This article contains spoilers for The Bachelor. 

Though my interest in "The Bachelor" series depends on the various ensembles in each season, this season has been an especially entertaining experience only three episodes in. Former "Bachelorette" contestant (and Pennsylvania native) Joey Graziadei made his debut as the 2024 Bachelor three weeks ago, but in my opinion, this season’s entertainment can be credited to the women who are fighting tooth and nail for that final rose.

So far in this season, we have witnessed women going head-to-head to receive a rose, pummeling one another in paintball competitions and even exemplifying a pole-vault-like leap across a table during a game of musical chairs. But what I find funnier than the “Joey Olympics” are the seemingly overqualified women battling for his attention. Contestant Katelyn is a radiochemist who purchased her first home at 23 years old, and Lexi was accepted into a summer program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Meanwhile, we are unsure of any of Graziadei’s accomplishments other than coaching tennis in Hawaii.

I must admit, although I was not initially a fan of Maria’s flashy antics, I now thoroughly admire her ability to confront drama and tell it like it is. Maria’s beef-squashing strategy seemed like the ideal way to assert dominance in the mansion, but assertiveness is a tactic second only to clever victimization. In the mansion, this tactic is meticulously executed with the use of seven words that sound like nails on a chalkboard: “can I steal him for a sec?”

Jess was the first to put this tactic on display, cutting Taylor’s time with Joey short during the cocktail party and making her seem unreasonable for feeling upset. This tactic is also demonstrated by Sydney. I am astonished by Sydney’s ability to make herself the victim in every situation, tattling lies to Joey and dramatically removing herself as soon as Maria attempts to resolve conflict. I felt a global groan across Bachelor Nation when Joey presented Sydney with the final rose during last week’s ceremony. While Sydney attempts to frame Maria as the mansion’s mean girl, she should keep in mind that the truth will always reveal itself, so she had better hold tight to her rose before it wilts. #TeamMaria.

With that said, I love noticing moments of camaraderie in the mansion, like when Edwina was there to comfort Maria and roll her eyes whenever Sydney attempted to revive dried-up drama. We love to see two unproblematic queens moving forward in the competition. 

After Jenn went on a steamy surf date with Joey last week, it is clear that their chemistry is undeniable. 

Bachelor Nation’s unanimous frontrunner is Daisy. Daisy took home a preemptive rose after a one-on-one date that melted my heart. Something about her sweet baby blues combined with her unwavering authenticity makes me want to cheer like a football bro whenever she is given a rose. Although it is early in the season, I can easily declare that Daisy and Joey will be the ones to walk off into the sunset. 

Share