What I found most interesting about the sleepovers this season was that we actually got to see some of the downtime between the guys and Jesse. Ironically, Chris Harrison LOVES to play golf. And it was common knowledge that whenever they went away, he would bring his clubs and play in the 99.9% of the episode where he had nothing work related to do. Yet in all those seasons, we never saw him have a one-on-one conversation while golfing with any of the guys. Last night, we had Jesse in a golf scene TWICE in one episode. The first time he played with Devin and the other time with Marcus. Devin was actually on the course. Marcus was at the driving range. Whether that had any significance, I don’t know. But still weird. Maybe Jonathon could play too, but that wasn’t shown, I’m not sure. But considering this episode was mostly about Devin and Marcus, and we all know who she sends home in this episode, I’m assuming Jonathon was banished to his room to play solitaire. Just a guess.
If you ask me, those were definitely three completely different overnight dates. Devin went first and the guy basically can’t stop telling Jenn he loves her. I’ve lost track of how many times he’s said it, just hoping Jenn will say something to him in return, some hint, some angle, anything to make it seem like he’s returning his words. No. That didn’t happen with Jenn. He said it and the best she could do in return was say she can see a future together. You might say, “Well, she didn’t want to give it away if she told him too,” but she had no problem telling Marcus she loved him when that guy couldn’t even tell her. Part of me thinks a lot of this was producer induced and just setting up the end of the season. Look, we know she doesn’t send Devin home after he goes to her room at the beginning of the episode. I suppose it’s more about her realizing that if she doesn’t open up, she’ll lose him. And the more that storyline was forced on us last night, the more I think that the scene where she says “I can’t let you propose to me…” at the final rose ceremony is followed by “…until I tell you I love you.” That just seems to fit what they’ve been selling all season long. Because we know she says that to Devin based on the picture I have for you of Devin in his white jacket the day of the final rose ceremony. And they wouldn’t give the season away in the first 2 minutes, since that scene was the opening scene in Episode 1. Just like Joey’s season, they want you to think she leaves in peace. She doesn’t. And she most certainly didn’t end up with Marcus.
Jonathon’s overnight date went similarly to his 1-on-1 date earlier this season in New Zealand and his hometown date – the two seem to be close friends. This is certainly not a knock on Jonathon, but they couldn’t have given off my “you’re my buddy” vibes even if they tried. I just never really took them seriously as a long-term couple when I watched them date all season. I mean, it really seems like Jenn likes guys who have flaws and chase her more, and Jonathon doesn’t really fit in there. He’s almost too nice, and apparently that’s not enough of a challenge for Jenn. She literally has a guy who tells her he loves her every 14 seconds like Devin and her responses to him are constantly about self destruction, is he real, no guy has ever been like that to her and then she has Marcus who has the emotional vulnerability of a shoe who can’t tell her anything she wants to hear and yet she still says she loves him. Give him some sense. Please. I’ll wait.
Marcus is the real head-scratcher here. Not necessarily that he can’t open up. We understand that his past has made him who he is today, and I understand that he has a hard time immediately confessing his love to someone he jumped out of a plane and walked down a yellow brick road with. This process isn’t for everyone, and if you remember my conversation with Dr. Diane Strachowski last week, she basically said this show isn’t made for a guy like Marcus. The producers love it, but for him overall? Yeah, he’s not ready for a serious relationship, let alone an engagement. And, well, that’s kind of the point of this show. Unfortunately, that’s what you have to do, big boy, if you want to win the game. As far as gameplay goes, Devin is playing chess this season, and I can’t even say Marcus is playing checkers. He’s still stuck on Go Fish or something. This setting just isn’t for him. I can’t imagine Paradise being much better, but without a doubt, if he wants to do it, he’ll be there next. Absolutely.
The thing about Devin, and I’ve been saying this all season, is that I wonder if he was there to win a show or to win Jenn over. And after last night, I feel like I’m getting more and more confirmation that he was apparently there to “win.” Did he fall in love with Jenn? Sure. I’m not saying he doesn’t like her. But again, I don’t believe anyone when they say “I love you” on this show. You love the IDEA of that person and what a future might hold, but you couldn’t possibly be in love with someone you’ve barely spent any time with and who’s also dating other people. So that always rings hollow to me. Whether the final couple can be in love and start a future together is up for debate after filming wraps. Either way, Devin’s repeated “I want to be the ONE and I just feel like ONE OF…” gives off a strong “I just want to win” vibe. Remember, this is a guy who was on a podcast recently and said he didn’t know anything about the show before. He never watched it, had no history to fall back on, etc. I’m not asking him to be a historian of the show. I’m just saying, when a guy comes on this show who has no idea how it works and he’s throwing out “I love you” in his hometowns and multiple times afterward? That just screams to me that he told Jenn what he thought she wanted to hear so he could win. We’ll see how long that lasts after the show, but my vibe for Devin all season seemed to be confirmed last night, at least for me. He was more interested in being the winner of this show to feel validated than his love for Jenn.
Don’t forget, tonight we have the conclusion of what happened in Hawaii. They’ll pick up where Devin arrives in Jenn’s room and then go to the rose ceremony where she’ll eliminate Jonathon. Then it’ll go straight into “Men Tell All,” where, judging by the clips, Jenn appears to attack Sam, which I’m sure he and his family will take in stride, apologize to Jenn for his appearance this season, and slink off into the sunset without a word. They’ll probably upload a few more pictures of him playing with kids and dogs to their IG and repost photos of him running into fans on the street saying what a great guy he was. Plus, we get our first interview with Grant as the new Bachelor — promoted from the show, at least, since he’s already appeared on Nick’s podcast.
YOUR DAILY ROUNDUP TRANSCRIPT FOR 8/27 STARTS ON PAGE 3…
