‘The Bachelor’ weeks 4, 5: The Burn Book

Ellen McDonald, Managing Editor

The episode started off with the girls sitting on the couch, discussing Sarah’s self-elimination. Just a reminder, Sarah ultimately went home because of her father’s terminal illness. 

Victoria added to the conversation and said, “the trash took itself out.” I have tried to not comment about the appearance of women on this show, but enough is enough. 

Victoria looks like she fell down the trash chute, hit her eye on a brick, found a bra with the biggest straps known to man and called it a day. The trash did not take itself out, it beat her with a stick. 

Once again, Katie encouraged the girls to stop talking about women who are not in the house to defend themselves. Once again, Victoria responded with disrespect and told her to “shut up.” 

Week four started where we left off: the cocktail portion of last week’s group date. 

Chelsea, the 28-year-old runway model from Brooklyn, finally got the screen time she deserved. She talked to Matt about her identity and experience with her hair. 

She had struggled for a long time with her hair being different from her white friend’s hair. She also explained that for a black woman, oftentimes her hair is her identity. After shaving her hair, it was emotionally freeing. 

Finally, after all these years, people of color are getting to talk about their experiences on national television. 

It is empowering for young women and men at home to look up at a show that’s been on for over two decades and see a black woman talk about personal empowerment in a time where representation is more important than ever. 

Going into the rose ceremony, three women had roses: Serena, Rachael and Chelsea. During the cocktail portion, Chris pulled Matt and told him that he would be meeting five new women. 

Right off the get go, Matt kissed the first girl with… you guessed it… his eyes open. Dear God, make it stop. 

Miss Puerto Rico walked out of the limo, so we now have a second queen in the house… yay. 

Upon entering the room, Victoria took her crown off and placed it on her own head. Now that is not queen behavior ma’am.

Katie, once again, takes the time to explain the energy in the room to the women. It is understandable for the girls to be upset that new women came in, but it was not up to them. 

The new girls had to stay in a hotel room for weeks in order to replace the first few that got sent home. 

The women’s hostility towards the new girls was extremely unwarranted. 

Anna began to talk to other women in the house about one of the new girls who she had heard of before the show, Brittany. She also told the other girls that she did not know her, despite both being from Chicago. 

Out of all the new women, Michelle, the 27-year-old teacher from Minnesota is definitely my favorite. She had immediate chemistry with Matt.

I half expected her to sit down with Victoria and lecture her after seeing she was a teacher.

The girls that went home week four were: Khaylah, Kaili and Kim, who was one of the new girls that came this week. 

Ben Higgins, the best Bachelor in all of ABC’s history, came and planned Matt’s group date of the week. The girls had to compete in a scavenger hunt and at one point, had to search in a pile of leaves for an acorn with their name on it. 

Later on in the group date, Anna tells Victoria that Brittany is “entertaining men for money.” Out of all the people, she chose to tell this to the one girl that could have the whole house talking about this in a second. 

Anna eventually spoke up and told Brittany and the entire group that she had told people she thought she was an escort. Obviously, Anna wanted Brittany sent home and now Brittany will have to deal with these allegations both on the show and off. 

At the end of the day, if Brittany was an escort, so be it. 

Work is work and no job is dishonorable. An escort is a job. A “queen” is not. 

After all the drama with Anna, Bri got the group date rose. 

Michelle got a one-on-one with Matt this week. The two went on a scavenger hunt that began with zip lining and then they got to take a hot air balloon ride with one another. 

Michelle might have come in late, but she will beat all the girls that were there before her to the final rose ceremony. This girl has a Neil Lane ring with her name on it. 

On her date, she talked about being there for her students of color after the death of George Floyd and teaching during COVID-19. The Bachelor is once again giving airtime to necessary topics for modern couples. Michelle went on to quote Maya Angelou and when Matt knew the quote instantly, I could feel the sparks through the screen. 

In the few days that she has been here, she has built a stronger relationship with Matt than any other woman in the house. 

Michelle got a rose and she will continue to get one until Matt gets down on one knee for her. 

There was a second group date this week. The girls were told they would be fighting in front of a live audience, which of course was all the other women in the house. 

