Yahoo News The Bachelorette Premiere Recap: Which Guy Will Be Jenn’s ‘Ferocious Love’? Vote Now in Our Poll!
We’re back again, Bachelor Nation, with Jenn Tran handing out roses as the new star of The Bachelorette. We know she wants “a ferocious love”… but will any of these guys be able to provide it?
Monday’s premiere opens in a fashion that is quickly becoming customary on Bachelor shows: with a flash-forward to the end of Jenn’s season. We see her at the final rose ceremony telling an unseen guy, “I can’t let you propose to me.” (He’s tall, we know that much.) Jesse asks her if she’s OK with whatever’s going to happen here, and she knocks on a hotel room door. But we’ll have to wait for answers: First, Jenn reintroduces herself to us as the fun “shot o’clock” physician’s assistant who got dumped by Joey last season on The Bachelor. She’s excited to be the franchise’s first Asian American lead, and she’s going to take full advantage: “I’m gonna flirt my little booty off with a bunch of men.”
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Soon, she’s at the mansion — a new mansion! — and facing her first limo of guys. The first man she meets is Marcus, a former Army Ranger who barely survived a near-death experience in combat and came away with a newfound appreciation for life. Next, there’s Marvin, a luxury event planner who speaks fluent French, and Sam N., who tells Jenn: “I’m a virgin… a love virgin.” (Also, he curls his eyelashes and refers to himself as “a Jenn-tleman.”) Basketball player-turned-day trader Grant beatboxes for her, and contractor Sam M. is the first to join her for “shot o’clock.” (But not the last.) She likes the look of Sam M., calling him a “sexy cowboy.” She also bonds with Thomas N. right away, because his parents are from Vietnam like hers are. Plus, we get one of the all-time best Bachelor job titles with Spencer, who is a “pet portrait entrepreneur.” Yep, that’s a thing!
Tomas A. makes a smart entrance, walking up to Jenn carrying a pair of adorable puppies. Jesse quickly whisks the pups away, but hey, he got her attention! Then Jonathon arrives on a gurney in a hospital gown, his face wrapped in bandages. He claims he’s “lovesick” for Jenn and tells her he’s “cheeky” — before revealing the open back of his gown and his bare butt. (“He literally showed her a cheek!” a competitor yells. “A full-on cheek!”) She also meets Aaron, whose twin brother Noah was on Tayshia’s Bachelorette season and ended up engaged to Abigail after Bachelor in Paradise, so his family has a good Bachelor track record. Jeremy pulls up in a red sports car, arrogantly tossing the keys to Jesse, and Hakeem arrives with dozens of balloons strapped to him like he’s the house in Up. (Disney synergy!) But Jenn is happy with the selection so far, including New Jersey loudmouth Devin, who gives her “a Pete Davidson vibe.”
Jenn heads inside the mansion to greet her men, telling them she wants “a ferocious love.” Sam M. is the first to pull her aside — are we the only ones getting serious Sam Jaeger vibes from this guy? — and Jenn says they have “an undeniable connection.” But when he leans in for a kiss, she turns so it lands on her cheek. She’s not ready for that yet. (That’s a refreshing change from the numerous Bachelor make-out sessions we usually see on premiere night.) Thomas N. shows her his hand tattoos that are connected to the Vietnamese flag, and they learn both of their mothers dropped out of school to help bring their families to America. But are they too similar, though? This is borderline spooky.
The atmosphere in the house turns straight frat party when Jenn and the guys play a game of Truth or Dare, with Austin forced to go streaking through the house. Sam N., aka The Love Virgin, tells Jenn he takes relationships very seriously: “I want our souls to kiss, not our lips.” She’s on the same page, though — and she’s happy to unwrap Jonathon’s head bandages and see that he’s “really, really hot.” There’s a bit of friction when Jeremy takes Jenn out to sit in his sports car and Brian swipes the keys, leading to an awkward standoff where Jeremy bows out and lets Brian spend time with her. Still, no one’s gotten a kiss from Jenn yet. She and Grant play a game of pick-up hoops, and it seems like they’re about to lock lips… until another guy interrupts to pull her away.
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It’s time for Jenn to hand out the first impression rose, and she gives it to Sam M., confessing that she’s been thinking about him all night. She pulls him for a kiss, and it’s a big one. (They practically get horizontal.) Then it’s rose ceremony time, and Jenn hands out roses to Dylan, Thomas N., Spencer, Grant, Marcus, Thomas A., John M., Jeremy, Devin, Brian, Aaron, Jahaan, Hakeem, Jonathon (aka Bandage Head), Austin and Marvin, with the last rose going to Sam N, Mr. Love Virgin. So the guys leaving are… well, why even bother to learn their names? They’re leaving anyway. While Jenn and her chosen guys share a toast, she shares some news, too: They’re leaving right now and heading straight to Melbourne, Australia! Bye, new Bachelor mansion!
We also get a sneak peek at the rest of the season, with lots of kisses and lots of tears. Sam M. tells Jenn he’s been falling in love with her from the start, and Devin says he’s falling for her, too. But then a mystery man approaches Jenn and surprises her: “What is he doing here?” It’s a man from her past, Jenn tells us, and he wants to join the competition. (Yikes.) Plus, Aaron tells her someone is here for the wrong reasons, and Sam M. starts to rub the other guys the wrong way. Even Jenn doesn’t trust him: “How can you love me when you don’t really know me?” By the end, Jenn is ready to make a big decision. Jesse warns her that “no Bachelorette has ever done this before.” But she’s firm: “I have to choose myself.”
Who’s your early pick to win Jenn’s heart? (Or will she walk out alone?) Vote in our poll, and then hit the comments to share your post-premiere thoughts.
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