Well, this is going to be a short one since there are only two girls left, but I've got to keep posting on here for a class anyway, so might as well.
A Word on the Departed
Kacie's back! And then gone. But not before she asked for some answers then laid down in the middle of the hotel. To be honest, I was kind of worried she was going to go in and beg Ben to take her back and give her another chance, so I was actually kind of glad that all she wanted was some closure. It was still sad, but I guess preferable to the "What the F Happened" outburst from last week. But man, Courtney must have really done something bad to these girls in the house that we didn't see given that even Kacie still felt the need to say something to Ben about it even at this stage in this situation. Meh, we'll see what happens at WTA I guess.
And Nicki, bless her heart, she somehow talked herself into thinking Ben was going to propose to her. I don't know, I've got to think that these girls who have been sent home and are watching the Bachelor now feel lucky that they've dodged a bullet with Ben after seeing how he's been on this season. It doesn't seem like there's any logic to his actions and it seems pretty clear that he's only into these women on a very superficial level. Which is fine I guess and honestly that's sort of what I assume about a lot of people who go on this show, but man, I get really annoyed when he throws around his BS. Like how he got rid of girls like Jennifer and Kacie B, who he clearly displayed some chemistry with, and claimed it was only "to protect them." Or my very favorite, how when Nicki accepted his invitation to the fantasy suite tonight he said, "These moments are really important. You get to know a lot about the person." Like really, THAT'S what you're doing on your overnight date. Talking about all the things you didn't get to while you were dating 20 other women over the past eight weeks. Give me a break. Of all the things I hate about the show, it's the fact that the people on this show think we're that dumb and naive that drives me the most crazy.
Final Power Rankings
1. Courtney
Ben's pretty noticably different with her in my opinion, and I think that says a lot about what he's thinking. And really, now that so many women (who he supposedly trusts and respects) have said things about her and he's still keeping her around says it all. I have no idea if her apologies are real or just part of her masterful manipulation (I guess they're not mutually exclusive) doesn't make a huge difference since Ben just eats up everything she says. It's crazy. I give them 6 months until they call of their engagement.
2. Lindzi
It would be interesting to me if she was chosen to be the next Bachelorette after Emily since her parents mentioned she hasn't had a lot of dating experience. And what better way to fix that than by setting her up with 30 guys at the same time?
Showing posts with label ben flajnik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ben flajnik. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Bachelor Week 8 Power Rankings (aka Eff You Ben F)
A Word on the Departed
Sigh. I can't. It's too depressing.
(h/t faces of rejected bachelorettes)
Week 8 Power Rankings
1. Courtney (up 2 spots)
Ok. So she's been mean to the girls on the show. She's pretty obviously manipulating Ben (whether she has real feelings for him or not). And yet...she does have a connection with Ben and it's so clear, despite the fact that all of the girls hate her and apparently a bunch of unnamed sources from her real life do as well (though it might not all be true). Honestly I liked her date a lot better than the rest of the hometowns, and even with that silly exercise of the fake wedding, it does look like Ben's taking their relationship very seriously. I'm not quite sure how, given the fact that none of the girls like her (which would be a huge red flag to me, just saying) and how she keeps playing the "I'm not sure you're into me" game when the rest of the girls are basically throwing themselves at him, but yeah, he really treats her unlike any of the other girls. I don't know, I really would rather there not be the whole farce of looking for true love when it's pretty obvious that that's not what Ben is looking for at all. Whatever. They deserve each other. I'm sure they'll be a hit at Bachelor reunions.
2. Lindzi (no change)
I'll be honest, she's kind of boring to me. She wears a lot of makeup, and, as I said last week, she seems pretty normal. But she kind of seems like the girl Ben would just be friends with at this point. Although her family must be loaded. Who races horse-drawn carriages as a hobby?
3. Nicki (up 1 spot)
Personally, having been divorced at 26 (or however old she is) would still have been a huge red flag to me. I don't really know why Ben's keeping her around, I guess just by default? She seems bright and bubbly and totally oblivious to the fact that Ben's way more into the other girls.
For real though. WTF was Ben thinking tonight? Kacie was the sweetest, cutest girl there and he just dumps her like that? All that anger and sadness she showed in her exit limo was totally justified in my opinion. They seemed really cute together and honestly there really didn't seem to be much wrong with her (you know, relatively speaking) other than her slight psycho tendencies. It looked like Ben sent her home because of her parents, because somehow it's just so odd that her mom didn't want them living together before they got married and her dad wasn't ready to give his daughter away to someone she'd known for 8 weeks (the nerve!). On Ashley's season of the Bachelorette, I liked Ben a lot. He was pretty chill and always easygoing and fun. But I gotta say, I really lost respect for him this season, and I really can't wait to see what goes down on the Women Tell All and After the Final Rose eps. Don't be sad Kacie, you can do better. Unless you become the next Bachelorette, in which case you deserve what you get.
Sigh. I can't. It's too depressing.
(h/t faces of rejected bachelorettes)Week 8 Power Rankings
1. Courtney (up 2 spots)
Ok. So she's been mean to the girls on the show. She's pretty obviously manipulating Ben (whether she has real feelings for him or not). And yet...she does have a connection with Ben and it's so clear, despite the fact that all of the girls hate her and apparently a bunch of unnamed sources from her real life do as well (though it might not all be true). Honestly I liked her date a lot better than the rest of the hometowns, and even with that silly exercise of the fake wedding, it does look like Ben's taking their relationship very seriously. I'm not quite sure how, given the fact that none of the girls like her (which would be a huge red flag to me, just saying) and how she keeps playing the "I'm not sure you're into me" game when the rest of the girls are basically throwing themselves at him, but yeah, he really treats her unlike any of the other girls. I don't know, I really would rather there not be the whole farce of looking for true love when it's pretty obvious that that's not what Ben is looking for at all. Whatever. They deserve each other. I'm sure they'll be a hit at Bachelor reunions.
