QUICK THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE

The Sam M. Experience.
  • What didn’t Sam do wrong during this episode?
  • For what it is worth, I have conflicted feelings about Jenn’s dealings with Sam this episode.
    • How many chances can you give a man who repeatedly punches himself in the face?
      • In the end, she got it right. I know I am being hard on her, but watching from my couch, it seemed obvious what was happening right from the jump.
  • Sam speaks strictly in soundbites this episode. He takes whatever he heard in romantic comedies and previous episodes of The Bachelorette and smashes all his shallow thoughts into a poor-tasting mashed mess.
    • Sam also verbalizes social media captions, thinking they are actually wise words of wisdom. He genuinely seems so confused when all the cliches that get hearts on Instagram get him no such clout in the real world.
  • Credit to Vulture recap for having an excellent comparison for Sam M. He is a more reformed version of Jed. The guitar-wielding smooth talker lasted longer than he should have with Hannah Brown, and the same can be said for Sam M. here on Jenn’s season.
  • Sam M. uses “I” and “Me” with the same frequency that Ben Mintz does in the few blogs he posts.
  • Sam M.’s demise begins on the group date, which is a trip to a local radio show.
    • Right from the get-go, Devin knew he would shine (which he does), and he called the fact that Sam M. would stumble.
      • There is a difference when talking into a microphone. Being honest, true, and genuine, off-the-cuff to a live audience of many, is very different from having time to plan out thoughts and conversations.
    • Jenn does keep remarking about how she and him have a physical connection.
      • Everyone knows it’s JUST that besides Jenn at this point.
        • The editing in the show even indicates that the other men on the show have accepted that Sam M. will seal his fate.
    • When playing a word association game, Sam M. says “aggressive” when prompted with “fantasy suites”.
      • Good lord, what the fuck does this mean? In a public setting, Sam? Have some decency.
    • Sam also fucks up the three words to describe Jenn.
      • He is not good at being original or following instructions.
    • The hosts of this radio show dictate the content and say that Sam M. needs more time with Jenn to get to know her. They will get time for a one-on-one interview while the rest of the men leave the room and watch from a secondary viewing chamber.
      • Side note: The reactions of Devin, Jonathon, Grant, and Spencer during this segment are fantastic.
    • Sam states out loud that Jenn is not his type. With no hesitation. He admits to thinking it would be Maria or Daisy waiting in front of the mansion.
      • How the fuck does he survive this? Even if you think this, Sam, you just don’t say anything.
    • Sam says that Jenn is selfless but then can’t think of an example.
      • Do you know the cure for this? A forced kiss.
        • Fucking gross and awkward. If I am Jenn, I don’t know how you aren’t rolling out of the room.
    • During the dinner portion of the group date, Sam, in his half-buttoned shirt, is confident that he can turn things around.
      • WRONG. It’s another spin around the wheel of saying only vague things, and Jenn remains very frustrated.
      • Sam tries to save face by saying THAT HE IS IN LOVE WITH JENN.
        • There is zero percent chance he believes this, and Jenn’s face shows that she doesn’t.
        • Sam is pulling out all the stops.
  • Later in the episode (after what’s an awkward mood change), Jenn is looking for Sam for a final conversation.
    • During this cumulative talk, Sam says one of the most hurtful things when he comments that Jenn shares the same qualities as many people, including people that he has been with before.
      • I mean what the fuck man.
    • The final nail in the coffin comes when Jenn asks Sam to think of one thing that he learned about her on their one-on-one date…which, if we all recall, wasn’t very good.
      • Sam does not have an answer…and he just says “Ferocious.”
        • This dude needs a Word of the Day calendar.
  • So Sam M. is finally leaving, and walking out the door, the nicest thing he has to say about Jenn (the women he loves) is that she had a dull energy during that final conversation and that it was not his fault.
    • Sam M. is going to be a bitch to listen to on the men-tell-all, but he will be great at wreaking havoc on the beaches of Paradise.
Marcus One-On-One
  • Marcus gets a second one-on-one date, and there is actually some pressure on the date. Jenn seems worried that Marcus is a bit too closed off.
    • I do think that Jenn really likes Marcus and he is playing catch-up with her a little bit. This date helped alleviate a few of those worries, but odds are it reappears at hometowns.
  • We get a massive Wicked film promotion throughout this entire date.
    • We have Marcus dressed in green and Jenn dressed in pink.
    • We are in the Emerald City, AKA Seattle.
    • Jesse Palmer is in what looks like a very heavy green suit, acting as an escort, hitting all the talking points.
  • Very happy to see Kelsey and Daisy return to the Bachelor screen.
    • How does Daisy feel while Kelsey is explaining how she found her one true love in this process?
    • Kelsey and Daisy are the only recognizable faces of the five Bachelor alumni who appeared in the episode. Lots of retracing steps and trying to bring positive vibes into a season that doesn’t have a lot of positive buzz.
      • Hand up, forgot Charity was on the show.
  • The actual date itself was fine and cute. The choices were easy and quirky. The producers pulled on the heartstrings, bringing family testimonials to the end of the Yellow Brick Road.
  • The dinner portion had all the juicy moments.
    • Marcus tells his story about how he and his sister were abandoned at a daycare center by his biological parents.
      • SHEESH.
      • It makes a lot of sense why Marcus guards his feelings and feels like there is something wrong with him.
        • He tells stories of going with families from the foster home but then being sent back as if the tryout was a failure.
  • Jenn can’t say Marcus isn’t opening up. It does take him more time, but when it does, it is deep and meaningful.
Jeremy One-On-One
  • Who had any idea that Jeremy was this much fun? Did anyone have that on their bingo card?
  • Jeremy wanting to make Jenn the bouquet was a really smooth move. Props deserve to be given.
    • He can also do a very good worm.
  • I don’t trust palm readers. She could have just talked with producers beforehand to get certain information on Jeremy and Jenn. Call me a skeptic.
  • This is one of the better dinner portions of a one-on-one in a very long time.
    • The conversation seemed to flow very naturally. It didn’t seem chopped up by editing and the real-time understanding we saw about Jenn and Jeremy’s appreciation for culture was very refreshing.
      • Jeremy laughing about Buddhist and Jewish-raised children was a great moment of levity because it is objectively funny to think about. It doesn’t mean bad, but it is unorthodox.
  • Personally, I had Jeremy going home each of the past three weeks, but he keeps winning me over with every week he stays.
    • I enjoyed how he approached getting the last one-on-one date with a non-arrogant “Best For Last” comment. He has stayed above the fray (for the most part, ignoring the car thing in the first episode) and made himself an easy hang.
  • Jeremy did really love the “Is this where you kill me?” joke.
  • I don’t like how Jenn calls him “Jerbear.”
Grant Is The Bachelor
  • Out of fucking nowhere….We have a bachelor! Let’s go Grant!
    • FUCK YES, IONA.
  • They didn’t actually didn’t do anything on show to promote him being the lead of The Bachelor. It was all social media-related.
  • Grant will have a lot of screen time at the men’s tell-all episode.
  • I somewhat called this to my wife. I had been saying for weeks that Grant was getting a great Bachelor edit, showing his vulnerability.
    • To be fair, I never fully committed because I thought there was a chance for Marcus, too. ABC could have chosen to go with the emotionally open man or a relatively closed-off man who could be broken in real-time
      • For the record, I am glad ABC got it right. Grant is a good choice.
  • Jenn somewhat gave Grant the seal of approval because he got walked out after he didn’t get a rose. Spencer didn’t get a walkout.
    • This was a bit of bad editing by ABC. There is no way Spencer wouldn’t get walked out if he truly did leave the hotel lobby second behind Grant.
What’s Next?
  • We have hometowns next week. Devin and Jonathon receive roses at the rose ceremony to join Marcus and Jeremy.
  • While I personally love Marcus, I still think it’s either Devin or Jonathon’s love to lose.
    • I have a theory that if Devin and Jenn get engaged, they will last longer than people think because Devin will do anything he can to make it work.
      • And yes, I am somewhat forecasting that Jenn’s relationship does not have great long-term prognostications.
  • Perhaps the most important thing moving forward is that Jenn and Jeremy are going to be in East Norwalk next week. They traverse the hallowed halls Stew Leonard’s and here the iconic guacamole song. Never have I been so invested in someone’s hometown date.

