Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelorette’ Episode 2
Hello, Bachelor Nation!
First and foremost let me begin by saying “Happy Memorial Day.” We are all so lucky to get to do what we love, and that is thanks to the men and women who have served this country and protected our right to live in freedom. So thank you to all of the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
After a wild first night in Bachelor mansion where so many love stories (and some hangovers, I’m looking at you, Vinny) begin, it was time to get going on the dates, and we wanted to get this week started with a bang. So we blew up a limo. We had a ton of fun getting this date set up and worked hand in hand with some real heroes: firefighters, to keep everyone safe but also give them a taste of what training to be a firefighter is like.
Related: ‘The Bachelorette’ Recap: Meathead to the Max
Obviously, Grant, who is a real firefighter from San Francisco, had a bit of a leg up in this competition, but it wasn’t a runaway, not by a long shot. A lot of these guys are very athletic, like Luke, who spent 8 years in the military. Even guys who weren’t as big, like Ali, Wells, and Vinny were really putting it all on the line to try to win some extra time with JoJo. But when all was said an done, Grant took it home and got to spend a little alone time with JoJo before the rest of the guys arrived at the after party. It was the first group date for JoJo and she quickly got a taste of how hard it is, especially when so many guys put their heart out there for a rose, but she only has one to give out. Wells took it home and he’s someone I expect we’ll be talking about for a good, long time.
The first one-on-one date of the season went to Derek, who many of you have noted looks like John Krasinski. Well, he kind of does. Good for both of them, I suppose. This date was incredibly fun, and JoJo and Derek had lots of decisions to make. The date itself was really simple and they ended up just having a quick little talk near the Golden Gate Bridge, but how they got there was the interesting part. It took a lot of work, but it was a fun day for them both and will be a great story for them to share.
That night, they got a little deeper and JoJo got to know more about Derek, about his past relationships, and about what he wants. You’ve heard JoJo mention Lauren and Ben a few times this season. I think she recognizes how close she was to getting the kind of relationship she wanted and I think she knows that her love story is out there. She knows how much Ben and Lauren love each other and she is looking for her own love story now. I’m hoping our next Bachelor says “I want a love like JoJo has with…” whomever she chooses.
Just when things were going a little too smoothly, things got very Chad all of a sudden. This group date at SportsNation was supposed to be a lighthearted and fun day for the guys. No one expected Chad to be so vocal, but at this point that is something we should all get used to. Chad is going to be Chad. All the guys eyes were on Chad, but what they didn’t get to see is his conversation with JoJo, where he seems to be just a little different than he is around the guys. I guess this makes sense, but I have a feeling it’s going to cause some tension in the house for awhile. Jordan, Christian, Nick B, Alex, and James also had great conversations with her that night, and it was James who eventually got the rose and felt very validated after telling JoJo how he was starting to feel.
Chad kept the pressure on and had a great time chatting up JoJo before the cocktail party started the next night. Let me tell you, the other guys did not appreciate it. In fact, most of the night was about Chad’s antics, Chad’s meat supply, and whether or not JoJo was seeing the same Chad that the guys were seeing. Chad on the other hand, just kept eating and didn’t seem to mind much, other than when Alex confronted him. I expect to see a lot more Chad next week and we hope you’re as excited as we are.
JoJo’s love story is off to a great start and we have one of the best group of guys ever. The drama and fighting all comes down to the fact that JoJo is an amazing woman and these guys will all seemingly do anything to get to know her. Lucky for you! Don’t miss next week: Two nights. Four hours! I guarantee you it’s going to blow your mind. Until then, Bachelor Nation, we’ll see you on Twitter @chrisbharrison.
The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
