The Bachelorette 14x11 Roundtable: "She Did the Damn Thing" [Contributors: Kelsey and Alisa]

Well, The Bachelorette has officially ended. And newcomer Kelsey talks about what happened with Alisa.

The last few episodes this season have been a long and arduous journey that came down to Blake and Garrett in the finale. How did you feel about these two men? Did Becca make the correct choice between the two? Who was your ideal man for Becca from her whole season? 

Alisa: Meh. Each season when we get to this point — I’ve moved beyond eager anticipation and investment to numb absorption and apathy. I guess between these two, Garrett was the best choice. Maybe? I mean, he didn’t give off serial killer vibes which was a plus but then, of course, there’s the fact that he’s either a bigot or just a really big dummy (or both). So whatever. Jason was clearly the only worthwhile man to make it to hometowns, but he and Becca looked like siblings and he’s a star who should be crowned the next Bachelor anyway. So for those reasons I’m glad she didn’t pick him (even though he was obviously the best choice).

Kelsey: By the time we were at the last episode, I honestly was so sick of Blake (and not really endeared at all to Garrett). Blake seemed whiny and insecure at the end, Garrett for me defines “ignorance is bliss” with his apparent lack of brain function. So watching that episode I was praying Becca decided to choose herself and leave this journey single. I knew that was not going to happen, but a girl can dream. Also, I miss Jason.

Jason, Colton, and Blake are now in the running for the next Bachelor, but the producers have been sneaky the past two years about bringing somebody from the past. Who is your ideal next Bachelor? Who would you pick from a past season? 

Alisa: JASON IS THE ONLY ONE WORTHY. Seriously, I’m going to be so pissed if they give the Bachelor title to smarmy Colton, creepy Blake, or some has-been. I’m really concerned because they’ve been sneaking in clips of Ben Higgins and like... why? Unless they’re gearing up to give him a second chance and just please no. Ben seems like a genuinely decent guy but I’d rather watch paint dry than listen to him drone on and on about how he’s unlovable. Give the guy a therapist, not another show.

Kelsey: GIVE ME JASON. GIVE ME WILLS. Those are the two contenders for my heart. Jason seems like a natural choice: sane, smart, lovable. Wills’ wardrobe deserves its own season, let’s be honest. But he was cool, calm, and collected throughout and I’m excited to watch him through Paradise. Please no more Ben Higgins. Nick Viall has too many abs now for my liking, and Peter is never going to agree to do it. No more past losers; give me Becca’s losers.

Bachelor in Paradise begins this week and the previews show possible romance with Kendall and Grocery Store Joe, never-ending drama with Jordan and the Chicken, and trouble in Paradise for Tia and Colton. Who are you most looking forward to seeing in Paradise? Who’s your dream couple? 

Alisa: I’m really rooting for Kendall and Grocery Store Joe! How cute are they?! Jordan will undoubtedly be hilarious and exhausting per usual, the Chicken will be petty and annoying, and I will give the hardest of passes to Tia and Colton. Can they be booted from this franchise already? They so deserve each other, but what did Bachelor Nation ever do to deserve them? Also pretty excited that Kenny and Eric from Rachel’s season will be there, and the lovely Connor from Becca’s season (as long as he brings those glasses with him). Also really hoping Venmo John finds love because he’s adorable.

Kelsey: I’m hopeful for Wills, and while I’m rooting for Joe and Kendall, I’d also LOVE to see Kendall with Wills. Kendall with anyone. More Kendall, please. (Kendall for Bachelorette if this whole Paradise thing doesn’t work out?) Venmo John also seems like a sweet piece of apple pie, so I hope he finds a connection! Also, Bibiana cracks me up so I’ll be looking forward to her commentary throughout the season.

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The Bachelorette 14x08 Roundtable: "Hometown Heroes" [Contributors: Alisa, Rebecca, Jen, and Chelsea]

Hometown dates always bring out the the weirdest sides of this franchise with the insane family dynamics, but somehow always manage to make us fall in love with a potential suitors family. This week the gang breaks down who had the best date planned, whose family you would want to marry into, and where we think Becca is headed. Plus, a visit from our favorite lady gang throws a wrench into Becca’s decisions.

This week gave us four very different hometown dates — with Garrett planting tomatoes, Colton visiting sick kids, Blake going back to school, and Jason competing in a chicken wing contest. Who had the best date? Who had the worst? Which contestant, past or present, would you want to partner with in a chicken wing eating contest? 

Alisa: Jason’s date was the only one worth remembering. Not only did he plan a fun day that was just as low-key and genuine as he is, but his family is AMAZING. I don’t see Becca choosing him in the end, which is fine by me because I really, really need him to be the next Bachelor... and his brother and brother-in-law to get their own spin-off show.

Rebecca: Any date with Colton is the worst, let’s just get that out of the way. I appreciate what he’s doing for his charity, but I feel like he’s playing it up for Instagram likes and Twitter followers which is gross. Blake’s date was super emotional and heart-wrenching, and just seemed like a lot to handle right before meeting his entire family too. Jason’s date was super memorable. I loved how it was so low-key and laid back. He would definitely be my chicken wing partner.

Jen K.: Jason comes with chicken wings so Jason wins everything. I enjoyed Garrett’s date as well, but that’s because it reminded me of my parents. My dad took my mom (a city girl) out for a spin on the combine when they were dating. I want to believe Colton loves the children, but it felt like a PR bid to be the next Bachelor.

I agree with Rebecca that Blake’s date was extremely intense and there’s just a lot to unpack there. I don’t think Blake and Becca have the emotional connection to get through all of that. These guys have to be ready to propose in a couple weeks and yeesh, I just feel like Blake needs a hug more than he needs a ring right now.

Chelsea: Jason came for my heart with that chicken wing contest. I would’ve proposed on the spot. I cannot remember the details of Blake or Garrett’s dates, and I feel really weird about Colton peddling children on a reality dating show. I do agree with Jen that Blake needs a hug and maybe some therapy before he’s in a committed relationship.

Obviously Jason would be my chicken wing partner of this bunch but from the whole franchise, maybe Caroline from Arie’s season. She would be a lot of fun.

Each of the families revealed new sides to our men that we hadn’t seen before. How do you feel about each family? Whose family do you want to join? Who gives you the Get Out vibes? 

Alisa: The only family I liked was Jason’s! Blake and his mom share the same intensity level which I just find exhausting, Garrett’s family was super critical and terrifying, and Colton’s just a dud and a liar (umm, seriously what IS all this nonsense about never having brought a girl home before when there is PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE you brought Aly Raisman home for Christmas?!). I’m sure Colton’s family was FINE but I couldn’t see past his smarmy self long enough to distinguish any of the 162 family members he introduced Becca to that evening.

Rebecca: I second everything Alisa said. Garrett’s family was way intimidating, but I get where they’re coming from. They watched their son/brother/etc. bring a girl home, get married to her, and then not have it work out in their end. They’re protective, and that’s understandable. Blake’s family was just way too much, and I couldn’t even focus on Colton’s family. Jason’s family seems awesome, and I would love to hang out with them for a day.

Jen K.: I agree, ladies! Garrett’s family scared the ever living crap out of me and I didn’t have to meet them. I understand the protectiveness but the “no holds barred” thing was a too much of a lack of boundaries for me. I’m a fan of boundaries when it comes to in-laws. Colton and his mother discussing his virginity, and then Becca discussing his virginity with his mother, was another major “no boundaries” moment. No. Just no. Colton is a liar about never bringing a girl home (what is up with this dude?), and the only time I enjoyed his home date was when his father emphatically told Becca not to pick Colton. I wholeheartedly agreed.

Chelsea: Alisa said it best about Colton, and his family reminds me of the Thumb-Thumbs from Spy Kids — horribly boring and caught in lies about his dating life. Blake’s mother was super intense and I’m not surprised with Blake’s emotional intelligence anymore after seeing her. He really just needs to go to family therapy to work out his issues. Jason continues to be the best and has the cutest family alive. I need a spin-off show of his brother and the brother’s husband.

The return of the best lady gang and Tia brought the Colton triangle back to life fast, and I don’t think we were surprised to see him leave. How staged does this drama feel to you, and do you think the producers regret not having Tia as Bachelorette? Are you looking forward to them in Paradise? How wonderful was it seeing Kendall, Bekah, Seinne, and Caroline again? 

Alisa: “The best lady gang and Tia” really sums it up! I loved seeing all of those amazing ladies, sans Tia. I’ve never been her biggest fan and whether the producers are maneuvering her actions or not, she’s still the one going through with her sabotage-y behavior and I am so over it. As someone pointed out on Twitter, she was literally in the room with Lauren when she got the text from Arie saying he was going to break up with Becca so they could be together, and Tia never warned Becca or anything. And then Colton comes on the show and Tia acts like she’s fine with it at first, just to wait until after hometowns to pull this whole “we went on like two dates but I still have feelings for him” nonsense? No. Unacceptable. Becca is 1000% a better Bachelorette than Tia ever could’ve been, and she needs to stop trying to make this show about her. I am not at all excited about her and Colton heading to Paradise. They’re going to be that super obnoxious couple that everyone hates but that sticks it out to the end because they pair up at the very beginning. Hard pass.

Rebecca: I am SO here for the lady gang — minus Tia. Bekah, Seinne, and Kendall are so lovely, and I could watch them all day. Tia, though, has always rubbed me the wrong way, and the trainwreck that is her relationship with Colton has only made me more annoyed by her. The producers way overplayed her friendship with fan-favorite Raven, and now I feel like they feel like they have to be invested in her when no one actually cares. I’m sure she’s a nice enough girl off-camera, but her drama is getting old and I’ve never liked Colton. They’ll have their whirlwind Paradise romance, milk their 15 minutes, and then break up once the camera stop rolling. Next.