(MY) POWER RANKINGS

No. 4
Jeremy

(Last Week 5)

Listen, we have to respect that man. I was down on him early on, but over time, he won me over and seems to have done the same with Jenn. Their one-on-one date was far cuter than expected, and it’ll be fun to see his hometown.

No. 3
Jonathon

(Last Week 1)

Jonathon and Marcus doing a crossword book before the rose ceremony was adorable. Jonathon did nothing wrong in this episode, but he also didn’t stand out.

No. 2
Devin

(Last Week 3)

Devin moves up in my book because of his outstanding commentary on Sam M.’s demise. He called the shot regarding his nemesis crumbling in front of a microphone. He then goes on social and adds on tastefully when the episode was over. Devin wins, and he gets to gloat.

No. 1
Marcus

(Last Week 4)

How can you not be moved by Marcus’ story about his childhood? You understand the man so much more now, and the steadiest man of the season deserves to be atop the pedestal this week.

The Bachelorette airs on Monday nights on ABC, beginning at 8 PM EST.

Stanko Excel Lists | Movies, Books, Podcasts. TV Shows
Stanko Letterdbox Account

Recently Watched

Four Shorty Reactions: “MaXXXine” (2024), “Monkey Man” (2024), “Raising Arizona” (1987), “Scoop” (2024)

MaXXXine (2024) “In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.” Director: Ti WestWriter: Ti WestCast: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Halsey, Lily Collins, Kevin Bacon, Bob Cannavale, Michelle…

jstanko99's avatar by jstanko99
Posted on 0 By jstanko99 Bachelor Universe Posted in Bachelor Universe, Television Tagged #, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
jstanko99's avatar

jstanko99

Leave a comment