Season 19 of The Bachelorette, which premiered on July 11 after months of intense anticipation, is drawing increased attention for being the first season of the Bachelor franchise to be helmed by two leads simultaneously.
Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia of The Bachelor's most recent season were presented with a larger cast of contestants than any other season of the series had featured, and they were not informed of how the process would be modified in order to adjust to the change in format. This novelty provided a spark to the series premiere that is easily identifiable in the episode's best moments.
Rachel And Gabby's First Chat In The Mansion
Prior to meeting the contestants, Rachel and Gabby had a brief and light conversation on the mansion's patio in which they discussed the qualities that they respectively seek in partners. Rachel emphasized physical characteristics, noting that she is attracted to tall and athletic men, while Gabby stated that she is seeking a man who is decisive.
The two leads then mentioned that they were unsure of how their unprecedented season would be structured. This final meeting before the arrival of the men reminded audiences of the pair's exceptional chemistry.
Rachel And Gabby's First Speech To The Men
Each season premiere of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette features a speech in which the lead specifies their expectations for the season while attempting to soothe the nervous contestants in the process. On Monday's episode, Gabby reminded the men that she and Rachel were in their position as contestants only months earlier, and that she therefore understood their anxiety at the outset of the competition. Rachel attempted to calm them by offering advice, encouraging them to be open and vulnerable during their initial meetings with her and Gabby.
Gabby's Response To Meeting The Twins
Gabby and Rachel's t meeting with twins Justin and Joey Young was tense and unromantic, and both Bachelorettes remarked on the discomfort during later talking head interviews. When reflecting on the conversation, Gabby said that she and the brothers were not connecting, adding with her signature off-kilter wit, "It ain't doin' it for me." Justin and Joey's alarmingly similar appearance and shared career field proved off-putting to Gabby and Rachel rather than endearing, and it resulted in their elimination at the end of the episode. Some may come to view the brothers as Bachelorette cast who deserved better.
Gabby's First Meeting With Ryan
Gabby had an exceptional meeting with Ryan, an investment director from Boston. As Ryan attempted to teach Gabby the Boston dialect by writing standard and Bostonian sentences on a whiteboard, Gabby told him that he writes "like a five-year-old." This comment made Ryan comfortable with playfully teasing her in return, and the two's shared sense of humor sparked a connection that could potentially carry him far in the competition. Ryan, who is a favorite Bachelorette contestant for some, was one of several cast to show a preference for one of the Bachelorettes over the other.
Rachel's Excitement About Jordan V.'s Racecar
Jordan V. attempted to impress Rachel, whom he was primarily attracted to, by showcasing his ion for racecar driving and linking it to her career as a pilot.
Rachel appeared fascinated by Jordan's top thrill dragster in addition to being comfortable in his company. Jordan concluded the meeting by telling Rachel that he would teach her how to drive a racecar if she taught him how to fly a plane, suggesting that he views Rachel and himself as equals. While Jordan did not receive the first impression rose, he appears to be one of the men whom Rachel is most intrigued by.
Gabby's Kiss With Mario
Despite being famously goofy and lighthearted, Gabby formed one of her strongest initial connections with the relatively serious and reserved Mario. During their meeting outside of the mansion, Mario told Gabby that he considers himself more vulnerable than most men, which appeared to intrigue Gabby rather than disinterest her. The pair then shared the first kiss of the season, after which Mario told Gabby that he is looking forward to the rest of their journey. Unlikely relationships such as this have often proved successful within the Bachelor franchise, as evidenced by some of the most popular couples from The Bachelorette.
Rachel And Gabby's First Talk After Meeting The Men
After Rachel and Gabby spent time with the contestants, the two leads sat down to share their progress with one another. Rachel told Gabby that she had kissed Tino, a charming general contractor, and Gabby told Rachel about her kiss with Mario. Both women appeared optimistic about the process at this point of the night, and they were likely appreciative of their ability to confide in another person with whom they were sharing their experience. Previous Bachelorettes did not enjoy this luxury, and Rachel and Gabby likely stand to benefit from it.
Rachel Giving Tino Her First Impression Rose
Rachel gave her first impression rose to Tino, with whom she had enjoyed her first kiss of the season shortly before. While a first impression rose does not guarantee long-term success in the competition -- recent Bachelor Clayton Echard gave his to Teddi, a woman who did not become a finalist -- history suggests that it is likely Tino will remain among Rachel's most valued men in coming weeks.
Given the overwhelming chemistry between the two, other contestants interested in Rachel must make massive strides in a short time frame in order to remain legitimate candidates for engagement.
Gabby Giving Mario Her First Impression Rose
Just as Rachel gave her first impression rose to the first man whom she kissed, Gabby gave the honor to Mario. While Rachel and Tino are similar in their relaxed disposition and suave demeanor, Gabby and Mario's dynamic is defined by the pair's glaring differences. Unlike the extroverted and playful Gabby, Mario is quiet and put-together, having shown no interest in drawing attention to himself to any extent more than is necessary. Gabby and Mario's differences appear to be a merit to their relationship rather than a threat to its stability.
Rachel And Gabby Canceling The Rose Ceremony
Rather than holding the standard rose ceremony, Rachel and Gabby privately dismissed three contestants (Justin, Joey, and Roby) and allowed the rest of the men to advance without enduring the stress of potential elimination. Their parting words to the three eliminated contestants were gentle and comionate, suggesting that the two Bachelorettes will be similarly humane during rose ceremonies and ensure that theirs is one of the best seasons of The Bachelorette. Due to the abnormally high number of men participating in this season, future episodes will feature significantly more eliminations than this comparatively tame episode, in which the vast majority of the men remained in the mansion.