Jen K.: I really don’t like Tia and she did nothing in this episode to change my mind. I saw a lot of wonderfully snarky tweets on Twitter about how this isn’t Tia’s season and boy, did Twitter get it right or what? The envy with Tia isn’t over Colton — it’s over Becca being the Bachelorette. Tia is trying desperately to make this all about her. She is just seething listening to Becca talk about her experience. She absolutely could have told Becca about her feelings for Colton when the issue first came up. Now suddenly Tia is sick to her stomach listening to Becca talk about him? Whaaaat? I have difficulty believing Becca and Tia are even friends, so I don’t really see how the girl code applies. However, it’s Colton and if that meant Becca shipped him off sooner rather than later then I’m good. I would have liked to spend time with the other ladies, but the producers made it all about Tia.

Dear producers,

You picked the right Bachelorette. Stop letting The Frenemy pull focus. It’s annoying.

Love, Jen

Chelsea: I think I’m just over the Colton and Tia of it all. Seeing all the other gals, particularly my beloved Kendall, just makes me ready for Paradise.

Looking forward to Fantasy Suites next week, who do you think Becca feels most strongly about? Who do you think places third? Will our next Bachelor be from Becca’s season? 

Alisa: Okay, so Becca has gone on AND ON about how great of a kisser Jason is so obviously there’s some physical chemistry there (and real talent on Jason’s part — good job, man). But Becca seems to have the strongest overall connection with Garrett (ugh). Honestly, I keep forgetting Blake is still here (and WHY even is he?) so I’m guessing he comes in third and we get to see the camera pan out to him alone on an exotic beach in Thailand, looking miserable and unnecessarily intense.

Rebecca: Like Alisa said, Becca has not made it a secret how much she enjoys kissing Jason, so I have a feeling she’s going to want to know how it feels to do more than JUST kiss Jason — and who could blame her? Homeboy definitely looks like he know what he’s doing. It’s clear Garrett is the man she’s the most interested in, so there’s no secret he’ll get down on one knee. I was a huge fan of Blake’s, but this week was a bit off-putting to me. I agree that he’ll slide into third and will duke it out with runner-up Jason for the Bachelor title, although I’m still holding out hope for Wills.

Jen K.: It’s Garrett 100%. She’s over the moon for that guy. I lost count of how many times she’s said he’s just like her dad. Becca seems to have embraced the old saying of “women marry their fathers” because it’s a way for her to feel connected to her father. This is totally understandable, but having things in common with your father doesn’t automatically make a man right for you. I am concerned she’s looking at surface details (like Garrett enjoying fishing and hunting) rather than digging deeper. But what do I know? Maybe they’ll be married for 50 years. I did appreciate confirmation that Jason is the best kisser in the whole world, because lemme tell ya, from my vantage point it certainly looked like that.

Chelsea: Jason is the only good guy left on this show and while Becca should pick him, I think she’s in love with Garrett. I do think Jason has a great chance at being Bachelor and would be very good at it.

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The Bachelorette 14x05-14x07 Roundtable: Mid-Season Funk [Contributors: Alisa, Chelsea, Jen, and Rebecca]

The themes of the Vegas, Virginia, and Bahamas dates was all drama, mostly centered around Chris, as we saw many of our petty squabbles depart. Our girls breakdown the last three episodes before we get into hometowns and preview Paradise.

Colton managed to snag the Vegas one-on-one, riding camels down the Virgin River in what might be the most awkward date since Wells and Jojo’s sliding tub tumble. Has Colton redeemed himself from the Tia situation or is Becca only keeping him around because she has the hots for him? How did the show handle the virginity reveal and what do you think Tia’s return means for Becca? 

Alisa: I honestly don’t know why Becca’s still keeping him around. Plenty of people on Twitter think he’s hot and apparently Becca does too, but his face just looks like a big toe to me and he has the personality of dust. I had to strain really hard to even remember they had a one-on-one because it was so epically boring. And who wants to sit in a hot tub in the middle of the desert, especially after just riding on a camel? Hard pass. As for the virginity plotline, I couldn't care less about Colton’s virginity. Society is so weird because people are trashed for having sex and trashed for not having sex, and seriously can we just keep our noses out of other people’s bedrooms? Whether he’s still a virgin or not is of absolutely no interest to me. Let’s move along.

Chelsea: I’m pretty sure Becca is just keeping him around cause he’s kind of cute and because the producers need him for Paradise. I’m convinced he’s only here to further the Tia drama later this summer. I was reading Bachelorette Rachel’s take on the date, and she made a great point about him saying all the right things... but it feels like a script and he has no passion for her. I think Colton has made it this far because he’s hot but I don’t see him staying past hometowns, especially with Tia returning; I think they’re setting him up for a Paradise romance.

Unrelated: I’m so excited to see my beloved Kendall and Bekah return with Tia. They’re possibly my favorite two contestants from this franchise.

Jen: I don’t trust Colton. I agree with everyone that Becca is just keeping him around because he’s hot, but I don’t see a connection with them beyond physical. I completely agree with Alisa on the virginity issue. I am not interested in what Becca does or doesn’t do with these guys in the bedroom. I want to pick out rings and look at dresses. When does that part happen? It’s frustrating to me that Colton being a virgin is somehow shocking or weird — at least that’s the way The Bachelorette producers played it. Honestly, I think people get shamed either way. It’s the never-ending Madonna/whore complex. I’m so tired of it. It’s also not any of our business really. I’d prefer to watch Becca discuss financial planning philosophies with these guys. That sounds interesting at least.

Rebecca: I totally agree with what’s been said. Colton is super boring, definitely not the most attractive guy of the bunch, and is totally milking his virginity for ratings. It’s pretty obvious that he’s only sticking around so people will root for him in Paradise, where I’m sure he and Tia will get back together... and probably get it on.

Our resident serial killer-eyes Chris made his mark when he got cocky during the group date and didn’t try to spend time with Becca, only to turn it around on her during the cocktail party and lose his cool when Wills’ wouldn’t give up his time with her. What do you make of the situation? How iconic was Wills’ during this whole mess? How happy were you to see Becca ditch him in Virginia? 

Alisa: Wills is clearly the hero this show desperately needs but doesn’t remotely deserve. I was so excited to finally see a contestant stand up for themselves and establish some healthy boundaries about the whole “stealing” the bachelor/ette. Wills is now hardcore my favorite for the next Bachelor. He’s kind, funny, polite, stands his ground, and of course is nice to look at. It’s clear he’s not here to play games which is more than I can say for some of these men.

As for Chris, he displayed some serious abusive tendencies in this episode and I am not at all impressed that Becca not only didn’t kick him to the curb IMMEDIATELY but also gave him a rose over our sweet John. I’m glad she finally came to her senses in Virginia and he’s gone now, but it should have happened sooner. If they invite him to Paradise I will quite possibly stab myself in the ear to keep from hearing those terrible song lyrics he keeps composing.

Chelsea: I pegged it on episode one that Chris was going to be a villain because he gave off weird vibes, then threw Chase under the bus. His assertion that Becca owed him 50,000 kisses after he was cocky and wasted his time was an immediate turn-off and I’m almost surprised he wasn’t sent home during the cocktail party, but I knew he wouldn’t make it much longer on the show. Becca looked pained to have to give him a rose and was not having anymore of his drama.

Rebecca: Chris is super cocky, super annoying, super creepy, and I am SO happy she kicked him to the curb. Wills truly is too good for this franchise. He’s so real and genuine, and I would love to see him get his chance to shine as the next Bachelor. I’m glad he will be able to spend some time in Paradise.

Jen: Chris had a pretty deep facade happening and when it all crumbled it was actually frightening to me. That guy has a lot of anger issues. Serial killer feels like a fair assessment. I was floored Becca gave him another chance — the woman is too forgiving — but I was absolutely thrilled when she booted him once and for all. His reaction to his absolutely called for dumping also proved what an egotistical creep he is. Wills was the calm in the middle of the storm. Wills is mature. Wills is wonderful. Wills needs to find love.

Vegas gave us the two-on-one dreams are made of with David the Chicken competing for a rose against Jordan the model. Alisa accurately predicted both of them would go home in our previous roundtable. How did you feel about their confrontation in front of Becca, and whose side were you on? Jordan opening up about his mother probably allowed him to last a few hours longer on the date. Did you think he went home too early? Which of the two was the real villain this season? 

Alisa: They were both villains in my book. Jordan was that manufactured kind of villain like Krystal and Corinne in seasons past, where it’s easy to hate them but you know they’re just playing it up for the cameras at the producers’ request and are probably decent folk somewhere deep down under all the collagen injections. David is one of those slow-burn villains who consider themselves a “nice guy” but are actually so insecure and immature that they sabotage every relationship they’re in. Also, David always seemed way more into Jordan than he was into Becca, so maybe he needs to do some deep thinking about why that is.

Chelsea: Jordan ended up being quite a sweet dummy in the end, and never instigated the drama. His backstory put a lot of his vanity into context I think and I will be happy to see more of him. David had such a great first couple of episodes before he completely lost focus of Becca and zeroed in on Jordan. He was such a jerk throughout the entire process and made up lies. I hope he reassess his priorities for Paradise because we’ve seen him be a cool guy. 

Rebecca: I agree with Chelsea and Alisa — they did both need to go. I have a total soft spot for Jordan. I thought it was hilarious, and the perfect villain because he wasn’t exactly cruel. He was mostly just obnoxious and cocky, but never super mean-spirited or rude. I cannot wait to see him (and his one-liners) thrive in Paradise. David was great at first, and the chicken fiasco was dorky-sweet, but he went downhill really quick. He’s definitely an instigator and one of those people who likes to stir up drama, and I am not a fan of those kinds of people.

Jen: I am in agreement with everyone. Both needed to go. They were more obsessed with each other than with Becca, which was weird. She made the right call. I love that Becca is not tolerating any cattiness or immature drama.

