It's that time again—that time when ABC names a new "Bachelor" and thousands of viewers watch weekly for at least 12 weeks waiting to see who he finds the best connection with. Personally, I'm not an avid watcher of the television series, but the past two seasons have showed me all I need to know about a reality show of this nature. Along with all of the petty drama between the women on the show comes awkward televised romantic moments between the bachelor and whoever is on his date in that moment. The tension in the mansion gives way to difficult and superficial rose ceremonies, where the bachelor decides who he feels a stronger connection with and sends the rest home. All of these events take place in a two-hour block on Monday nights at 8 p.m., where women all over the country sit in front of their televisions and watch the madness ensue. In the meantime, here is a little about our bachelor of the season: Ben Higgins.
This season's bachelor, Ben Higgins, comes to us from Warsaw, Indiana, as a software salesman. He found his way to the show through this summer's "Bachelorette" Kaitlyn Bristowe after being voted off with two remaining. Higgins is a fun and loving guy, looking for the love of his life through this reality television show. Almost every episode so far this season he's claimed that he knows his wife is "somewhere in this room."
The group of women he has been involved with could be the cattiest yet. With pointless drama and and rose flaunting, it seems that the competition to Ben's heart has become more about making others jealous and displaying dominance. With two women having left voluntarily (LB and Lace), the pathway to Ben is being paved nicely for the likes of the front runners in the show (Olivia, Lauren B, Caila, Jubilee, and Amanda, to name a few).
The show's clear favoritism of certain characters that provide drama and uncertainty is becoming more clear through their individual interviews and treatment of the other women on the show, and even Ben sometimes. While some of the more genuine women sometimes fade to the back, Ben never fails to recognize who he has a true connection with. Unfortunately, this show comes with undeniable flaws that change the course of the show and the audience's reactions to what they are being shown. The characters who provide the most drama "somehow" end up spending the most time with Ben, and somehow he only sees the good side of these women, which creates a lack of authenticity in the relationship between the girls and Ben. Their one-on-one interviews suggest that their perceptions of the relationships they have with Ben are completely different than how Ben sees things.
Overall, the Bachelor provides us with tons of entertainment, heartbreak, and irritation as we watch our beloved Ben discover the love of his life, even if we figure out who it is before he does. Before you falsely judge the thousands of fans who watch religiously every week, our addiction isn't as bad as it may seem. The show's two-hour span finds us in good health and allows us to bond with others who find trashy television entertaining. So make sure to tune into ABC at 8 p.m. on Mondays to watch Ben Higgins and envy the girls who get to kiss him—because let's face it, he's been kissing everyone so far.
