Bachelorette Viewing Guide - Episode 4

Another catch-up post...

Shit.  A bunch of catch up posts.  To be honest, with the Black Lives Matter activity and the Republican/Democratic National Conventions, I felt like there was more important stuff going on.  But now I'm back to writing AND I have to get to Bachelor In Paradise!

I actually don't know how the season ends yet!!!  I'm working my way through it.  So consider this a trip down memory lane back when things were so much simpler...


Episode four had the following highlights:

• The pool party where there was all sorts of tension waiting for The Chad to explode, but he didn't.
• The one-on-one date with Luke
• The group date where they played football (we loved Wells and James T)
• The heavily anticipated two-on-one date with Alex and The Chad

Jojo and Luke

I'm using this picture because I couldn't get one of the puppy butts for Evelyn.

Jojo is totally into Luke and I'm not sure I understand why.  I'll admit that Luke has been growing on me tremendously... I loved his handling of The Chad when all the other guys were on the group date. I agree with Jojo that he has a relaxed confidence to him.  Nonetheless, I just don't see them as a great fit for her in the long run.  I think that Jojo feels a great deal of physical attraction to him and that she loves getting him to open up about himself, but I get the sense that their lifestyles are very different.

However, the most telling thing was when Jojo slipped during her toast to Luke while they say in the hot tub and said, "here's to the first of mmm... hopefully many more dates."

Farewell To The Chad

I was enthralled by The Chad's body language, word choice, vocal tone, and actions when Jojo confronted him about his threats to find Jordan after the show was over and beat his ass.  I think I expected him to deny it and wiggle his way out.  (I wonder how Jojo would have reacted if The Chad had responded with incredulity and flat denials.  Would she have given him the benefit of the doubt AGAIN?)

Instead, TC conveyed a sense of entitlement and that there was no problem with his threat to Jordan. For example, when Jojo divulged that Alex had told her about the threat on Jordan, TC's body language did not change one bit.  Instead, he put on a poker face and said, "oh did he?" - as a manipulative way to get Jojo to disclose even more information about what she had heard.  Most people, when faced with an accusation, would at least physically respond, moving backward as if distancing themselves from the bad thing being said about them.  He almost seemed proud of himself as if he was saying, "see, I'm acting like a man and you should respect me."

I imagine that a number of people found fault with Jojo not dismissing TC immediately after their conversation and that she was still trying to find an explanation for his actions (TC's mother having recently passed) other than the obvious - he's a manipulative guy with warning flags ALL around him.  But how would she possibly know how physically aggressive he was without seeing the footage?

Three things I liked

1) Derek's response to The Chad's confrontational behavior was terrific.  Derek was assertive and strong.  He didn't hide from The Chad, he didn't back down, but he held his ground despite The Chad's accusations.

2) I know two people who wear Red, White, and Blue socks on dates.  One of them is Captain America.  The other is Alex.

3) Like him or hate him, I really do like how Jordan leads almost all of his interactions with Jojo with questions about her.  He waits to allow her to talk about herself before talking about himself.

Three things I didn't like

1) I'm finding myself not entirely digging the 2-on-1 date thing as much any more.  It's too much of an easy out for the lead to get rid of the villain and it has become almost too predictable.  If I were to rank the 2-on-1 dates from least interesting to most interesting, it would be:

• JJ vs Joe on Kaitlyn's season - I completely forgot this date even happened.  BO-RING.
• The Chad vs Alex this season - the table was already set for Jojo to send The Chad home directly, why give her the easy way out and do it on a 2-on-1?  I would have much preferred her to send The Chad home after one of his outbursts or just not to get a rose at a rose ceremony.
• Olivia vs the twin (Emily) on Ben's season - Olivia was so devastated and so blind-sided that it made for good tv.  Though I must admit that I really loved Olivia's confidence and intelligence and I was sad for her when she got eliminated.
• Kelsey and Ashley I on Chris's season - the first 2-on-1 date is still the gold standard.  When Chris had his one-on-one time with Ashley, she divulged to him everything that the women in the group hated about Kelsey.  Chris ended up eliminating BOTH of them but not until after we got to see Kelsey stare down Ashley I and deliver her "I know what you did" speech.  Oh, so so so so so SO good.

Can you feel the hate?

Maybe it's because this 2-on-1 date didn't leave one (or both) contestants way out in the middle of nowhere.

Bye bye Olivia!

2) Each time that The Chad says, "you back me into a corner, what else can I do?"  It's just so juvenile and repetitive.  I did love that Jojo's response was "you can sit down and have a conversation."  Of course, that presupposes that he knows how to communicate with real people.  I know people were sad to see The Chad and all of his drama leave, but I thought it got in the way of seeing the others more fully.

3) Luke's hair.  It reminds me too much of Joe from Kaitlyn's season.