I don’t usually talk reality TV or pop culture but hear me out as I go down this road. I’ve been a Bachelor / Bachelorette fan for a long time. There are a zillion things wrong with this show, but I love it in all it’s “this is the final rose” ridiculousness. But this season, this season so much is just wrong, and I think this might be the worst season in the shows history. Yes even worse than Juan Pablo.
The Rose Ceremony
The rose ceremony marks the end of an episode. It’s where those with roses toast to their next adventure and we bid a fond farewell to the suitors we have come to love or hate. But this year the rose ceremony has been treated like an after thought. No longer does it end the episode instead it’s been at the beginning of an episode and even right in the middle. Making the whole show feel disjointed. I’m never sure who’s coming or going or what city they are headed to next.
The Lack of Travel
While the Bachelor franchise is not a travel show part of the appeal is the exotic locations and dates. So far this season they have been in Ireland for at least 3 weeks. They’ve visited churches and pubs. And while Ireland is pretty, 3 weeks is just over kill. Where are the yachts and helicopters and exotic dates involving booze and bathing suits. Where are the shirtless men!
The Group Dates
Yes dating 25 men at a time is not normal, nor is going on a date with 15 men normal but what really isn’t normal is a date in which the person you are dating is lying in a coffin, while you eulogize her. The group dates have been bizarre and far from romantic. The rapping, the sumo wrestling and the wake all come off as more of a humorous competition than a way to meet your future spouse.
The Guys
Years ago on the Bachelorette, I really felt like I knew who the guys were. This year other than Shawn and Nick I’m not sure who the rest of the guys are. The season has been so focused on those two that I never even thought the other guys had a chance. Maybe that’s just the way things played out but it’s hard to get invested in these guys when we barely know them.
The Nick Factor
Love him or hate him, Nick is back. I really think ABC made a bad move by allowing him back on the show. Ever since he returned the show has been centered around him. How the guys feel about him? How Kaitlyn feels about him? About what Kaitlyn did with him. He’s taken over the entire show. And the purpose of the show is for her to get to know 25 guys and maybe marry one of them, not to bring on a guy that she already knew and see what happens.
The Sex Scene
I think most viewers of the Bachelorette know what happens in the Fantasy Suite. And up until Nick called Andie out on the men tell all, what happened in the fantasy suite, stayed in the fantasy suite. And I liked it that way. It’s reality TV but these are adults and they are just doing what people who date do, and they have the right to do it behind closed doors. But not Nick and Kaitlyn, instead we were treated to awkward subtitles and moans.
“Off Camera Time”
I like Chris Harrison and maybe it’s naive for me to think this but I always believe he has the Bachelorette / Bachelor’s best interest at heart. So it was a bit disturbing when he sat Kaitlyn down and told her the rules were changing and she would need to whittle down the men so that she could have “off camera time” with them. Every time Chris said those words I wanted to shout at the screen, we get it she needs to have sex with them. Talk about some slut shaming, you slept with one honey now it’s time to sleep with them all.
Kaitlyn
I’m not saying Britt would have been a better pick, cause I really wasn’t a fan of either girl being the Bachelorette, but Kaitlyn’s heart just doesn’t seem to be in it. Maybe it’s cause she met Nick right before the filming started, maybe it’s that she comes off as not being there for the right
reasons, maybe it’s the producing, maybe it’s her reputations for having told
Chris Soules he could “plow her fields anytime” but whatever it is
it’s hard to root for her to find love. Personally I don’t think Britt or
Kaitlyn were great picks for Bachelorette and that maybe ABC should have
stepped out of it’s pattern of making someone from Bachelor the Bachelorette and
went with someone new.
I love this show in all it’s corny, crazy and cringe worthy moments, but this season has me wishing it was over. Here’s hoping that with the Bachelor they start with a fresh crop of people and go back to the things that have always worked on the Bachelor including: hot tubs, helicopters and rose ceremonies at the end of the episode.
I totally agree! And I've been wishing for many seasons that would start fresh with new people every time! Stop bringing back the "3rd placers" and give a new person a chance!
Yes! I'm not a huge fan of the show but I can see all of these points.
I don't watch the show because it's just TOO MUCH. My eye rolls never stop! But I do like to tune in for that last dramatic, tear-filled episode! I know, I'm horrible!
I used to enjoy mindless tv like this pre-kids. Now I barely turn on the tv. Sometimes it's good to just let your mind go.