What is fair in love and war? The Bachelorette - Episode 2 (Pt. 1)

Well, that episode got heated…let’s not waste any time and dive right in.

Let’s begin with the travel to Australia! I do feel like this is the quickest that a season has turned around and gone overseas in quite a long time. From what I've seen, usually they would spend a few days at the location of the Bachelor Mansion before traveling. Not the case with this season. Maybe they are trying to break the norm or show that this season will be unlike the rest. It keeps us as the viewers, Jenn, and the gentleman on their toes. In my opinion, I like it! It’s an awesome setting for this show and there are plenty of ways to create unique storylines from just being in the land down under. Whether it’s through the wildlife (which we saw later in the episode), food, cities, culture, etc. I am looking forward to watching it unfold.

Though, I am still waiting for one of the Australian puns to land. 

First Group Date

I truly wasn’t expecting much out of the first group date but boy was I proven wrong. The drama was shot out of a cannon right away and it made for some exceptional television. So, the handpicked guys got all dressed up in their nice outfits and met Jenn for a day out on the town. They would spend time shopping around, eating authentic Australian foods/drinks, and exploring. By the way, I have had vegemite before and it’s nasty. 

I wish I could give Zayn Malik…I mean Sam N a boost of confidence. It’s clear he is getting in his head big time and is letting a lot of nervousness show. I  get in the first episode he claimed that he’s never had a serious relationship and there are a lot of new feelings with going all in for someone. Sometimes you just have to shoot your shot! 

One thing I recall from this part of the episode was Jenn mentioning that she was looking forward to seeing who would make those special moments with her. While that might be hard to do on a group date, there was one guy that stood out more than the rest. Devin! First, he brought the energy by being the first one of the gentlemen to run up to Jenn with a hug and a nice greeting. Small things like that might just stand out in ways that others might not notice. 

Next, he pulled her away from the group and brought her to a gelato stand. This man is thinking on the fly. He must have noticed it along the way and bookmarked it. He was intentionally looking to make that special moment Jenn, just like she was looking for.

Now comes the fun part. The group of guys were disgruntled and not pleased with Devin stealing Jenn away. Yet, most seemed to look past it and not dwell on it too much. Except for Aaron…Instead, he was peeved off. Mentioning how it was completely unfair it is for him to take her away from the group and how it shows his true character. This won’t bubble into more, will it? 

It makes me think, what is fair on this game show? Is there a rulebook for how the game is supposed to be played? What is too far over the line in the Bachelor/ette? If Devin taking Jenn for a little gelato is crossing the line, then I think that’s a weak argument. Was he supposed to just wait for everyone else to get their moments first or when it’s convenient to all the other guys? I feel like Devin was trying to gain a competitive advantage and the other guys might need to step their game up too. 

This is where the title of the blog comes from, but what is fair in love and war? What crosses the line in this game show? Did Devin go too far? Let me know what you think!

You know who was a big surprise for me and probably all of you too? Grant! I genuinely assumed that he would just be a guy going on the show to get his name out and gain fame. Those were just my preconceived notions from the first episode with him. Yet, in the after-party of the group date, his conversations with Jenn seemed real and the chemistry was present on both sides. He asked great questions, he gave thoughtful answers to her questions, he shared his values of family, and he showed he’s got game. Grant even stated that he thought he might possibly be kissing his wife. This man has majorly jumped up on my power rankings. Jenn giving the rose to Grant seemed like a no-brainer to me.

Before wrapping this section up, I also want to note how out-of-pocket this show is sometimes. There have been countless moments recently where I’ve done double takes, saying things like, “What did I just watch?”

One-on-one date

I always want to know what goes into the decision to pick someone for these dates. Do the producers have something to do with it? Is it based on the activity they’re doing? Is it just who the Bachelorette (Jenn in this case) is vibing with at the moment? Let me know what you think! I kind of feel like it’s a mix of all those things but I’m unsure of which is the most deciding factor.

With that being said, Marcus was selected for the first one-on-one date! He’s made a great first impression. Literally, by being the first guy Jenn met this season. In the first, I think Marcus showed that he can be a calm presence while also being the protector (this kind of goes back to his military background). Yet, also he showed a sense of gratitude for living life. 

With Marcus’ history in the Military, skydiving seemed like it was something he was comfortable with. He took it like a seasoned veteran and literally laughed it off. Though, Jenn was looking for him to ease her very obvious nerves. Would he pass the test? 

At first, I didn’t think he was because he was cracking jokes and not really doing anything to comfort her. I think something clicked after that for him when he was talking before going on the plane. Like oh shoot, she actually is scared, let me be her person in this moment. From that moment on, he did pass the test. He was a calming presence for Jenn and he provided reassuring/encouraging words. So much so, that Jenn seemed like she enjoyed herself. Once they landed, Jenn even rewarded him with a kiss and a big hug

My favorite quote from Marcus was when he said, “I am so proud of you for doing it!” I’ve learned from my time with my wife, Lauren, that quotes like these are so powerful and uplifting. It truly can strengthen relationships more than people know. Also, my love language is words of affirmation, so there’s that.

Shoutout to the skydiving instructors for not pulling a Matt James/Rachael Kirkconnell situation… if you know what I mean. 

Moving ahead, the rented out Library for the dinner location was pretty awesome. I’ve never met anyone who said they’ve been on a dinner date in a massive rented out library. I am putting that in my bag of tricks for my wife and I in the future. There was some excellent film work to grasp the magnitude and grandeur of the place too. 

Marcus at one point said, “The process of sharing yourself is scary.” I couldn’t agree more. That statement goes for any type of relationship. As a person who has dealt with anxiety in the past, those worries and fears can consume you! So much so that you instead choose not to share yourself with others. The reason I am mentioning this is because I am so happy with how Marcus was able to open up about his past experiences in the Military and for the way that Jenn responded to that as well. It seems to have only pushed them closer together. It’s another great example for anyone who struggles with opening up to others about what they have gone through. So far, I like these two together and the date was a success!

Check out part 2 of this blog to keep reading about this episode :)