The Bahamas brought a lot of tough choices for Becca before hometowns. Colton, Garrett, and Blake got one-on-ones, while Jason, Wills, and Leo were left on a three-on-one. Of these final six men, who would have made your final four? Who do you want to be the Bachelor? 

Alisa: My final four would have been Jason, Wills, Leo and sweet John, who was gone before his time (or Clay — gone but not forgotten!). I cannot stand Colton or Garrett, and Blake just gives off weird vibes. I really wanted to see Wills as the next Bachelor, but since it’s already been announced he’s headed to Paradise, then my next pick would be Jason who is just adorable and sweet.

Rebecca: MY final four would have been Wills, Leo, Clay, and Blake. I think I’ve said my piece before about what great guys Wills, Leo, and Clay are, and I just think Blake is super cute. I agree that Wills should be the next Bachelor, but I can see Jason grabbing the title as well.

Jen: My final four would have been Clay, Wills, Jason and... can I pick Clay again? Honestly, I really want to love Garrett and if I had not known about the Instagram mess before watching this season I would have. He would’ve been a fave. But I do know so he’s tainted which is sad because from the look of things he’s the front runner. I think Jason, Wills and Clay should like wrestle or something for the title of next Bachelor. In the immortal words of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “There could be oils of some kind.”

Chelsea: Of Becca’s final six guys, my four favorite would be Wills, Jason, Leo, and maybe Wills again? As much as I think Jason is the best guy for Becca, I’m going to be selfish and hope he’s the next Bachelor since it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Wills. Colton bores me to tears and Blake is way too immature. He looks like he has some pent-up childhood anger about his mother’s affair and has some major insecurities from that and the ex whose texts he read. He looks like he’s going to snap at any moment.

I’m in the same boat as Jen with Garrett. I really liked him until his social media history came to light. On the show, he seems like a cute dummy that is really interested in Becca and not the drama. I think he’s the frontrunner for Becca but I don’t know how long the relationship will last since they have very different political views.

ABC has blessed us in releasing the initial cast of Bachelor in Paradise this year. How do you feel about this bunch? Who else from Becca’s season do you think will join the show? Who from the past do you think is missing? Why do you think Bekah M. didn’t accept her Paradise offer? 

Nick’s season Rachel’s season Canada
Astrid Eric         Kevin
Angela Kenny

Arie’s season Becca’s season Bartenders
Tia Joe         Wells
Bibiana John         Yuki
Kendall Wills
Krystal Jordan
Nysha Connor
Annaliese David
Chelsea Chris R
Nick

Alisa: I am so excited for all the ladies from Arie’s season who are showing up in Paradie. Well, except Tia. I am so over her. But Bibiana and Kendall are great ladies and good tv and they’ll make it a fun time. I just hope Kendall leaves her taxidermied friends at home. Girl, we don’t need any stuffed rodents on the beach. I’m also pretty excited that sweet John and grocer Joe from Becca’s season will finally have their moment to shine. I’m pumped that Wills accepted the invite and hopefully he’ll recover quickly from his heartbreak so he can end up with someone as awesome as he is.

I really hope Leo shows up in Paradise, too. And hopefully Clay will be recovered from his surgery by then so he can get in on the fun. And can we talk about Wells and Yuki as the bartenders?! Adorable. Seems like a pretty solid round-up to me! As much fun as it would be to see Bekah M. in paradise, I’m sure she’s living her best life and off to new adventures. This show never deserved her.

Rebecca: I am SO excited for Paradise. It’s already my favorite show in the franchise, and this is an absolutely killer cast. In particular, I’m so here for Kenny and Eric, Bibi and Kendall, and Wills. I also LOVE that actual angel Yuki will be helping Wells serve drinks. I think Bekah M. turned down the invitation because... she’s smart. Not that anyone who does choose to do Paradise isn’t, but I think she knows none of this is actually real. I think she wants to make something of her life beyond being an Instagram influencer, and I support her — although I selfishly hope she’ll surprise us and show up.

Jen: I have never watched Paradise so I am absolutely clueless about any of this. But my ladies are brilliant so just put me down for cosigned.

Chelsea: I am beyond excited for my favorite contestant Kendall to show up and she can even bring her taxidermy friends. All of Arie and Nick’s girls sans Tia are great picks — even the unhinged Krystal. I cannot wait to see Jordan and all of his one-liners again. We do not deserve this angel. I’m hoping for Caroline from Arie’s season to show up and maybe a few more guys, like Clay. Aside from Wills, Joe, and John, it seems to be pretty light on decent guys. I’m hoping to see some people like Connor open up a bit more and get more screen time. I hate that Chris R. will be there but we get Wells and Yuki bartending, and that is just a gift. Hopefully Chris R. leaves after an episode.

We never deserved Bekah M. or her adorable short hair. She never really fell for the tricks of this franchise and that’s why we loved her. Too good for us.

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The Bachelorette 14x04 Roundtable: Becca's Big Lumberjack Bash [Contributors: Rebecca, Alisa, and Chelsea]

Who's ready to dive into more of The Bachelorette's shenanigans? Hopefully you! Join our roundtable as they discuss the drama of last week's episode.

This week picked up immediately with a rose ceremony and some drama between our favorite model, Jordan, and David the Chicken — with Colton getting in on some of the mess. What do you make of all of this? The preview showed the two men on a two-on-one. Who do you think will emerge victorious? 

Rebecca: I’m almost positive Chicken will come out on top, which is unfortunate since Jordan is a treasure. He’s the perfect villain because he’s awful and rude and obnoxious, but he isn’t outright mean or a bully. He’s definitely NOT here for the right reasons, but he’s so entertaining and his one-liners are absolute killers, and I want him to stick around and continue being absolutely ridiculous. Chicken was one of my favorites in the beginning, but I can’t take him seriously after he got a busted face from falling out of bed.

Alisa: I think Becca will send both the Chicken and the Model packing on the two-on-one. I do appreciate how amusing the Model is and would hate to seem him go so soon, but I’m also not sure how many more jokes and hijinks he has up his designer sleeves. The Chicken has just gotten out of hand with his tattling and rough sleeping habits. Time for him to move on, and hopefully Colton’s not far behind.

Chelsea: I’m hoping that Jordan comes out on top and I bet the producers are thinking the same. He’s just a complete delight and has kept this season fun for a lot of us. He can aggravate Colton if he stays longer. I do think Alisa is onto something in that Becca will send both of them home. He hasn’t spent any of his screentime with Becca not talking about Jordan, and went from having potential to being just annoying.

The group date had our men in a lumberjack competition, and finally highlighted our cute Venmo software engineer, John, before steering into drama with Jean Blanc. What was your favorite part of the date before the Jean Blanc drama? Was Jean Blanc in the wrong for asking for his gift back? Who do you think deserved the group date rose? 

Rebecca: I loved the lumberjack date. It was the exact amount of entertaining and laid back we needed. I liked watching the men take an axe to the tree stump... wheeeewww *heart eyes emoji*. The whole Jean Blanc situation was so uncomfortable because I couldn’t decide who I felt worse for. It’s clear he got nervous and desperate, spouted some stuff he didn’t mean, and then got embarrassed when she didn’t feel the same and tried way too hard to backtrack. I feel bad for him. But I also felt awful for Becca, because how horrible would that kind of dishonesty be? It was definitely awkward for him to ask for his gift back. I doubt he paid any money for it, so he should have just let it go.

Alisa: John has the most adorable personality, and he’s not bad on the eyes either. I was glad he finally got to shine and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him. Now that my fave Clay is out of the running (though hopefully not permanently!), maybe John could be the next Bachelor? The whole Jean Blanc situation was super awkward and it’s always poor form to ask for a gift back. What is he even going to do with it now? Good riddance. 

Chelsea: John ended up being a delightful cutie, and I hope he can dark horse his way through the rest of the season. He is sweet, charming, and he's got that nice Venmo money. Becca needs to nail that down. I don’t know if I want him as Bachelor though since he might be a little too boring for that, but he should have gotten that group date rose.

Jean Blanc was already being weird and not picking up the cues that she wasn’t interested but like... don’t say something you don’t mean. It’s clearly a trigger for Becca for you to say one thing then change your mind the next second. So maybe take all of the Arie hints to heart and respect her past and how embarrassed she’s been by flaky dudes.

Garrett and Wills both received one-on-one dates this week and charmed the pants off of Becca. Are these men our frontrunners for hometowns? Who would you like to see get the next one-on-one? 

Rebecca: I love Wills, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not sure I see him going to hometowns. I didn’t get the same vibe from Becca toward him I see toward her with some of the other guys. That being said, Wills is one of my favorites, and I loved how he was able to cheer her up after the whole Jean Blanc fiasco. Garrett is definitely in the cards for hometowns; it’s clear he’s a frontrunner, considering how into him Becca is... and how into giving an apology for those Instagram likes the producers were.

Alisa: I agree with Rebecca on Wills. He was perfection on that date and became one of my new favorites, but I don’t see Becca taking him all the way to hometowns which is too bad. I think she’s making some poor choices this season, which I hate to see. I think the good guys like Wills and John are gonna fall by the wayside while questionable characters like Colton and Garrett are going to be making it to hometowns. That being said, I’d love to see John get a one-on-one date this week.

Chelsea: Garrett’s date looked fun and Becca is clearly super into him. I would be shocked if he didn’t get to hometowns, especially since Becca and the show are defensive about him. Wills is the kind of guy I would like and was the perfect person to cheer Becca up. He was super chill and let her set the pace for the date. I don’t know if he’ll make it to hometowns but I want him to get one, if only so we can see him in that snazzy blue suit and scarf combo again. I hope John or Jason gets a the one-on-one on the next episode. If it’s that flat-earther Lincoln, I don’t know what I’ll do.

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The Bachelorette 14x03 Roundtable: "Quick, Call the Ambulance!" [Contributors: Jen, Alisa, and Chelsea]

Welcome back to another fun week of The Bachelorette roundtables! Your favorites have returned to give you their thoughts on last week's episode, so let's dive right in.

