New season of 'The Bachelorette' will be best yet

Bachelor Nation is a part of entertainment that has turned into a highly populated fan club over the years. The hit ABC show “The Bachelorette” premiered Monday night for the 16th time. That’s not including the other 24 seasons of “The Bachelor,” the series that features a man trying to find his future wife among a large group of women contestants.

This season of "The Bachelorette" features a returning face from this show’s history, Clare Crawley. Crawley has been on multiple seasons of "The Bachelor" and its spin-off shows, such as “Bachelor in Paradise,” but has not yet found love on any of her seasons.

Crawley is also much more knowledgeable and experienced than any previous bachelorette or bachelor because she is 39 years old now. Most of the people chosen for this show are younger, in their 20’s usually. This is exactly what makes for such an interesting, dramatic season. We’ve seen previews and probably heard stories about how this season will go, but this is solely a recap of the premiere last Monday night. 

At the beginning of the episode, Crawley was excited to hear the news that she was chosen as the next bachelorette. Then they cut to ... quarantine. The show was obviously delayed by the pandemic, like everything else.

We then meet some of the men in their video introductions, which is normally done every season, before the start of the live limo entrances. The next part, though, was very different from any other season so far. The men are shown staying in these little individual apartments, while they self-isolate, get multiple swabs up their noses and eventually all celebrate after two weeks of being quarantined.

This was a very different side of the process that, normally, we wouldn’t see. It’s up to the viewers whether they enjoyed this, but most say they’d rather the show just skip to the limo introductions. 

That’s exactly what comes next, as we see Crawley in a beautiful sparkly, silver dress. One by one, the men file out of the limos to introduce themselves to who they hope is their future wife. One certain someone takes Crawley's breath away though, and she makes sure for that to be known. Some of the men made quite an entrance with a pregnant stomach, a big plastic ball and even a straightjacket.

Although, when Dale Moss exits the limo without any sort of getup or costume, Crawley instantly falls for him. She even admits that she “feels like she just met her husband” immediately after he introduces himself. 

Now, even Chris Harrison, host of "The Bachelorette," admits that Bachelor Nation has never seen anything like this. Never has a bachelor or bachelorette admitted to falling in love at first sight. Harrison then reminds Crawley that there are more men to come in the limos and everyone deserves a fair chance. 

When Crawley enters the mansion with all 31 men inside, she tries to speak to each of the men individually like any other season, but this never happens without some drama. As Crawley opens up about her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease with some of the men, including Moss and Uzoma Nwachukwu (Eazy), some of the other boys are gossiping.

It comes out that apparently, Yosef Aborady has been on Instagram flirting with one of the other contestants', Tyler Cameron’s, women friends. Now, “what’s wrong with this if it was before the show?” you may ask. I’m not so sure and neither is Aborady.

Cameron then confronts Aborady, stirring up some good-old bachelorette drama. Eventually, Crawley gets involved and puts an end to it claiming that it was “taking time away from her getting to know the other men,” which seems like a reoccurring theme from Hannah Brown’s "The Bachelorette" season. 

Crawley is able to make some connections though, sharing a kiss with seemingly sweetheart, Blake Moynes, only to kiss Moss after rewarding him the first impression rose — no shock there. Then it’s time for the rose ceremony, where Crawley will give out 23 roses and send eight of the contestants home.

With one rose left to give, both Cameron and Aborady stand next to each other without a rose, most likely regretting their decisions to be involved in the drama that night. Finally, Crawley calls out Aborday’s name as he walks up to claim the final rose of the night, most definitely relieved.

What makes this season look like it's going to be so intriguing is the previews for episodes to come. Some show Crawley crying, the men crying and even a good chunk of the men threatening to leave. Who knows what this season will hold, but more drama is definitely on the way!