TO: Bachelor Nation

FROM: Melissa McKay

RE: The Bachelor – Peter, Episodes 5 & 6

DATE: 9 February 2020

______________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

1. On 3 February 2020 at 8PM EST, Episode 5 of Pilot Pete’s season of The Bachelor aired. At the conclusion of Episode 5, Host Chris Harrison announced that Episode 6 would air on 5 February 2020 at 8PM EST, bringing this week’s The Bachelor airtime to a total of five hours.
2. On 4 February 2020, I bought another bottle of wine to support my writing process.
3. You will recall that Episode 4 ended with Peter welcoming Alayah back onto the show after initially cutting her from it, which caused frustration amongst the other contestants. That episode ended during the cocktail party, leading into a rose ceremony.

Episode Five

4. Episode Five begins with the women, still at the cocktail party. They are wiser than I gave them credit for – several mention the fact that, while he was a contestant on Alabama Hannah’s season, Peter and the other men were told to stay in their lane and avoid causing drama amongst themselves,[1] so should know better about how to handle this situation.
5. Lone Ginger says that Alayah is solely there to be on television, to the entire group of women, including Alayah herself. Old Crone wonders whether Peter understands the premise of The Bachelor, pointing out that the point is to eliminate contestants, rather than bring them back. Old Crone then, referring to Alayah, states that “she made her bed and she has to Alayah in it.” Old Crone, I live for the moments when you exist on my screen.[2]
6. Peter enters the room and asks to speak with Alayah. They leave the room, and Sydney opines that if Peter wants Alayah, Sydney should not be on the show. I hope Sydney starts the exodus of the women.
7. Peter tells Alayah that he doesn’t care what anyone has said about her, because she knows she is a good person and feels such a strong connection with her. Peter then pivots to say that “with everything that has happened, this is too much, so it’s time to say goodbye.” Once again, Peter has abdicated any and all of his decision-making responsibilities, allowing the popular vote of the contestants to dictate the outcome of his future life partner.
8. I briefly wonder whether, for the remainder of this season, The Bachelor should adopt a democratic approach that allows the contestants to vote on who they believe to be most suitable for the lead. I think that Peter, overbaked potato that he is, would be thrilled to no longer be forced into pretending that he has coherent thought processes to informthe outcome of this show.
9. The women are shocked that Alayah is going home. She apologizes to Peter for making this so hard on him, as though she is at fault for his incapability at making any choices.
10. Tammy thinks this must have been hard for Peter, “because he is still out there pondering.”
11. Peter re-enters the room and says “hi ladies” with the same energy I feel whenever I am reminded that Peter is The Bachelor. He says he knows the past few nights have made him come across as though he does not know what he wants, but then tries to spin these series of events to mean that he does know what he wants. Nobody is buying it.[3]
12. Peter asks to speak with Old Crone. He tells her that he is surprised she is still here.
13. Same, Peter, same.
14. Tammy states that she has not spoken with Peter since their group date. She threatens to set the building on fire if she does not receive a rose. In an earlier recap, I stated that I would be Tammy’s friend.[4] What I meant to say was that I would enjoy going out with Tammy, in the sense that, if I did something that I regretted (ie, texting an ex), I would just ask Tammy how her night had gone, and it likely would make me feel better about myself. I imagine Tammy to be someone who has, on more than one occasion, tried to fight a bouncer.
15. Peter decides to act as though nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. He gathers the harem to present them with their roses, noting that he is not perfect but has nevertheless had a great week. He thanks the women for their truth, and states that this series of events has renewed his sense of hope that his wife is here. At this point, I honestly believe that Peter has a MadLibs™ Bachelor edition that he refers to whenever he needs to deliver a discourse.
16. Madi, Old Crone, Lone Ginger, Hannah Ann, Wannabe Jillian, Flowers, Kelley the “lawyer”, Shiann, Sydney, and Tammy all get roses, in addition to Victoria F. and Kelsey, who received roses on one on one dates in Episode Four.
17. Deandra is “shocked” that she did not get a rose. I am less shocked, considering I only learned her name last week, but I do think she has great hair and would like to know her shampoo and conditioner situation.[5]
18. Peter announces that they are going to Costa Rica. The women are excited to leave Cleveland.

