Every new season of The Bachelor producers try to come up with something different; actually more shocking is what they appear to be striving for. There are always the usual characters—the “handsome, accomplished, hunky” bachelor, the nasty girl, the crier, the schemer, the nice one, the one with the sad story—and the one who is there for the wrong reasons, which are assumed to be exposure and fame. But along with these is the new element that is always talked about in the teasers for the show when they use the words/expressions, shocking, never before seen, most surprising or romantic ending ever, etc.
It seems that this season’s new element has to do with The Bachelor himself. Nick is a reformed “bad guy,” who has been on both the Bachelorette, twice, and Paradise. Both times on The Bachelorette he was runner-up, always the groomsman, never the groom. On paradise last summer, he was a reformed Nick, the guy all the women thought of as a confidante and friend.
We all lost count of his (known) conquests from past seasons, and this season they brought on a contestant (bachelorette) who had met him at the wedding of a past Paradise couple who met and fell in love there. And yes, she was another conquest—a one night stand Nick had been intrigued with and had showed an interest in pursuing after the wedding, but she said no and he had not heard from her since. Now here she was, interested and even seemingly smug at times over her secret. Liz did tell one woman as she was bursting with holding it in, then on a group date, kind of, sort of spilled the beans to all the other women on the date—sort of.
Long story short, Nick decided he was not comfortable with her reasons for coming on the show, was developing feelings for other women already—and asked her to leave only a couple of episodes in. This is when the other women were told directly of their history and why Nick had asked her to leave. The fall-out will be seen in the next episode this week. There is always a big build-up about this, yet women never seem to lose interest or leave because of these things. It lends some drama and discomfort however, so it does have its purpose for being included.
The big question on everyone’s mind is “will Nick actually find love his third time around?” Yes, he is older and allegedly more mature. He says at 30 something he is now ready. He likes several of the women already—yet seems to be favoring the one who has already taken off her top in the first episode and repeatedly interrupted the other women in their brief time alone with him. She is the competitive, spoiled princess one—there is usually one of these as well. However Nick also seems very drawn to a down-to-earth, teacher (special needs kids, no less) who he seemed taken with from the first night. In fact, there are at least three women who are clearly considered keepers by Nick, at least for now.
So who will win out? The “bad girl” or the “nice” girl? The one who has a good career, a good head on her shoulders, and a lot of maturity, or Ms. Entitled Daddy’s girl? The answer will tell us a lot about how much Nick has really changed and if he has at all. He just can’t seem to resist the edgy ones—but often that behavior is a cover for attributes that wear thin quickly.
So Nick, what will it be this last and final time?