Matt acted shocked when the girls were trying to hurt one another. He does nothing to diffuse the tension in the house that is started over him.

On the group date, the women decided to speak down about the new women of the house and Katie stood up for them. The women continue to talk about other girls who are not there to defend themselves. 

Katie decided she should make Matt aware of the situation. Katie suggested that Matt address all the women at the cocktail party because what had been said could potentially ruin lives. 

Anna and Victoria became best friends this week. That is like a bond between Regina George and the girl from “The Ring.”

Anna continued to spread the rumor about Brittany being an escort after already addressing it. I absolutely despise that ABC keeps giving screen time to a girl who only spreads toxic, misogynistic lies. 

Week five started out with Victoria and Kitt walking. Victoria mentioned that the “hazing” had not begun yet. Two weeks ago, she said she was not here to be in a sorority… so, which is it?

MJ defends Anna in her actions of falsely accusing someone of being an escort saying, “you did the right thing.”

Even though MJ was already pretty low on my list before this, she somehow managed to go even lower. She gives me friend zoned vibes and I doubt she will last much longer. 

Before the rose ceremony, Victoria tells the camera that her and Matt have a “strong” connection and that she knows she will be staying. Her fall down the trash chute must have knocked her out of whack because that is the most tone-deaf statement that I have heard in a while. She becomes more delusional and less self-aware each week. 

Matt showed a level of maturity in addressing what Katie said to him last week about the environment of the house. 

Immediately, Anna starts back tracking after Matt mentions that what had been said was life ruining. That is always a really good sign that someone is not guilty of what they are being accused of. 

Matt eventually sent Anna home and she started crying as he offered to walk her out. 

After this, the rest of the plastics began making their rounds and apologizing in hopes that it will help them evade Matt’s wrath. 

Ryan, the 26-year-old dancer from Brooklyn, opened up to Matt about how horrible Victoria is.

Matt, while talking to Victoria, told her that Katie was the one who brought all of this to his attention. Katie had been trying to keep that a secret. I hate men. 

Chris comes in and announces that the cocktail party is over, and that Matt is ready for the rose ceremony. 

Victoria stormed out and had a bathroom breakdown right before being sent home. 

The “queen” has left the place ladies and gentlemen. 

Rachael got the first one-on-one of the week and she got to go on a shopping spree with Matt. On the date, she told Matt that she was falling in love with him and he agreed.

In each date, I feel like Matt just repeats the exact same thing over and over again. If I have to hear “I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” or “likewise,” one more time, I am going to lose it. 

The group date card arrived, and Kit’s name was not on the list, meaning she received the second one-on-one. 

On the group date, the women went to a farm and worked in the stalls and in the chicken coup. MJ freaked out over a chicken to get Matt’s attention which is total friend zoned behavior. 

Abigail began struggling with the fact that she has not been able to make any progress in her and Matt’s relationship in a while. So, she opened up to him and told him about her insecurities regarding her hearing disability. 

Abigail told Matt that her father walked out on her family after finding out she was deaf, and she is afraid her husband will do the same if her children are also deaf. 

Matt related to her because he was also raised by a single mom. It was a really good moment for the two of them. 

Later on, Matt pulled MJ to talk about her being another source of drama within the house. 

She brings it up to the group and asks for whoever talked about her to come forward. Jessenia, the 27-year-old social media marketer from San Antonio, mentioned that MJ’s name had come up in one of her conversations. 

At the end of the night, Abigail received the group date rose. 

For Kit’s one-one-one, she got to go to Matt’s place and cook with him. She explained that she likes to cook because she has always wanted a simple life. Her mother is Cynthia Rowley, a famous fashion designer. 

I am sure it has been extremely difficult for Kit to grow up having everything she ever wanted. I am glad she can cook her heart out to feel like a normal poor person. 

A fourth date card came to the house. MJ and Jessenia will be going on a two-on-one before the cocktail party. 

On the couch before Matt arrived, Jessenia met MJ’s harsh, cruel words with truth and calmness. She practically packed MJ’s bags when she told her that she has three sides: one with the girls, one with Matt and one with the camera.