Costa Rica

19. In Costa Rica, Peter drives a jeep. He reminds us that he is a pilot, which means he loves to travel.
20. Kelley, Esq.,[6] has travelled to 26 countries, and is excited to visit Costa Rica. She seems less excited about breathing the same air as Peter, stating “I would love to spend time with Peter, but at the same time, he’s dating like eleven other women, so now I’m just looking to have fun.”
21. Peter arrives at the women’s lodging in a helicopter. He is only licensed to fly planes, and not helicopters, so he is a passenger in the helicopter.
22. Peter has a bandage on his head. He makes up a story about being attacked by a puma, which literally ends in him saying, “you should see what the puma looks like now.” He then clarifies that he walked into a golf cart, hitting his head, and that when he went to put his hand to his head, he forgot he was holding a drink and smashed a glass into his own forehead, cutting it so severely that he required twenty-two stitches.[7] I know I’ve been saying Peter is a dud all season long, but come on.
23. He invites Sydney on a date. They ride in the helicopter. Peter says, “you can literally say love is in the air right now,” and Sydney pretends to laugh. She then responds by saying, “taking off in the helicopter was like taking off in our relationship,” so maybe she wasn’t pretending? Peter tells Sydney that she has been his rock, and then congratulates himself on not allowing his idiotic golf cart accident to put him a sour mood. Sydney opens up about her past – it’s quite sad; she has seen her father maybe five times in her entire life, and elaborates on the racism she and her family faced growing up bi-racial with a white mother in Alabama. It is frustrating to watch Peter, who is acting as though an injury caused by his own stupidity is a trauma to overcome, try to relate to people who have actually dealt with adversity and pain in their lives. Peter tells Sydney that he wants to be her rock, and gives her the rose.
24. During this date, we learn that Peter has a stupid finger tattoo.[8]
25. Back at the resort, Champagne Kelsey appears to be on the precipice of another meltdown. She says that seeing Peter date other women is “triggering”, which is fair considering her father left her mother to start a new family with another person, but also, you signed up for The Bachelor, Kelsey. She then refers to Sydney as a “fake bitch,” for seemingly no reason.
26. Tammy describes Kelsey as a hot mess, and notes that she cried about a champagne bottle for four days. She plans to tell Peter that Kelsey is crazy, which is sure to backfire, considering how little screen time we have seen of Tammy and Peter having any form of relationship.

