The Bachelorette Season-Finale Recap: It Wasn’t Supposed to Be This Way

As a long-time viewer and critic of The Bachelor franchise, I must say, it’s disheartening to witness yet another season where the lead, Jenn, ends up heartbroken and emotionally drained. It feels like the show is more interested in ratings and drama than providing its leads with genuine happiness and closure.


fellow Bachelor Nation enthusiasts, or those who stumbled upon this by mistake while seeking Cinematrix, allow me to express a sentiment I never anticipated having to voice: I regret being correct

I hate that I predicted the History-Making SHE-E-O Live Laugh Love Self-Care Finale Presented by Maybelline. I knew that Jenn would be proposing to her Final One. Go back. Look at my first recap of the season. I believe my exact words were she’d be proposing to “someone tall.” I’m not sure if Devin is “The Tall One,” but there was a little seashell with a Neil Lane mengagement band. A Him-gagement band? I’m sure Neil Lane will workshop the title as this trend sweeps the nation. I knew that Jenn would be proposing and goddamn it, I wish I were wrong because I DO NOT WANT THIS. I do not want this for Jenn, and I certainly don’t want the first woman-led marriage proposal to end up in this mess.

Let’s get into it.

I mean … how do we even break this thing down? Because after knowing that Devin attempted to (and kind of succeeded) ghost a televised engagement and then hit the clubs with Jeremy, do any of us give a shit about what he told her mom and brother? Also, if this didn’t come for you exactly where you live emotionally, what is it like to be able to fall asleep without the endless chatter of anxiety and abandonment issues clattering around in your brain? I bet if I checked your Google history, I wouldn’t find “boyfriend’s eyebrow microexpressions + attachment issues.”

In my opinion, Marcus just wasn’t the right fit for Jenn in this film. It was glaringly apparent to most viewers that his character was not suitable for her. The moment that stood out the most for me was at the beginning of the episode when Jesse asked, “So, who will Jenn choose? Will it be Marcus?” and there was an awkward silence. I think we all felt the same way. It’s time to write Marcus off our screens. Something just didn’t feel right about him

I’m drifting from the solid ground of reality since everything seems pointless. Even Jenn’s significant milestone – asserting control over her life, her narrative, her affection, and proposing to Devin – has lost its significance. If I had to speculate, it might be due to the fact that “Texas 7 Los Angeles 5,” meaning Devin tasted the good life and his DMs were flooded, so why not follow some girls on Instagram, including the role he was likely cast for?

It seems like we can follow Jenn’s journey in this episode, right? But I’m not entirely sure if it’s worth exploring, as it feels a bit disorganized like when a substitute teacher has to adjust plans due to an unexpected interruption. In this case, it appears that Jenn’s character development begins with her feeling both happy and conflicted, then she resolves the conflict to become solely joyful. However, this transformation leads her to star in a revenge-themed music video reminiscent of Olivia Rodrigo, which might not be an engaging or emotionally fulfilling arc for viewers

In this episode, Jenn ties up all the loose ends in each storyline. She shares a heartfelt conversation with her brother about how much she’s grown and her desire to avoid repeating past mistakes. Despite Marcus expressing his love for her, Jenn decides to end their relationship because she recognizes he’s emotionally unavailable. She even takes control during the Bachelorette process and proposes! They give her a seashell as a token of their bond. The episode ends with Jenn finding love and being loved without fear. I can only hope that the next season of Dancing With the Stars will feature Jenn, while Devin fades into the background. (My emotional sanctuary television show, and she’s definitely joining it soon!)

In the league of remarkable Bachelorettes who remained single post-season or soon afterward, Jenn’s story stands out as particularly disappointing. Unlike Hannah Brown and Rachel Pilot, who both shared special moments with their suitors during their finales, Jenn didn’t get a moment of pure, unadulterated joy in hers. Tyler Cameron had his time with Hannah in the hot seat, rekindling that palpable chemistry, while Rachel and Aven shared an impromptu exit offstage. One wonders, where was such a moment for Jenn? If we collaborate, I’m sure we could devise three to five heartwarming scenes designed to bring joy to Jenn

Let’s make Devin take a dip in a dunking booth

Rather than allowing the woman to express her feelings naturally, the show deliberately amplified her emotional struggles so that Jesse could later commend her for standing up for herself and hinting at the possibility of finding love. It’s as if they were assigned to stir up some drama to boost ratings and create suspense for After the Final Rose. It might be wise to have someone keep an eye on the cast members’ social media activity, as it appears that Devin’s actions are negatively impacting Jenn’s emotional wellbeing

It seems like we played several rounds of Heads Up 7 Up, and it turned out that there was still more time remaining in the session than I anticipated. Unfortunately, no one provided guidance on this specific situation

It appears that this incident raises larger concerns about how the franchise can safeguard its main characters, especially those of color. I’m deeply upset about what happened to Jenn, and it’s disheartening that this occurred during the first Asian American season of The Bachelorette. Production should acknowledge their mistake. (Once again, bring out the oversized check – you can’t fix it, but Jenn could buy a Birkin.) Interestingly, Maria (or Daisy) rejecting the Bachelorette role left production in disarray as they had already focused on men who would be interested in Maria, and they failed to adapt. They believed Marcus would be popular and set up for a Bachelor arc, but that idea didn’t take off. It seems like production is still trying to understand what the audience wants, and there appears to be an audience segment who might find someone like Marcus appealing due to his American background, but Marcus was lacking in charisma during the season. Production also struggles to find a divisive character like Maria to actually join the show, so they’re selecting leads with less developed reality TV stories and casting for drama around them. And it’s especially disappointing when it involves leads of color because it feels like production is saying “We can’t imagine what their appeal might be, but I guess we’ll toss in a Sam M and a Salmon and see what unfolds.”

As Jenn’s season comes to an end, it’s time for Jesse’s heartfelt speech to melt ours and then reveal THE GOLDEN BACHELORETTE! I’m hoping that by Grant’s season, they will be able to effectively portray his story and attract women who are genuinely interested in him. However, the questionable way his announcement was handled doesn’t exactly boost our confidence in their ability to pull it off

Alright, that’s the end of the quiz! We covered all topics, if asked. See you again later! Take care and good luck on your next task!

Read More

2024-09-04 22:12