2. Lindzi (no change)
I'll be honest, she's kind of boring to me. She wears a lot of makeup, and, as I said last week, she seems pretty normal. But she kind of seems like the girl Ben would just be friends with at this point. Although her family must be loaded. Who races horse-drawn carriages as a hobby?
3. Nicki (up 1 spot)
Personally, having been divorced at 26 (or however old she is) would still have been a huge red flag to me. I don't really know why Ben's keeping her around, I guess just by default? She seems bright and bubbly and totally oblivious to the fact that Ben's way more into the other girls.
For real though. WTF was Ben thinking tonight? Kacie was the sweetest, cutest girl there and he just dumps her like that? All that anger and sadness she showed in her exit limo was totally justified in my opinion. They seemed really cute together and honestly there really didn't seem to be much wrong with her (you know, relatively speaking) other than her slight psycho tendencies. It looked like Ben sent her home because of her parents, because somehow it's just so odd that her mom didn't want them living together before they got married and her dad wasn't ready to give his daughter away to someone she'd known for 8 weeks (the nerve!). On Ashley's season of the Bachelorette, I liked Ben a lot. He was pretty chill and always easygoing and fun. But I gotta say, I really lost respect for him this season, and I really can't wait to see what goes down on the Women Tell All and After the Final Rose eps. Don't be sad Kacie, you can do better. Unless you become the next Bachelorette, in which case you deserve what you get.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Bachelor Week 7 Power Rankings
A Word on the Departed
Not sure what there is to say really. Rachel didn't really have much connection with Ben in my opinion, just another pretty face. The show seemed to be really trying to oversell her whole phobia of sharks, but it was probably too little too late. Emily didn't have a whole lot either other than her little spat with Courtney. They had a nice one on one, but that was all the way back in NorCal. So I wasn't really too shocked at either, and this was probably my favorite image of the night (h/t facesofrejectedbachelorettes):
Week 7 Power Rankings
1. Kacie B. (no change)
She's going to win right? I'm not totally misreading this? The only thing that gives me some misgivings is that she still seems a little psycho.
2. Lindzi (up 2 spots)
She has really good chemistry with Ben, and honestly she's the most "normal" (relatively speaking) girl left. I have a feeling she's going to really benefit from the hometown date. But if it doesn't work out, I think she (and Kacie) has a lot of Bachelorette potential. So there's that.
3. Courtney (down 1 spot)
I think with so few girls remaining, her strategy of being hyperaggressive with other girls around and "unsure of our relationship" when it's just her and Ben isn't going to work out so well. Ben seems wary of the fact that none of the other girls like her, although the fact that he still kept her around despite that would be a positive. At this point I just don't see Ben picking her in the end. She feels more and more like the crazy, hot (comma necessary) girl you tell your friends about but not someone you'd take to meet your parents. I am interested in meeting her parents though. What spawned this woman...
4. Nicki (down 1 spot)
She seems cool enough, I just don't think her relationship has progressed as far as the other ladies. Her interactions with Ben just look a lot more one-sided than when he's around the other girls. Don't think that's a good sign.
Not sure what there is to say really. Rachel didn't really have much connection with Ben in my opinion, just another pretty face. The show seemed to be really trying to oversell her whole phobia of sharks, but it was probably too little too late. Emily didn't have a whole lot either other than her little spat with Courtney. They had a nice one on one, but that was all the way back in NorCal. So I wasn't really too shocked at either, and this was probably my favorite image of the night (h/t facesofrejectedbachelorettes):
Week 7 Power Rankings
1. Kacie B. (no change)
She's going to win right? I'm not totally misreading this? The only thing that gives me some misgivings is that she still seems a little psycho.
2. Lindzi (up 2 spots)
She has really good chemistry with Ben, and honestly she's the most "normal" (relatively speaking) girl left. I have a feeling she's going to really benefit from the hometown date. But if it doesn't work out, I think she (and Kacie) has a lot of Bachelorette potential. So there's that.
3. Courtney (down 1 spot)
I think with so few girls remaining, her strategy of being hyperaggressive with other girls around and "unsure of our relationship" when it's just her and Ben isn't going to work out so well. Ben seems wary of the fact that none of the other girls like her, although the fact that he still kept her around despite that would be a positive. At this point I just don't see Ben picking her in the end. She feels more and more like the crazy, hot (comma necessary) girl you tell your friends about but not someone you'd take to meet your parents. I am interested in meeting her parents though. What spawned this woman...
4. Nicki (down 1 spot)
She seems cool enough, I just don't think her relationship has progressed as far as the other ladies. Her interactions with Ben just look a lot more one-sided than when he's around the other girls. Don't think that's a good sign.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Bachelor Week 6 Power Rankings
A Word on the Departed
After seeing Jennifer (who I had at #3 at the time) get sent home, it's kind of nice that my bottom three all got the boot this week. But does it mean I view women the same way that Ben does? Not sure if that would be a good reflection on myself...
Really felt bad that Casey S got sent home (and not just because she was one of the prettiest girls there). I mean, I get that it's not really approved to go on the show while you're seeing someone back home, but it was pretty obvious that her feelings for that guy were very complicated and she was looking to move on. It also seems sort of wack that Ben, a guy who's on that show dating up to 30 women at a time, was upset that Casey still had unresolved feelings about one man. I understand that it's something he would have wanted to hear from her earlier, but is he telling all the girls there how he feels about everyone else? Didn't seem right, but on the other hand it didn't seem like she had a great shot at sticking around anyway.