The Group Date

27. Peter takes the women on a group date. They are doing a photoshoot, and the winner will be featured on the cover of Cosmopolitan, a magazine I forgot existed after I turned fifteen. Wannabe Jillian is drooling at the prospect of being on Cosmo,[9] as this could do wonders for her Instagram brand.
28. In the photoshoot, Peter stands in groups of women and makes out with some of them and not others.[10] It is gross and disrespectful to the contestants, which is pretty on-brand for Peter.
29. Hannah Ann, a professional model, loses the cover shoot to Victoria F., who is, allegedly, a dental hygienist as well as a model for white supremacist brands.[11]
30. Peter and Victoria F. speak at the evening part of the date. She reminds him that it was her birthday recently. She turned 26 and is horrified at how old she is. Peter says, “Well I’m 28, so I’m a grandpa.” People in their 20s who talk about how they’re so old are awful.
31. Champagne Kelsey tells Peter she is falling in love with him. Nobody else has said this yet, and I am a little thrown, because they have had one date, and it didn’t demonstrate that they shared any significant connection.
32. Tammy tells Peter that Champagne Kelsey had a mental breakdown the night prior. Tammy claims that Kelsey drinks excessively. He says he has never seen the side of her that Tammy is alluding to, which is confusing because she literally yelled at Hannah Ann in front of Peter during Champagne Gate.[12]
33. Naturally, Peter takes this information and runs to Champagne Kelsey. He tells her that things will only get harder from here on out, so if she needs to leave, she should. Kelsey returns to the harem and says, “do we want to talk about who said I was emotionally unstable today?” When none of the women respond, she uses the non-word “supposably”.
34. Champagne Kelsey goes on a rant about how she was very upset at Peter going on a one on one date with another person, and that she is comfortable expressing her emotions in front of people, which may be different than the way that others process their emotions. This is a fair point, but it would carry more weight had she not yelled at someone and called them names over a champagne bottle mishap. Lone Ginger suggests that Kelsey might lack understanding of the situation they are in – being, a situation where the person you are dating is dating multiple people. Kelsey says she is the only person being vulnerable in this process. Tammy says, “sorry I don’t drink myself to death and cry all day,” which is a tacky and unnecessary statement, particularly given that the producers manipulate these women’s insecurities and provide them with a steady stream of alcohol.[13]
35. Kelsey says she never created any drama. Lone Ginger states that she started creating drama on night one. Victoria F. points out that there has been so much drama that nobody focuses on their relationships during any group dates. In the words of Host Chris Harrison, I think this might actually be the most dramatic season of The Bachelor yet!
36. Peter walks in, oblivious to any drama he caused by sharing Tammy’s opinions on Kelsey, and gives Hannah Ann the rose.

Kelley, Esq. Gets a One on One

37. Kelley, Esq. is excited for her one on one. She notes that Peter checks a lot of boxes (I mean, he’s rich, so at least there’s that?), but she must ask herself whether she is actually interested in him. Regardless, she thinks the day will be fun because there are probably fun activities planned.
38. They go to a sweat lodge, and are greeted by someone who says, “namaste.” If there’s a chance for abc to inappropriately reference another culture, by God, will they take it.
39. They strip down to their underwear and sit across from one another. Peter starts telling Kelley, Esq. what he is looking for in a partner. She cuts him off because a lizard is chasing something behind him. She is not afraid of the lizard, she merely found it to be a more entertaining subject to observe over Peter, an overdone lasagne noodle. Peter then tells Kelley, Esq. that he is giving more in this relationship than she is. She, quite reasonably, tells him that this is an unnatural process and it is difficult for her to open up to someone on national television in such a short time. Also, there was a lizard. I may be gaining respect for Kelley, Esq. Peter, on the other hand, tells her that she is not trying hard enough. Then, a pendulum read by a shaman tells them that they are not on the same stage of life.
40. Peter and Kelley, Esq. go for dinner. Peter states that he wants someone who wants him as badly as he wants them. I don’t think Peter wants a substantial relationship where both individuals push each other to grow; I think Peter wants someone who unquestioningly wants him – that’s why he’s so happy to feed into the drama and reward women for critiquing/attacking the other contestants. He thinks women being catty and fighting with one another means they are interested in him, when in fact, it’s more likely that they are just really bored. The fact that Kelley, Esq. has shown some doubt in whether they might be a good match, which is a mature and valid thought process in the initial stages of dating someone, particularly if your goal is to marry them, is a negative to Peter. Peter does not seem to want his women thinking critically of their future and what it would look like for them as the two individuals in that relationship, but rather, he would like them to fix him as their sole priority.
41. Kelley, Esq. notes that she does not feel like she has had the opportunity to progress their relationship, as this is their first one on one date. What feels unsaid is that she is calling out the attention he gave to drama on group dates over moving real relationships forward. Peter tells her she was complacent, and asks her why she thinks she can progress their relationship now. Kelley, Esq. notes that she realised she should try to make the most of this experience and have fun with it. This is a hilarious response, which does not indicate any interest in Peter. Peter, wheels still turning, seems to pick up on this, saying that there can be fun parts of this process, but it is not just for a fun time. He needs to know that they are on the same page and is concerned that the pendulum told them that they were not at the same stages in their lives.
42. Kelley, Esq. tells Peter that she was questioning whether he was actually ready for marriage, considering that he was engaging in high school theatrics over Alayah. Peter, very maturely, says he was just “figuring out [his] stuff” and “did what [he] had to do.” He asks Kelley, Esq. what she wants from this process, and she says she would consider an engagement if their relationship was strong enough for that, but at that moment, she did not think it was strong enough, and further, that she was looking for someone who would challenge her and allow her to grow. I am briefly excited at the prospect of Kelley, Esq. self-eliminating from the show, but then Peter gives her a rose? She basically just said she had no idea if she wanted to marry him or if she ever would. Very well.

