January 4th, 2016. That date may not ring a bell, or it may mean a birthday, anniversary, or another significant event. But for many fans out there, it meant the beginning of the new Bachelor season. Ben Higgins. Giving off the persona of an all-around nice guy, and unfortunate first runner-up from Kaitlyn Bristowe’s season, (no idea how Nick Viall ended up in the top two-again!). This season is finally his chance to meet the woman of his dreams. With 28 fresh-faced and determined women who were all hoping to becoming the future Mrs. Higgins, this season began with viewers getting a quick recap of who Ben “Unlovable” Higgins is and then went to the introductions of all the girls. Amongst them, the most memorable so far seemed to be:
1. Caila (also a fellow software sales rep)
2. Jubilee (war veteran)
3. Lace (first impressions can be deceiving)
4. Mandi (props for being so bold)
5. The twins, Emily and Haley
6. Olivia (a contestant you’ll need to remember but will want to forget)
7. And surprise! Becca and Amber (previous Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise contestants).
At the end of episode one, it is quite clear that Olivia being the first impression rose recipient may have a target on her back and Lace is, in her own words crazy.
The second episode brought its own fair share of drama, with Olivia’s expressions:
and Lace’s craziness:
...being the stars of the show. On the first group date, Jackie, LB, Lauren H., Becca, Amber, Mandi, Jubilee, Jennifer, and Jojo, and Lace are taken to Bachelor High where they compete in pairs in order to score a lap around the track with Ben. I mean who wouldn’t want that? Afterwards during the sit down portion of the date, Jojo ends up getting the group date rose to pretty much everyone's dismay. While the group date is happening, Caila gets the first one-on-one date and if Olivia’s looks could kill, Caila would not be so much of the happy camper as she is now. For the one-on-one date, Ice Cube and Kevin Hart come along to promote Ride Along 2, and this is where I give props to Caila for keeping it together on this somewhat lackluster date to the liquor store:
(if it makes it any better, they finally get some one on one time and slow dance/stand there as they get serenaded). On the second group date, Emily, Shushanna, Sam, Olivia, Haley, and Amanda are taken to the “Love Lab” where a bunch of fake scientists try to piece together who Ben truly belongs with.
During this date, Ben smells the women after they’ve been lightly jogging on treadmills because according to science, your natural scent tells how attracted you are to your potential partner. Unfortunately for Sam, she smells like chinese food. Next, each girl is taken inside a room with Ben and this next test is supposed to determine how compatible Ben is to each girl based off of thermal energy. Afterwards, Sam ends up getting the lowest score while Olivia gets the highest. Olivia also unsurprisingly gets the group date rose. During the cocktail party, as Ben gets some one on one time with the girls, Olivia begins to show her true colors - which consist of possessiveness and cattiness, while Lace furiously tries to convince Ben that she’s not crazy. At the end of the night, LB decides to reject Ben’s rose and leaves the show while Sam and Mandi are amongst the girls sent home.
As episode three is around the corner, I think the definite front-runners so far are Olivia, Lauren B, Caila, and Jojo. My personal pick to win the show would be Caila. Not only do they look good together, but Ben did give her the first date which in a sense does give her an advantage over the rest of the girls. In addition, she seems to have stayed out of the drama so far, but there’s no telling what more drama will occur in the episodes to come. Of course many rumor outlets have already forecasted the final three, but for all you loyal Bachelor fans out there, stay tuned for new episodes every Monday at 8pm and here’s hoping your favorite wins!