Despite her uber-aggressive cougar ways, Blakeley the "VIP waitress" just didn't have what it took to keep Ben interested. Don't really know what else to say. She never got a one on one, which this late, is basically a ticket home (as shown by the girls who went home this week). I don't even know if it was really anything she or Rachel did or didn't do on the two on one date or if it was just the lack of chemistry between her and Ben, but if I had to guess, I'd go with the latter.
Well, looks like I was wrong about Jamie being just a nice, cute girl who needed a chance with Ben. Every interaction she had with him this week was super awkward. She started by talking with Ben about how she was kind of nervous or whatever about opening up, but the worst part was when she tried to be aggressive the night of the cocktail party. She (once again) opened with how she didn't really know how to express herself before deciding to straddle him and kiss him. I thought that was a little weird, but it was nothing compared to how she was basically directing him on how she wanted their kiss to go. In the words of someone who's in the know:
Week 6 Power Rankings
1. Kacie B (no change)
If I could move her up I would, based purely on the fact that she got a second one on one date while some of the girls hadn't had one yet. Ben really likes her.
2. Courtney (no change)
I hate to say it, but it seems the effectiveness of her super aggressive game is wearing off a little. Ben seems to be growing more wary of her tactics, and I think she's going to have to bring something new to the table soon. Still, I couldn't move her down for two reasons. First, the girls below her still seem uninterested in trying to make a move (which befuddles me given that they're on a show that is essentially about winning a man), whether it's because of respect or because they'd crash and burn as bad as Jamie did. Second, if anyone honestly believes that good 'ol Ben Flajnik the winemaker isn't thinking about taking Courtney the model to the fantasy suite in a few episodes, then they don't know how guys work.
3. Lindzi (up 1 spot)
4. Nicki (down 1 spot)
Honestly there's so little we as viewers have to go by, and I don't even know if Ben has a great idea of how he feels about these girls. Flip flopping these two simply because Lindzi got the group date rose while Nicki didn't really seem to do anything to follow up on her one on one date last week. Still, I feel pretty good about these top four making it to hometowns in a week.
5. Emily (up 1 spot)
6. Rachel (down 1 spot)
Another minor flip flop here, and not because of Emily's prodigious rapping and joking skills. She toned down the Courtney hate and even apologized this week, though honestly that seemed a bit disingenuous to me. This move is mainly because I don't think Ben would have picked Rachel for the two on one date if he wasn't unsure about whether or not he wanted to keep her around. Although I could be misreading it and he brought her because he knew she was getting a rose and Blakeley was going home, but Ben doesn't strike me as a guy who would think like that.
After seeing Jennifer (who I had at #3 at the time) get sent home, it's kind of nice that my bottom three all got the boot this week. But does it mean I view women the same way that Ben does? Not sure if that would be a good reflection on myself...
Really felt bad that Casey S got sent home (and not just because she was one of the prettiest girls there). I mean, I get that it's not really approved to go on the show while you're seeing someone back home, but it was pretty obvious that her feelings for that guy were very complicated and she was looking to move on. It also seems sort of wack that Ben, a guy who's on that show dating up to 30 women at a time, was upset that Casey still had unresolved feelings about one man. I understand that it's something he would have wanted to hear from her earlier, but is he telling all the girls there how he feels about everyone else? Didn't seem right, but on the other hand it didn't seem like she had a great shot at sticking around anyway.
Despite her uber-aggressive cougar ways, Blakeley the "VIP waitress" just didn't have what it took to keep Ben interested. Don't really know what else to say. She never got a one on one, which this late, is basically a ticket home (as shown by the girls who went home this week). I don't even know if it was really anything she or Rachel did or didn't do on the two on one date or if it was just the lack of chemistry between her and Ben, but if I had to guess, I'd go with the latter.
Well, looks like I was wrong about Jamie being just a nice, cute girl who needed a chance with Ben. Every interaction she had with him this week was super awkward. She started by talking with Ben about how she was kind of nervous or whatever about opening up, but the worst part was when she tried to be aggressive the night of the cocktail party. She (once again) opened with how she didn't really know how to express herself before deciding to straddle him and kiss him. I thought that was a little weird, but it was nothing compared to how she was basically directing him on how she wanted their kiss to go. In the words of someone who's in the know:
Talking about how to kiss?? #notgood
Week 6 Power Rankings
1. Kacie B (no change)
If I could move her up I would, based purely on the fact that she got a second one on one date while some of the girls hadn't had one yet. Ben really likes her.
2. Courtney (no change)
I hate to say it, but it seems the effectiveness of her super aggressive game is wearing off a little. Ben seems to be growing more wary of her tactics, and I think she's going to have to bring something new to the table soon. Still, I couldn't move her down for two reasons. First, the girls below her still seem uninterested in trying to make a move (which befuddles me given that they're on a show that is essentially about winning a man), whether it's because of respect or because they'd crash and burn as bad as Jamie did. Second, if anyone honestly believes that good 'ol Ben Flajnik the winemaker isn't thinking about taking Courtney the model to the fantasy suite in a few episodes, then they don't know how guys work.
3. Lindzi (up 1 spot)
4. Nicki (down 1 spot)
Honestly there's so little we as viewers have to go by, and I don't even know if Ben has a great idea of how he feels about these girls. Flip flopping these two simply because Lindzi got the group date rose while Nicki didn't really seem to do anything to follow up on her one on one date last week. Still, I feel pretty good about these top four making it to hometowns in a week.
