escatefromny

I’ve been mostly indifferent to Arie ... certainly not my type. He is dull, dim and immature, but to me, he seemed to have a inherent kindness (or at least good manners). But tonight, holy crap!, he showed himself to be a complete and utter asshole. Horrible to watch him blow smoke up the asses of two girls with so little regard for their feelings but his interaction with Ross had me thinking “sociopath” (tm Caroline). That his first thought was that Ross’s feelings had nothing to do with Becca but are attributable to “competition”, that he wa dismissing their history and couldn’t conceive of feelings enduring for more than a year (!!!) and was so lacking in any shred of empathy for either of them. Everything was through his own self absorbed and narcissist lens. If he picks Becca, it will 100% be because he wanted to snatch the trophy from Ross. What an ass!

Not bad all things considered, but gheeze, Krystal?!? I wish someone had asked the very simple question: what did you think about your behavior while watching? Would have loved to see her dance around that. And why didn’t anyone harp on her entitlement in interrupting the rose ceremony. And, of course, she had to come sit with Arie on the couch because she is such a special snowflake. Hope this is the last we see of her.

Thanks for the info, “entertainer visa” who knew? although from time to time you do hear about actors having visa issues in connection with shooting a film in America. A bit of a golden ticket these days, so good for Courtney and Lilly taking advantage and taking the time to see some of America while getting to know each other better.

I did think Jordan seemed VERY pushy ... Bibs said she need a minute to gather her thoughts and he wouldn’t leave her alone (producer prodding/editing?) BUT, having done the East Coast to Australia flights (twice! ugh!) Jordan was probably thinking that if she wanted to explore things, he might as well stay in the US for a bit and avoid those killer flights. Not so easy to meet up after “chatting” when you are half way around the world.

For what it is worth, one of the show runners did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the casting challenges they faced because of the new, stricter immigration policies. They started the process almost a year ago. I’m guessing the participants needed work visas; harder to get but, I believe, have a longer validity than a tourist visa. Having a work visa in hand probably contributed to Courtney and Lilly’s decision to “move to LA” (along with the siren’s call of famewhoreism). https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bachelor-winter-games-why-trump-played-a-part-global-casting-process-1083745?utm_source=twitter

So much this. WTF, it looked like skimpy bathing suit top. As someone upthread said, she had to know this was the family episode when she dressed in the morning. It just seemed disrespectful and inappropriate. Poor Grandma Mary, having to eat with those things in her face. I’m not a prude (I swear!) but there is a time and a place ...

You’re right, Evan’s crowing was more about her/their intelligence, etc. and I’d guess you are spot on regarding her thinking. Still believe they’ll be just fine without the $1M. Because it can’t be said enough, #FreeHenry.

So true, it was really obvious in that interview. Too bad Evans seems like a “if it’s not first place, it’s last place” kind of person. She and Henry did quite well. Considering all her crowing about her Ivy League eduction, one would think that she’ll easily make her first million in no time. Her perceived privilege would seemingly give her a leg up on Cody and Jess whose only opportunity to cash in would be via a reality show. Hope both Evan and Henry will be able to take a step back and appreciate this really unique opportunity and be proud of their great performance.

When Claire and Christian were (finally) in the jacuzzi together I was imagining the poor sound engineer holding a boom mike above them to capture their conversation over the noise of the churning water. (That or they had waterproof mike packs). Christian was on two seasons of the Bachelorette yet still seemed to really bristle at the artificiality and the set ups. He was uncomfortable and camera/self conscious the whole time and basically just refused to be a dancing monkey. Makes me so curious about the tone of the various international versions. We learned the Asian versions had virtually no kissing, the Australians and New Zealanders didn’t seem to be inhibited in on camera make out sessions (both of which kind of track for me) but I’d love some more insight on the European verisions and whether or not there is a noticeable difference country to country. ETA: in an attempt to answer my own questions ;) came across this entry comparing the US and Australian versions https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-cultural-differences-between-different-countries-versions-of-The-Bachelor-or-The-Bachelorette

I wonder if someone told Molly she is bad in bed? She is so guarded and skittish, she seems like a perfectionist not wanting to make a mistake. Her perception of herself as being fun loving and the life of the party might be bravado or trying to convince herself that she does something “right”. Just so strange. Why didn’t the Counselor give them some non sexual intimacy exercises as homework?

Wow, Mr. and Mrs. Lauren trust their daughter’s decision making ... the daughter who was engaged once (per her own admission) and twice (according to the Internet). Wonder how they’ll feel when they see her telling a national TV audience that their shitty marriage scarred her and keeps her from being able to open up AND that they used her as a pawn. Also, Arie is a dullard ... who responds to a request for some Dutch with “what do you want me to say”? ... how about saying “nice to meet you” in Dutch, then English translation and put the rude and bizzare request to rest quickly. Has this woman never heard another language spoken before? What a weird question to ask but, obviously, this entire family lacks even the most basic conversation skills.

