-So with Christina there’s one thing to note throughout both the group date after party, the pool party, and the rose ceremony – she was clearly hammered at all three. All you had to do was look at her eyes to see them glossed over, so that clearly led to the behavior she exhibited. Not excusing it at all, but I don’t think everyone caught on to that. And oh yeah, if you ask around, you’ll find out that was the case as well. With that said, my whole take on Christina just seemed to be she came on the show looking for attention, to be on TV, whether she got a relationship out of the show was inconsequential to her, and we’ve certainly seen worse “villains” than her in the past. I don’t think she’s a bad, horrible person who’s a terrible mother like some people are already calling her. I think she just didn’t know when to keep her foot out of her mouth (which I’m sure the alcohol played a role in), and she wasn’t the most self aware girl in the house and probably didn’t realize how she came across to the others. I’m not gonna sit here and invalidate how she made Brianna feel, how she made Charity feel, and how she got under Brooklyn’s skin. Clearly Christina made them feel a certain way by things she said, so I accept those. But that doesn’t make Christina a horrible person, nor does it make the other three women wrong. Sometimes women don’t get along on this show. Shocker. We see this every season. This was just another instance.
-There doesn’t HAVE to be a “Team Christina” or a “Team Not Christina,” because then it turns into a case where you’re pitting women against each other. Should Christina not been so vocal about her 1-on-1 date? Sure. Was that the worst thing ever said on this show? Far from it. I also think from everything I’ve heard, that Christina should probably be lucky that that was the edit she got this season. We’ve seen way worse in the past, no doubt. I know this will be a hot topic and Christina defenders (especially those in Bachelor Nation) will say she’s the nicest girl, great mom, etc. And the ones who hate her will call her an opportunist who clearly got on the show because of her last name and is using this franchise to keep her name out there. But no need to get worked up about something that everyone will be over in about 48 hrs. We have roughly 8 more episodes left this season and no one will be talking about Christina by this weekend. We’ll see her at the WTA where the producers will rile up all the other women to come attack her, it’ll be a topic again for a couple days, then she disappears again until Paradise, where she will for sure be in the original cast.
-I know this take may come as a surprise to some, but I just gotta say it: Is Zach one of the best Bachelors we’ve had in recent memory? I don’t feel like his convos with the women are robotic and rehearsed, he’s immediately gotten rid of any drama at the drop of a hat, and he’s told three women now the second he wasn’t feeling it with them anymore – Madison night 1, and then Bailey and Brianna last night. Both came to him looking for honesty, and frankly, when have we ever seen a Bachelor so early in the season tell someone straight up (let alone 3 women), “Yeah, something’s off” or “I’m just not feeling it anymore?” Ever? It’s kinda refreshing. I think Zach has really been impressive so far through three episodes. Normally at this point with the lead, it’s just about getting to know everyone, say all the right things, and basically give canned answers. Zach really hasn’t done any of that. He’s cutting to the chase of everything and really seems to engage in all his conversations and I don’t feel like I’m hearing the same exact things with every woman. You may now chuck your pitchforks at me.
-Hey, do we have two Nepo Babies on the show this season? First we had Christina, and now Griffen Palmer who performed during Zach and Aly’s 1-on-1, is Jesse’s cousin. Not sure I’ve ever seen someone with a first name of his spell it like that. I’ve seen Griffen as a last name spelled that way. Not a first. That certainly was a hell of a first date for Zach and Aly to have. Aly seemed like she jumps out of planes every other weekend considering how not nervous she was. I just thought it was funny that at no point did they tell us what winery they landed at, what city they were in (Santa Barbara), or one scene they were in their suit and wedding gown, and .5 seconds later, they’re sitting in a hot tub. Zach and Aly should take their act on the road maybe and be the new Quick Change.
-In the spoilers I had mentioned that while still at the mansion, Gabi was caught reading the Game of Roses book, but that was the only info I had. I had no idea if it was gonna be a storyline, if it was even a big deal, if the women even cared, etc. I knew nothing other than it happened. Which it did. But clearly it wasn’t that big of a deal since it was never shown or brought up. The amount of “I thought you said Gabi was caught reading the GOR book” comments I’ve received are too many. Yes, I did. And yes, she did. Just because something isn’t shown on TV doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Lekha interrupted the first rose ceremony to call out production – that wasn’t shown. Brianna won a bunch of gifts for winning the BBE group date – that wasn’t shown. Not to mention, I specifically said all I knew was that she was caught reading it but knew nothing other than that. I guess don’t let the facts get in the way of your own narrative.
-Rose ceremony time. Kaity, Charity, and Aly safe with roses. Zach: “What a day…struggling…this is so important…didn’t make things easy…difficult to feel really ok with what to do…grateful to be here with this group…did we really have a team on the group date called the Ball-Zachs?”
Jess, Gabi, Ariel, Genevie, Greer, Kat, Kylee, Davia, Anastasia, Brooklyn get roses.
“Ladies, Zach, it’s the final rose tonight. When you’re ready. Chris Harrison needs to keep my name out his mouth so I stop getting asked about him.”
Mercedes gets the last rose, as Christina is the only one who doesn’t get a rose and goes home.
Travel starts next week in Bahamas, and the woman that Zach insinuates he doesn’t know if he can trust is Anastasia. Remember in the beginning of the season Jesse Palmer, and Zach for that matter, said that this season would be drama free? Ummmm, there’s been drama every episode so far and there will be some next week too.
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.