5. Emily (up 1 spot)
6. Rachel (down 1 spot)
Another minor flip flop here, and not because of Emily's prodigious rapping and joking skills. She toned down the Courtney hate and even apologized this week, though honestly that seemed a bit disingenuous to me. This move is mainly because I don't think Ben would have picked Rachel for the two on one date if he wasn't unsure about whether or not he wanted to keep her around. Although I could be misreading it and he brought her because he knew she was getting a rose and Blakeley was going home, but Ben doesn't strike me as a guy who would think like that.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Bachelor Week 5 Power Rankings
A (brief) Word on the Departed
Never really hid the fact that I didn't like Elyse and I can't say I'll miss her much. I personally thought it was weird how she talked about how she had done everything she wanted to do as a single girl already (at the ripe old age of 24) and now just really wanted to get married and start a family. I think Ben saw the same thing as well. The fact that Elyse couldn't recognize how far behind she was on some of the othe girls and was so upfront about expressing her desire to get hitched and have kids and all that (presumably with Ben) even though she's only been on one group date makes me sort of question her outlook on relationships. Although again, she is 24 and something about her just reminds me of Snooki.
As far as Jennifer goes...wow, did not see that coming. Still not quite sure what Ben was thinking. Something must have happened that we didn't see, because they just had a one on one last week. It would seem kind of strange to me that he liked her enough to give her a rose after that date but then all of a sudden send her home the next week. That's going to shake up the rankings for sure. But hey, at least I wasn't the only one surprised.
5. Rachel (up 2 spots)
6. Emily (no change)
Flip-flop here because of Emily's insistence to keep bringing up Courtney. Tonight was even more bizarre since she started the conversation apologizing for doing so last week and ended the conversation by doing it again. I don't understand. Also, apparently some of her sorority sisters have come out and said she was a fan of the Bachelor and is only going on the show to get her name and face out there? And to that I say...there is nothing wrong with that.
7. Casey S (up 1 spot)
8. Jamie (up 2 spots)
This is probably wishful thinking on my part. Could it be that they've had some meaningful time together that just hasn't been shown? Possible, but probably doubtful. But there has to be some reason that Ben's keeping them around...right?
9. Blakeley (no change)
Sorry, despite her opening up to Ben during the cocktail party, I just don't see this as being a fit at all. Her tears and frustration at baseball and afterwards seemed more like desperation than heartbreak. While she's had more (on-camera) interactions with Ben, does that really put her ahead of the two (younger, more attractive, less stripperish [Google search at your own caution]) girls in front of her on these rankings?
Never really hid the fact that I didn't like Elyse and I can't say I'll miss her much. I personally thought it was weird how she talked about how she had done everything she wanted to do as a single girl already (at the ripe old age of 24) and now just really wanted to get married and start a family. I think Ben saw the same thing as well. The fact that Elyse couldn't recognize how far behind she was on some of the othe girls and was so upfront about expressing her desire to get hitched and have kids and all that (presumably with Ben) even though she's only been on one group date makes me sort of question her outlook on relationships. Although again, she is 24 and something about her just reminds me of Snooki.
As far as Jennifer goes...wow, did not see that coming. Still not quite sure what Ben was thinking. Something must have happened that we didn't see, because they just had a one on one last week. It would seem kind of strange to me that he liked her enough to give her a rose after that date but then all of a sudden send her home the next week. That's going to shake up the rankings for sure. But hey, at least I wasn't the only one surprised.
Major upset on the @BachelorABC! How could this happen?! I'm so confused.
Aww JP and I are so sad about Jennifer! Shocked! :-0
Week 5 Power Rankings
1. Kacie B (no change)
Same ol' sweet Kacie B, but she got to show off some of her competitive side on the group baseball date/competition. I'm assuming she has some athletic ability, since Courtney picked her to be on her team (first, no less), unless there are some weird mind games going on there. I thought it was a good sign that she got the rose on the group date. She didn't seem to be acting super desperate or anything in an effort to get it, so the fact that Ben just gave it to her says a lot. The only reason I thought about moving her down is that I'm not positive she'll be able to handle the pressure as girls keep getting eliminated and Courtney turns her attention towards her. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
2. Courtney (no change)
Still my favorite to watch. Even though I have her ranked second, she still very obviously has more control than any of the other contestants, if only because she's the only one interested in playing that game. I find her little put-downs of the other girls amusing not because I'm a mean-spirited person (...okay, not just because I'm mean-spirited), but because I find them to be very accurate most of the time. But she's now starting to see Kacie as a legitimate threat, and pulling Ben out for a late night skinny dip is an indication of that. To me that's definitely a move out of desperation. You really wouldn't do that unless you needed to change the status quo. I'm not quite sure how well that worked, as Ben seemed to feel kind of bad about it afterwards.
3. Nicki (up 2 spots)
Had to move her up. Maybe it's because I'm new to the show, but I think I tend to overrate one on one dates. However, they looked very comfortable and, despite my hatred for all the contrived metaphors, the fact that they're date didn't get completely ruined by the rain is a good sign I think.
Quick sidenote: Ben said it was "raining gatos." Um, isn't the correct idiom in English "raining cats and dogs"? So why did he just say it was "raining cats"? Silly winemaker...
Anyways, cool date. They were able to enjoy each other's company even though it didn't go as planned. More importantly Ben didn't hesitate in bringing up her married/divorced past, which makes me think he is wanting to make an effort to get past that. Regardless he's handling that whole thing a lot better than I would.
4. Lindzi (no change)
Ben guaranteed her a spot in the second half of the group date by putting her on both baseball teams. Ali thinks it's a positive thing, and for the most part I guess I do too. The only thing is Ben has also given some dates to girls he's not sure about (or so he says) and I wonder if that was the case here. But either way he wanted to spend more time with her, and that's never a bad thing.
