Only one episode in and there is already intense potential for plot twists on “The Bachelor” (ABC/Eric McCandless)

The first episode of this season of “The Bachelor” has come and gone and here are my guesses for the season based on nothing but the unhealthy amount of reality TV I consume and one unsolicited tidbit from a friend. I have not visited the bowels of the Bachelor conspiracy theory internet – YET.

Skip to the end for my meta guess on the ending of the show, and obviously spoilers for Episode 1 of this season.

The Bachelor Himself: Peter Weber

Peter is … fine ( not “foiiiiiineeee”) . I was mostly agnostic towards him during Hannah Brown’s season of “The Bachelorette” but I wasn’t rooting against him. Admittedly anyone was better than Jed. Towards the end I thought he and Hannah had chemistry (or the editors were really good) and that was that. I was somewhat creeped out by the following: his weird cult-y chanting family, and again when his parents cheered him on during the finale/ after-show for having apparently had sex four times in one night in a windmill. So basically his family creeps me out? When he was announced as the Bachelor I was unimpressed. Having seen the first episode I continue to be unimpressed. I think had he not been on the show, if one saw him on a Tinder or Bumble one would not necessarily swipe right. They also are doing him no favors by continuing to show him shirtless. He’s fine, and skews a little softer than we’re used to seeing. I do not feel too much guilt in judging the physiques and physical characteristics of the contestants as they all volunteered for it. No one is FORCING them to go on Reality TV. For better or for worse, in modern society there is an understanding that by signing up for one of these shows you will open yourself to judgement. That in and of itself is a bigger issue and a different conversation.

This season’s Bachelor, Peter Weber. Courtesy ABC

Body language wise, he does have a bizarre ease and comfort with the women, but perhaps that’s just because unlike previous Bachelor, Colton Underwood, he’s clearly actually talked to (and done much more with) women before. I will also point out that watching Arie Luyendyk Jr interact with women was like watching someone constantly performing the Dementor’s kiss, so at least witnessing Weber’s courtship isn’t physically repulsive. I also do like that he apparently still has a real job, and may not be going for that Instagram/Sponsorship post-show life / income. This could change once the season ends.

The North Scar



Apparently – and based on several montages – Peter gets injured at some point during this season. He spots a wound above his eye, which will make the job of the editors particularly challenging this season. Usually they are able to manipulate us via talking head interviews, b-roll footage, and other tricks of the trade in to feeling and believing what they want us to.



So what happens when that tool is taken away from them as you’ll be able to identify at what point in the season Peter’s interviews happened? WE’LL FIND OUT!



The contestants of “The Bachelor” – you will not learn most of their names. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)

The Ladies: First Impressions



As with any premiere episode of “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” there is an overwhelming number of contestants introduced. Many of them were forgettable and it’s tough to root for any of them from the start.

Here were just a few thoughts based on the obligatory cringey limo first impressions and desperate mixer. Yes this may get shallow. Flight attendants are the Lauren’s of this season (in that there are always too many of them).

The airplane jokes/theme is going to get really old really fast.

As are jokes / comments about the windmill.

Okay Tammy with the dick jokes.

Shout out to Lauren for wearing a pantsuit.

Is Kiarra a contortionist or could I fit in a suitcase if I really tried?

Alexa is too cool for him. What is she doing on this show? Wait duh, sponsorships. Get it girl.

Madison looks like cheap Anna Kendrick, but the fact that the most interesting thing about her, is about her family, does not bode well.

There was also someone who looked like off brand Greta Gerwig but she was eliminated already so oh well.

Victoria P. looks like a computer rendering of mashing up every (white) woman who’s ever been on this show ever. Also her lip biting is as if she’s a bad Cosmo advice article on how to flirt come to life. Perhaps she’s a cyborg.

Victoria F’s features are too big for her face. She resembles a cartoon but is striking. Personality wise she is lacking.

Shiann, honey, you know what show you’re on right? You are too invested already.

Savanahh went for it, no risk no reward. Except I wanted to crawl out of my skin watching that.