Champagne Kelsey causes more drama; a rose ceremony follows.

43. Kelsey decides to go visit Peter. She tells him that Tammy is spreading rumours that she has a drinking problem and that she is “popping pills”. Peter essentially says Tammy is jealous, and that he is happy Kelsey came to see him. Peter finds a producer, who gives him a rose, which he in turn bestows upon Kelsey.
44. Kelsey returns to the resort, rose in hand. She tells the women she went to see Peter. The women are horrified.
45. Host Chris Harrison appears and tells them there will be no cocktail party that evening. Instead, they will proceed directly to the rose ceremony.
46. Everyone is upset at Kelsey for having gone to talk to Peter, and also at Tammy, for saying that Kelsey was popping pills. Tammy, Lone Ginger and Wannebe Jillian are particularly concerned because they needed more time to talk to Peter. I really wish these women would stop crying over the curdled milk that is Peter.
47. I have no idea who is going to be the next Bachelorette, because none of these contestants are likeable enough to carry a season. The same is true of Peter, and we’re here anyway, but I think they are going to have to reach back into the depths of former contestants to select someone else. Not only are the contestants terrible this season, but the ones who might be likeable (Madi, Old Crone, Kelley, Esq.) have had so little screen-time due to all the drama, so that we are not invested in them.
48. Peter appears at the rose ceremony and tells the women he cancelled the cocktail party because he is so sure of his decision. In reality, it is because the producers have given him clear instructions on who he should keep, and if he speaks to any of the women, he will become confused and divert from their script. Before Peter can begin calling names, Tammy asks to speak with him. After Tammy returns, Wannabe Jillian asks to speak with him. Lone Ginger is extremely upset and says, “I guess it’s a mini-cocktail party for some people.”
49. Along with Champagne Kelsey and Kelley, Esq., Victoria F, Madi, Old Crone, Flowers, Wannabe Jillian, and Tammy all get roses. Lone Ginger goes home, but I think she will come back for Bachelor in Paradise. Shiann leaves, but first warns Peter that he is not seeing all the women for who they truly are.