Week 5 Power Rankings
1. Kacie B (no change)
Same ol' sweet Kacie B, but she got to show off some of her competitive side on the group baseball date/competition. I'm assuming she has some athletic ability, since Courtney picked her to be on her team (first, no less), unless there are some weird mind games going on there. I thought it was a good sign that she got the rose on the group date. She didn't seem to be acting super desperate or anything in an effort to get it, so the fact that Ben just gave it to her says a lot. The only reason I thought about moving her down is that I'm not positive she'll be able to handle the pressure as girls keep getting eliminated and Courtney turns her attention towards her. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
2. Courtney (no change)
Still my favorite to watch. Even though I have her ranked second, she still very obviously has more control than any of the other contestants, if only because she's the only one interested in playing that game. I find her little put-downs of the other girls amusing not because I'm a mean-spirited person (...okay, not just because I'm mean-spirited), but because I find them to be very accurate most of the time. But she's now starting to see Kacie as a legitimate threat, and pulling Ben out for a late night skinny dip is an indication of that. To me that's definitely a move out of desperation. You really wouldn't do that unless you needed to change the status quo. I'm not quite sure how well that worked, as Ben seemed to feel kind of bad about it afterwards.
3. Nicki (up 2 spots)
Had to move her up. Maybe it's because I'm new to the show, but I think I tend to overrate one on one dates. However, they looked very comfortable and, despite my hatred for all the contrived metaphors, the fact that they're date didn't get completely ruined by the rain is a good sign I think.
Quick sidenote: Ben said it was "raining gatos." Um, isn't the correct idiom in English "raining cats and dogs"? So why did he just say it was "raining cats"? Silly winemaker...
Anyways, cool date. They were able to enjoy each other's company even though it didn't go as planned. More importantly Ben didn't hesitate in bringing up her married/divorced past, which makes me think he is wanting to make an effort to get past that. Regardless he's handling that whole thing a lot better than I would.
4. Lindzi (no change)
Ben guaranteed her a spot in the second half of the group date by putting her on both baseball teams. Ali thinks it's a positive thing, and for the most part I guess I do too. The only thing is Ben has also given some dates to girls he's not sure about (or so he says) and I wonder if that was the case here. But either way he wanted to spend more time with her, and that's never a bad thing.
6. Emily (no change)
Flip-flop here because of Emily's insistence to keep bringing up Courtney. Tonight was even more bizarre since she started the conversation apologizing for doing so last week and ended the conversation by doing it again. I don't understand. Also, apparently some of her sorority sisters have come out and said she was a fan of the Bachelor and is only going on the show to get her name and face out there? And to that I say...there is nothing wrong with that.
7. Casey S (up 1 spot)
8. Jamie (up 2 spots)
This is probably wishful thinking on my part. Could it be that they've had some meaningful time together that just hasn't been shown? Possible, but probably doubtful. But there has to be some reason that Ben's keeping them around...right?
9. Blakeley (no change)
Sorry, despite her opening up to Ben during the cocktail party, I just don't see this as being a fit at all. Her tears and frustration at baseball and afterwards seemed more like desperation than heartbreak. While she's had more (on-camera) interactions with Ben, does that really put her ahead of the two (younger, more attractive, less stripperish [Google search at your own caution]) girls in front of her on these rankings?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Playing the game
The Bachelor series has always been a mix between dating and reality tv, a sort of unholy combination of eHarmony and the Real World. Obviously it tends more towards the reality tv side of things as it is first and foremost a show, but I feel like the lines get blurred sometimes, even for someone as cynical as me (although this is my first season).
I mean, to me it seems silly that someone would be naive enough to go into the show and treat it like a legitimate opportunity to find a soulmate. Given the nature (one person dating 30 other people at the same time) and history (only a handful of marriages with only one of those still going) of the show, no one could possibly be that doe-eyed right?
At the same time, it seems very cold that someone would treat it as just another reality game show. As much as I find it hilarious when people on the show mention this phrase, there is something to be said about The Right Reasons and there's something a little sinister about someone going on the show just for publicity or just to play the game or something like that while others are genuinely invested.
I mean, to me it seems silly that someone would be naive enough to go into the show and treat it like a legitimate opportunity to find a soulmate. Given the nature (one person dating 30 other people at the same time) and history (only a handful of marriages with only one of those still going) of the show, no one could possibly be that doe-eyed right?
At the same time, it seems very cold that someone would treat it as just another reality game show. As much as I find it hilarious when people on the show mention this phrase, there is something to be said about The Right Reasons and there's something a little sinister about someone going on the show just for publicity or just to play the game or something like that while others are genuinely invested.
To be honest I don't know if one is better or worse than the other, but I always find it strange that there are people who go on this show not seeming to know what the premise is. It's not like it's a new thing as it's been on for many years now. I think that no matter why you're there (love, fame, "winning," etc) you should be doing things that increase the chances of you getting what you want. You need to know how to play the game. And in order to do that, you have to reconize both sides of the show.
A Word on the Departed
I can't say I'm too surprised that Samantha got the boot, although that it happened during the group date was a surprise. She seemed nice enough, but a little airheadish although I might be biased by the blonde pageant queen stereotype. I have to say, I don't really understand Ben's logic in letting her go. I guess Ben didn't like that she wasn't happy that she'd only been on group dates? Except that Nicki basically complained about the exact same thing literally minutes before his conversation with Samantha. His explanation seemed kind of dodgy. Maybe he just didn't want to flat out say he wasn't interested? I don't know.
I'm sad Monica's out, but it was bound to happen. She's older than the other girls and really didn't have any chemistry with Ben. Actually on tonight's episode we got a shot of her and Ben walking away to talk during the cocktail reception, but then it cut back to the girls talking amongst themselves. Probably not a good sign. Still, she was clearly the mother hen/big sister to a lot of these other girls and it really showed tonight. It'll be interesting to see what some of these girls do without her to talk to.