We were graced with two ambulance visits on this week’s episode, with David the Chicken taking a fall off his bunk bed and Clay breaking his wrist, and ultimately having to leave. How do you feel about the chicken fight fake-out with Jordan? How much are you going to miss Clay? 

Jen K.: I feel my world will be a little darker without Clay. He has to come back as soon as possible. I knew Male Model didn’t hurt Jordan, but I was not expecting falling out of bed. It looked like fight club in the mansion. How far off the ground is his bed? I have questions. Although, I am with him on being used to a king-sized bed. Once you go king, you never go back.

Alisa: HE. FELL. OUT. OF. BED. Despite the many, many seasons of this franchise, THAT took me by complete surprise. Like Jen said, it clearly wasn’t going to be a fight between Jordan and David. Jordan wouldn’t do anything that put his moneymaker at risk. But falling out of bed is one for the ages. Are there no rails on those beds? How have we been watching this show basically our whole lives and this is the first time someone’s fallen out of the top bunk?

As for Clay, I’m super bummed he’s leaving but really hope he makes a surprise reappearance; it’s happened before! He’s final four and Bachelor material for sure, but he needs to come back to make that a reality.

Chelsea: We all knew the David and Jordan didn’t have a fight because this show is always trying to fake us out. But the editing was a beautiful and an inspired choice. Jordan drilling a rail to the top bunk and making all the chicken jokes made the fake-out completely worth it.

Clay is a treasure and I want him to be the next Bachelor or at least show up in Paradise. He was a real adult and made a smart decision for his career and the situation he was in, but he is one of my favorite dudes and is way too good for this franchise.

We finally got to hear Tia’s side of the Colton/Tia dating story. How do you feel about the show handling the revelation? Should Becca have forgiven Colton so quickly? 

Jen K.: No, Colton is shady. I’m not seeing what the allure is — other than the fact that he’s another Abercrombie & Fitch-looking model for Becca to choose from. Except she has plenty of others with that qualification who didn’t date her friend. I have trust issues with Tia as well. I think she expected to be the next Bachelorette so all this “support” for Becca feels fake to me. I have very little evidence to support this. It’s just my vibe.

Alisa: I’m not a fan of either Tia or Colton. As far as I’m concerned, they deserve each other and can get off Becca’s show. SHE’s the Bachelorette. I know that’s harsh but I don’t care. Tia was clearly gunning for the headline spot last season and seemed in it for all the wrong reasons, just like Colton does now. Becca needs a man who’s there for her, not to boost his own fame. She should have sent him packing the moment she found out. It seems clear he got with Tia thinking she’d be the next Bachelorette, and now he’s trying the same thing with Becca. It may make semi-interesting TV, but the producers really need to cool it with this nonsense.

Chelsea: The whole thing is shady and it’s painful how much both Colton and Tia want to soak up this reality fame. We all knew Tia was gunning for Bachelorette and it felt destined from the moment we found out she was friends with Raven, from Nick’s season. I wouldn’t trust either of them and I wouldn’t be surprised if they both ended up in Paradise to continue this story. The best thing to come from this whole mess has been Bekah M. spilling all the tea on Instagram and Twitter about these two, and looking out for Becca’s interests. That’s the kind of friend you want.

With Clay’s sad departure, this episode ended before a rose ceremony. Who do you think will go home? Garrett looks to be the man that gets a one-on-one next week. Who else are you hoping gets time to shine next week? 

Jen K.: My fave is on the injured list. I’m staying loyal and waiting for Clay to come off the bench. But... Blonde Nick is cute. Haven’t seen much of him. Also the long haired surfer dude who I thought joined the cast this episode because I never saw him before. MIKE. I googled him.

Alisa: I’m with Jen. Clay’s my man and I’m not switching teams now. That said, Leo is FINE. And his facial expressions have me cracking up every episode. I’d like to see more of him. I’m afraid he’ll turn out to be a jerk, but it’s hard to tell either way without more screen time. There was also a quick shot of one guy in Harry Potter glasses who I swear I’ve never seen before and I need to figure out who that was because he looked super cute.

Chelsea: After the adorable name snafu, I really want to see more of Jason in the upcoming episodes. He seems to have a fun vibe to him and is probably there to make friends. I don’t think Mike or Cute Glasses Ryan have said a single word this season, so they’re probably headed home soon. I’m not particularly impressed with this crop of guys at all.

How is Becca doing as the Bachelorette this season? How are you feeling about this season of the show? There are those problematic men: first Garrett’s questionable Instagram activity and now Lincoln’s assault conviction. How are we feeling about Becca’s chances at finding true love amidst the trash?

Jen K.: Becca is a big bowl of love. She seems sweet, earnest, and kind. I absolutely believe she’s here for the right reasons. Becca is also very trusting and forgiving. These are excellent qualities in people but can also lead to being used. So I have my Mama Bear Protective Mode activated. I don’t want her to get her heart broken again. I think she’s doing a good job of giving every guy their shot. There’s a lot of them and she’s rotating them nicely. I love she’s initiating every kiss (get it girl), but it would also be nice to see one of these boys man up and make a move. Thus far I am enjoying the season a lot. Although, I need to adjust to the rapid speed dating. It’s kind of unbelievable to me that one of the early dates was writing a love song. I think that would’ve been easier if Becca and Chris were actually in love rather than warm acquaintances who kiss. I think the song writing date should have been saved for the final four.

Alisa: Everything Jen said! Becca’s darling but I worry she’s going to trust the wrong guy and end up heartbroken all over again. Also, she deserves a truly amazing guy and I am just not optimistic with this bunch. The only guy I was super excited about (Clay) bowed out, and a lot of these men are just shady. And yeah, now with all this mess coming out after filming, I’m even more worried. I was sorta willing to give the producers a pass on not learning about Garrett’s Instagram activity until after the fact, simply because that does seem hard to find out.

But this assault charge with Lincoln? How does that not get uncovered before filming begins? I get he wasn’t convicted until last week, but he was charged in 2016! Someone, somewhere had to know about it and just kept quiet. I actually think people really could find love on this show, but the producers don’t want them to. They want the drama that comes with terrible contestants and that’s what they get it. It makes me sad for the people (like Becca) who seem to truly believe this show can work for them. Hopefully it still can, but I’m just not holding out hope.

Chelsea: I’m enjoying watching Becca’s season a lot even if the crop of guys are sub-par. She’s doing an awesome job trying to get to know each guy and I love that she’s really in control of all her dates. Clay was a real favorite of mine but now I’m only going to think about what might have been. I am co-signing what Jen said about wanting the guys to initiate anything with Becca. They all seem very scared of her for some reason, and sometimes a gal wants a charming Jordan-type from Jojo’s season or even Bryan from Rachel’s season. And re: the Chris/Becca date from this week, that did seem like a date for the final three or even final two. Becca clearly doesn’t remember their names yet, so how is she supposed to write a love song for *insert random brunette*?

Garrett is a forgivable offense for the producers because that would take some creepy friending and deep-diving online but Lincoln is a bit much. We know Lincoln was just convicted this past month but the producers should’ve been able to find this out if they did some simple Google searches or looked at public records. It’s not that hard to find out this information. I do feel better knowing the conviction means Lincoln probably didn’t make it too much further in the show and won’t be in Paradise.

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The Bachelorette 14x01 & 14x02 Roundtable: Let's Do It Again [Contributors: Chelsea, Alisa, Jen K., and Rebecca]

It's baaaaaaaaack! We've finally entered summertime and that means that The Bachelorette has returned. Chelsea, Alisa, and Rebecca are also back and they're ready to chat about all things related to their favorite (and sometimes frustrating) reality franchise. Joining them this season is your favorite Blindspot reviewer, Jen K.!

Let's dive in, kids.

Who had the best or most memorable introduction gimmick? Who had the worst? 

Alisa: Okay, so I thought the chicken guy would turn out to be the worst, but fortunately he was super sweet and even though I’m not a fan of people dressing up in costumes to be memorable, his personality ended up making it work and he became the most memorable in a good way! The worst was the guy who brought the cardboard cut-out of Arie. It was bad enough that like half the contestants mentioned Arie during their introductions (and we had to re-watch that agonizing break-up), but the cut-out was too much!

Also, I think I was the only one in America who didn’t like the whole pulling up in a van thing? Even before I knew Garrett was problematic, I thought the van thing was cringe-worthy and slightly Stepford Wife-y, but to each their own. Becca obviously liked it.

Rebecca: The best gimmick for me happened a while ago, back on After the Final Rose. I loved Blake’s cheesy “get back up on the horse” metaphor, complete with an actual horse! And then he rode in an ox on the first “real” night... absolute legend. I love how Becca was like, “Where does he keep getting these animals from?”

Seconding Alisa, the guy (don’t even remember his name) with the cardboard cutout of Arie had the worst entrance. Who wants a life-size photo of their ex when they’re trying to meet 30 new guys? I also didn’t like the guy (again, don’t remember his name) who wanted Becca to compromise 60/40 with him. Yikes.

Jen K.: I’m going to give best to Garrett because the minivan was an inspired choice. Also, that’s zeroing in on my demographic so I might be biased. #MinivanMom Chicken guy was also extremely memorable and — shock of shocks — pretty darn cute. I’m with Alisa. Cut-out Arie was the worst.

Chelsea: I was really charmed by the chicken guy and problematic Garrett’s entrances. I’m definitely the type who likes a goofy partner and they nailed it. Worst EASILY goes to the 60/40 guy who was later cut. Becca even mentioned him needing to turn around and leave after his entrance. Rude with a bad haircut doesn’t go far with the ladies. Overall, most of the entrances were pretty dang forgettable.

Garrett might have received Becca’s first impression rose but he certainly didn’t get America’s. Who left the best impression on you night one? When will the producers hire social media investigators for the contestants? 

