'The Bachelorette': Chris Harrison Blogs Episode 4
I sat down to write my regular blog and recap this episode but the problem is this was far from a regular episode, so this will be far from my regular blog. Let’s face it, there were really two major issues that dominated this entire episode. There was the Clint and JJ relationship, and the arrival of Nick. You can really cut this season in half, life before Nick and life after Nick. For better or for worse we’re all living in a post-Nick world now, people.
The episode started with Kaitlyn calling Clint aside and calling his bluff. Clint was clearly prepared to do what it took to pull one over on Kaitlyn so he could hang around one more week and spend time with his close friend JJ, but Kaitlyn saw right through all his BS. I was very proud of Kaitlyn and how she didn’t fall for all the garbage he was spewing out to try to save himself. But what happened next is what was really interesting. When Clint was leaving, for some inexplicable reason a bus was backed right over him and who was the driver? None other than his close friend, JJ. The only thing more perplexing than JJ being the one to sell Clint down the river was the subsequent response and reaction from these two. JJ went to go explain himself but Clint just wasn’t having any of it. These two “friends” got nose to nose and went at it. The only thing is I honestly couldn’t tell if they wanted to kiss or kill each other.
That night I remember thinking the emotion in the room was odd and confusing. After watching it back, I’m only more confused as to what I witnessed. If you didn’t understand Clint and JJ’s relationship last week, then this week certainly didn’t help to clear anything up. So Clint leaves and everybody moves on right? Wrong! JJ’s reaction that we showed you after Clint left, left me utterly speechless. His emotional breakdown after he burned Clint put a cherry on what has been the strangest relationship I’ve seen in quite some time.
After dealing with Clint and having to send yet another guy home this week, Kaitlyn decided she had just had enough. She pulled me aside to let me know she really didn’t want to have a rose ceremony at all. I told her that was fine, but that it would just delay the inevitable — the following week there would be even more guys to send home. She weighed her options, and you saw the result. I think Kaitlyn expected a big sigh of relief from the guys — but what she didn’t know was how much the guys were hoping that she’d be sending JJ home. Since there was no rose ceremony and nobody had to go home, I decided why not just tell everybody right then and there that we were leaving the house and taking this act on the road to NYC. If the guys only knew what was about to happen to them in NYC and how things would change, I’m not so sure any of them would’ve gotten on the airplane.
Related: ‘The Bachelorette’ Recap: Stranger Danger
According to Kaitlyn before she was officially named the Bachelorette she had started talking with Nick. This might seem weird, but it happens all the time with people from different seasons. These people often look each other up and end up talking, sometimes meeting, and occasionally hooking up. So yes, Kaitlyn had some sort of friendship going with Nick before the season started. When Nick showed up at the group date, I know Kaitlyn was honestly torn as to whether she should let him stay, but it was clear to me that there was no doubt in her mind. As soon as I saw her eyes light up when Kaitlyn met Nick, I knew it was over. It was also apparent to me that Nick knew he was in. He was playing the situation perfectly; he didn’t press too hard, but just hard enough to let Kaitlyn know he was serious. It was a forgone conclusion that we were all going to be in a post-Nick world once again very soon.
Kaitlyn knew the easiest and maybe even the “right” thing to do in this case was to send Nick packing. But what is “right” in this situation? Are there rules she must follow to find love, and does everybody have to be OK with how she does it? Or does she have to do whatever it takes to find what she’s looking for, no matter what the cost? Kaitlyn knew darn well this was going to go over with the guys like a lead balloon. Turns out that was an understatement. Nick, on the other hand, not only didn’t care what the other guys thought of him coming in, he hoped they would “respect” it. There is no chance any of these guys were going to like this. Would they deal with it? Sure — but “respect” it? No chance.
Kaitlyn really took a massive risk of losing everything by letting Nick stay. I’m not sure she even understands today what the full ramifications of her actions were that day. The ripple effect of that one decision will be something we talk about for quite some time. The most immediate effect of “Hurricane Nick” hitting landfall was this: It almost ruined Kaitlyn’s one-on-one date with Jared. If if weren’t for Jared being an over-the-top gracious gentleman and handling the situation with such class, the date would have been ruined. Jared played it like a champ and saved the night and reminded Kaitlyn that there are a bunch of great guys already here for her. Whether Kaitlyn made the right or wrong choice about Nick is up for debate, but ultimately this is her life and her journey so I respected her call. While she definitely gave it a lot of careful thought, I don’t think even she knew how big of a decision this would be and how much trouble it would ultimately cause.
Next week, the fun will really begin when Nick moves in with the guys and we roll into our next rose ceremony in NYC. The guys know that Nick’s arrival means some of them are going to be asked to leave — and he’ll get comfy in their spot. You can imagine how well that’s going to go over. And to think the guy hasn’t even gone on a date yet! Then we pack up and head to a place near and dear to my heart: the Lone Star state. San Antonio, Texas is known for one of the most famous battles in Texas history, and the drama on next week’s episode might be one for the history books as well. See you on Monday!
The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
