I’m pretty sure that the Suits at ABC (sABCs) and Evil Genius Producers (EGPs) looked at the calendar quite early and recognized that the Republican National Convention was going to take a big chunk of their audience and everybody else’s audiences, and they were correct. So, I am persuaded that they decided to give us a Grade D trope-filled episode, while trying to distract us with the sights of the city of Melbin, Ostrahlya.
Trope 1 was the Overcoming Fear of Heights Date with Marcus. Fears were overcome, but a looming issue with his and Jenn’s relationship is that the guy who gets the first date has never won The Bachelorette [cue Phil Collins Against All Odds].
Trope 2 was the Overcoming Fear of Animals on My Body Group Date. I was with Hakeem. I don’t want strange animals anywhere near me, and I especially want them in front of me the entire time and not crawling around my body sight unseen.
Wrapped around those two themes was the usual Get the Guys Beefing Early and Often, which is typical for Episode 2s. Within that was Trope 3, the beef between a Well-Intentioned but Socially Awkward Suitor and The Guy Who Is Overly Concerned About The Bachelorette’s Feelings. The scene was a Group Date. The lead players were Devin (Awkward Suitor) and Aaron (Overly Concerned), with Thomas N cast as a supporting (Overly Concerned) character. The rest of the guys take sides.
Rather than do a breakdown of the beef, I’m going right to the part that had the interweb all abuzz following the episode1. Shortly after telling Devin, “You lack depth. I meant that out of a place of love,” (pause for guffaws) Jenn’s Not-so Noble Protector Aaron briefly leaves the room and comes back with a book he’s gifting to Devin. It’s a book that has meant lot to Aaron in terms of his growth as a person, Principles of Self-Growth written by Dr. Brandon O’Connor. And it’s a book that doesn’t exist. Nor does the author.
This may be one of the greatest moves in Bachelor franchise history.
Of course, Devin, Aaron, and Thomas N (despite getting a scolding from Jenn) get Roses at the Cocktail Party, so we have the promise of future smoke between them. That said, I’m not convinced that Devin is The Villain. He could be, but I’m still keeping my eyes on Sam M.
And that’s a wrap. Yes, these musings are late and brief. It’s a Grade D effort for a Grade episode.
See you next week.
- Fortunately before the global computer shutdown. ↩︎
Ray's Musings 
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