If you’ve ever been a fan of The Bachelor or its counterpart, The Bachelorette, then there’s a solid chance I’ve silently critiqued your choices over the years.
For ages, I’ve scrolled through countless social media posts from friends who adore this ridiculous spectacle of a show. Friends with impressive resumes and vocabularies filled with words I often have to look up swoon over men who seem to require a reality TV platform to find a partner. They delight in the drama, the hairspray overload, and, oh, the abundance of cleavage. And yes, I judged. Heavily.
I couldn’t fathom why women would invest their time in a show where twenty contenders compete for the affection of one man who, let’s be honest, has somewhat questionable social skills. For 21 seasons, my friends have hosted premiere parties adorned with roses and themed drinks. I’ve watched them spiral into social media rants after the finale when the blonde contestant snagged the final rose over the brunette once again.
Listening to my friends recount episodes during our gatherings, I often wondered, “How did we end up here? What on Earth is this? Why should we care about some girl named Jenna breaking some guy named Chris’s heart?” And don’t get me started on The Bachelorette—my brain can’t even process that level of chaos.
Or so I thought.
Under the influence of Nyquil and unable to reach for the remote, I found myself watching the first episode of Season 22 three weeks ago. Blame it on my Nyquil haze and my inability to stop myself.
Guys, I watched my first episode of The Bachelor, and I have feelings. SO. MANY. FEELINGS. My husband joined in on the madness because if I’m diving into this rabbit hole, he is too. We settled on the couch, and it was impossible to look away. It was as if some force had taken over our brains, keeping us from switching to something more intellectually stimulating like Jeopardy or a nature documentary.
We were introduced to the contestants (is that the right term? Forgive my inexperience) as they arrived at a stunning mansion in their unique ways. One contestant, Chloe, instantly caught my husband’s eye because she drove up in a classic car, while we both realized that someone named Madison was likely going to stir up trouble. And honestly, why was Tara running around with a mask on her face for half the episode? So much to unpack here.
As the episode progressed, we made a pact not to be “that” couple, watching solely to poke fun at Chris and his entourage of perfectly coiffed sidekicks. We insisted we were only tuning in to see what the fuss was about. “Just this one episode,” we promised ourselves.
Fast forward to three episodes later, and we’re all in. “Did you record The Bachelor?” my husband asked last week, something that would have been a serious relationship red flag six months ago. Now? His commitment to our guilty pleasure has me feeling all sorts of ways.
As we navigated through the episode, we learned about one-on-one dates, group outings, and even demolition derbies. They even had a group date where former wrestling stars taught the contestants how to grapple. Talk about quality entertainment!
When Lauren G. was sent home after a lackluster date at a vineyard, we genuinely felt for her. She really thought things could work out, after all, it had only been five days. But I find myself saying things like “OMG” now, which is just mind-blowing.
Our favorite moment so far? When Chris took the ladies to a dog park for a group date, making them perform tricks with their new furry friends in front of sobbing preschoolers. This is the kind of quality TV I’ve missed out on for years.
WTF, Chris? Meeting the parents on the first date? Dog tricks? Wrestling? Dude, we might not be a match made in heaven, but I’m here for the glittery heart of reality TV. Oh, and can you please accept my invitation to my Final Rose Ceremony party? I’m concocting a signature drink—don’t you dare turn me down!
In summary, my initial skepticism about The Bachelor has transformed into an unexpected enthusiasm, and I might just be ready to embrace all the chaos that comes with it.
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Keyphrase: My First Experience Watching The Bachelor
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