Summer House Season-Premiere Recap: Welcome to the Zoo

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While there were some lighthearted distractions – like a possible petting zoo and a donkey named Daffy – the biggest drama at the first party this season of Summer House was the impending breakup of Amanda and Kyle. And if years of watching reality TV have taught me anything, it’s that confronting big problems only makes things worse, so I’d rather avoid that topic for as long as possible – I’m still bothered by it, honestly. This season also feels like a bit of a changing of the guard. With Kyle, Carl, and Amanda as the only original cast members left, and West, Jesse, and Ciara being the only returning faces, it feels like everyone else is new. Right now, the only real storyline is what’s happening with Amanda and Kyle, and until the newer cast members find their footing, that’s all there is to talk about.

Let’s talk about the new contestants before I put off discussing the drama with Kymanda any longer! We’ve met four people so far who all seem really interesting. There’s KJ, who’s a model and skateboarder; Bailey, a host and influencer; Ben, a model, entrepreneur, Australian, and former star of The Bachelor; and Levi, an event planner. It’s a little sad that Levi is the only one without multiple professions listed, and it makes me think about what they’d even call me if I were on a reality show. Would it be Brian, journalist/retired heartthrob? Brian, the one who loves to talk trash and eat snacks? Or Brian, the writer who says he’s versatile but is actually into being submissive?

KJ, who shares a home state with West, became popular online for a cool skateboarding trick. He was raised by his single mom, who works as a nurse, and has two younger sisters, which he jokes means he’s good with women. He opens up to West about his anxiety, and West immediately offers support, checking in on him. That moment really showed West’s caring side! KJ seems like a good guy, but I’m always a little wary of adults who only use their initials as a name.

So, we’ve got another Bailey, and honestly, she’s like the upgraded, super-polished version of the last one. Remember brunette Bailey? She barely made it halfway through the season. This Bailey is all energy – bubbly, chatty, and definitely not shy! She’s got a wild backstory too – she got dumped, get this, in a Sweetgreen! Seriously, can you even imagine a worse place for that to happen? I’m trying to think… maybe the Penn Station bathroom? Or at the American Doll Store? Your sister’s wedding, maybe? Those are the only spots that come to mind. But yeah, I’m calling it now – this Bailey is absolutely going to find a summer romance.

Bailey met her new friend, Levi, through Instagram – they had a lot of friends in common. In the first episode, we mostly learn that Levi is comfortable being herself – she likes to sleep naked, enjoys talking to cute animals, and even wore a playful corn-on-the-cob costume to a party. While no one can truly replace Bailey’s previous friend, Paige, the show seems to be hoping Levi will fill that role.

Then there’s Ben, a handsome guy from Australia. He was introduced to the show through Kyle and Amanda, but Amanda really brought him into the mix. She shared a story about a summer wedding in Italy where she, the bride, and Ben were all skinny-dipping while Kyle played music nearby. (Everyone’s wondering if Ben was naked too – is that just me? Okay, never mind.) Ben seems like a fun and attractive guy, but his connection with Amanda is a bit unclear. He’s definitely flirting with her, and she seems to be considering him as a potential partner, but I suspect she’d end up with someone as unpredictable as Kyle if they got together. He’s the only one who might be able to beat Kyle at the infamous keg stand competition. (Lindsay Hubbard would have crushed everyone, though, if she’d been there.)

Okay, let’s move on to Amanda and Kyle… but I’m just not ready to talk about them yet, sorry. Oh! Speaking of others, how about Jesse, West, and Ciara? Jesse is really trying to fill the role of Paige now that Amanda and Ciara are upset about losing their close friend. He even mimics Paige by lying down and scrolling on his phone. He said he’d be a good listener and keep their secrets, but nobody actually believes him. Honestly, I’m more skeptical of his promise to keep quiet than I am of the front door staying fixed!

West and Ciara appear to be doing really well now that they’ve stopped trying so hard. West isn’t putting any pressure on their relationship this summer; he’s just focusing on being himself and treating her kindly, hoping things develop naturally. Ciara seems open to reconnecting, and she was especially pleased that he arranged a petting zoo at the party, assuming it was a gesture just for her – which it pretty much was. I really like Ciara, but I was puzzled by the arm cuff she wore all day. It didn’t seem like something from Lynne’s Curtain Collection – it looked more like a bandage, and Lynne would never design anything like that.

We’ve exhausted the guest list except for Carl, who’s been training for a marathon and owns a massive cowboy hat – a former roadside attraction near Tombstone, Arizona. He’s not wearing it to this party, though. At the party, Carl talks to Kyle and points out that he thinks Kyle and Amanda are growing distant, and Kyle admits he feels the same way. Kyle explains he’s just trying to be a good host by DJing, but Carl believes he’s doing it to get attention he’s missing at home.

Despite the playful jabs they often share, Amanda and Kyle’s marriage seems to be struggling, largely due to Kyle’s DJing hobby. Amanda wants Kyle to spend more time at home and cut back on partying, but his passion clashes with her needs. From the beginning, they’ve appeared disconnected and unhappy. Amanda even jokes about preferring a road trip with Ciara, and they consistently bicker – Amanda mocks Kyle, and he irritates her with small requests. Their usual teasing feels harsher now, moving beyond playful jokes to hurtful comments. It’s clear they’re avoiding each other, and it’s disappointing to see, especially considering many thought they had a strong connection.

The party really exploded when everyone impulsively jumped into the pool still wearing their underwear. There was some playful teasing about Jesse’s Skims boxer briefs, which actually led me to buy a pair myself – and they’re surprisingly amazing! (Kim Kardashian, you’ve earned a customer, and I’m available for sponsorship deals!) The situation escalated when someone joked that Amanda was topless (she was wearing a flesh-colored bra), and Kyle, who had a bit too much to drink, overreacted. It was a misunderstanding, but it perfectly capped off a tense and dramatic start to the season.

Amanda shared something really troubling about how the constant online chatter is affecting her. She said it’s hard when the internet seems to be pushing for her divorce, constantly telling her to leave her husband. She explained that when you hear something repeated enough times, you start to believe it, and she’s now questioning whether her own thoughts are truly hers or just echoes of what people online are saying. It sounds like a really difficult and unsettling situation.

It’s upsetting to feel connected to this situation, especially after discussing it online. I never wished for them to divorce, but it must be incredibly hard to have everyone constantly share their opinions, and to feel like people think they know you based on a heavily edited reality show. For us, watching is just entertainment – a way to compare their relationship to our own, and imagine how we’d handle similar situations. But despite all the cameras, we can never truly know what’s happening, and the thought of our opinions influencing Amanda’s feelings, potentially pushing her in a direction that isn’t right for her, is frightening. It makes me want to wrap them both in a long, comforting hug and reassure them that everything will be alright, until they can finally rest peacefully.

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2026-02-04 05:55