Since its premiere in 2002, the reality show ‘The Bachelor’ has been a massive hit across the country, receiving millions of viewers every episode. The show focuses on one man dating many women in hopes of proposing to one of them at the end of his journey. The Bachelor is chosen from the previous season of the Bachelorette (the same concept but with the gender role reversed). As with any show that spans over two decades,, the show started to get a bit repetitive. For example, one of the common bits of drama related to the show is that nobody ever approves of the bachelor when he is first announced; they usually wish it was someone else from the previous season. This is because the producers of the show usually pick someone who is either bland and doesn’t contribute much to the show, or uses their time on the show to treat the women poorly.
This all changed when fan-favorite contestant of the most recent season of ‘The Bachelorette,’ Joey Graziadei got selected as The Bachelor for the 28th season. The Instagram post of his announcement was filled with supportive fan comments such as “first bachelor I’ve been truly excited about in a minute,” and “The producers have finally listened! This will be a great season.”
Since his season started airing, the lowest IMBD rating an episode has received skyrocketed from six point seven in season 27 to eight point one in season 28. Not only that but the sixth episode of this season is the highest-rated episode in the history of ‘The Bachelor’. You have probably seen a TikTok about a fight between women wanting Graziadei’s extra attention or an Instagram post about something endearing that Graziadei did on the show like break up a fight with ease. if you watch the show or not. ‘The Bachelor’ has truly made a comeback.
“But what is it about Graziadei that viewers find so appealing? Unlike past leads, Graziadei prioritizes women with good intentions, and if there is any trouble being caused,he has no problem sending home the people causing it. On top of that, his morals are very strong. If a woman is crying while opening up to him, instead of being uncomfortable and weirded out, he consoles them and tells them that it’s okay and he’s listening.
A common problem with past bachelors is that they’re not as down to earth as the everyday guy. Past bachelors have been pilots, tech executives, and even a few NFL players: all jobs that have made them pretty successful at young ages. Graziadei could not be more different. He finds joy in his job as a tennis pro and spending time with his sister. These humble qualities make him approachable to viewers and more enthusiastic to watch his journey.
It has also drawn in more women than ever. In the first episode, host Jesse Palmer tells Graziadei that there are going to be the most women ever on his season at a record number of 33. There is also an innocence about him that captivates viewers. While playing a game called ‘How Online Are You?’ (where he was quizzed on trending internet terms) with media outlet Betches, he was shown a photo of Munchausen by Proxy victim Gypsy Rose Blanchard and told to say her name. He then replied by saying “Is it Ruth? Ginsburg or something like that.” Innocent mistakes like this endear him to viewers. Typically the leads on the show are just a reason for the women to start drama and find love, but this time, Joey, as a person, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the show. He isn’t the typical bachelor and that’s one reason why people keep tuning in every week.
Another reason why this season has been special is the diversity of the women Joey keeps around. Out of the final nine women, four are white, one is black, one is mixed race (Filipino and black), and three are Asian. The origins of some of the women are also captivating. One woman who earned a hometown date is Canadian and the other is from Hawaii, so seeing their cultures provided viewers with different perspectives than they usually see.
Although all of these forms of diversity were huge for the ‘Bachelor’ franchise, none made a greater impact than the inclusion of non-profit owner Daisy Kent. Kent started to get seizures at a young age and experienced severe sickness. This was followed by a diagnosis of diagnosed with Lyme disease. Also, at the age of seventeen, she started to lose her hearing. She stated it has gotten extremely severe in recent years which led her to get a cochlear implant. She received the first one-on-one date of the season. The date included a helicopter ride and a loud music festival– both of which make it hard for Kent to understand conversations. She didn’t let any of those obstacles get her down. Later that night and during the dinner portion, she opened up to Graziadei about her health challenges, and he said that he didn’t even notice her struggling until she told him. Kent is only the second woman on the show with hearing loss. The first, 2021 contestant Abigail Heringer, got the first rose of the season after sharing her story, but got left behind by bachelor Matt James after that. This was very unsettling for viewers because the show painted a picture that James only gave her the initial attention because of her story. Kent could not have a more opposite experience. She not only has been one of two women to receive multiple one-on-one dates this season (which is a sign that her and Graziadei’s connection is one of the strongest), but she also reached the final four. Her inspirational story has moved viewers all across the country and provided a voice for those who usually don’t feel heard. It’s pretty hard to root for anyone else to end up with Joey.
Although it’s hard not to root for Kent to end up with Joey, that doesn’t mean she’s the only woman that makes people tune in. Maria Georgas is another woman that people have been rallying behind since she first appeared on screen. People admire her realness with Joey and the other women. Early on in the season, fellow contestant Sydney Gordon took something small Georgas said about how a woman on the show. A 31-year-old woman said she was too old to be here and Georgas told her she wasn’t that old. Gordon took that and spun it around to make up lies about Georgas and constantly said statements such as “I really don’t like Maria,” or “Maria is so annoying.” In the show’s fourth week, Gordon and Georgas went on a two-on-one date that resulted in Gordon being eliminated.
Although she left the show, two more bullies to Georgas were introduced: Jess Edwards and Lea Caynan. They treated Georgas exactly how Gordon did previously, and made rude comments whenever Graziadei showed her any attention. In the show’s sixth week, they also got eliminated. This drama has caused fans of the show to rally behind Georgas and tune in to follow her journey of constantly outlasting the bullies. Besides her journey, it’s her personality that viewers have fallen in love with. Her bubbly personality is a light among the women and brings out a lighter side of Graziadei. On their one-on-one date in Montreal, Graziadei asked Georgas to teach him a little French. Without telling him the meaning, Georgas got Graziadei to say “I love you” in French (over and over). These are all reasons why Georgas has become someone ‘Bachelor’ fans will never forget.
All of these components work together to create an unforgettable season of ‘The Bachelor’ that is different from the repetitiveness of the recent seasons. If you haven’t watched the show before, now is the perfect time to start.