Leaving aside the ridiculousness of the concept, “relationships” and “break-ups” in three days (which I guess isn’t too far from the Mother ship), I give the producers credit for the try and keeping narrative fairly tight. Christian is likely as arrogant and rigid as he is appears to be, but I think he was misunderstood with regard to his conversation with Claire. He seemed to be saying that there is no there “there” with his “nothing more” comment and seemed genuinely(?) hurt Claire blew off their “date” and the chance to get to know each other. He says I like your look, I like your humor but there is “nothing more” between them because they haven’t spent any time together. Not that there is ‘nothing more to her’, which is how she seemed to have taken it. Good for him for pointing out that they are not in “relationship” (even of the sort that is taking place in the house) and that he doesn’t know her because they’ve never had a conversation. He wants to know “who is Claire” and she doesn’t seem to want to make the time to show him. Stassi is painful to look at and I was taken aback at how quickly she snapped at her beau when she asked “how he felt about this” and he asked what “this” and she snapped “the snow” what do think I’m talking about”? Lastly, I’m obviously spending too much time thinking about this train wreck, I’m not a hair and make-up gal and really dislike the spackled on look (hello scary looking Ashley) but it’s hard not to notice the American women are leagues above the international contestants in grooming. The New Zealander (?) with the long hair, parted down the middle with bangs and the poor lipstick choices looks like a little girl playing dress up and the others aren’t much better.

The way I remember it was that Andrew said he liked Italian food and Amber said “me too, Olive Garden is my favorite.” Which is actually so much worse.

I don’t know, I go back and forth between feeling heartbroken for Shawniece and wondering why she keeps putting herself in the position to be rejected. Even though we haven’t heard him explicitly ask her to tone down the touching (which he should have) she sees how he reacts when she forces the physical, why does she keep doing it?? I almost wonder if she is playing it up for the cameras ... either being extra obnoxious when they’re on so he’ll be caught on tape acting very badly or if she’s thinking ‘a lot of people are going to see this, can’t you throw me a bone for the cameras’. I’m by no means a Jephte apologist, he is behaving like a child (“use your words!”’) but I can see how frustrating it would be that she doesn’t get the message. And you know if they shared a bed, Shawniece would be trying to sneak the moves on him all night. He doesn’t seem mature enough to communicate his feelings in a kind and adult way. I was surprised to see Shawniece is 29, she seems much younger to me. She is lovely, has a great energy, seems focused and ambitious ... I wish she didn’t seem like such a desperate for attention child who doesn’t care of the attention is good or bad. I thought her Mother’s reaction to her tantrum was telling.

If it was anyone but Krystal, I might agree but since Krystal was the picture of condescension from day 1, I thought it was nice pay back. Although Kendall’s extreme earnestness does seem contrived to me. The “look at how deep, thoughtful and measured I am” seems as calculated as the taxidermy and “dreams” of bug eating and canabalism. She just seems to be trying too hard to present this zen, self actualized persona with a dash of quirk.

The Frenchman I was watching with (against his will) insisted the song was just an old French “folk” song and that the singer was saying Henri, not Arie. I swore she sang about a rose and referenced the Bachelor in other ways. Any French speakers out there catch the lyrics?

Maybe he is a “never nude” like Tobias Funke? On one hand, Jephte seems exceedingly polite and well mannered. (The way he introduced himself to Shawniece’s Family at the wedding before the ceremony, how he treated them at the brunch and how he treated the staff at the hotel) but his inability to at least be polite and cordial to his “wife” - and act like an adult - is not a good look at all. Maybe too much time around young kids because that is just how he is acting.

Am I reading Chelsea right? ... she is with her Sugardaddy for 5-6 years, maybe the relationship is deteriorating, so she decides to trap him or force his hand by getting pregnant. It doesn’t work, he won’t be manipulated and he leaves her 6 months after the birth of her child. Telling that he married the next Sugarbaby but not her.

When Krystal made her 1,000th proclamation to the group, I wish someone said “you are so brave to show Ari how insecure and desperate for attention you are”. I also wish someone had told Ari not to reward Krystal’s bad behavior by going to her room (although his smack down was worth it!)

Before Claudette appeared on this season of Top Chef (US), she had already competed on Top Chef Mexico. It bothered me all season that wasn’t mentioned. To me, it seemed an unfair advantage. I can’t find a reference to how she did on the Mexican version but assume she was not the winner.

I think we were somehow spared (didn’t get to see) a mini drama about Chris’ immunity. In the prior episode’s scenes from the next episode, they showed Chris in the stew room saying something along the lines of ‘“I’m going to feel some kind of way unless I speak up”. That coupled with the many shots of Chris looking on at the bottom three at Judge’s Table makes me think he did speak up (who knows what he said) but not enough to change the outcome. (Brother did come 2nd at the Quick Fire and they show Chris acknowledging that). I wonder why they dropped that “story line” especially after teasing it in the next time on Top Chef and keeping all the Chris shots in at Judge’s Table.

The only way to watch the finale thase days is to use the DVR and start an hour late so you can FF through Jeff’s unnecessary hype and repetition of what we just saw. And when will the producers learn that no one has any interest whatsoever in what some rando in the audience has to say about what we just saw. The little aside for the more popular players wasn’t a bad way to get their time in and do some audience service. On the whole though, entirely too much filler in the episode.

I was sooo distracted by Heidi’s dress I could barely pay attention to anything else. It was a collection of “don’t”s: terrible fabric, ill fitting, unflattering, “too many ideas” (plunging neckline, peplum, giant bow, vulgar color). Ugh!! Not that I ever gave too much weight to Heidi’s expertise, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to unsee her in that dress and will forever roll my eyes when she offers an opinion. Yay Kentaro (it did seem like fashion) and I literally went back to Candy Crush during Brandon’s Show, talk about monotonous.

She really seems to have no imagination and relies on cliche. Remember her Carmen Miranda dress? Or last week’s costume? Or the outdated fly girl costume which she threw her model under the bus over? She has brought nothing new or interesting to the table this season. I’m sorry Tim saved her.

Yes, the choice of guest judges seems increasingly tortured. Last night’s Judge wasn’t even put together and that shirt she was wearing?!?!?!