Emily Maxie
Anyone watching last night’s Bachelorette finale was bound to feel uncomfortable at one point or another. And not just for the usual reasons like “this would never happen in real life” or “how can you get engaged to someone you just met?”
No, this season the proposal brought a whole new level of awkward. From a suit that was two sizes too small to comparing his love for Andi to his first love (baseball, of course), Josh's proposal was pretty strange. At one point, it seemed like he could easily be reading cue cards held just off screen.
He got down on one knee, and (of course) Andi said yes. This was followed by lots of sweating, baby voice cooing and pecking at each other's faces.
They even dissolved into a bout of:
"I love you more!"
"No, I love you more!"
Anyone watching last night’s Bachelorette finale was bound to feel uncomfortable at one point or another. And not just for the usual reasons like “this would never happen in real life” or “how can you get engaged to someone you just met?”
No, this season the proposal brought a whole new level of awkward. From a suit that was two sizes too small to comparing his love for Andi to his first love (baseball, of course), Josh's proposal was pretty strange. At one point, it seemed like he could easily be reading cue cards held just off screen.
He got down on one knee, and (of course) Andi said yes. This was followed by lots of sweating, baby voice cooing and pecking at each other's faces.
They even dissolved into a bout of:
"I love you more!"
"No, I love you more!"
The entire scene and the following ATFR felt very scripted (even more than usual on the Bachelor/ette).
In fact, looking back over the entire season, these two seemed to have the least natural relationship of the frontrunners.
And then it hit me—it’s a conspiracy.
Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. First, there’s the Bachelor franchise’s bad track record for success. Out of the 27 seasons of the Bachelor and Bachelorette, only five couples are still together. In addition to the breakups, we've had some pretty bad, jagged endings. Brad picking no one at all. Ben picking season villain Courtney (who has since written the tell-all book “I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends”) back in 2012. Jake and Vienna.
You're probably thinking, "What else is new?" I'll tell you what has made this season different--Juan Pablo.
In fact, looking back over the entire season, these two seemed to have the least natural relationship of the frontrunners.
And then it hit me—it’s a conspiracy.
Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. First, there’s the Bachelor franchise’s bad track record for success. Out of the 27 seasons of the Bachelor and Bachelorette, only five couples are still together. In addition to the breakups, we've had some pretty bad, jagged endings. Brad picking no one at all. Ben picking season villain Courtney (who has since written the tell-all book “I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends”) back in 2012. Jake and Vienna.
You're probably thinking, "What else is new?" I'll tell you what has made this season different--Juan Pablo.
Juan Pablo’s train-wreck season left viewers pretty sure he was incapable of love (or any other human emotion). It was enough to make even die-hard fans of the franchise feel queasy. (Popular viewer Ellen even mentioned she stopped watching the show on her nationally syndicated talkshow.)
The show needed a win. Chris Harrison needed a win. Enter Andi—bubbly and opinionated district attorney from Atlanta. Someone America wants to root for.
But with the show’s track record, they only had a 19 percent chance of success. They needed a sure thing. Enter Josh, hot athlete from Atlanta. Someone who is “just her type”--and just so happens to live five minutes away from her.
The show needed a win. Chris Harrison needed a win. Enter Andi—bubbly and opinionated district attorney from Atlanta. Someone America wants to root for.
But with the show’s track record, they only had a 19 percent chance of success. They needed a sure thing. Enter Josh, hot athlete from Atlanta. Someone who is “just her type”--and just so happens to live five minutes away from her.
Here’s my idea of how this conversation went down:
Producers: Hey Andi, want to be the Bachelorette?
Andi: I don’t know… sounds pretty risky. I sure didn’t fall in love on my season, so I’m not totally sold on the process.
Producers: But we reallllly want it to be you! America loves you after you told off Juan Pablo!
Andi: Yeah, I’m not so sure…
Producers: How about this? We bring fellow Atlanta native Josh on the show *shows picture* and if you decide you’re not ready to settle down, you can just pick him. He’s not ready to settle down either! You’ll both say you’re madly in love with each other. You can keep dating after the show, but let’s be real, no one actually expects you to get married. You’ll be “engaged” for a couple of years and then mutually break it off… Oh yeah, and we’ll give you a free trip around the world and a big bundle of cash!
Andi: *Makes trademark pout face* Keep talkin’…
Obviously I have no evidence to back this up, but this is the only way I can make sense of the strange, awkward love-fest that was last night's finale.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!
Producers: Hey Andi, want to be the Bachelorette?
Andi: I don’t know… sounds pretty risky. I sure didn’t fall in love on my season, so I’m not totally sold on the process.
Producers: But we reallllly want it to be you! America loves you after you told off Juan Pablo!
Andi: Yeah, I’m not so sure…
Producers: How about this? We bring fellow Atlanta native Josh on the show *shows picture* and if you decide you’re not ready to settle down, you can just pick him. He’s not ready to settle down either! You’ll both say you’re madly in love with each other. You can keep dating after the show, but let’s be real, no one actually expects you to get married. You’ll be “engaged” for a couple of years and then mutually break it off… Oh yeah, and we’ll give you a free trip around the world and a big bundle of cash!
Andi: *Makes trademark pout face* Keep talkin’…
Obviously I have no evidence to back this up, but this is the only way I can make sense of the strange, awkward love-fest that was last night's finale.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!