Week 4 Power Rankings
(Note: I've never done power rankings for anything. Obviously I realize we don't see all the interactions between people but whatever. Enjoy and make fun of how wrong I am)
1. Kacie B
Already mentioned how much I like her. She seems really taken with Ben (This seems common for people who get the first one on one. Any veteran watchers like to confirm?) and their interactions always seem so much more natural and easy than when Ben's with anyone else. She seems very invested already, but unlike the other girls, I actually believe her when she talks about the connection that they have.
My only misgiving with her is that she doesn't seem to know she's on the Bachelor. How else to explain why she seems to expect every one on one date? Or how surprised/hurt she is when she sees Ben kissing other girls right after kissing her? Like it actually seems like she genuinely believes that Ben is her fiance/boyfriend and cannot comprehend why he is even taking the time to talk to these other girls.
A Word on the Departed
I can't say I'm too surprised that Samantha got the boot, although that it happened during the group date was a surprise. She seemed nice enough, but a little airheadish although I might be biased by the blonde pageant queen stereotype. I have to say, I don't really understand Ben's logic in letting her go. I guess Ben didn't like that she wasn't happy that she'd only been on group dates? Except that Nicki basically complained about the exact same thing literally minutes before his conversation with Samantha. His explanation seemed kind of dodgy. Maybe he just didn't want to flat out say he wasn't interested? I don't know.
I'm sad Monica's out, but it was bound to happen. She's older than the other girls and really didn't have any chemistry with Ben. Actually on tonight's episode we got a shot of her and Ben walking away to talk during the cocktail reception, but then it cut back to the girls talking amongst themselves. Probably not a good sign. Still, she was clearly the mother hen/big sister to a lot of these other girls and it really showed tonight. It'll be interesting to see what some of these girls do without her to talk to.
Week 4 Power Rankings
(Note: I've never done power rankings for anything. Obviously I realize we don't see all the interactions between people but whatever. Enjoy and make fun of how wrong I am)
1. Kacie B
Already mentioned how much I like her. She seems really taken with Ben (This seems common for people who get the first one on one. Any veteran watchers like to confirm?) and their interactions always seem so much more natural and easy than when Ben's with anyone else. She seems very invested already, but unlike the other girls, I actually believe her when she talks about the connection that they have.
My only misgiving with her is that she doesn't seem to know she's on the Bachelor. How else to explain why she seems to expect every one on one date? Or how surprised/hurt she is when she sees Ben kissing other girls right after kissing her? Like it actually seems like she genuinely believes that Ben is her fiance/boyfriend and cannot comprehend why he is even taking the time to talk to these other girls.
I mean I get it (sorta). I'm sure it's an extremely intense emotional experience. Still...crying just because someone else got a one on one date? Really? I don't know if she has trust/insecurity issues from the past or maybe she's just a (what do they call it?) stage 5 clinger, but that seems like a wild overreaction. Right now she seems like the favorite to become the Bachelorette when she gets dumped. Either that or she'll become a stalker. Still, I think she's a lock for top 3 unless she has a complete mental breakdown.
2. Courtney
Oh Courtney, she really is my favorite. I find that most of the stuff she says is right on. Out of all the girls, she's the most prepared and capable of playing the game. I don't even know if the other girls realize there's a game at all. Ben takes the girls on a horseback riding/fishing date, but while most of the girls seem content to try to reel in a fish, Courtney seems to be the only one with her eyes on the prize.
2. Courtney
Oh Courtney, she really is my favorite. I find that most of the stuff she says is right on. Out of all the girls, she's the most prepared and capable of playing the game. I don't even know if the other girls realize there's a game at all. Ben takes the girls on a horseback riding/fishing date, but while most of the girls seem content to try to reel in a fish, Courtney seems to be the only one with her eyes on the prize.
"I know this is a fishing date, but let's be honest, it's not about catching a trout. It's more about catching Ben. I've never fished before but catching a fish probably isn't that much harder than catching a man...it's all about knowing when to make your move and I'm not seeing a lot of moves at all being made towards Ben."
Regardless of whether or not she and Ben actually have chemistry (I think they do, or at least just as much as nearly all the girls there), she seems to be the only one there who is conscious of the fact that they're on the Bachelor.
She doesn't just talk the talk, she walks it as well. She doesn't force anything on the fishing date, but when she sees her chance she makes her move, pulling Ben away from the rest of the group instead of just standing there trying to make small talk as most of the others do. The fact that she ended up being the only one to catch a fish is just gravy.
Not only that, she's able to steal him away again during the little pool party afterwards. She knows she hasn't endeared herself to the rest of the group and takes advantage of it, telling Ben that she doesn't feel comfortable on the group dates because the other girls don't like her. Once again Ben takes the bait, seeing this as some kind of weakness and being all too ready to save the day with the group date rose.
I honestly don't know if she's completely playing Ben or if she does have feelings for him, but she's definitely playing the rest of the girls, who seem to be reliant on their "connection with Ben" to keep them safe while she makes moves to endear herself to him beyond that. Either way, I'm pretty sure she will be in the top 3 as well. To me, no one really comes close to her or Kacie B. at this point in the show in terms of how far along they are with Ben. Possibly more importantly, I believe that Courtney is the smartest person in the house right now. Some might see it as conniving or manipulative; I just think she has a strong understanding of what she needs to do to get what she wants moreso than the other girls. And not only that, she's a knockout. Sometimes life isn't fair.
3. Jennifer
Ben seems to like her a lot despite the fact that when they're actually talking to each other, there doesn't seem to be any depth. Still, they always seem eager to spend time together and Ben thinks she's the best kisser there. I don't think those two are necessarily unrelated.
(Sidenote: Ben loves kissing. He kisses everyone whenever and wherever he pleases. I think by this point if Ben hasn't kissed you, it's hopeless. Honestly it seems like it's a replacement for conversation for him.)
