Amanda Batula is paving a new path on Season 8 of Summer House. She has been open about wanting to create an identity outside of her relationship with Kyle Cooke. As a result, fans love her newfound confidence.
Viewers were first introduced to Amanda in Season 1 as Kyle’s on-and-off again girlfriend who he was struggling to commit to. Her arc on the show was always connected to him and as a result, she was labeled a love interest rather than an individual. Since Season 1, we’ve gotten to know more about Amanda and people fall more in love with her with each passing season.
Season 8 has been strong for the New Jersey native. She’s held her own and has provided a unique perspective on all drama in the house. I’m glad viewers are finally giving her the credit she deserves.
Here are all the reasons Amanda is the most underrated cast member on Summer House:
She’s a good friend
One of Amanda’s best qualities is that she is a loyal friend. She is always there to support her besties Ciara Miller and Paige DeSorbo. From having Ciara’s back during the Austen Kroll drama to standing up for Paige while she was feuding with Lindsay Hubbard, she always shows up for her girls.
Her dedication to her friends has paid off. Both Paige and Ciara have nothing but great things to say about the Bravo star. On the Summer House Aftershow, they gushed over their longtime friend, calling her “funny and creative.”
“She’s the coolest girl I know,” Paige said.
She’s relatable
Amanda is on a mission this season to find her identity, which is relatable to many people. She’s been honest about feeling a bit lost in her career and struggling with establishing an identity outside of her relationship. It’s very normal to lose yourself in a relationship and it’s refreshing to see Amanda speak about it so candidly.
During an appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, she opened up about struggling to come into her own on Summer House, telling host Amanda Hirsch she felt more comfortable hiding behind Kyle.
“I’m very shy,” she said. “I get so much anxiety. I hide behind Kyle. That’s why I married him because he will have the conversation and I can just stand there.”
As she spent more time in the public eye, she appears to have become more comfortable standing on her own. In Season 8, she expressed ambitions to design a swimsuit line and carve a path for herself separate from the LoverBoy business.
It’s very relatable watching a woman enter her thirties and begin to rethink what she wants out of life and her career. We love to see it.
She’s the glue
Summer House has been a divided cast since Season 3. The exit of the Wirkus twins and Stephen McGee prompted the entrance of Paige and Hannah Berner, which created an age divide in the house. Lindsay and Danielle Olivera seemed completely puzzled by the younger newbies and it felt like there was a generational divide in the house, even though Paige is only a few years younger than Danielle. When Ciara joined the cast in Season 5, the divide became even more clear.
Amanda has been the glue in the house for the last few seasons. She’s close with the younger newbies but also has a connection with Lindsay and Carl Radke because of her relationship with Kyle. She’s done a great job bridging the two friend groups. I honestly don’t know if these two groups would even talk to each other if it wasn’t for Amanda. She has had a vital role in keeping the group connected. If she and Kyle ever call it quits, Summer House will need to be canceled or completely recast.
She gives good advice
Amanda has been sharing words of wisdom all season. As the only married woman in the house, she’s provided a listening ear to her friends as they navigate their relationships. She stuck up for Gabby Prescod after Danielle accused her of being bad at flirting and helped Carl navigate his reservations about marrying Lindsay in Episode 11. She is basically the Buddha of Summer House.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK SEASON 8 IS AMANDA’S BEST SEASON OF SUMMER HOUSE?