Alisa: I’m in love with Clay! He was so, so sweet and adorable and just seemed like such a genuine down-to-earth dude who’s — wait for it — HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS! But for real, y’all. I don’t really see Becca choosing him in the end, but I hope he goes far enough that he gets chosen to be the next Bachelor. Also, I don’t believe for a second the producers aren’t well aware of their problematic picks like Garrett (and Lee last season). They’re totally putting guys like that in to ramp up the drama.

Rebecca: My favorites so far are Clay, Blake, and Leo. Clay and Blake are absolute sweethearts, totally here for the right reasons, and seem super genuine and open to finding love. Leo... we don’t know too much about him yet, but I’m super into him and his luscious hair. And ABC totally already has social media investigators, they just don’t care. Like with Lee on Rachel’s season, how are the producers not going to know they brought on a racist for the first season featuring a black Bachelorette? I think the producers like to stir up the pot by bringing on controversial contestants. To be fair, someone did some absolutely insane digging to get the dirt on Garrett, but the type of person who “likes” things on social media making fun of trans folks and school shooting survivors most likely isn’t the greatest person IRL.

Jen K.: I’m here for Clay. Clay is my guy. I really liked Garrett until I found out about his Instagram. I’m new to all of this. The last time I watched The Bachelorette, Instagram didn’t exist (all my love Trista and Ryan). So I was rather floored that the producers didn’t know because they have to know, right? It’s super shady they keep people like this around. More worrisome is Becca on every morning show defending Garrett, so sadly, he sticks around.

Chelsea: Again, I’m so disappointed with the whole Garrett thing because I love a goofy dude. I know he didn’t post anything and that somebody went through a whole lot of work to find those likes, but still. Producers are just gonna have to keep stepping up their vetting game because this one was pretty difficult to find unless you were friends with him and followed a bunch of the same accounts he was liking.

I’m completely biased because Clay is an alum of my college and I briefly met him before; he was super nice then and even sweeter on the show. He’s the kind of dude that you get what you see and is such a cool and charming human — my frontrunner for the Bachelor. Blake, Wills, Leo, and Jason also really left me with really good vibes.

The only thing better than finding love on this show is finding a villain. Who has good villain potential? Is the male model there to stir the pot or is he just a doofus? 

Alisa: I think the male model — while fun to laugh at/with — doesn’t have what it takes to be this season’s villain. He’s just pompous fluff in great shoes. It seems like Garrett’s true colors didn’t surface until after the season wrapped, so I’m guessing he’s not the villain either. I don’t know. I didn’t get strong bad guy vibes from any of them on night one, but enough of them look like your typical Disney villian that I figure someone will step forward to claim that title soon enough.

Rebecca: Jordan is definitely the Corinne of this season, although probably not quite as conniving and sneaky. He brings the goofy drama though, and he’s a total diva. I actually laughed out loud when he said there were less than 100 male models in the United States and compared his footsteps to a gentleman’s heartbeat. He’s entertaining and annoying, but not mean (at least not yet), so I don’t see him becoming a villain. I think it’s a bit early to tell who will be this season’s villain yet, especially when there are still so many guys left that I can’t keep their names or stories straight.

Jen K.: I feel like to be a villain you have to be somewhat self-aware of your villainy. Male model is just too self-absorbed to be remotely self-aware in any regard, which makes him all the more ridiculous, but not necessarily evil. I find him more amusing than anything else. He is literally a Ken doll. Villain for me is someone who stirs the pot, is out for himself, or is just plain old mean. Then again, Male Model could be the devil. I can’t really tell who is going to be a villain yet, but I am on red alert. By the way, am I supposed to learn names? Because I’m calling him Male Model forever.

Chelsea: Jordan is more of the jester this season than a villain. He isn’t malicious with his actions and really is there to be silly. Lincoln, on the other hand, cheated his way through a date and stirred up drama with the guys immediately after. That’s who I would watch out for.

Group dates got weird quick this season with a race to the altar obstacle course and a kid-coached dodgeball tournament. Adding in Blake’s bizarre one-on-one date, which date would you liked to have been on? Would any of the men get your rose? 

Alisa: Uhhh yeah, those dates were not great. And at this point the obligatory obstacle course and sporty dates have gone stale. Like, we get it. These are macho men who are big and strong! Enough. How about a date that actually teaches you something about the guy? Instead of a "ball and chain" obstacle course complete with tuxes and wedding cakes, maybe a panel discussion on who the men voted for in 2016 and why, and a debate on contemporary issues like poverty, immigration, and gun control. But I suppose that wouldn’t make great TV. Ah, well. I’ll just have to pretend to be shocked when the happy couple inevitably ends their engagement because they (shockingly!) didn’t find out anything useful about each other during the season. Also, Clay would get all my roses; the other men can leave.

Rebecca: All right, I loved the dodgeball date. The kids were absolute savages, and I probably rewatched the scene of the kids screaming “TRAAAASH” at least four times. The obstacle date was fine enough, but the drama with Lincoln’s picture was just annoying. Like, just don’t touch stuff that isn’t yours? Blake’s date was infuriating to watch. While I’m sure destroying Arie’s things is therapeutic for Becca, that’s something to do on her own time with her girlfriends, not as a first date with her potential future husband. I agree with Alisa about needing dates that dig deeper into the men’s personal lives and political beliefs, although ratings won’t go up to hear a bunch of Ken dolls talk about social issues that most likely don’t even affect them.

Jen K.: What is with this show’s incessant need to remind Becca she was dumped? Arie is getting more airplay than he did on his season, which is many levels of gross. The whole Arie-themed date was really uncomfortable and weird. Epic fail. Let us never speak of Arie again. I’m also confused on how obstacle courses are illuminating marriage potential, but whatevs, producers. Wedding themes this early on in the competition feels like jumping the gun, but it’s also possible I’m watching The Bachelorette wrong.

And I’m with y’all. Let’s run through religious and political leanings. Maybe explore money management styles. Those kids were savage though, and I loved it. I feel like Connor escalated quickly over something pretty small. It’s a picture, dude. Calm down. So his temper is wildly concerning. Then Lincoln tattled and cried over a photo with a woman he’s known for five minutes. Are these guys for real? I’m looking forward to when it stops feeling like a sales pitch whenever these dudes sit down with her. Do they always kiss after first conversations? We don’t work up to kissing? I might be too old for this. Random thought: Becca slayed in the red jumpsuit.

Chelsea: Somebody PLEASE get me a GIF of those kids yelling "TRAAAAAASH" at the men. Best moment of the entire show.

I’m with Rebecca in that destroying all the Arie stuff is something you should do with your friends, not on a first date. That should’ve been a montage in the first episode with Caroline, Seinne, Kendall, Bekah, and Tia. I am so impressed though that they got a real artist with a recognizable hit song on the show. I’ve been convinced for several seasons now that they just grab a person off the street who can carry a tune and give them a fake name.

The dudes always bring the best kind of petty drama that shows their true colors, and that’s why I like these competitive dates. It’s not so much who wins as much as how can they handle the pressure. I really found myself loving Wills and how he stayed out of all the messes. Him, Clay, and Leo would get my roses for sure.

The men always bring bigger drama than the women and this year is no exception with Lincoln vs. Connor, Model vs. Chicken, and the Tia/Colton of it all. What is your favorite mess to cheer for? Who’s the most cringeworthy guy? 

Alisa: Lincoln’s a literal hot mess and I’m so bummed by the rumors that he’s a jerk IRL, but he does make great TV so I hope he sticks around for a while. The male model has already started grating on my nerves and it’s only week two, so I’d be happy to see him leave next week. Connor’s temper is just downright troubling and he does not need to be there anymore. And Colton? Okay, there is a guy obviously there for all the wrong reasons, and I can’t wait for Tia to spill the tea on this situation next week. I hope she gives us ALL the dirt!

Rebecca: I agree with Alisa about Lincoln; I’m so disappointed if the rumors are true! He is one of my favorites so far, and he’s totally entertaining. Model vs. Chicken is definitely my favorite feud as of now, because Jordan is a mess and David (is that the chicken’s name?) is turning out to be more and more normal and sweet. It’s hilarious to watch the guys get so mad he stayed around. Colton and Connor are both cringeworthy and should see themselves out.

Jen K.: My biggest question with Male Model’s stunt is where does Becca pin the rose? The self-involvement with that guy is unreal. He can go. Is Colton just working his way through bachelorettes? Umm... no. The whole Tia thing is a big red flag. Colton also should have fessed up on night one; he can go. Lincoln feels untrustworthy; he can go. Connor has anger issues; he can go. Stick with me, Becca! I’ll have whittled this down to the one in no time.

Chelsea: Colton is the Arie of football players in that he’s never really done anything and is just looking to capitalize on fame (see Aly Raisman viral video), and I am already so over him. You know this drama will let him go far but he’s gonna end up on Paradise trying to win back Tia. The show is literally writing itself.

Model vs. Chicken is definitely the funniest one to watch because they’re both driving each other crazy and there are no real stakes. Lincoln v Connor seems like where the real mess is at and both guys are coming out of it looking really bad.

Looking ahead, who do you have in your final four going to hometowns this season? Do any of these men have Bachelor potential? 

Alisa: Can we just have a moment of silence for the loss of the Fantasy League? I’m super bummed they’re not doing it this season. Okay, moment over.

So I’m not ever good at guessing this early in the game, but I do think Garrett is final four for sure, based on how quick the producers, Becca, and he have been to put distance on his Instagram actions. I think Clay is doing hometowns as well because they already showed his family sitting down to dinner in the night one intros which I think is a good sign — like, I’m guessing that was footage from a hometown date. You can’t tell me the producers would waste precious time filming some big, staged family dinner for a rando who gets let go in week three.

I’d really like to see Lincoln go to hometowns, mostly so I can just stare at him and listen to that accent for as long as possible. The only other guy that even made the remotest impression on me was Leo, because my goodness, that hair. So, yeah, those are my picks: Garrett, Clay, Lincoln, and Leo.

