‘Bachelorette’ drama mounts
Spelling bee event challenges suitors
Bros will be bros, especially on reality TV.
We pick up where we left off two weeks ago with Rachel and her suitors and Lee instigating, well, everything. But here’s the thing — anytime the men are arguing, it’s an open opportunity for another man (always Bryan) to swoop in and steal the girl (with very aggressive open-mouth kissing). And man, do Lee and Kenny open the door for literally anyone else.
The problem is, when Kenny suggests that Lee is his friend, the arguing is so loud that it starts throwing Rachel off her game. She’s caught up with the pressure of carrying a season as the first “Bachelorette” of color, so she cuts the excess and goes straight to the rose ceremony.
Somehow, Eric, Will, Dean, Jonathan, Peter, Adam, Bryan, Matt, Josiah, Jack, Iggy, Kenny and Lee all get a rose That means we have to say goodbye to Diggy, Square Face and Fancy Blonde Hair. It makes no sense, but alas, drama makes the world go round.
Sweeeet Carolin(a)
So what do you do when you think you get rid of drama but you actually don’t? Well, you go to Hilton Head. Rachel chooses Dean for a picnic on the hood of a car like they’re in a Faith Hill music video, but it’s interrupted when a Goodyear blimp arrives to pick up the couple.
Rachel is super into it, but Dean is trying to not throw up. After calming down, they fly the blimp over the resort where the other guys are staying, and they decide that Dean is way too young for Rachel because that’s their decision to make, you know? But at the end of the night, he lands the rose and the coveted obscure country artist concert.
Drama, Drama, Drama
Everyone except Adam hits the group date, and it’s testosterone central until the main event — a spelling bee. Turns out our meatheads aren’t too bright, and the competition comes down to Will and Josiah, with the latter reigning supreme. The night goes south after they’re asked to spell façade, champagne and coitus.
Iggy and Lee go into overdrive, stirring the pot some more and this time the consequences may be too big for (teddy-bear-accused-of-aggression) Kenny to overcome.
With that, we turn to this week’s superlatives!
Sweet
In this season’s most sincere moment, Dean reveals that he lost his mom to cancer during his one-on-one dinner date with Rachel, making him a real contender for her heart, even if he’s the youngest guy in the house.
Sour
You know when someone comes along and does a budget version of what someone else is doing? That’s Iggy. At least Lee has some skill in being a villain, but Iggy is essentially begging for drama when tattling on Josiah.
Sassy
Lee, bubba, why? It never stops with you, does it? You have Iggy, ready and waiting to launch into the villain role, but Lee keeps feeding into a dangerous stereotype about aggressive black men, with Kenny in particular. Which, according to this producer’s cut, seems absolutely insane. Lee, pump the brakes, friend.
Classy
Gorgeous, gap-toothed Peter. You beautiful man. In an episode rife with drama, we can rely on Peter to kick back with some inventive socks and take Rachel to a comfortable place with conversation about Wisconsin, interrupted by sweet kisses. Peter knows what’s going on this season, and we love him for it.