Bachelorette 17 - Katie Thurston - Media SM - *Sleuthing Spoilers*

“Blake is going to get crap, obviously, for someone who fell in love with Clare [Crawley] without validation, fell in love with Tayshia [Adams] without validation. So, when he’s [saying], ‘I’m in love with Katie,’ it’s fair to question [it],” the former Bachelor said on Us Weekly’s “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast about the season 16 contestant. “I don’t question that he believes what he says. I just kind of question, like, ‘Do you just kind of love hard, bro?’”

While Nick noted that he doesn’t “know the back story” of how Blake ended up on Katie’s season, she exclusively told Us that they chatted via DMs before season 17 started.

“It sounds like there was some dialogue between Katie and Blake. I don’t think it was to the degree that it was with [me and] Kaitlyn,” Nick continued, referring to his pre-show relationship with season 11 star Kaitlyn Bristowe. “[For us], it was like a pretty intense, you know, two months of dialogue, but I do think Blake will go far.”

While ABC teased Blake’s appearance in the promo for the June 28 episode, the “Viall Files” host told Us that Katie informed him about the Canadian’s arrival when Nick was at the New Mexico resort to film Monday’s group date.

“I think Katie had met him. I don’t know for sure. She had told me about it and it was filmed. They didn’t use it, but it was filmed,” Nick explained, adding that there’s “so many moving pieces” on The Bachelorette and too much to cover from the group date — including Katie’s story about an experience with sexual assault — to introduce Blake.

“The stuff that came out on the date with Thomas [Jacobs] and obviously Katie’s story, you want to give that its rightful air and oxygen and its space for Katie to be heard. And I think that was really brave of her,” Nick told Us. “So it doesn’t shock me with all that going on that we’ll see Blake in next episode.”

While some Bachelor alums don’t have success when trying to crash the season, Nick was Kaitlyn’s runner-up. He recalled the men on her season knowing he was a threat shortly after his arrival.

“I’ll be interesting to see how the guys respond to him,” Nick said, noting that Aaron Clancy will likely take issue as he has been involved in all of this season’s drama. “That’s already pretty predictable. But the Greg‘s of it all, right? Because what was interesting about me showing up for Kaitlyn’s season is just how much Shawn [Booth] hated me. … If I didn’t show up, I mean, it would have, like, the season was over and that made it interesting because Shawn was very much the front-runner and Shawn just hated me. But will Greg hate Blake? Will Michael hate Blake? [Will] Connor? … I just don’t see those guys being like Shawn.”

For Nick’s complete recap of Monday’s episode, listen to Us Weekly’s “Here for the Right Reasons” podcast.

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quietpal wrote:If this is true and they DM'd each other before the show, then this really puts a damper on the season for me, especially if she chose him in the end. Why not just continue the chatting outside of the show? I would imagine many former contestants that would've jumped at the chance to be 'ette depending on who the producers had in mind imo.

alwayscooking wrote:

quietpal wrote:If this is true and they DM'd each other before the show, then this really puts a damper on the season for me, especially if she chose him in the end. Why not just continue the chatting outside of the show? I would imagine many former contestants that would've jumped at the chance to be 'ette depending on who the producers had in mind imo.

I understand your point, but for me,  it only makes this season more interesting.  Katie and Blake may have talked a little through DM's but as Nick said it was nothing like what he and Kaitlyn did.  I can easily see why Katie wouldn't give up the opportunity of The Bachelorette, just because she may have texted Blake doesn't mean he's "the one".  Look at Kaitlyn, she ended up choosing Shawn.  

I'm really curious to see how this plays out, to see the chemistry between Katie and Blake.  If it's true guys left early I wonder how much her decision to keep Blake played into that.

HEA wrote:

alwayscooking wrote:

quietpal wrote:If this is true and they DM'd each other before the show, then this really puts a damper on the season for me, especially if she chose him in the end. Why not just continue the chatting outside of the show? I would imagine many former contestants that would've jumped at the chance to be 'ette depending on who the producers had in mind imo.

I understand your point, but for me,  it only makes this season more interesting.  Katie and Blake may have talked a little through DM's but as Nick said it was nothing like what he and Kaitlyn did.  I can easily see why Katie wouldn't give up the opportunity of The Bachelorette, just because she may have texted Blake doesn't mean he's "the one".  Look at Kaitlyn, she ended up choosing Shawn.  

I'm really curious to see how this plays out, to see the chemistry between Katie and Blake.  If it's true guys left early I wonder how much her decision to keep Blake played into that.

How do you/we know what they say, how long. How often, etc.
How Nick know?

Blake says in Katie teaser…. “Bla  bla bla she is the one”

Nick mention about Blake falling hard with 3 bachelorettes in a row IS a concern. As I said, I believe Blake has issues with his emotions and long term relationships. Clare, Tayshia and Katie are so different that we cannot endorse this as Blake has a type.

Having a pre-show contact/discussion is certainly a huge advantage because the awkwardness is in the past, the basic  questions answered. It is as if they had already few dates together.

Not really fair with other guys who have an obvious disadvantage.

Anyway. I am thinking prods  must have been so very happy to see Katie infatuated with Greg and wonder how many suggestions were made to push her in his direction knowing full well what happened with Blake.

Then, no surprise Andrew or Justin had zero chances. She concentrated all her attention on 2 individuals.

I hope to not dislike Blake.