Episode Six

50. They fly to Santiago, Chile. Wannabe Jillian tries to explain why she needed to create her own cocktail party at the last rose ceremony. Victoria F. tells her she should not have done that, and then in a diary moment, calls her “weepy and annoying.” Pot, meet kettle.
51. The attention Peter has given Victoria F. (the one-on-one date, winning that cancelled cover shoot), has gone to her head. She thinks she is winning this show.
52. Peter invites Hannah Ann on the next one on one date. Peter plans to walk around Santiago with her. He recites some facts about Santiago that he read in a guidebook. For some, reason they eat a hot dog instead of local street food.[14] They come across an older married couple, an obvious plant by the producers, and ask them tips on how to maintain a successful relationship. The woman cannot get over how young Hannah Ann looks,[15] and Peter responds with “Yes, very pretty.” Ah, the patriarchy, conflating women’s youth with attractiveness.
53. Hannah Ann tells Peter she has never been in love. She dated someone for three and a half years, and liked them, but didn’t love them. Was this in high school? I’m so confused why you would spend that long with someone you thought was just fine to be around? Peter asks her why she is sure that she is ready for marriage and she says it is because she hasn’t found love in the past. This answer makes no sense. If her long-term relationship occurred outside of high school, Hannah Ann has had one serious relationship in her adult life, and it was with someone she didn’t even care that much about. Have you really been trying to find love, Hannah Ann? Because if you had been, you wouldn’t have stayed with someone you didn’t love FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS. All of her answers to Peter’s questions seem as though she prepared them in advance, and it feels like she is on a job interview.[16]
54. Peter leaves, because he is frustrated by her responses. This is the first time Peter seems to have picked up on something actually being off. Hannah Ann follows him and starts crying, claiming that she is starting to fall in love with him. This comes across really fake – she hasn’t said anything about him that would make me believe she genuinely likes him, and she hasn’t said anything to indicate an actual interest in getting into a serious relationship, which is fine, considering she is 23 and has a lot of life to figure that out. Peter walks away again, and I think that maybe he is learning to trust his gut, but it turns out it is to go get a rose to give to her. I don’t get it – she is obviously quite pretty, but they are not ending up together.
55. Back at the house, two date cards arrive! Both Tammy and Wannabe Jillian are saying that they will be upset if they are on another group date, so of course they will be on the group date. At this point, neither of them, nor Old Crone, have had one on one dates.
56. The first date card is a second one on one date, again for Victoria F. Again, Peter’s brand is to disrespect the contestants, so this adds up. He clearly has no interest in actually getting to know Old Crone, Tammy, or Wannabe Jillian, so he should just send them home.[17]
57. Wannabe Jillian makes it seem as though she is going to leave, because this is pointless. She is not wrong, and honestly, at this point, staying on the show longer might do more harm than good to her brand, because I have yet to be impressed by any of her outfits and she is allegedly a fashion blogger.
58. On the group date, the contestants and Peter act out a telenovela. Wannabe Jillian plays a maid and she says she relates to the character because they both live in the shadows.[18] In the evening portion of the date, Peter enters the room and says, “today was fun but that was acting and this is getting real.” Peter probably worked on that line for several hours and thinks it was quite compelling.
59. Flowers and Peter go to speak. She acknowledges that the Alayah drama put a damper on their relationship, but she is ready to move forward. Peter says, “I don’t know if I see you as my wife. Sorry about that.”
60. It may actually be Peter that has face blindness, because have you seen Flowers?[19]
61. Flowers is stunned by this cavalier breakup, and asks the producers for a cab. She tells Peter he hasn’t been making the right choices, and that this is the last conversation she will have with him, as she does not intend to return. Flowers can do so much better, so I am happy for her.
62. Peter asks Flowers if he can walk her out. Despite her telling him that she does not want that, Peter follows her out, physically holds her arm, and stops her from getting into the car so that he can explain himself in an attempt to make him appear nice. Peter is definitely one of those guys who think they are “nice guys”, when in fact, they are the absolute worst. A woman directly told Peter that she wanted to leave and didn’t want to be around him anymore, and he forced himself into her presence until he decided their interaction was over. I could write a thesis on the ways in which Peter perpetuates the most basal aspects of rape culture.[20]
63. Peter returns to the harem and tells the contestants that he sent Flowers home. He then carries on speaking with other women.
64. In another room, Tammy and Wannabe Jillian begin yelling at one another. Tammy says Wannabe Jillian is here “for the hashtags” and that she packed her bags before the group date. Wannabe Jillian says Tammy gets joy from bringing people down. I think Tammy has realised she has no connection with Peter, but does not want to lose, so she is trying to get as much screen time as possible while also throwing other contestants under the bus, so that Peter can eliminate them before her. This is a direct consequence of Peter encouraging the women to spread rumours about one another in the first place.
65. Peter gives Madi the group date rose.

