In what may have been one of the most dramatic twists in franchise history, a new crop of women was introduced to Matt James three weeks into The Bachelor season 25. The limo drove up and, one by one, the five new girls appeared, hoping to stand out and make great first impressions.
This interesting event did not sit well with the women who have been in the house for three weeks. They've been putting in their time to win Matt's affection. Fans weren't happy about the change, either. This made for a very messy and resentful episode, which pitted the OGs of the house against new contestants, as they also had to deal with the very dramatic "Queen Victoria." Now, there's a house full of women who've been competing for the same guy vs. some fresh newbies.
Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering why such a thing would take place three weeks in. Was this a dramatic idea conjured up by producers of The Bachelor or was this done at the request of Matt, who maybe wasn't all that satisfied with his current options? According to ABC's executive producer Robert Mills, the plan to have the new contestants show up was in place all along. Mills told Variety, "We got a record number of submissions. We couldn’t fit everyone in night one, and we had some really interesting girls. These were women that we had already met with. It was decided pretty much before filming began [that they would join later]. It was good to throw them in the mix. It wasn’t just to shake things up.” For those wondering if Victoria Larson is a plant brought in by producers to fill a role, the question is still up in the air. Here's what Mills said: "You can’t have people who are not going to do really anything and will just be wallflowers. I’m not saying the show is made purely to stir up drama, but certainly a strong personality like [Victoria] is good. And look, Matt has said that is something that he is attracted to — a woman who is her own woman and who is strong-willed — so you can’t argue that Victoria is not that.” See Demi Burnett "dethrone" Victoria Larson in the clip below:
When traveling around the globe is no longer on the table, changing up the casting creates excitement. The Bachelor/Bachelorette has no choice but to stay in one place. Franchise fans witnessed the switcheroo that occurred last season on The Bachelorette. For that show, filming took place at the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs. Mid-season, a new Bachelorette (Tayshia Adams) was brought in to replace Clare Crawley because Clare wanted only Dale. Now, it's now game over for Clare and Dale.
As viewers know, twists and turns are part of the Bachelor/Bachelorette game. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is the only scenery fans will see on this season of The Bachelor. However, the backdrop of the turning fall leaves is stunning.
Four out of the five newbies brought on The Bachelor this week were given a rose. Will an OG win Matt's heart, or will a newbie enjoy that honor?
Source: Variety