Rebecca: My final four are Garrett, Clay, Blake, and Lincoln, mainly for the same reasons as Alisa stated above. I traded out Leo for Blake though because her one-on-one with him seemed to go so well.

Jen K.: Can I pick Clay four times? No? That’s not a thing? Okay. Alisa is 100% on point with Garrett so I’ll say Clay, Garrett, Blake and... I can’t remember a fourth name.

Chelsea: I miss Fantasy League so much. Pouring one out for all the dumb questions we’ll never get asked.

My personal Final Four would be Clay, Wills, Blake, and Jason but I think Becca will go with Blake, Garrett, Colton, and maybe someone who hasn’t had a lot of screen time yet. There’s always one person who jumps out around episode five or so — like a Kendall — and captures our hearts. I’m feeling pretty meh on her batch of dudes, but her season is already more fun to watch than Rachel’s or Arie’s because I think Becca is more game for it all.

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The Right Reasons: What Happens Behind the Scenes in Bachelor Nation [Contributor: Rebecca]

(Image credit: Dutton)

The second I saw a photo of journalist and former Bachelor Nation insider Amy Kaufman’s new book Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America’s Favorite Guilty Pleasure floating around on the Twitterverse, I knew I had to read it.

Kaufman used to write reviews of The Bachelor and its spinoffs, and her reviews garnered enough views and online conversation that ABC producers began inviting her to all kinds of Bachelor-related events — the Women Tell All and After the Final Rose live tapings, charity functions produced or emceed by former cast members, and all kinds of private parties and happy hours. After some time, though, ABC’s publicity department informed Kaufman her coverage “was ‘too negative’ and [they] no longer wanted [her] near any show-sponsored events.” Of course, Kaufman’s reviews weren’t so much “negative” as they were snarky (after all, Kaufman writes, “Who doesn’t hate-watch The Bachelor?”). But it didn’t matter — her ties with those holding the power in Bachelor Nation had been severed.

Bachelor Nation boasts interviews with current and former producers and directors, such as Elan Gale, Michael Carroll, and Duan Perrin, but we’re all reading to get the scoop from the contestants themselves — and Kaufman does not disappoint with the star-studded ensemble she managed to snag for interviews. She speaks with loads of contestants, including Sharleen Joynt (Juan Pablo Galavis), Chris Bukowski (Emily Maynard, and an array of other franchise spinoffs), and Eric Bigger (Rachel Lindsay); and even some former showrunners themselves like Nick Viall (season 21) and Ben Flajnik (season 16).

Marketed as a juicy, gossipy tell-all that ABC and the producers definitely did not want her to write, Bachelor Nation does not disappoint. Some of the stuff isn’t surprising — like the fact the show is absurdly scripted — but other stuff blew my mind, like the fact creator and executive producer Mike Fleiss fostered a workplace culture that consisted of getting high during meetings and insane parties where staff would get blackout drunk.

We also get the inside scoop on the absolutely insane application process. Not only is there is a lengthy form to fill out (either on paper or online, but either way you also have to send in a video of yourself), but prospective contestants have to shut themselves in a hotel room if they make it through to the in-person interview round, undergo intense psychological testing, get grilled by producers, and have a medical examination (you’d be excused right then and there if you tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases).

But perhaps the most frightening thing about the application process is the waiver that you have to sign before going onto the show: “I understand, acknowledge and agree that producer may use or reveal personal information which may be embarrassing, unfavorable, shocking, humiliating, disparaging, and/or derogatory, may subject me to public ridicule and/or condemnation, and may portray me in a false light.” So... if you go on the show, you’re giving the producers permission to paint you in a false light — something many contestants complain about (think of our favorite villains — Courtney Robertson [Ben Flanjik], Krystal Nielson [Arie Luyendyk Jr.], and Corinne Olympios [Nick Viall]).

Bachelor Nation also takes us through what it’s like to live in the mansion (total seclusion and isolation), how those extravagant dates are planned, and how the show has evolved over the years (a lot less people going on there for the right reasons... hello Instagram #sponcon).

But what I liked the most is how Kaufman tackled the question of why women subject ourselves to something so inherently anti-feminist, something that psychologically damages some contestants, and something we know is scripted and the opposite of reality. The short answer: We just want “to understand the inscrutable, wicked, brilliant thing that is love.”

I had hoped to get a little more scoop from contestants about other contestants, and I was also hoping for some all out fury rants against the franchise, but I understand there are contracts involved to stay quiet about some of the show’s going-ons and all that, and that some contestants — even though they may have had a negative experience — don’t regret being on the show.

I definitely would recommend Bachelor Nation to those like myself that enjoy the show, but also want to educate themselves on how and why the franchise is problematic. All in all, it was an enjoyable, entertaining, and informative read — one that makes me even more excited for what the franchise has to offer in the future.

My rating: 4/5 stars

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The Bachelorette 13x11 & 13x12 Roundtable: The Final Rose [Contributors: Chelsea and Rebecca]

Well, readers, we reached the end of the line: the finale for The Bachelorette happened this week and boy, was it a doozy. Follow along with Chels and Rebecca as they recap exactly what went down and who Rachel's final rose went to.

Rachel accepted Bryan’s proposal after a long and hectic finale. What did you think of the moment? 

Rebecca: I know I’m in the minority for liking Bryan, but I thought the proposal was very sweet. It’s clear they’ve been very into each other the entire season, so I don’t think anyone was surprised he was her final pick.

Chelsea: I’m with Rebecca in the minority of Bryan fans. He’s been consistent all season with his feelings and hasn’t played games with her. And she’s been super obvious with him being her favorite. He was sweet re-proposing during the live show and I’m glad she’s happy. I’ve said all season that I trust Rachel’s decision.

Peter has been struggling the past few episodes to get into the same place as Rachel. Were you surprised to see them break up before a proposal? Do you think he’s ready to be the Bachelor?

Rebecca: I was not surprised that Peter didn’t propose. He’s made it very clear he had no intention of proposing, and props to him for staying true to himself and not allowing himself to feel pressured into doing something he wasn’t ready to do. Perhaps, in another setting, he and Rachel could have worked, but he couldn’t/wouldn’t give her what she wanted, so she made the decision to choose someone who could/would. Whether or not that decision was influenced by the franchise and viewer’s pressure for an engagement, we’ll never know, but we have to trust that Rachel made the right decision.

Side note though — this finale’s formatting was whack. Not a fan. I like the two-hour episode and then the live After the Final Rose afterward.

Chelsea: By that point, I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t propose, but I feel like he knew what show he signed up for and had a really good long game. His high school yearbook photo with the quote of him saying he wants to be the Bachelor in the future makes me think he had a really good long game and maybe wasn’t as genuine as he seemed. The whole break-up and After the Final Rose was so uncomfortable to watch. If those are his real values, then I do not think he will ever be ready to be the Bachelor. I would still watch his season but if he’s really looking for love, then this franchise is not for him.

I second Rebecca’s note about the finale format. It was just an unwatchable mess.

Eric got closure with Rachel after being eliminated early. How would you like him to return to the franchise? 

Rebecca: The way Eric handled the break-up was, in my opinion, more mature and respectful than any other break-up in the history of the franchise. I’ve really come to love Eric, and I would love to see him return to the show as the next Bachelor. As much as I love Peter, I agree with Rachel that the process isn’t right for him, and we shouldn’t blame him for that. I already know the process wouldn’t be right for me, as I’m the same as Peter: I would need looooooots of time to consider getting engaged/married to someone, and 6 or 8 weeks or however the long the show runs for is definitely not enough time. But for others it is, and Eric is one of those people, so I think he’d make a great Bachelor. Plus we’d get to see more of his family, and we all know how wonderful they are.

Chelsea: Eric handled his break-up with Rachel so well and has really had a few great episodes the last few weeks. I still don’t think he’s mature enough to be the next Bachelor but I’m glad he had a clean and friendly goodbye. I don’t think I can forgive him for wearing that white t-shirt and tennis shoes to the last rose ceremony. That kills any chance of me wanting him to be the next Bachelor. He is one of the few that would thrive on Paradise though.

Any stray thoughts from the season? 

Rebecca: I just want to reiterate that Rachel is hands-down the BEST Bachelorette the franchise has ever had. She handled her season with so much class, elegance, and confidence. She stayed out of the drama, didn’t string any of the men along by keeping them longer than they needed to, and stayed true to herself through the entire process. I have so much respect for her and wish so much happiness for her.

Chelsea: Rachel was an amazing Bachelorette but had the WORST selection of guys. Kaitlyn is right up there with her but she had so many great men to choose from, it just wasn’t fair. I’m just so impressed with how Rachel handled all the drama and still managed to have fun. The show format for a lot of this was a mess and I do think it took away from the quality of her season. She kept her word all summer and I just loved and respected her more and more each week. Wishing her and Bryan all the happiness.

Fantasy League Scores:

• Chelsea (the winner!): 710 points 
• Rebecca: 640 points
• Alisa: 530 points
• Rae: 280 points

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The Bachelorette 13x10 Roundtable: Men Tell All [Contributors: Chelsea, Alisa, and Rebecca]

As we head into the final night of The Bachelorette, our ladies discuss the Men Tell All special, and who they think will be left standing at the end of the finale.

What is your impression of Men Tell All? Favorite confrontation? Anything you wish they had addressed?

Rebecca: I loved the montage they did at the beginning of the best “Men Tell All” moments. I had forgotten about some of them (like Kalon, for instance). And I loved that they showed Ashley and JP getting the ultrasound done to find out the sex of their baby. What a sweet moment! I also loved the blooper reel — that’s always my favorite part. The best confrontation was when Kenny and Josiah put Lee in his place. I love that Josiah straight-up asked Lee why his racist self came on the show to date a black woman.