She got to open up a little bit on their one on one (in which they saw some guy named Clay Walker, continuing the time-honored tradition of featuring "amazing" artists that I have never heard of in my life), revealing that she left her last boyfriend because he didn't want to marry her. She's in luck, because at least one person on the show knows how that feels.
4. Lindzi
The horse girl. She seemed to think that the outdoors group date would work to her advantage, but it looked like she had to ride at the back of the pack since she was the most accomplished rider. Not only that, she tried to move in on Ben in the river after Courtney had pulled him away, but that ended up being SUPER awkward as she stood near them by herself and had to watch Ben make googly eyes at Courtney and the fish she caught. She did very little this episode, but I think she still does have some momentum from her one on one date and the whole horse thing. Not sure how long that will last though.
5. Nicki
This is sort of a gut feeling thing for me. She gets a decent amount of camera time even though she hasn't had a one on one or even a really intense conversation with Ben (that's been aired anyway). I don't know. To me she doesn't seem to have shown a whole lot of substance as everything she's said has just revolved around feelings and falling in love in a very generic sense even though she mentions Ben's name once or twice in there. Still, among the girls who haven't had a one on one yet I think she has the best chance.
6. Emily
Boy, she really shouldn't have talked crap on Courtney to Ben. It always seems super insecure when you have to talk down another contestant rather than focusing on your own relationship. I've only watched two seasons of the Bachelorette other than this, but it seems like every time there's someone who can't resist making this mistake. Even worse, Courtney had already mentioned how the other girls didn't like her, so Ben could easily have seen this as Emily bullying her instead of vice versa. Not only that, when Courtney confronted her about it, she feigned ignorance like a child (which was funny, because she was telling Courtney to stop acting like one). I don't know who she was trying to fool. Courtney knew, Ben knew, and the whole audience knew. Overall, a terrible move, and yet another reason why I continue to believe Courtney is the only one who knows what she's doing.
Even with that, I didn't think it was enough for Ben to send her home. She's very pretty and smart enough to have a real conversation with Ben instead of just boring or BSing him. I think if she can remember why she's here she can make a run.
The previous four girls are pretty close to me, and I think any two of them could make it to the hometown dates right now.
7. Rachel
I know Ben said some stuff about being patient and all that...but honestly their date looked uncomfortable and forced. Of course I realize the producers may have chosen to include more of the awkward moments they had ("There's a beaver lodge over there") compared to the other dates, but there were definitely still shades of the tankless water heater date. Rachel's version of "opening up" consisted of her talking about how hard it is for her to open up, except in a more roundabout way. I appreciate her being honest and not dumping everything out if she wasn't comfortable with that, at the same time, the Bachelor is obviously an extremely fast paced show and I can't see how it's not a disadvantage for her to stay closed off. Despite all this, I guess it was good enough for Ben and he gave her a rose. I'm not sure how far she can get if she continues to beat around the bush, but she does have one thing working to her advantage: she is really pretty.
8. Casey S
She finally made it on-screen today with some quick one on one time during the group date...until Nicki interrupted. She also got to defend Courtney and tell her that Emily talked crap about her to Ben since apparently Casey is Courtney's only friend in the house. It sounds cheesy, but I did like how she didn't just accept someone gossiping about her friend. Other than that, not too much, but she seems cool and I hope we get to see more of her. Among the (3?) girls Ben hasn't kissed, I give her the best chance to make a surprise run.
9. Blakeley
She seems to have toned down her cattiness, maybe content to let everyone hate Courtney instead. Still she hasn't done much since episode 2 so I'm not sure where her aggressive cougar persona went or if she's just waiting. I fail to see what she has on Monica besides that one night. She never seemed to build on it (probably because there was nothing really to build on) and realistically, she's a bit on the old side for this show/Ben.
10. Jamie
I'll be honest, I hate to put her this low since her intro tape was one of my favorites, but she just has not done a single thing to distinguish herself. I'm pretty sure she hasn't been seen talking (or even interacting) with Ben since she got out of the limo. It's almost like she's just chilling in the background waiting to be sent home. I still think she'd be able to make a good impression if she had a one on one, but to this point she's far behind the girls who have gotten one already and hasn't done much to give Ben a reason to want to take her out.
11. Elyse
Had no opinion of her until she ripped Shawntel last week. Then I didn't like her. Obviously what I think of her doesn't matter, but her real problem is that she hasn't gotten a lot of time with Ben, isn't as attractive as most (all?) of the other girls there, and honestly Ben doesn't seem too interested.
Clearly the most important thing is chemistry and genuine romantic feelings, but there has to be more than that as well. In this context I've called it "knowing how to play the game," but really is it any different than what we "normal" people have to go through? In my opinion, understanding the social environment that you're in and being able to conduct yourself appropriately is one of the most important things you can learn in life, whether you're at work, school, on a date, or happen to be trying to find love on reality tv.
Regardless of whether or not she and Ben actually have chemistry (I think they do, or at least just as much as nearly all the girls there), she seems to be the only one there who is conscious of the fact that they're on the Bachelor.
She doesn't just talk the talk, she walks it as well. She doesn't force anything on the fishing date, but when she sees her chance she makes her move, pulling Ben away from the rest of the group instead of just standing there trying to make small talk as most of the others do. The fact that she ended up being the only one to catch a fish is just gravy.
Not only that, she's able to steal him away again during the little pool party afterwards. She knows she hasn't endeared herself to the rest of the group and takes advantage of it, telling Ben that she doesn't feel comfortable on the group dates because the other girls don't like her. Once again Ben takes the bait, seeing this as some kind of weakness and being all too ready to save the day with the group date rose.
