It’s that time of year again. The scent of roses, the murmur of manufactured drama, and the faint, lingering aroma of desperation—yes, “The Bachelor” is back. Season 29 kicks off with Grant Ellis, a man presumably ready to settle down after a summer of meticulously curating his dating app profile. He’s greeted by 25 women, each radiating a carefully calibrated blend of enthusiasm and ambition.
ABC is clearly aiming for a more grounded season, at least based on the premiere. This time around, the women hail from a surprisingly wide range of backgrounds. We’ve got pediatric speech therapists, venture capitalists, and even – gasp – an ICU nurse. While the usual suspects (models, influencers) are still in the mix, the premiere attempts to feature some genuine personality. Whether this authenticity survives the inevitable manufactured rivalries and tearful confessionals remains to be seen.
But the biggest twist of the night? A revamped first impression rose. Now, instead of simply handing out the rose, Grant participates in some sort of bizarre challenge with the women, a blatant attempt to inject some extra excitement into the proceedings. It’s a change, sure, but whether it’s an improvement is debatable.
So, who are these women vying for Grant’s affections? Let’s run through the roster: Alexe (27, pediatric speech therapist, New Brunswick, Canada), Alli Jo (30, boxing trainer, Manalapan, NJ), Allyshia (29, interior designer, Tampa, FL), Bailey (27, social media manager, Atlanta, GA), Beverly (30, insurance salesperson, Howard Beach, NY), Carolina (28, PR producer, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), Chloie (27, model, New York, NY), Christina (26, marketing director, Fargo, ND), Dina (31, attorney, Chicago, IL), Ella (25, luxury travel host, Los Angeles, CA), J’Nae (28, account coordinator, Colorado Springs, CO), Juliana (28, client service associate, Newton, MA), Kelsey (26, interior designer, Brooklyn, NY), Kyleigh (26, retail manager, Wilmington, NC), Litia (31, venture capitalist, Salt Lake City, UT), Natalie (25, Ph.D. student, Louisville, KY), Neicey (32, pediatrician, Blythewood, SC), Parisa (29, pediatric behavior analyst, Birmingham, MI), Radhika (28, attorney, New York, NY), Rebekah (31, ICU nurse, Dallas, TX), Rose (27, registered nurse, Chicago, IL), Sarafiena (29, associate media director, New York, NY), Savannah (27, wedding planner, Charlottesville, VA), Vicky (28, nightclub server, Las Vegas, NV), and Zoe (27, tech engineer and model, New York, NY).
Will true love blossom? Will Grant find “the one”? Or will this be just another season of carefully orchestrated heartbreak and sponsored Instagram posts? Tune in Monday, January 27, on ABC at 8/7c to find out. The episode will be available the next day on Hulu.