Alisa: I forgot about all those great moments from the Men Tell Alls of yore, so that was definitely a highlight. And the blooper reel is always my favorite part. As for confrontations, Kenny brought his A-game for the inevitable dragging of Lee.

Chelsea: My favorite thing about the Men Tell All was easily Dean’s suit. He just looked so dapper with his socks matching his pocket square. I’m glad he got proper closure with Rachel. I found it fitting that they only spent like two minutes talking to Matt and Adam about why they were kept so long, since we didn’t know who they were all season. I would have liked to hear them talk a little more though.

Men Tell All spent most of the episode focused on Lee and his racism. How do you think the show handled the subject matter?

Rebecca: I’m torn. Part of me wishes the show didn’t give Lee more attention than they already did, but part of me hopes that the confrontation provided a learning experience for viewers who may not have seen the issue with his tweets and actions. I remember one moment from the season where Lee called (I think Kenny?) “aggressive,” and one of the men explained the connotation and history behind that word when used to describe a black man, and that was something I had never known. I think there were plenty of moments like that where ABC could have addressed microaggressions, but failed to do so. Hopefully this was a learning experience for ABC just as much as I hope it was for Lee. I don’t know if I buy his apology, but I’m glad that he was forced to listen to Kenny go IN on him — and forced to listen to Chris when he pulled receipts on Lee.

Alisa: Ugh. Well, unfortunately I didn’t expect any better of them but to give Lee even MORE time to make up excuses for his racism. I wish they hadn’t given him the Men Tell All platform, but like I said above, Kenny came prepared and Chris pulled out tweet receipts and in the end, Lee got dragged hard and he deserved it. I genuinely hope he really has grown and learned from all this but I’m skeptical. And seriously, there are way easier ways to educate yourself and overcome your ignorance than by wasting the time of the first black Bachelorette in history.

Chelsea: Like the girls said, I’m glad Chris Harrison came prepared and that all the guys had large platform to talk about race, microaggressions, and systemic racism, but I think they just gave Lee too much time to try to sweet talk his way around an apology. It was just uncomfortable any time he spoke and I do hope ABC learned its lesson about vetting contestants and how they need to do their homework.

Final predictions for the final two men and winner. Which of Rachel’s men do you want to see in Paradise with Dean? 

Rebecca: Bryan will win, Peter will come in second, Eric will go home next. In Paradise, I’d like to see Alex, Diggy, Kenny, Anthony, Will, and BLAKE K. (heart eyes emoji).

Alisa: I agree Bryan will win. Though, they’re realllly pushing this tension between Rachel and Peter which makes me think he will at least end up in the final two after all. That’s the same thing they did last season with Nick and Vanessa, showing them fighting all the time and then she won. Oh man, I am SO HAPPY Dean is going to paradise. That little nugget deserves all the love in the world. I’d also like to see Anthony, Diggy, Will, and YES OF COURSE BLAKE K. in Paradise.

Chelsea: Bryan will win because Peter has to be the Bachelor. I don’t care about Eric and am surprised he made it this far. Bryan has been consistently in love with her all season and I think they’ve done a good job the past few episodes setting up Peter as a good candidate for The Bachelor.

I’m so happy Dean is going to Paradise and can relax a little. He seems like the type that would thrive on the beach. I’m hoping we get Will, Anthony, Alex, and OF COURSE BLAKE K.! It’s not too late to make Blake K. the Bachelor is it? Or sign him up for next season of The Bachelorette?

Fantasy League Scores: 

• Chelsea: 500 points
• Alisa: 470 points
• Rebecca: 430 points
• Rae: 270 points

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The Bachelorette 13x09 Roundtable: Fantasy Suites [Contributors: Rebecca, Alisa, and Chelsea]

As we inch closer to this year's Bachelorette finale, who will Rachel choose? This week, our ladies discuss Rachel's family and how it's looking for the final few men.

Who was your favorite member of Rachel’s family? 

Rebecca: COPPER. No, but seriously, I loved everyone in her family. It’s hard to choose a favorite. I loved that they all kept it so real and didn’t take it easy on the guys. I was especially fond of her sister.

Alisa: Rachel’s sister, Constance, was just so lovely and wise. She asked great questions and held her ground when Rachel got defensive. I also adored Rachel’s mother. Really, the whole family was fantastic. And kudos to Uncle Jeff for actually chowing down on the amazing looking food on his plate. There’s a GIF going around on Twitter of him now and he’s basically my new personal hero.

Chelsea: Obviously Cooper is the best member of her family, but her sister was so on point with asking the guys all the right questions. We all need a family member like that. Her whole family was lovely and I’m sorry we couldn’t see her dad this time around. But it is completely understandable why he couldn’t film.

Also, I am Uncle Jeff at dinner.

How are Eric's chances looking after meeting Rachel's parents and their lovely date that ended in a fantasy suite?

Rebecca: I think we’re all surprised Eric made it this far, but I’ve really grown to like him. His smile and attitude are contagious, and I thought he got along really well with her family. He’s so fun and clearly has good chemistry with Rachel; however, he isn’t ready for marriage and I’m almost positive he’ll be eliminated next.

Alisa: Okay, so yes, yes, I know I have NOT been a fan of Eric this whole season. And I still say he’s too immature and lacks the confidence to be a good fit for Rachel. However, I will say that I really warmed to him this episode. I’ve said all along I think he’s a good guy, but his earnest sincerity really shone through this week and it’s just so adorable how smitten he is. But I do think he’s going to get his little heart broken and that makes me very sad.

Chelsea: I haven’t been a fan of Eric all season but the last two episodes have really put him in a better light. He seems more at ease with the process and comfortable around Rachel. I still don’t like him for Rachel and he’s pretty annoying, but better than he has been. I just don’t see their chemistry and Rachel looks at him like he’s her little brother.

Bryan has been a love him or hate him frontrunner this season. How do you feel about him and who do you want in the final two? 

Rebecca: I like him, and I feel like I’m in the minority. He seems nice, and it’s clear he and Rachel have great chemistry. His family seems very intense, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They seemed to like Rachel and vice versa. His meeting with her family was definitely awkward, but I think it ended on a high note. It’s also pretty obvious that he’s going to win, so perhaps the fact I stand for Rachel makes me susceptible to his charm.

Alisa: Ugh. I CANNOT STAND BRYAN. He is so fake and disingenuous and way too in love with himself. Seriously, when he said before the meet-the-parents date how he thought her family would be impressed with him? Please. Get over yourself. But I agree and I think he’ll win. I think Rachel’s family voicing some serious (and totally valid) doubts about him only pushed Rachel more in his direction, if that was even possible. I’d love to see Peter and Eric in the final two but I think we’ve seen the last of Peter (UNTIL HE BECOMES THE BACHELOR, THAT IS!).

Chelsea: I really like Bryan and his aggressive kissing. I know I’m in the minority for that but he reminds me of Shawn Booth in how he’s committed to the process of winning Rachel’s heart. Just the way they act around each other, how sweet he is to her, and how she smiles around him. I trust Rachel to make the right decision about him.

Obviously I want a final two of Peter and Bryan. Anybody else is just nonsense.

Peter is just the best and we all love him. What’s your favorite Peter date this season? 

Rebecca: Definitely the first date where they went to the dog party. I wasn’t sure if I was more jealous of Peter for getting to go on a date with Rachel, Rachel for getting to go on a date with Peter, or both of them from being surrounded by all of those precious pups.

Alisa: Oooh definitely the puppy date! Good call, Rebecca. Honestly, I have a hard time remembering what he and Rachel have done on any of their dates because everything else fades and all I see his is lovely face and adorable personality every time he’s on screen. I seriously need him to be the next Bachelor or what even is the point of this show?

Chelsea: Peter is such a cutie, and I love how seriously he’s taking this journey. These last couple episodes have made me think he isn’t super into Rachel and he’s starting to realize it. I’m okay with that if that means we get a whole season of him being the Bachelor. He’s just a cute, seems genuine, and a real adult with health insurance.

They’ve had so many great dates together. The puppy date was obviously a stand-out and the wine cellar was pretty cute, but we cannot forget the group date where they took a dip in the hot tub for several hours and left the guys waiting. What a power move, and good for them.

Fantasy League Scores:

• Chelsea: 470 points
• Alisa: 450 points
• Rebecca: 400 points
• Rae: 250 points

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The Bachelorette 13x07 Roundtable: What Are Their Names? [Contributors: Chelsea, Alisa, and Rebecca]

As this season of The Bachelorette begins to wind down, our ladies talk about the final four men who are left, and who might be headed to Paradise.

How do you feel about the final four men? Who do you think Rachel would hit it off with this week?

Rebecca: This is the first time EVER I genuinely like all the guys. Peter, Dean, Eric, and Bryan all seem like great men who are truly there for Rachel. Compared to the others, these four have had very little drama surrounding them, which is rare — I feel like oftentimes a controversial contestant makes it to hometowns. I’m excited to meet their families and think Rachel would do well with any of them, although it’s clear she has a preference for Bryan.

Alisa: Eh. Dean and Peter are adorable, obviously, and both seem really invested in Rachel. I still can’t get over the skeezy feeling I get from Bryan. There’s something seriously disingenuous about that guy and I was glad to see a ton of people on Twitter voicing that same sentiment. Don’t get me wrong, he sure is nice to look at and he and Rachel have great chemistry, but I still say something’s off about him. I think Eric’s a genuinely good guy but he’s too insecure and immature. Rachel needs a man who’s confident enough in himself not to be intimidated by her success, intelligence, beauty, and profession, and I don’t think that’s Eric. He’s got a bit more growing up to do.

Chelsea: Overall, she has a pretty solid final four. I’m not surprised to see her pick Dean, Peter, and Bryan for hometowns. I think we all called that from week one. I’m surprised Eric got this far but also not really because Rachel didn’t have the best batch of men. I do feel like Peter took a step back this week and wasn’t as charming as he normally is, but that could have easily been an odd edit.