Victoria F. goes on another One on One Date

66. I have no interest in watching another one on one with Victoria F. She infantilises herself by using a baby voice whenever she speaks with Peter, and I don’t care for it.
67. They go to a Chilean farm. Horses dance. Peter says, “That horse can dance better than me,” and it is the truest statement Peter has made to date.
68. Victoria F. tells Peter that she has been questioning whether she actually sees a future with him. Peter is stunned, because he was sure of her, and again, the women are not meant to question their interest in him. Peter tells her that he is worried that she is putting up a wall. Maybe if Peter listened to the women, he would know that most of them don’t actually seem interested in him. Maybe the rest of the show should be Peter going to therapy and learning how to be a better person.
69. Peter tells Victoria F. to talk to him. She says that she might not be cut out for this, and that he might be better off with someone who is more open. Peter, ignoring that suggestion entirely, goes on about how crazy he is about her, but that he needs her to be honest and open. She finally cuts him off with an “Ok, like I get it, Peter,” and it is a mood. She tells him she feels sick and leaves the table. This is the second time Peter has been abandoned by Victoria F. during the evening portion of their date. The woman is nothing if not consistent.
70. In the bathroom, Victoria F. tells a producer that she knows Peter is here for marriage, and she is not sure that she is ready for that. To a producer back at the dinner table, Peter says that maybe she isn’t ready for this. She has stated that several times over the course of this date, but I feel like repetition is key with Peter.
71. Victoria F. returns to the room, and Peter gives her the rose? In a diary moment, he says that this was “the most telling rose” he has given out to date, and that he has fallen for her but is not receiving any validation. Peter just admitted that he is pursuing a woman that he does not believe to be interested in him. I’m also unsure if he understands the meaning of the phrase “the most telling” – it is meant to be a way of revealing information in an indirect way. Unless the information he is trying to reveal is that he is only interested in women who are not interested in him?
72. The next day, this episode has yet to end, and the women are preparing for a cocktail party/rose ceremony situation. Another date card is dropped off, however, and I don’t know if I have it in me to get through this. Before the cocktail party starts, Peter will have a two on one date with Tammy and Wannabe Jillian.

A most unnecessary Two on One date

73. Wannabe Jillian seems to have memorised lines out of a “Live, laugh, love,” book. She tells Tammy that she is a strong woman with a voice, and that kindness and love always win. Then she chugs some wine. Tammy says that “no little girl with blonde hair from Canada is going to stop [her],” and I resent her pulling all blonde Canadians into this matter, especially when it is very clear that Wannabe Jillian is not even close to a natural blonde.
74. Peter talks to both of the women. They both say they are here for the right reasons. Wannabe Jillian says, “our love is worth it,” and she knows she has spoken to Peter maybe four times, right? They don’t have any love to speak of.
75. Peter wanders back to the two of them and tells them he cannot have both of them continue past tonight, and I briefly think he is eliminating both of them. Then he tells Wannabe Jillian he believes that her hashtags are pure, and escorts Tammy out. Tammy says, “I guess Peter just wants a trophy wife.”
76. I honestly couldn’t tell you if Peter knows what he wants or if he likes any of these women, because this entire season has just been women yelling at each other.

Rose Ceremony

77. Old Crone is wearing another great jewel tone.
78. Peter says that he hopes he has made moves to show that he is above the drama. He has not.
79. Peter sends Sydney home, which is slightly unfortunate because she actually seemed intelligent and I didn’t hate watching her, but mostly good for her because she can do better.
80. Peter also sends Wannabe Jillian home, which is pointless, because he could have done that earlier and there was no need to have her sit through a rose ceremony.

Conclusion

81. The episode ends on Wannbe Jillian trying out a new Instagram caption: “This girl here is tough and strong and powerful and she is beautiful and knows what she deserves… even though I wanted to end up here in love, I feel like I am more madly in love with who I am than anything.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Exhibit D

Exhibit E

Exhibit F

Exhibit G

Exhibit H

Exhibit I

Exhibit J

______________________________________________________________________________

End Notes

[1] I mentioned this in my last recap, see Rose v Date, Pilot Pete: Episode Four, para. 57. Available at <https://melissmckay.com/2020/02/02/episode-4-pilot-pete/>.

