Whilesome reality TV shows are popularizedfor their competitive aspect, most are adored for their juicy drama, and these are 15 of the most dramatic currently on the air. Reality TV has a history of being dramatic, especially in the last few decades with a far more widespread reach. Though some reality TV shows have been known for their dramatic reveals or shocking finales, there are shows that bring drama consistently, and those are the dramatic series that reality TV aficionados tend to enjoy the most. With cast members going all in for the sake of drama, anything goes.
Though the reality TV hits that brought the drama to the max in the 90s were few and far between,The Real Worldbecame a staple of the genre, bringing together a group of strangers who were meant to drive each other to create drama. With shows likeBig BrotherandSurvivorjoining the genre in the early 2000s,hard-fought reality TV competition showsalso became a source of drama. Other series began to blossom throughout the 2000s, and while not all of them were necessarily “real”, there was a reality element to each.
Although there arereality TV shows from the 2000sthat viewers remember fondly as the pinnacle of drama, many were rudimentary blueprints for the complicated reality shows that would come to exist in the future. Shows likeLaguna Beach: The Real Orange CountyandThe Hillswould become time capsules thatallow viewers to relive a time in their lives that feels nostalgic and cozy, while shows likeThe Simple LifeandKeeping Up With The Kardashiansprovide a look at some of the most famous socialites in the world before they made it big.
AsBravo began to overtake the genrein the 2010s, many were excited to see more shows that centered on interpersonal relationships and personal drama. Though there weren’t high stakes attached to these shows, viewers felt like they were an escape from their daily lives, and often regarded them highly.The Real Housewivesfranchise overtook the genre, bringing in viewers from all over the world to watch women from different cities navigate their relationships whilst living in luxury. Creating celebrities from their stars, the franchise changed reality TV as a whole and invited drama for the sake of drama.
While there’smore diversity in reality TV than ever before, viewers have also come to understand that “drama” can mean many different things. Some shows offer drama as an escape, filling their plot with exciting, dramatic moments that viewers can chew on for weeks after watching. Other shows offer drama by way of competition, with nail-biting physical and mental endurance games. The best reality TV shows offer a mix of both sides, creating a social experience with each new episode. Here are the 15 most dramatic reality TV shows of the moment.
15The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives
Available On Hulu
The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesis an eight-part docu-series on Hulu that brings viewers into a group of women who have been rocked by scandal and are still standing to tell the tale. While several shows document the lives andnorms of women in the Mormon church,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesdetails a different type of Mormon woman. The group of women featured in the series started a TikTok content creation hub,coining the MomTok side of the popular video-sharing app.
Throughout the docu-series,viewers get a glimpse into the seemingly pristine look at the group of women behind MomTok, until a bombshell is dropped on the ladies. When one of their own, Taylor Frankie Paul, was revealed to be hiding a salacious secret life and attending soft swinging events, things changed for the group forever. While many are looking forward toThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 2, the first season of the docu-series is dramatic enough to hold viewers over.
The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives
A scandalous group of Mormon mom influencers, known as #MomTok, faces the fallout of their controversial “soft swinging” lifestyle that rocked the internet in 2022. As their friendships and reputations are put to the test, the docuseries explores the intense drama, broken trust, and the public’s reaction to their choices.
14Below Deck Mediterranean
Available On Bravo & Peacock
One of the severalBelow Deckspin-off shows that have found success with Bravo viewers,Below Deck Mediterraneanseason 9is currently airing and bringing a mess of drama to viewers. While many seasons ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanhave been dramatic throughout the show’s run, the current season has brought the mess of a love triangle aboard Captain Sandy Yawn’s superyacht, Mustique. The show, whichfocuses on the interpersonal relationships of a group of yachties working through a charter season, has been working its way through several different stories this season, each more dramatic than the last.
AsBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9’s Chief Stew AeshaScott has struggled to keep her team in line during a love triangle that saw two Stews and a Deckhand consistently fighting throughout the season, things have been rough. Aside from the love triangle, there have beenaccusations of some of the Mustique’s yachties faking poor performances as an attempt at production interference, which has been dramatic on its own. Each season of the series has been more dramatic than its predecessor, andBelow Deck Medseason 9 is no different.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.