How do you feel about Adam and Matt going home? Did the editors do them a disservice? 

Rebecca: I feel nothing, because I didn’t even know who Matt was until last rose ceremony and I forgot about Adam (and his creepy little bud) too. The editors did them a disservice by giving them ZERO air time when they made it so far. But they did seem kind of boring in comparison to the remaining four guys, so I’m torn.

Alisa: Who?

Chelsea: We all knew they were going home because we NEVER saw them or remembered their names. I do want to see what was left on the cutting room floor for the both of them. They had to have been sweet guys to make it that far, above some of the bigger contestants.

Who do you think is Paradise bound?

Rebecca: Going off my prediction that Bryan will win, I think (and hope!) Dean will pop up. Others I’d like to see get a second chance at love: Kenny, Blake K., Will, Diggy, Fred, and Josiah. Guys I don’t want to be there, but might make an appearance: Whaboom, Matt, Adam, and maybe even L** if the producers are desperate enough.

Alisa: Yeah, gotta totally agree with Rebecca on all counts. I would love to see more of Dean, Blake K., Will, Diggy, Fred, and I’ll throw in Anthony too. I’d rather stab myself in the eye than have to watch Whaboom and Lee on my screen ever again.

Chelsea: Dean would thrive in Paradise. He needs to go find Raven and the two of them can be cute and giggly together forever. I would LOVE to see more of Will, Kenny, Blake K., and Alex. Like I said above, Rachel didn’t have a great selection of men and I don’t need to see a lot of them ever again. People like Josiah, Diggy, and Alex seem born for Paradise, but I feel like Adam and Matt could pop up to prove that they’re real people and not the cardboard cut-outs we saw this summer.

An ode to the fallen men... who should Rachel have given more consideration to and who would have been in your final four?

Rebecca: As per our very passionate Twitter thread, I think we’re all in agreement that Blake K. was cheated. I mean, I feel cheated that I didn’t get his beautiful smile plastered across my TV screen for more than about 20 seconds. I thought Rachel was crazy for letting him go, but it seems as though he left by choice to be with a sick relative. Blake K. for the next Bachelor! I also miss Alex and Kenny.

Alisa: Oh my goodness Blake K. is just heavenly. I mean seriously, I think he might be made of stardust and unicorn tears he’s so beautiful and sweet. In addition to him, I really wish Rachel had given more time to Will, Diggy, and Anthony. Those were MEN. Mature, intelligent and of course, handsome. I really don’t understand keeping randos like Matt and Adam and super insecure Eric around when Will, Diggy, and Anthony conducted themselves with class and confidence at every turn. But oh well. As long as Rachel’s happy, it just means more good men for Paradise!

Chelsea: Blake K. is just a dreamboat and looked like the best option on night one. We all loved him so much and wish he was the Bachelor. And he left the show to take care of a sick relative, so maybe they’ll give him a second chance in a future season. My final four would be Will, Blake K. (obviously), Peter, and probably Bryan. I do agree with Alisa though in that Diggy and Anthony deserved better. Anthony leaving was a tad shocking, and we didn’t get to know Diggy enough outside of his massive shoe collection.

Bachelorette Fantasy League Rankings:

• Chelsea: 400 points
• Alisa: 350 points
• Rebecca: 350 points
• Rae: 210 points

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The Bachelorette 13x05 & 13x06 Roundtable: Show No Mercy [Contributors: Alisa, Chelsea, & Rebecca]

It was a double-header this week with two huge episodes that lead to a bloodbath of contestants. Let’s see how our writers felt about all the men, dates, and racism this week.

Rachel was pretty savage with her cuts this week (and we love her for it!). Which of the remaining men are you most surprised Rachel kept around?

Rebecca: Rachel showed NO mercy this week, and I respect that. We’re getting down to the nitty gritty, and I’m glad she’s not playing around. Kenny, Josiah, and Alex going home were all shocks to me. Josiah was getting pretty intense (and a little creepy), and I didn’t expect him to make it much further, but I’m surprised some of the others outlasted him. As far as Alex and Kenny go, I had both of them in my final four, so my bracket is starting to look pretty meh. I wish I would have swapped out one of them with Dean. He’s definitely been the dark horse this season, at least for me. I’m surprised Rachel has kept Adam (because if she keeps Adam, she keeps Adam Jr.) and Matt (I didn’t know he existed until this week). I’m still pulling for Bryan though!

Alisa: Yeah, I feel like finding out there’s a Matt this season (and that he’s still here) was the biggest surprise for me. Still no idea what he looks like though. I had blessedly forgotten about Adam (and Adam Jr.) and was not happy to be reminded of their existence. I did NOT think Dean of all people would make it this far based on initial impressions but he has been a pleasant surprise. I had Josiah in my final four but was happy to see him gone after he took the quick turn from confident to cocky.

Chelsea: I feel like every week I’ve said “Who is Matt?” or “Who is Adam?” It makes guessing who will be in the final four so much easier now. I was so happy to see Josiah leave as quickly as he did. I could tell from episode one that I wasn’t going to like him and boy did he deliver. I was happy to see Kenny leave on good terms and not immediately after the two-on-one. I did NOT think Eric would stick around this long (even though he was in my initial final four that I wanted to change). I wanted better for Will.

The 2-on-1 is always cringe-worthy, but Lee’s blatant racism and lies made this season’s especially difficult to watch. What are your thoughts on ABC using racism as a plot point?

Rebecca: Racism is an important issue that needs to be discussed, but not in the way that ABC did. Having a black Bachelorette is something to celebrate and obviously race is something that will need to be addressed (especially if white men make it to the hometowns). But using Lee’s blatant racism as a way to gain viewers is just low. The show would be just as interesting, dramatic, and entertaining without having to use racism as a plot point. There are ways to discuss racism in a constructive, educational environment — ABC had the chance to do that but opted not to, which is pretty disappointing.

Alisa: Totally agree with Rebecca. ABC trying to turn racism into drama is a new low. We all knew racism was gonna happen this season, but I guess I was assuming the ignorance and hate would come from some of the fans rather than from the contestants themselves. Lee is a disgusting human and the producers never should have put Rachel — or the other men — in the position of having to deal with him. Good riddance to him and I sincerely hope that ABC has learned something from the fans’ ire, though I doubt they have.

Chelsea: Agree completely with the girls. Casting and keeping a racist man in the house to stir up drama is pretty low. And it didn’t even lead to discussions about racism; it just gave it a larger platform, which is NOT what we need in today’s America. Rachel didn’t deserve that and neither did Kenny or the other guys.

Rachel and the men were hopping all over Europe this week. Which country looked the most fun and inspired you to save up for a visit?

Rebecca: I’ve technically been to Oslo — I had a layover there going from Poland to Croatia, so I know that their airport is nice. But really, I’ve always heard good things about Denmark, especially Copenhagen, so I’d vote to go there. And the group date looked so fun! I love ships and being out on the water, so I think I would have enjoyed that experience.

Alisa: Oh man, do I have to pick just one?! They’re little-ish countries, so maybe I’d just bounce to each like Rachel did! Denmark has always seemed especially lovely to me though.

Chelsea: I would love to go to Sweden or Denmark and just do some exploring. I really want to do those viking group date activities and have a field day. That looked so silly and great.

It’s hard to believe, but we’re already down to the final six men. You know what this means: time to weigh in with your predictions for next season’s Bachelor! Who will it be? 

Rebecca: HOW are we down to the final six?! Rachel’s season is absolutely flying by. I think out of the eliminated contestants, Alex and Kenny are both good options — after all, who wouldn’t love to watch Kenny find a mother for his absolutely precious daughter? As far as the remaining contestants go, I’d vote Dean, Peter, or Bryan. All three are likable, fun, and drama-free. I’d enjoy watching any of their seasons.

Alisa: I think the next Bachelor will be either Dean or Peter. I want one of those two to end up with Rachel and then the other can be the Bachelor. Bryan still gives me the creeps. I would LOVE to see Will be the Bachelor but I’m afraid he got eliminated too early and didn’t get enough screentime to become a fan favorite. But he’ll always be a favorite in my heart.

Chelsea: Before Will was eliminated, I was chatting with Alisa about how Will would be the PERFECT Bachelor. He’s sweet, charming, has a real job and doesn’t stir drama. We’ve been robbed. Based on who I think will be in the final four, I think I want a whole season of Peter be kind of goofy and adorable but I think Dean has a solid chance. He’s been the dark horse all season but I don’t think he’ll win. I do love Bryan and it’s either him or Peter for the win.

What’s your personal pet peeve this season? Go ahead and unload that random rant that’s just been eating away at you all season.

Rebecca: Have I mentioned that Lee is trash? I have so much dislike for him that I don’t even want to waste my brainpower trying to sort out my angry word vomit into something comprehensible. I don’t have too many annoyances this season because Rachel is just so lovely and does a great job with keeping everyone in their place, shutting down the drama, and doing what’s best for her.

Alisa: I just wanna know why no one ever eats all that lovely food they show on the evening dates. Is it because the Bachelor Interns only get to eat if there are leftovers and so the contestants take pity on them and go without so those hard-working and mischievous interns have sustenance? This is one of the many reasons I could never be on this franchise. Starving intern, gorgeous date, random country singer — it wouldn’t matter. I would be devouring all the food on that table at each meal and I have NO SHAME about that. Let me live my life.

Chelsea: Bringing a racist dude into the house is a pretty big pet peeve and just casting some really basic and uninspired dudes. Aside from that, most of the dates this season have been so underwhelming. I think Eric and Will had the best dates of the season this week (behind Peter’s puppy date of course), but spelling bees and random athletic activities are pretty boring. You’re in all these beautiful countries now, do something cute!

Fantasy League Results:

• Rebecca: 200 points
• Chelsea: 170 points
• Alisa: 140 points
• Rae: 100 points

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