For the past five years, the residents of Bravo's Summer House have invaded the easternmost tip of Long Island, NY to escape the hustle and bustle of work-week Manhattan. In season 5, filmed during the pandemic, they're sequestering together for the whole summer, amping up the tension and heightening the outbursts.
Since the reality show premiered in 2017, the cast has changed some, but the drama has remained the same. Of course, a number of these up-and-coming professionals stand out from the rest, if only to prove that even with youth and beauty, the struggle can still be real.
10 Luke Gulbranson
He may be the worst of the best, but Luke brought inter-house dating/two-timing into the mix as well as an argument that was one tequila shot away from turning into a brawl. OG cast member Kyle Cooke took umbrage with the Northern Minnesota native's treatment of women, as he'd been playing both Hannah Berner and newbie Ciara Miller. (Ciara didn't take the bait, but Hannah fell hook, line, and sinker.)
The thing is though, Luke is a working actor, most recently appearing alongside Kaley Cuoco in HBO Max's The Flight Attendant, so it's hard to know if his cad-like behavior is genuine or if he's "auditioning."
9 Lauren Wirkus
The now married (since June of 2020 as well as expecting) identical twin of Ashley, brought the confidence of a person who knew someone always had her back. Housemate Carl Radke had no chance when he was in a relationship with Lauren because when they'd have a fight, he'd end up being double-teamed by the Wirkus Circus.
She left the series after season 2, but while Lauren was in the house, she made her presence known, such as when she smashed a cake in Carl's face, or in season 2 when Lauren stepped back and gave the floor to Ashley who smashed a watermelon on it to make known their twin anger at Carl.
8 Stephen McGee
Thus far the only representative of the LGBTQ community, he brought attention to the struggle of trying to balance living his life as an openly gay man (dating Travis) and getting along with his conservative southern family.
In seasons 1 & 2, the event planner was a bit of a pot-stirrer. Giving off a very nice and almost innocent vibe, Stephen appeared to be someone to whom people felt safe in confiding. However, he'd turn around and expose those secrets the minute he felt left out or angered, such as when Stephen got fed up with Carl's treatment of BFF Lauren and revealed Carl's little-known same-sex romantic encounter.
7 Ciara Miller
As with The Real Housewives of New York, Bravo rightly decided it was time to add a POC to the all-white cast. The Atlanta native was introduced as a friend of Luke's, but because of her confidence, broke free of the association and created her own identity and friendships.
Ciara, although a part-time model, brings a bit of gravitas to the show via her profession as an ICU nurse who was on the frontline of the COVID-19 relief efforts. Because she likely saw real-life drama in her professional life, she doesn't need it in her personal life, keeping her head while those around her are losing theirs.
6 Paige DeSorbo
The native New Yorker and fashion influencer (her bedroom at the summer house looks like a giant walk-in closet) has emerged from the crowd as the voice of reason, and like Ciara has managed to stay above the fray, presumably because she has a non-cast member boyfriend, Perry, hence no on-premises entanglements.
Paige has also evolved into the role of in-house counsel/therapist, intervening to advise, negotiate and point out when there's enough blame to go around. Because no one is perfect, she's been known to stir the pot when someone gets on her bad side.
5 Amanda Batula
When we first met Amanda she was Kyle's beleaguered girlfriend. Even though they were in a committed relationship, he saw no reason to stop seeing other women--especially after drinking too much, which seemed to be every waking moment of the weekend.
Because of that, the guest-cum-cast member had chronic Resting Cry Face, as she often screamed at him. But there's nothing like a long-awaited engagement ring to say all's forgiven. Amanda is very self-assured in her relationship, coming to Kyle's defense against anyone who "comes after my man," and recently left her full-time position as a graphic designer to become the Creative, Branding and Marketing head of Loverboy, a hard teas and craft cocktails venture started by Kyle. Their wedding has been postponed more than once.
4 Hannah Berner
No one can take a conversation from zero to 60 like this roommate. The podcast host (Berning in Hell and the new Giggly Squad with pal Paige) is the epitome of free-spiritedness and has made no secret that she's not just looking for love but looking to be loved. Perhaps now that, on season 5, Hannah has gotten over Luke by getting under new guy (now fiance) Des Bishop, she will calm down.
Unfortunately, this co-host of Bravo's Chat Room is often hard to like because she constantly starts fights--especially with Kyle. The phrase "hurt people, hurt people" comes to mind when it comes to this young woman who, even when smiling, seems rather sad.
3 Carl Radke
They say life doesn't give you more than you can handle. If this is true, then Carl can handle a lot. His brother passed away, his parents' marriage failed and left his mother devastated and using her son as her sounding board, and the sales professional lost his job. On top of all that he had to come to terms with his escalated drinking. Those who recall his earlier season relationship with Lauren, and more recently with current housemates Paige and Lindsay Hubbard, know that as a boyfriend, it'll be awhile before he's ready to settle down.
Although Carl seems determined to get his life under control, beginning with his position working for Kyle running Sales and Business Development for Loverboy, there is a deep emotion that could be construed as anger under the surface, evidenced by the fight between Kyle and Luke, which had bystander Carl the first to lunge at Luke fist raised.
2 Lindsay Hubbard
Piece of work is a phrase that comes to mind when talking about this blonde bombshell with brains to match. Lindsay is ambitious and business-savvy, and not one to hold back when something's on her mind. She's at once an older sister/advisor to the house's younger female squad, yet when it comes to romance needs a mentor of her own.
Over the seasons we've seen this alpha female have the same confrontation with former cast member/lover Everett, current cast mate/former lover Carl, and current boyfriend Stephen that goes something like: "You should kiss the ground I walk on; You should only focus on me; You should make 'me' a sandwich." There's a fine line between having high standards as to how you want to be treated and wanting to be treated like a Disney Princess. Lindsay seems to be standing on it.
1 Kyle Cooke
This guy is the gift that keeps on giving. The hard-partying entrepreneur has kept it interesting from the pilot by always finding a way to make it all about him. The quintessential Peter Pan, the 38-year-old is everybody's big brother, yet can be the most immature person in the room, unaware that his frat boy days are behind him.
Kyle seems to be one of those people who cannot be confined, hence he chooses to accept the risk of being an entrepreneur rather than work a 9-to-5, and why it took awhile to remain loyal to Amanda, whom he proposed to in season 3 (2019). The couple has yet to marry, citing the global health pandemic as the reason. Although this was probably a factor, Amanda might secretly suspect what viewers have known all along: she might want to wait until Kyle grows up.
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