Some thoughts on last night’s episode:
-It was clear as day who had the best date between the three guys. I mean, sailing in the ocean on a catamaran versus a horseback ride and zip lining? Yeah, no contest. And no, it was not coincidental that the guy Michelle ultimately ends up engaged to is also the one who got the best date of the three.
-I’m trying to give Brandon the benefit of the doubt here and maybe say he hasn’t had a ton of relationship experience, but good Lord, the two men she’s taken to the final 2 couldn’t be more opposite in their approach if they tried. Nayte is the one who struggles to open up and Brandon just love bombs her all day long. It’s one thing for Brandon to have fallen for Michelle and can see a future with her. But I’m sorry, some of things he’s saying to her are so over-the-top outlandish and almost like he’s saying it because he thinks that’s what she wants to hear.
-We’ve watched this show long enough, and seen so many people come in and out of this show to know by now, you BARELY know this person that you’re dating. You’ve spent maybe a total of 3-4 days with them once you add everything up. So for Brandon to make all these love declarations to Michelle so soon is just a bit much for me. I’m sure he’s fallen for her and I’m sure he wants to let her know how he feels, but he’s saying waaaaaaay too much. It’s cringey.
-They never used to do this until Peter’s season where they have all final 3 in the same hotel and just sitting there while one leaves and comes back from their overnight date. Yes, I get it’s being done for TV purposes, but that still doesn’t make it any less awkward or uncomfortable. And they didn’t do it in the bubble seasons because they never went anywhere – La Quinta, Neamcolin, and New Mexico. But yeah, the last non-pandemic season we had, Peter’s, was the first time they’d done it where Hannah Ann, Madi, and Victoria all had to sit there and discuss the previous nights date and what not. And now the first season since then where they traveled, they did it again making Joe, Nayte, and Brandon all go through it. Sounds like this could be the norm going forward.
-I think you can see now why Joe was sent home. While he isn’t the love bomber that Brandon is, nor is he the closed off one that Nayte is, Joe just doesn’t exude much of anything when he speaks. I get that’s his personality and some people are just like that, but Michelle seems to be someone that needs more than that. Joe just doesn’t give her enough and that was clear. While she said he opened up more on their date, it STILL wasn’t enough. And also, Michelle gave the dreaded line of, “our relationship has moved slower than the others,” which is a line that’s always been uttered towards someone about to be sent home. Without fail. And yet again, it happened last night. This is show is speed dating on crack. If your relationship with the lead is a “slow burn,” or “progressing slower than the others,” you’re screwed.
-Do I believe Nayte when he says he can “get there with an engagement,” which Michelle was practically begging him to say? Ummmm, I mean what’s he gonna say in that situation? If he says “no” or “I don’t know,” then Michelle isn’t happy. Of course anyone in that situation, if they don’t want to be sent home, is gonna say they can see themselves getting there. Only time will tell if Nayte is serious about what he said and they make it long term. The odds are certainly against them.
-Nayte took a lot of heat on social media last night for his actions, and I can’t say they were all unwarranted. But on the flip side, if Nayte was saying the things to her that Brandon did, he would’ve been criticized for that too. I think he’s a guy who’s very confident, has never had a hard time getting women in the past, is in a completely bizarre experience, and is just there in the moment riding it out. I have no idea what their life has been like outside of the show or how serious the two of them are post-show. Nor do we for any of these couples. We’ve seen couples love bomb each other on social media and weeks later end an engagement. So I don’t put much stock into really anything these people say publicly. So my stance remains the same: until these couples move in together, that’s when I’ll take them seriously. Until then, it’s just dating that so happens to have an engagement attached to it because it’s what the show wants you to do.
Send all links and emails to: steve@realitysteve.com. To follow me on Twitter, it’s: www.twitter.com/RealitySteve. Instagram name is RealitySteve, or join my Reality Steve Facebook Fan Page. Talk to you tomorrow.
marie101?
December 15, 2021 at 9:42 AM
Surprised about Dale being in a movie….I know other people have but normally as themselves where the TV show has been incorporated into the movie script. Based on just what I saw, he wasn’t terrible, maybe he will become a staple in Hallmark movies. It’s a living for many has been and never been actors.
My prediction for Michelle is that she breaks up with Nayte when she realizes he is a player and reconnects with Joe since he is local. As long as Joe doesn’t move on before then. Hopefully, I am wrong for her sake, but the relationship she had with Joe, building slowly like a normal relationship and not depending on an instant sexual attraction, would maybe have more promise in the long run.
adelina
December 15, 2021 at 11:18 AM
I think Kaitlyn Bristowe has made a business out of this show better than anyone.
She has a podcast, a wine brand and some overpriced hair bows. I find her very likable but for the love of God, can’t figure out what is appealing about her stage show. That leaves me perplexed.
Also agree with above comment about Nayte and Michelle not lasting long. I sure hope Michelle sticks with teaching and doesn’t try to become an influencer. That route is so predictable and cliché.
ctrealitygirl
December 15, 2021 at 11:31 AM
All along, Michelle seemed pretty savvy and could quickly discern between when someone was being sincere and they were spewing BS. Last night she practically had to drag the response she was looking for from Nayte. Typically the other person speaks first, telling the lead how they’re falling in love with them, etc, etc. But with Nayte, Michelle jumped right in. He looked uncomfortable to me and when he finally declared his feelings, he expressed it half laughing. Despite what some expressed in the reader emails,I really liked Brandon and thought he was very sweet and sincere. But I don’t think he’s “manly” enough for Michelle. Unfortunately I think she was just plain attracted to Nayte the most. It’s a shame if it doesn’t work out, but I really don’t see it lasting.
marie101?
December 15, 2021 at 5:36 PM
Some of the most intelligent women can be foolish when it comes to men, and I am commenting from personal experience. I think Michelle alluded to making bad choices in the past either to Kaitlyn and Tayshia, or in an in the moment interview. She’s smart enough to not fall for run of the mill BS, but she’s overriding her instincts because she is so attracted to Nayte. I gave up when I figured I was never going to learn… hopefully she will figure it out.
wyntre
December 22, 2021 at 7:50 PM
@Marie101? That reminds me so much of Andi Dorfman. Brilliant woman, bad taste in guys. She goes for the “alpha male” jock type–someone who can’t handle having a smart woman. I hope she and Michelle both learn to love someone good for them. 🙂