Savanahh went for it, no risk no reward. Except I wanted to crawl out of my skin watching that. Mykenna is 22. Clearly ready to get married right? What’s that? Fashion blogger? Never mind we know why you’re here. You are going to annoy me. As always, “The Bachelor” seems to be where you go when you age out of beauty pageants, and can’t find a sports star to marry.

One overall observation I did make was there were a surprising number of Asian women on the show. The franchises are not known for their diversity, but Asian contestants in particular seem to do extremely poorly. This may just have to do with Peter’s personal minority preferences. Aside from Tammy who seems to be getting some air time, the rest seem to have already faded into obscurity.

Farewell a good majority of you! (ABC/John Fleenor)

The Villains



What it’s not tough to do from the get go is start disliking some of them, and our two main villain contenders are also of course our front runners. Kelley reminds me of a slightly younger Danielle Staub from “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” She has a slight leg up in that she and Peter randomly met before filming. They claim to have just met but all signs point to: those two definitely bumped uglies. The engineering of having the first group date at the location they met at was brilliant. She knew how to play that room of girls very easily as well, setting her up as a villain. Clearly the editors want more out of these two, so buckle up for more air time. The other frontrunner and likely villain is Hannah Ann. Her use of the “Can I steal you for a sec” may go down in premiere history as the most steals. You can also tell from the way he looked at her like a piece of meat when she was first entering the mansion that he is in to it. Her confrontation with Shiann about the steal was downright cold hearted. I am here for it. I also do not like her. A possible contender, but even more likely contender for “The Bachelorette” is Madison aka off brand Anna Kendrick. Going back to my earlier point about Peter’s family, are they so thirsty for TV exposure now that they allowed Bachelor nation to crash their marriage renewal for A FIRST DATE? Also way to lead her on Peter. Now you HAVE to keep her around for a bit or you look like a jackass.

Kelley and Peter. They’ve def boned already. (ABC/John Fleenor) Hannah Ann and Peter Weber. This would be a great gift, if it were from a kindergartener. (ABC/John Fleenor)

A New but Old Challenger Enters the Fray



Here’s where I think things will start to get interesting.



Enter Hannah Prime aka Hannah B.



Having her come out of the limo was a pure genius move. Plant the seed early of “will she enter the house?”



For the record I think it would be downright degrading for Hannah to enter the pool of competitors living in the house (as Peter hints he might outright ask her to do). You don’t become THE Bachelorette to have to slum it in the mansion again.



There does seem to be an undeniable chemistry between the two. While I question the professions of love from Peter (y’all knew each other for a few months and under insanely engineered circumstances), I do think they seemed like an okay match.



Apparently Hannah was filming her turn on “Dancing with the Stars” during this season so I think it’s unlikely she will join the house. Also as I mentioned, I think if she has any self worth she’ll not bother to enter the fray again.



I give her extra kudos for managing to hijack this first and likely second episode. She manages to shower off some of the embarrassment of picking so poorly in her own series, and for now avoid the sponsorship route.



Hannah Brown and Peter Weber at her “The Bachelorette – After the Final Rose” episode. Look at these two together. Not a bad match. (ABC/John Fleenor)

The Hypothesis: Redemption



If I was the ABC team, who for the last 18 years have been shoving “romance” down TV audience’s throats, I would be embarrassed by last season and scrambling to figure out how to make up for it.



What would be a better twist than Peter going through his entire season “normally” and then at the final rose / end of the line deciding he was right all along, and that Hannah B is his true love?



Peter looks like a “good guy” for staying the course and the claim of having loved her. Hannah gets redemption by lowering herself a bit and asking for forgiveness in her choices.



ABC gets “the greatest Bachelor/Bachelorette wedding special” ever told. It would be a ratings bonanza.



It might be somewhat wishful thinking, after all having absorbed however many seasons of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” one does start to drink the kool-aid a bit and hope that not ALL of this is BS.



We will see how the season plays out. One thing for sure is that we will have some ripe candidates for “Bachelor in Paradise.”



WHAT IF THINGS CAME FULL CIRCLE WITH HANNAH AND PETER?! It’d be a win for everyone (ABC)

Bonus Round: Drinking Game Edition

