacay. I finished “The Arc,” which I loved, and then moved onto Elisa Sussman’s “Funny You Should Ask,” Jean Meltzer’s “The Matzah Ball,” and Lizzy Dent’s “The Setup.” Rom-coms in novel form? Inject them right into my veins. -Emma

We’ve been watching…

I just started Nathan Fielder’s new show, “The Rehearsal,” and I think I need a full week to recover from the first episode. Fielder is the creator and star of “Nathan For You,” a comedy reality show in which he would use his very slight business expertise to dream up unhinged strategies for struggling businesses. In “The Rehearsal,” he spends each episode guiding an ordinary person through an elaborate rehearsal process for a task they’ve been dreading; episode one featured a man who wanted to come clean to his bar trivia friends about his lack of a graduate degree after years of misleading them. The show builds an exact replica of the space in which the event will take place on a giant soundstage and casts actors to play anyone else who might be present. Fielder drills the guest star over and over again, intentionally introducing interruptions and unpleasant reactions so that there’s an effective script in place should that actually happen on the day in question. It’s social anxiety made manifest, an attempt to ward off one’s worst fears by making them concrete. I cried at the end of the first episode. That’s a recommendation, I think! -Claire

Honestly… nothing? Taking a little bit of a break from TV while I’m traveling. -Emma

We’ve been listening to…

Nothing new lately! -Claire

The “Scarsdale Diet Murder” episode of Maintenance Phase, featuring Sarah Marshall! I love this perfect Maintenance Phase / You’re Wrong About crossover event. -Emma

We’ve been buying…

The Tradlands Paloma pants in black! I love these pants, and am excited to transition them into fall — so imagine my excitement when they were marked down in the end-of-season sale! Now I’m just trying to resist getting them in olive as well. -Claire

Do hotel rooms count? I’ve been traveling these couple weeks, and just had the most wonderful stay at Waya Narbonne, on the Mediterranean coast of France. An absolutely sweet Dutch couple runs this low-key but elegant “domaine,” and it was a complete delight to stay there. Also… I did get an emerald gingham nap dress because I have an illness and the simple pattern is divine. -Emma

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