Episode 11 (Finale Part 2) - 8/05 - Bachelorette 9 - Discussion - Spoilers

kash wrote:Nice breakdown, mp.

Honestly, I just think Desiree was going to get engaged no matter what. She said as much in the ATFR.

And she was gushing about her "gorgeous" new ring, valued at upwards of $70k.

She was smiling with Chris, sure, but she smiles with everyone. If she were alone in a room with a turnip, she'd have a beaming smile on her face.

Desiree, like her male contestant counterparts, was more or less completely vacuous. The only moment that stood out as real and heartfelt was her "breakup" with Brooks. Actually, she wasn't breaking up with him because he wasn't even her boyfriend. He was just a contestant leaving the show.

It's a bizarre, truman show type alter-reality we're talking about here.

Nope. Her body language is so obvious. She pulled back from guys all season and with her favorites, right before letting them go, including Zak at HTD and then totally pulled back from Drew at FD and, of course, when she let him go. She may smile with her face but her eyes only really twinkled with Brooks and Chris.

You are right that this is a bizarre show but you can't deny that a few love matches manage to escape unscathed.

I don't think anything even close to love occurs on the show.

Drew loved Desiree? A joke.

Brooks loved Desiree? Impressed by the wow factor dates, yes. In love, no.

Chris? Who knows. Competing with 24 other men over 1 woman with no access to any other women creates a dynamic of extreme scarcity. That, plus the financial incentives, fame, access to future show biz opportunities, and the ego boost of outcompeting 2 dozen other men weigh heavily.

These guys spent a few hours with Desiree and basically know nothing about her of substance. Previous contestants confirm that the person they pursued remained a stranger throughout the entire taping, up until the proposal.

Who proposes to a stranger?!? Oh yeah, tv show contestants do.

No one "loves" anyone on this show. It's infatuation, fueled by and mixed with competitve pride, the desire for fame, and the promise of future wealth all serving as multiple and competing motivations.

What I enjoyed about this show was Desiree's raw emotional display in ep 10. But that wasn't a real breakup. They were never boyfriend/girlfriend! Just mutual reality show personalities.

kash wrote:I don't think anything even close to love occurs on the show.

Drew loved Desiree? A joke.

Brooks loved Desiree? Impressed by the wow factor dates, yes. In love, no.

Chris? Who knows. Competing with 24 other men over 1 woman with no access to any other women creates a dynamic of extreme scarcity. That, plus the financial incentives, fame, access to future show biz opportunities, and the ego boost of outcompeting 2 dozen other men weigh heavily.

These guys spent a few hours with Desiree and basically know nothing about her of substance. Previous contestants confirm that the person they pursued remained a stranger throughout the entire taping, up until the proposal.

Who proposes to a stranger?!? Oh yeah, tv show contestants do.

No one "loves" anyone on this show. It's infatuation, fueled by and mixed with competitve pride, the desire for fame, and the promise of future wealth all serving as multiple and competing motivations.

What I enjoyed about this show was Desiree's raw emotional display in ep 10. But that wasn't a real breakup. They were never boyfriend/girlfriend! Just mutual reality show personalities.

I agree with lots of what you are saying.

Yup, love probably doesn't happen on show ... but show does bring together two people who have shared a unique experience, have a lot of chemistry and the rest is up to them post-show. For the majority of couples, kaput! But, you gotta consider that there has been several long-term relationships plus three marriages (and children!) taking place from people who met on show (not to mention marriages from former contestants who met because of this show ...).

Yup, IMO Drew was not in love with Des. Actually, always thought my hometown boy was looking to bolster his modeling/acting career.

Yup, Brooks told all of America he was not in love with Des. No arguments here.

Disagree about Chris. He came on show because of Des and they sure as heck look "in something" right now. She sure as heck is moving to Seattle for him and they are moving into new place together. So guess that's a good start and now time will tell.

And, yup, I agree 100 percent. Raw emotion in ep 10.