What I hated about this season
THE POOR EDITING OF THE FRONTRUNNERS
Usually in every season, you expect to see the contestants that early on are being portrayed as frontrunners to build a huge connection with the lead, so the viewers can ship their relationship. Yes, we see them in full PDA mode with the lead, but we also see them bonding, having deep conversations and so on. But with Cassie and Hannah G., I feel like we hadn't seen barely anything about their relationship with Colton other than the making out. And obviously there must have been so much more going on, if we got to this outcome where Colton is so lovestruck by Cassie that he sent the show's rules out of the window and where Hannah G. was left so heartbroken, that you could tell that she was still hurt even after all these months.
In Cassie's case, you know that this is the girl that Bachelor ends up choosing in the end, and all you show them is pretty much them making out on the beach? Not even a moment of strong bonding, not a splash of them establishing a connection beyond the kissing and flirting, when obviously there must have been much more to them. And even if like the most skeptical state, that she was never that into him, even her undecisiveness and cold feet could have been shown in a better way.
Hannah G.'s case is even worse when it came to editing as she does have a mature, well-rounded personality yet she was pretty much shown just being there looking pretty. And once again, so much more must have happened between her and Colton.
Tayshia was the only finalist whose relationship edit with Colton was more diverse, from them bonding over extreme experiences in their dates to her opening about her past marriage.
CONNOR LACKED MATURITY
I liked Colton as The Bachelor and I'll state what I liked about him later on, but he also had some flaws. I just think that he wasn't in the right place in his life that he was mature enough, let alone ready for marriage and when he said he was, it felt as he was talking himself into it. Plus, he was feeling the pressure of being a good Bachelor especially since the last two were polarizing (to say the least) choices and by trying too hard to live up to that pressure, that some of his true self was getting lost along the way until all came crashing down at the finale. At least, it all ended up in what is a better scenario for him: dating someone without being pressured by engagement.
He also lacked the maturity to handle better the drama, most of the time, he would just freak out about it instead of setting the record straight (which is something that usually Bachelorettes do much better than Bachelors).
COURTNEY AND ONYEKA
Not only they were both so annoying, these girls totally signed up for the wrong show, they should have applied for Big Brother or Bad Girls Club, and neither seemed to care a lot for Colton. And although Onyeka was insufferable, I don't side with Nicole as well, as she didn't do herself any favourites either in the situation.
EARLY DEPARTURES FROM WEEK 1 STANDOUTS
Catherine, the night 1 villain. Bri, the fake Australian accent. Erika McNutt with her bag of nuts, "the sound of da poliss" remark when Tracy arrived in a police car and her relief for not buying the same dress that Heather and other girl were wearing on the first night. And yet they all were gone on week 3, especially when we finally found something interesting about Catherine.
KIRPA'S EDITING TREATMENT
Other girl that the show's editing did dirt was Kirpa. I mean, in other seasons, they focused so much in dubious accents (Tierra, Kelsey) and she had a real accident you don't even bother to focus on that, leaving everybody wondering why the hell she has a band-aid on her chin? Not to mention that until then she pretty much getting unnoticed, and as it turned out she did have a relevant role in the season.
What I loved about this season
COLTON REDEFINING MASCULINITY
Nevermind his virginity, there were quite a few things about Colton that in this world plagued by toxic masculinity that would cause for his manliness to be questioned. Therefore, I loved how Colton wasn't fazed by all that questioning, and was comfortable with being himself without worrying about looking bad, silly, cringy or less manly. There's something powerful about someone like him doing that: proving that being virgin, oversensitive, scardycat and whatever is not mutually exclusive of being a man.
He was also a great sport handling all the jokes and running gags and, apart from a couple of cases, he acted as caring and compassionate to all the girls.
DEMI
She was more of a firestarter than an actual villain. Yes, she could be too aggressive, overboard and inconvenient, but she was never truly at wrong in wherever situation she was involved. Courtney and Tracy have much more themselves to blame. In fact, Demi was never fake and owned up to everything she did, right or wrong. And who would have thought that her breakup with Colton could be so heartbreaking? She'll definitely rule in Paradise.
CAELYNN'S SEXUAL ATTACK STORY WAS HANDED PERFECTLY
That story has shown exactly the way it should be: accurate, poignant and devoided of artificial drama and heartstrings. And you know how easily this could be tainted. Kudos to everybody involved in this: Caelynn, Colton, the production, the editing.
THE FENCE JUMP LIVED UP TO THE HYPE
It's easy for shows like this to make something dramatic much more important that actually us (a contestant getting medical treatment/having blood on their face, a contestant histerically crying like they were eliminated, a loud altercation between the contestants and/or with the lead) but this time, the fence jump was really the pivotal moment of the season.
What I'm looking forward to see on Hannah Brown's Bachelorette season:
- More of her athletic side: Hannah is known to be passionate about boxing and excelled at all the physical challenges of Colton's season, so I'm expecting to see several sporty/physical challenges for her and her suitors.
- More of her vulnerable side: I hope to see her talk about her imperfections, raising awareness that her problems are far more common than one would like to think and you just can't sweep under the rug or find a magical solution, it's a lifelong struggle. Like Colton, I hope she doesn't grip to an idea of what people expect her to be as a Bachelorette and get all pageant patty, but instead that we see the good, the bad, the ugly and the lovely about her - and that one of the guys see her throught that.
- Personal growth: starting with an awkward, nervous Hannah like we saw last night and gradually building more confidence, knowing that she is worthy of love by some in this range of guys.
- As well as a few guys that can be great matches for Hannah, I'm hoping to see hot guys that can be great hookup matches in Paradise for the other girls of Colton's season, especially Hannah G., Heather, Demi, Tayshia and Bri.
- Someone who is total Bachelor material, but not quite on the traditional way.