13Big Brother
Available On CBS & Paramount+
The summer-long power struggle is moving into its final stages asBig Brother26continues, and this season has been one of the wildest in the last decade. A reality TV competition branded as a social experiment,Big Brothersees a group of houseguests move into a house where they’re isolated from the outside world and filmed 24/7. Each week, the houseguests compete for power, safety, and comfort as they move through the game trying to be the final houseguest standing. The winner of the season earns a $750,000 grand prize.
Big Brother26 has been one of the most dynamic seasons the show has seen in years, withcast members like Tucker Des Lauriersstanding out for their wholehearted desire to play the game in new ways. With the game changing up due to the twists of the summer,including an AI-themed hologram named Ainsley who’s been running the house, the season has been one of the most dramatic inBBhistory. With weeks left of the season, it’s still anyone’s game to lose.
Big Brother
Contestants from diverse backgrounds live together in a house under constant surveillance, competing for a grand prize. Cut off from the outside world, they face a series of challenges and eliminations while forming alliances and navigating social dynamics. The last remaining housemate wins the coveted cash prize.
12The Golden Bachelorette
Available On ABC & Hulu
A spin-off ofThe Bachelor,the newest addition toThe Golden Bachelorside of the franchise will feature 61 year old Joan Vassos looking for love among 24 eligible suitors.The Golden Bacheloretteseason 1will certainly be an exciting season for the franchise, for Joan, and most importantly, forBachelorNation. Originally featured as a contestant onThe Golden Bachelor,Joan had to leave the show early to take care of a family emergency and found herself still hopeful that she’d find love in the future.
After being namedThe Golden Bachelorette,Joan shared more about her lifeand what led her to look for love on reality TV. Sharing that it was never too late to change your life, Joan explained that the opportunity to do something life-changing at her age, especially on such a large scale, wasn’t always available. Taking the opportunities that came to her,she’s excited to watch it all play out with the rest ofBachelorNation. Joan’s journey appears to be one for the history books.
The Golden Bachelorette
The Golden Bachelorette: This reality series offers one woman in her later years the opportunity to find love, as a group of seasoned men compete for her affection. Participants bring diverse romantic histories, seeking a meaningful connection and a chance to build a promising future together.
11Selling Sunset
Available On Netflix
A Netflix original series,Selling Sunsethas become one of the streaming platform’s staple shows. Following the lives of the Oppenheim Group agents working in the Los Angeles office,Selling Sunsetshines a light on the personal and professional hazards of being a luxury real estate agent. From the fashion to the future clients, the women ofSelling Sunsetmake it clear that they mean business about everything, not just their listings. Starring Chrishell Stause, Chelsea Lazkani, andBre Tiesi along with a larger groupof agents, the series oozes drama.
Whilethere are moments of genuine heart and soul on the show,Selling Sunsethas become one of the most dramatic reality TV shows on the air. From the intense girls’ trip during the last season of the series that saw Chrishell contemplating leaving the show because of Nicole Young’s treatment to the dog funeral that turned heads onSelling Sunsetseason 8, the series has it all. With a brand-new season to binge,Selling Sunsetis a must-watch.
Selling Sunset
The reality TV series Selling Sunset showcases the operations of the Oppenheim Group as they navigate the high-end, high-stakes real estate game of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, and Newport Beach. The show explores both the personal and professional lives of the real estate agents as they buy and sell properties worth millions of dollars.
1090 Day Fiancé
Available On TLC, Max, & Discovery+
One of the most dramatic franchises in reality TV history,90 Day Fiancébrings the drama of an international engagement into the spotlight. With the original series casting participants who are going through the process of getting a K-1 visa and moving to the US with the intent ofgetting married within the mandatory 90 days, the series provides a genuine look into the lives of international couples. While90 Day Fiancéis just one of the many shows in the family, it’s the cornerstone of the franchise, as it’s launched dozens of stars.
Withcouples consistently coming in and out of the90 Day Fiancéuniverse, there has been a ton of drama through the years to keep viewers invested. Though there are some couples that viewers find more interesting than others, likeJovi Dufren and Yara Zaya, but all of the stories on the series are fascinating looks into the K-1 visa process. With years worth of episodes to catch up with,90 Day Fiancéis perfect for those who love drama.
