Hello Bachelor Nation and welcome back (or welcome, if you’re new here) to my Bachelor Nation newsletter. I have enjoyed the last few months off from creating BN content, but I’m excited to get started again.
Production really overdid it with the content during the last year, so the break was much needed. I’m hoping they felt like they had enough of a break to give us some creativity in Gabby and Rachel’s upcoming season.
Before each season, I like to read through cast bios and do some Instagram creeping in order to lay out my predictions for the season. So, that’s what I’m here to do.
At first glance, this season’s cast is looking rather white, which was to be expected. The good news, many of them are on the older side (by this franchise’s standards) and a lot of them seem to have real jobs. The bar is truly in hell, but we’ll take what we can get!
As a reminder, I watch these series spoiler-free. This precap and all my recaps will be free of spoilers. I ask that you help me keep this community that way by refraining from putting spoilers in the comments.
I’m disappointed that we’re starting this season with the same amount of men even though there will be two leads. I don’t trust production to do right by these women, mainly because we saw how much they screwed them over during Clayton’s season. I’m very curious to see how the men/leads get to decide who they’re going to pursue, and I am assuming that there will be at least one instance of Rachel and Gabby being attracted to the same man, or the other way around.
The promos so far have been cute. I appreciated the Mean Girls reference and Gabby and Rachel have looked stunning in every photo. However, the best friends message is a little heavy-handed. At most, these two women trauma bonded over being embarrassed by a man baby on national television six months ago, not sure that made them overnight best friends. But we’ll go with it, I guess.
I feel like we know a good amount about these women outside of them getting dumped in the worst way possible. Not sure Bachelor production can take credit for that though. We know Rachel is a pilot from Florida and Gabby is an ICU nurse in Colorado. On Clayton’s season, I loved that they both seemed excited and stable in their careers and that they weren’t watered down to women looking for a husband. I hope that theme carries through in their season too.
My Picks for Gabby
Colin
I have questions/concerns about Colin being the founding member of his high school breakdancing club, but besides that, he seems like a great pick for Gabby. He’s up for an adventure, wants true partnership, and is old enough to have experienced some things.
John
Maybe it’s the easy smile or his baby face, but I like John. His bio mentions wanting a partner that knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it and Gabby is definitely that girl! Maybe they could hit it off?
Mario
I mean, look at this man. Gorgeous. His bio also gives a nod to doing the inner work and we love to see it.
My Picks for Rachel
James
I feel like I shouldn’t like James, but I am intrigued. Not a fan of men demanding how many kids they want to have when they aren’t the ones who have to carry said kids for nine months, but besides that, he seems like a lovable family man with some quirk that Rachel could fall for.
Jordan V.
Jordan seems soft, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I think his patience and passion for his career are qualities Rachel can relate to.
Ryan
I can see an ending where Ryan and Rachel let chemistry lead the way and they end up together. They both seem like hopeless romantics (relatable) and sometimes feelings beat out logic.
This season, I’m adding some new picks to my precap. Since this franchise has hit us over the head with red/green flags, I’m giving in and sharing which men from this season are giving me green flag vibes 💚 and which are on my shit list 🚩.
Green Flags
Jordan V.
He’s got a career, appreciates a handwritten letter (which is so normal and sweet) and his headshot gives safe vibes. We’ll see if I’m right.
Kirk
I like Kirk for both of these women. He’s got a good job, wants a family, and is already getting some practice as an uncle. Although he’s got a demanding job, I imagine it’s nothing these women can’t handle as they’ve got intense careers of their own.
Mario
This dude has got a smile that rivals Mike Johnson’s and he’s clearly liked by production because he has an incredibly normal written bio that actually left me wanting to get to know him.
Red Flags
Alec
Listen, I’m not sure why Alec came on this show, but I am convinced it is not to form a relationship with these women. His bio reads like a LinkedIn summary. He also admits he enjoys being the center of attention. Absolutely not.
Brandan
Brandan is 23. He was likely in college five minutes before he showed up at the Bachelor mansion. “But age is just a number,” AHT AHT fuck all that. Even if he is ready for a committed relationship, I personally want him to go slut it up a bit. Enjoy sunny California (where he’s from) then come back to the beaches of Paradise in a couple of seasons.
Chris
Please go read this man’s bio. Just, go. Then come back here and tell me this man isn’t a walking red flag.
The Twins
Any time twins are on this show, I do not believe their sincerity. But Justin and Joey’s ABC bios and Instagram feeds scream party promoter.
My Predictions
Like I said earlier, I experienced both these women, but especially Gabby, as being open to finding a husband/man to seriously date. However, I did not get the vibe from Clayton’s season that their life depends on it. I think that theme will carry on through this season.
I expect to see Rachel a bit more willing to accept who is there and make it work, while I think Gabby would be perfectly ok to end the season on her own. Here are some of my other predictions for the season.
1. They are going to want the same guy. Twitter was aflutter during Clayton’s finale when they announced the two Bachelorettes would share a season. It seemed like everyone anticipated these two women to be pitted against one another. Honestly, I agree. It makes for good TV. Although I expect there to be a guy both women are feeling, I think it’ll be early in the season and fizzle out fast.
2. Gabby’s journey will end with a question mark. It’s not that Gabby isn’t a lovable dingbat (her grandpa’s words), but I feel like she is not going to put up with bullshit, nor will she allow production to “force” her to leave with someone for the sake of the show. Maybe she’ll rekindle a flame after production wraps, maybe she’ll show up on Paradise (very unlikely, but could be fun), but whatever she does, I’m convinced it will be on her terms (although within her contract).
3. We’ll see an emotional maturity from these men that rivals Clare/Tayshia’s season. Remember Tayshia and Ivan’s conversation about Geroge Floyd, Ben sharing his body image issues, and Zac being open about being an addict? The men from Bachelorette Season 16 had so much emotional depth that they shared with us pretty selflessly. I think this season could bring us a crop of men like that as well. When you have a lead like Gabby who embodies the phrase “healing your emotional child” I imagine it will be hard for men to get far with her if they aren’t in tune with their own feelings and emotionally mature.
I’m excited to see how this season’s format unfolds and truly hoping for the best for Gabby and Rachel after that awful finale we watched a few months ago.
Who are your favorites from the cast bios? Anyone you’re rooting for or have (spoiler-free) tea on 👀? Let me know in the comments and see you on July 11 for the premiere! I’ll be live-tweeting my opinions, reactions, and judgments on my new pop culture themed Twitter account @BKBachTakes. Hope you’ll join me!