I honestly don't know if she's completely playing Ben or if she does have feelings for him, but she's definitely playing the rest of the girls, who seem to be reliant on their "connection with Ben" to keep them safe while she makes moves to endear herself to him beyond that. Either way, I'm pretty sure she will be in the top 3 as well. To me, no one really comes close to her or Kacie B. at this point in the show in terms of how far along they are with Ben. Possibly more importantly, I believe that Courtney is the smartest person in the house right now. Some might see it as conniving or manipulative; I just think she has a strong understanding of what she needs to do to get what she wants moreso than the other girls. And not only that, she's a knockout. Sometimes life isn't fair.
3. Jennifer
Ben seems to like her a lot despite the fact that when they're actually talking to each other, there doesn't seem to be any depth. Still, they always seem eager to spend time together and Ben thinks she's the best kisser there. I don't think those two are necessarily unrelated.
(Sidenote: Ben loves kissing. He kisses everyone whenever and wherever he pleases. I think by this point if Ben hasn't kissed you, it's hopeless. Honestly it seems like it's a replacement for conversation for him.)
She got to open up a little bit on their one on one (in which they saw some guy named Clay Walker, continuing the time-honored tradition of featuring "amazing" artists that I have never heard of in my life), revealing that she left her last boyfriend because he didn't want to marry her. She's in luck, because at least one person on the show knows how that feels.
4. Lindzi
The horse girl. She seemed to think that the outdoors group date would work to her advantage, but it looked like she had to ride at the back of the pack since she was the most accomplished rider. Not only that, she tried to move in on Ben in the river after Courtney had pulled him away, but that ended up being SUPER awkward as she stood near them by herself and had to watch Ben make googly eyes at Courtney and the fish she caught. She did very little this episode, but I think she still does have some momentum from her one on one date and the whole horse thing. Not sure how long that will last though.
5. Nicki
This is sort of a gut feeling thing for me. She gets a decent amount of camera time even though she hasn't had a one on one or even a really intense conversation with Ben (that's been aired anyway). I don't know. To me she doesn't seem to have shown a whole lot of substance as everything she's said has just revolved around feelings and falling in love in a very generic sense even though she mentions Ben's name once or twice in there. Still, among the girls who haven't had a one on one yet I think she has the best chance.
6. Emily
Boy, she really shouldn't have talked crap on Courtney to Ben. It always seems super insecure when you have to talk down another contestant rather than focusing on your own relationship. I've only watched two seasons of the Bachelorette other than this, but it seems like every time there's someone who can't resist making this mistake. Even worse, Courtney had already mentioned how the other girls didn't like her, so Ben could easily have seen this as Emily bullying her instead of vice versa. Not only that, when Courtney confronted her about it, she feigned ignorance like a child (which was funny, because she was telling Courtney to stop acting like one). I don't know who she was trying to fool. Courtney knew, Ben knew, and the whole audience knew. Overall, a terrible move, and yet another reason why I continue to believe Courtney is the only one who knows what she's doing.
Even with that, I didn't think it was enough for Ben to send her home. She's very pretty and smart enough to have a real conversation with Ben instead of just boring or BSing him. I think if she can remember why she's here she can make a run.
The previous four girls are pretty close to me, and I think any two of them could make it to the hometown dates right now.
7. Rachel
I know Ben said some stuff about being patient and all that...but honestly their date looked uncomfortable and forced. Of course I realize the producers may have chosen to include more of the awkward moments they had ("There's a beaver lodge over there") compared to the other dates, but there were definitely still shades of the tankless water heater date. Rachel's version of "opening up" consisted of her talking about how hard it is for her to open up, except in a more roundabout way. I appreciate her being honest and not dumping everything out if she wasn't comfortable with that, at the same time, the Bachelor is obviously an extremely fast paced show and I can't see how it's not a disadvantage for her to stay closed off. Despite all this, I guess it was good enough for Ben and he gave her a rose. I'm not sure how far she can get if she continues to beat around the bush, but she does have one thing working to her advantage: she is really pretty.
8. Casey S
She finally made it on-screen today with some quick one on one time during the group date...until Nicki interrupted. She also got to defend Courtney and tell her that Emily talked crap about her to Ben since apparently Casey is Courtney's only friend in the house. It sounds cheesy, but I did like how she didn't just accept someone gossiping about her friend. Other than that, not too much, but she seems cool and I hope we get to see more of her. Among the (3?) girls Ben hasn't kissed, I give her the best chance to make a surprise run.
9. Blakeley
She seems to have toned down her cattiness, maybe content to let everyone hate Courtney instead. Still she hasn't done much since episode 2 so I'm not sure where her aggressive cougar persona went or if she's just waiting. I fail to see what she has on Monica besides that one night. She never seemed to build on it (probably because there was nothing really to build on) and realistically, she's a bit on the old side for this show/Ben.
10. Jamie
I'll be honest, I hate to put her this low since her intro tape was one of my favorites, but she just has not done a single thing to distinguish herself. I'm pretty sure she hasn't been seen talking (or even interacting) with Ben since she got out of the limo. It's almost like she's just chilling in the background waiting to be sent home. I still think she'd be able to make a good impression if she had a one on one, but to this point she's far behind the girls who have gotten one already and hasn't done much to give Ben a reason to want to take her out.
11. Elyse
Had no opinion of her until she ripped Shawntel last week. Then I didn't like her. Obviously what I think of her doesn't matter, but her real problem is that she hasn't gotten a lot of time with Ben, isn't as attractive as most (all?) of the other girls there, and honestly Ben doesn't seem too interested.
Clearly the most important thing is chemistry and genuine romantic feelings, but there has to be more than that as well. In this context I've called it "knowing how to play the game," but really is it any different than what we "normal" people have to go through? In my opinion, understanding the social environment that you're in and being able to conduct yourself appropriately is one of the most important things you can learn in life, whether you're at work, school, on a date, or happen to be trying to find love on reality tv.
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