Sure, season 16 of The Bachelorette is way better off now that Tayshia Adams has replaced Clare Crawley. However, there’s one thing that bothers me about the show: Why are some contestants—like Ben and Ed—allowed to seek out extra time with Adams?
I get it, Chris Harrison told the men that “Tayshia likes bold.” But I don’t think it’s fair for a select few people to get more time with her just because they’re feeling “bold.”
Why? It totally undermines “the process,” which every lead swears by. The Bachelorette franchise thrives on the format it’s had for years, which involves carefully planned dates. When a contestant goes out of his way to spend more time with the Bachelorette, it only creates unnecessary drama among the suitors. (And after tonight’s episode, it’s clear there’s nothing Adams hates more than people bickering behind her back.)
These situations make it more difficult for Adams to create meaningful connections with the other men. Hypothetically, if a contestant is on the shyer side, he might wrongly assume his connection isn’t as strong as the others, since he didn’t get as much time. Not only does it decrease the chances of him opening up to Adams, but it also delays the pair from developing a close-knit bond.