WISE Score
Rich people drinking Rosé and screaming at each other in the Hamptons—it’s exactly what you think it is.
Summer House is Bravo's version of a social experiment where the only constant is a high blood alcohol content. It’s not 'bad' television if you enjoy high-gloss messiness, but it’s the definition of empty calories.
For a parent looking for something enriching or imaginative for their kids, this is a hard pass. It’s a show about adults acting like toddlers, which is fun for some adults to watch, but offers nothing of value for actual children.
This is strictly for adults or maybe older teens who already know that Bravo reality TV isn't a blueprint for real life. It's essentially a soap opera with more vodka.
The show is built entirely on interpersonal conflict, gossip, and messy social dynamics. It's the opposite of emotionally healthy modeling.
It's a standard fly-on-the-wall reality format. No creative world-building or original concepts beyond the 'work hard, play harder' trope.
While not 'dangerous' in terms of violence, the heavy emphasis on binge drinking, sexual references, and toxic behavior makes it inappropriate for a younger or unexpected audience.
This is pure 'brain rot' entertainment. There is zero educational value or ethical growth, unless you're using it as a cautionary tale of how not to treat friends.
Summer House hinges on a very specific, very loud New York archetype: the person who thinks their grueling 60-hour work week entitles them to be a total disaster on Saturdays. The show markets itself as a glimpse into the "work hard, play hard" lifestyle, but the "work" part is mostly just a backdrop for the "play" part, which usually involves massive amounts of rosé and screaming in a kitchen at 2:00 AM.
If your teen is gravitating toward this, they’re likely hooked on the lifestyle porn. The house is beautiful, the people are conventionally attractive, and the "hustle" is glamorized. But the friction comes when you realize the show’s internal logic is built on a lie. It suggests that success is measured by how much you can spend on a rental in Montauk and how many bridges you can burn before Labor Day. For a deeper look at how the show handles these themes—especially in the context of recent seasons—check out our guide on the Summer House and the Hamptons "Work Hard, Play Hard" Illusion.
In most reality shows, drinking is a catalyst for drama. In Summer House, it’s practically a main character. The show’s entire structure is built around the "share house" rules, which are essentially a mandate to stay in a state of arrested development.
While the synopsis claims we're following "nine friends," the reality is that these are often coworkers or acquaintances thrown together by casting directors to see who cracks first. The result is a cycle of "mean girl" antics and toxic social dynamics that feel less like a summer vacation and more like a high-stakes popularity contest. If you’re watching this with a teen, the most useful thing you can do is point out how few of these people actually seem to enjoy each other’s company when they’re sober.
Critics and fans on Reddit often debate how much of the "hustle" is manufactured. We see the cast "working" from their laptops by the pool, but the show rarely explores the actual stress of their careers. It presents a version of adulthood where consequences are optional and hangovers are the only real obstacle.
If your kid liked the high-gloss drama of Selling Sunset or the social climbing of Gossip Girl, they’ll find this familiar. The difference is that Summer House lacks the self-awareness of a scripted show. It takes itself seriously, even when the cast is fighting over who bought the most watermelons for the weekend.
This isn't a show you watch for the plot; it’s a show you watch to feel better about your own life. It’s the ultimate "brain-off" media. If you decide to let an older teen watch, use it as a case study in how not to handle conflict. The "hustle culture" depicted here is a hollow version of reality, and calling that out is the best way to keep the show in the "entertainment" category rather than the "aspirational" one.
The 6.6 IMDb score is a perfect reflection of what this is: a polarizing, mid-tier reality show that some people find addictive and others find unbearable. It’s not "good" TV, but as a window into a very specific, very messy subculture, it’s effective. Just don't expect anyone to learn a lesson by the time the credits roll.
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