[2] Also, how great is this colour on Old Crone? See Exhibit A.

[3] Flowers reacting is me. I am Flowers. See Exhibit B.

[4] Rose v Date, Pilot Pete: Episode Four, para. 31. Available at <https://melissmckay.com/2020/02/02/episode-4-pilot-pete/>.

[5] See Exhibit C.

[6] I am concerned that I will mix up the names Kelsey and Kelley, which is why I will occasionally refer to Kelsey as ‘Champagne Kelsey’, and will henceforth refer to Kelley the “lawyer”, as ‘Kelley, Esq.’, which is short for esquire.

[7] See Exhibit D.

[8] See Exhibit E.

[9] See Exhibit F.

[10] See Exhibit G.

[11] Victoria F. has subsequently had the cover pulled off the digital version of Cosmo, due to her past appearance modelling in a “White Lives Matter” ad campaign. Though the campaign was technically about saving white marlins, a type of fish, Cosmo (rightfully) thought the use of the phrase “White Lives Matter” was problematic enough to remove Victoria F. from its cover, for its origin being rooted in a racist backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement (Cosmo has, however, kept her photoshoot available in an online article, and had already printed the magazine when they discovered her past, so the hardcopy version still features Victoria F.). For more information, see <https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/amp30718890/cosmo-editor-in-chief-bachelor-challenge/>.

[12] Rose v Date, Pilot Pete: Episodes One & Two, paras 23-25. Available at:  <https://melissmckay.com/2020/01/26/the-bachelor-peters-season-episodes-1-2/>.

[13] Many contestants, particularly women, have spoken up about receiving top-ups to their drinks without asking for them, of how easy it was to overdrink, etc., but most famously, Meredith Phillips, the second runner-up on Bob Guiney’s season of The Bachelor and the second ever Bachelorette lead, spoke out about being an alcoholic on the franchise and the prevalence of drinks. For more information, see Former ‘Bachelorette’ Star Meredith Phillips Opens Up About Battle With Alcoholism: ‘I Want To Live’, abc News, 2 June 2013. Available at <https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/bachelorette-star-meredith-phillips-opens-battle-alcoholism-live/story?id=19309685>.

[14] See Exhibit H.

[15] She is 23, and there is no reason why a 23-year old, at the early stages of a relatively successful modelling career (she has appeared in country music videos and various commercial campaigns, including a Downy bottle), would be so desperate to land a husband. See Exhibit I.

[16] It also happens that Hannah Ann is close friends with two of the women who competed on Colton’s season of The Bachelor, Hannah G. and Cassie, so she would have been able to meet with them in advance and get a sense about what makes a popular/likeable contestant (Cassie won that season, and Hannah G. made it to the final four; all women are models). Part of me feels like Hannah Ann is primarily on this for her modeling career, which is fair, but it does mean that the majority of her attempts at being emotional about Peter do not ring true (which is also fair).

[17] As sad as I would be to see Old Crone go, Peter does not at all seem interested in her, nor does she seem interested in him. I don’t think she has had enough significant emotional screen time to become a lead on a subsequent season, and she seems mature and rational, so I feel like abc would avoid casting her as a lead.

[18] See Exhibit J.

[19] See Exhibit K, Rose v Date, Episode 4. Available at: <https://melissmckay.com/2020/02/02/episode-4-pilot-pete/#jp-carousel-2111>.

[20] Several times on this show, he has demonstrated that he does not listen to women when they express discomfort, he has asked/encouraged them to change their emotional responses to situations in which they are uncomfortable, and, in this interaction, he places his own desire to come across as “the good guy” above a woman’s wish to not engage with him anymore, even physically touching her when she has indicated that she does not want anything to do with him anymore.