Selling Sunset Season 9 proves the drama at the Oppenheim Group is as shiny and relentless as ever. You’ve still got the jaw-dropping real estate, the glossy open houses, and agents who seem to sell gossip as much as they sell houses. It’s high heels, high drama, and high-end listings all the way.
The season picks up not long after Season 8, and the tension is instant. The biggest storyline early on is the clash between Nicole and Emma over that rumour Nicole spread. But it’s Nicole’s nasty swipe at Chrishell that truly stirs the pot even the other women at the O Group can’t back her up anymore. It’s one of those moments where even the champagne feels flat.
Later episodes bring a surprising tonal shift as the cast deals with the fallout from the Altadena and Palisades fires that struck L.A. in January. It’s a rare glimpse of vulnerability and real-world impact that briefly grounds the show’s usual chaos of couture and commissions.
The core trio Emma Hernan, Chrishell Stause, and Chelsea Lazkani still dominate the screen, each bringing their signature mix of confidence, style, and shade. But even with their big personalities, the constant feuds are starting to feel a bit familiar. The newbies, Alanna and Sandra Vergara, barely get enough airtime to make an impression, which is a shame because the show could really use a new spark.
The first half of the season is all about Nicole and her unrelenting drama. Still, for me, Chelsea steals the spotlight. She delivers some truly iconic lines my personal favourite being when she met Emma’s old flame and quipped, “We need to get you fruits, veggies, and a map.” The moment comes after a painfully awkward introduction where he tries (and fails) to impress her, and Chelsea cuts right through the nonsense with one perfectly British line. Instant classic.
This season, though, we also see a softer side of Chelsea. Maybe I’m biased as a fellow Brit, but her mix of confidence and vulnerability hits the perfect note. We Brits just say it how it is, and I love that about her. And when she clashed with Mary? Chelsea absolutely won. We’re not afraid of a little confrontation if you start a fight, we’ll finish it. The LA set just doesn’t always get that, bless them.
Overall, Selling Sunset Season 9 doesn’t reinvent the formula, but it doesn’t need to. It’s still the perfect cocktail of glamour, gossip, and guilty pleasure TV sparkling, scandalous, and impossible to turn off.