90 Day Fiancé
90 Day Fiancé follows international couples navigating the challenges of cultural differences and family dynamics under the pressure of a 90-day fiancé visa in the pursuit of marriage and lasting love. Released in 2014, the series explores the complexities of cross-border relationships within the set timeframe.
9Outlast
Another Netflix original series,Outlast,is a grizzly competition where 16 players are pushed to their limits in the wilderness,hoping to outlast each other to win a $1 million prize. The competitors make their way through the game in teams, working through the challenges of the elements to ensure that they can stay in the competition. Throughout the first season of the competition,theOutlastcast membersshowed that they were some of the most cutthroat, survivalist players in reality TV history.
Many looking to challenge themselves in the wilderness, the competitors onOutlastaren’t just competing for the grand prize money. Instead,they’re looking for the experience of a lifetime as they move through the competition. WithOutlastseason 2having recently dropped on Netflix, there’s a whole new cast of survivalists playing an incredibly dangerous game.
8Love Is Blind UK
A spin-off of the originalLove Is Blind,the Netflix series that asks couples to match up and get engaged without physically seeing each other,Love Is Blind UKseason 1 is one of the most fascinating iterationsof the show to date. While the American version ofLove Is Blindhas been entertaining throughout each season, the international versions of the show have been a major hit.Love Is Blind UKseason 1, hosted by Matt Willis and his wife Emma Willis, has brought together the first group of Brits to take on the experiment.
While the series didn’t see a bunch of blowups between the couples in the way that the American version typically does,Love Is Blind UKseason 1saw the majority of the couples who made it out of the pods meet at the altar. The staggering shift in the way the couples’ relationships pan out throughout the season was juicy for anyone who’s familiar with the originalLove Is Blind.With a drama of its own style,Love Is Blind UKseason 1 is a must-watch.
Love is Blind: UK
Singles in the UK embark on a unique journey where they form connections without ever seeing each other. Through emotional conversations and intense interactions in the “pods,” participants must decide if they are ready to commit to a future together, culminating in a dramatic face-to-face reveal.
7The Circle
A reality TV competition series that’s predicated on social media habits,The Circleis one of the most interesting original competitions the streamer has produced. With a cast of players who are able to come into the game as themselves or as a catfish, the concept of the series is to become the top-rated player on a faux-social media site. As the players interact with each other through text-based chats, they have to develop relationships with one another to ensure they’ll be safe from getting eliminated, or blocked.
WithThe Circlehaving employed some of the most interesting twists in competitive reality TV over the last few years, likebringing in Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown to play as a collaborative catfish, or using generative AI to create an entire player’s persona, the show is on the cutting edge. Though it can sometimes be considered “cozy” TV, the competition is a cutthroat social game that requires strategy to move through seamlessly.The Circleseason 7was recently released and brings a whole new twist into the game.
The Circle
Contestants live in separate apartments and interact solely through a social media platform called The Circle. Each player can choose to present themselves truthfully or as a catfish. Through strategic conversations and alliances, they compete to become the most popular and avoid elimination, aiming to win a cash prize.
6The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City
One of the most dramatic iterations of the franchise,The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake Cityis returning to Bravo for another season of dramabetween the ladies of SLC. With a rotating cast of women coming in and out of each iteration of theReal Housewivesfranchise,RHOSLChas had one of the longest runs for a cast. With Lisa Barlow, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, and Whitney Rose returning forTheReal Housewives Of Salt Lake Cityseason 5, this will mark the return of Mary Cosby to the main cast, and the second season without controversial Jen Shah.
WhileRHOSLCmay be one of the iterations of the franchise that has a smaller viewership, the drama between the cast members is consistent and undeniable. With Lisa being one of the most dramatic housewives of all time, she’s been able to captivate viewers through her years on the series. Creating issues left and right,the cast ofThe Real Housewives Of Salt Lake Cityare a fascinating bunch.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is a reality television series that explores the lives of a group of affluent women in Utah. Premiering in late 2020, the show delves into the dynamics and drama within their social circle against the backdrop of the picturesque Salt Lake City mountains.
