New Year = New Love? If you haven't noticed the media craze, the reality dating series The Bachelor returned January 2 but the hype for this season captivated fans before the first episode even premiered. I, like many skeptics, never took part in the "wine, yoga pants, and The Bachelor" trend believing that there is no way true love can arise from one eligible man dating 25 women on camera. But after listening nonstop to the praises of my fellow friends who watch it and curious as to how a show like this created such a religious following, I tuned in this season to figure out why so many people love watching this show. With that said, here are 30 thoughts I had while watching The Bachelor for the first time.

1. *Youtubes clips of all the past finales to understand what's going on.* "Twenty seasons? Flavor of Love only had three."

2. "Ohhhh, they pick people from past seasons. So he's no newbie? That kind of sucks."

3. "How many of these people actually stay together? Hey Siri, Google..."

4. "Dramatic music, fast paced images: Showtime."

4. "Hmm, Nick seems alright. But Cosmo articles warned otherwise..."

"Too attractive. You really think he needs a show to find a date? Shouldn't we be doing this for oh, I dunno, someone who has trouble dating?"

6. "Three times...he's been on this show three times. This is why you're all fascinated? He's gotta have issues if he's had yet to meet someone in real life."

7. "HE'S NERVOUS? LOL, OK NICK. Fourth time's a charm."

9. "Oh wait, they're introducing the girls? This should be interesting."

10. "An attorney, a nurse, teacher, business owners... they've checked off every part of the workforce for this group didn't they?"

11. "Wait. All these contestants look the EXACT same."

12. *Texts other friends watching to comment on these women and their accents/hair/teeth/smile/obsession for this show.*

13. "These dresses are gorgeous. You think anyone's ever fallen walking up to the bachelor before?"

14. "Wow these women are trying waaaay too hard with the witty pickup lines."

15. "This girl just ran up to be 'a runner up' like him. I'm dead."

16. "Oh Jesus, why are these women telling him how much their friends hate him?!?! Maybe they do need this dating show."

17. "She did not just tell Nick what kind of engagement ring she wants..."

17. "Really, a shark costume? Plot twist: it's American Idol."

18. "One guy, thirty girls, and a few hours. No, he's definitely not going to get to talk to all of them."

19. "This girl just gave him tokens for whatever he 'wants.' Sure that's totally not going win him over."

20. "NO - Token girl just took him away from someone and made out with him before the others! Savage."

21. "These girls are crying because they haven't talked to him yet... like full on crying..."

22. "This first impression rose a.k.a. an award for who has not acted super weird or drunk yet."

23. "Def knew Rachel was getting it, but apparently no one else did because Twitter is going crazy right now."

23. "Chris is shutting down the party for the elimination. I see you Chris - you're ready to stir up some drama."

24. "How does Nick remember all of their names? There's no way I'd remember thirty new names."

25. "Even I'm not this obsessed over roses. This is what we call entertainment."

26. "So he kept Liz who he's already hooked up with but she didn't give Nick her number before he signed on for the show? Makes sense. This is why you're single Nick."

27. "They're really showing these girls crying because they got sent home. CRYING about some man they just met three hours ago."

28. "Wait, you mean it's over? This doesn't come on until next week? How long is this season?!"

29. "This show is so predictable. Who even came up with this? He's had to make a lot of money off of this. I wish I had come up with this."

30. *Finishes whole bottle second glass of wine* "Ok - wine helps you get through the show so you feel like you're enjoying this. #BachelorNation you're not so bad after all."