'Are you really here for me?' Bachelor Zach questions Anastasia after contestants call her 'clout chaser'
THE BAHAMAS: As you get ready to watch 'The Bachelor' Episode 4 on ABC next week, doesn't it feel like we're in for a massive reset? One thing is apparent from the preview of the forthcoming episode, not everything in the Bahamas will be bright and breezy as new revelations for Zach emerge.
Of course, when you consider what we saw at the end of the February 6 episode, it is what makes the most sense. We're talking about someone named Christina Mandrell, who got herself into a lot of trouble because of the way she tended to talk about herself. Is it true that obtaining a one-on-one a bit early made her a target? Certainly, but she didn't make it any easy for herself. She was sent home to remind Zach Shallcross that he didn't want to deal with any problems in the house. We'll have to wait and see what the future holds now that she's gone.
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'The Bachelor' 2023: Fans say Anastasia 'milked that fall' on group date for alone time with Zach
Zach and his group of suitors move to the Bahamas
Zach described his arrival at the renowned Bachelor house as a "surreal" experience. Sure, the 26-year-old tech executive was there to kick off Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia's season of 'The Bachelorette' not long ago, but stepping into the limelight at the franchise's most famous filming location made the surreal experience a reality. But it was only the start of Zach's Bachelor adventure, which would take him and some of his contestants well beyond the Bachelor Mansion in Agoura Hills, California. One thing we can reveal about the upcoming new episode is that the setting will change: everyone will be in the Bahamas!
Zach wonders if Anastasia is on 'The Bachelor' for Instagram followers
At first, there may be some relaxation associated with the Bahamas, but this is before stories begin to circulate. Someone looks to be there for social media fame rather than the romantic adventure, which is brought to Zach's notice. During the gang's journey to the Bahamas in an exclusive sneak peek of the February 13 episode of 'The Bachelor,' Zach receives some disturbing news from Kylee Marie Russell. "This is all just very hearsay," Kylee says to Zach. "But Anastasia, she's constantly always talking about the amount of Instagram followers that she's going to get while being here." Of course, Zach does not respond well.
"That freaks me the f--k out," he tells Kylee," he says to Kylee. "I am terrified that I would end up with someone that was here for the wrong reasons—that's really not there to love me and have a future, but really there for the fame."
"Hearing this information about Anastasia?" in his confessional, Zach states. "I need to address it, a thousand percent."
There's no better moment than the present. Zach approaches the group of women after Kylee drops her bombshell and requests to pull Anastasia Midas aside. The move does not go overlooked. "So, Zach comes in and you could see there was some tension there," adds onlooker Gabi Elnicki. "I'm thinking to myself, ‘What's going on?'"
Zach doesn't waste any time when he's alone with Anastasia. "OK, I have a question for you," Zach says. "Are you really here for me?"
Based on how he handled the problem with Christina, it's safe to assume that he could also send this individual home.
One of the key concepts of reality dating programs is that those looking for love, desire, or flowers are "there for the right reasons". This is a popular slogan in the Bachelor universe, which includes the flagship program, as well as 'The Bachelorette' and 'Bachelor in Paradise'. What the "right" reasons are is still up for dispute over 20 years later, but during the start of the program's history, it meant you were trying to find love and leave the show engaged to be married. Of course, by definition, only two people can achieve that destiny, so many contenders may begin their journey for the right reasons but finish up as an ejected social media sensation. And, after it became evident that being dumped by the bachelor or bachelorette could garner you just as much fame and following as winning the final rose, the show's objective got muddled by the chances it provided its ever-growing roster of love hopefuls.
Around 2014, four years after the launch of Instagram and four years after Juan Pablo's turn as Bachelor, 'Bachelor in Paradise' hit the airwaves. It was specifically designed to flesh out some of the more charismatic characters from Bachelor Nation who would otherwise have little opportunity to build their brand. The islanders used social media to flesh out their narrative lines, sell themselves as wanting to be actors and models, and expand their fan bases outside the program. It was beneficial to both the franchise and the people. However, it also drastically altered the essence of both 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette,' as it became evident which participants were aiming for business deals rather than life mates, thus redefining the objective of 'BiP' as a less romantic paradise and more influencer boot camp.
The series is at a crossroads as the open push for clout leaks onto the screen and affects plot lines.
'The Bachelor' 2023 airs every Monday on ABC at 8 pm ET.