New year, new Bachelor, or not so new when it comes to current Bachelor Nick Viall who is now on his fourth, yes, fourth season of the Bachelor. After lining up in second place on Andi's season, just to line up in second place again on Kaitlyn's season, Nick finally made it to paradise...where he also found nothing.
But thankfully for Nick, Bachelor Nation decided that three strikes just wasn't enough and the new Bachelor managed to land his fourth, and hopefully his final season as a part of the Bachelor franchise. After all, Nick may be just about the only contestant to be on the Bachelor, the Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise. If he doesn't find love after three franchise shows of the Bachelor and four seasons, he may just have to come to terms with the obvious fact that the Bachelor just does not work.
So why does Nick keep coming back? After getting that close to the alter not just once but twice, and then losing to the dude that hates you (love you Shawn) how could anyone think the Bachelor franchise would work for them?
Actually, all things Nick aside, how does anyone think the Bachelor franchise would work for them? The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise are all completely ridiculous, that we can agree on. One person blindly dates a dozen other people at the same time on camera? Group dates that are mostly just group activities and competitions where the object of desire watches? Dates where you're not allowed to eat because chewing doesn't sound good on camera?
And let's not forget to mention that you're not allowed to keep the ring unless you stay engaged for at least two years? Of course everyone still looks in love! Just wait two years and see what really happens.
But when we think about, and I mean when we really stop to think about it - as DJ Khaled would say, we've played ourselves. A reality show where the premise is to get married at the end? That's insane. I'm not buying it, and most of us aren't either.
The introductions are written by the writers, as are the story lines. The villains are chosen from the beginning (hey, Chad), put in situations where they will undoubtedly act like an asshole, receive a horrible edit and then us, the audience bash them on Twitter about how much we hate them (but we love the drama right Olivia? Lace?) knowing full well they'll make it to at least episode 4, maybe 5.
Even Nick was the written villain of Kaitlyn's season and made it way farther than the villain is supposed to make it. But whether he's playing the victim or the sensitive guy or...the Bachelor, Nick, still has love for the Bachelor and we still have love for the Bachelor.
So, why do we still eat it up? Despite knowing that barely any couples from Bachelor franchises ever stay together? Despite knowing everything we know about how fake the Bachelor is or how unlikely it is that anyone will find true lastly love from the franchise? Why are we still watching?
Well, for one, it's fun. But also because secretly, we are all Nick Viall. Hopeless romantics who can't stop coming back for more despite knowing better.
But I'm still rooting for you Nick.
