Matt James’ season of The Bachelor was a bit of a train wreck, but according to Serena Pitt, things were smoother behind the scenes than viewers might expect, despite the given awkwardness of the situation. There are some difficulties inherent in the concept of the show — 30+ women dating one man is never going to be simple. However, Serena revealed that Matt’s women were more cohesive than they appeared, and it was that which allowed them to navigate the awkwardness of dating the same man. She revealed how it all worked in an exclusive interview with Screen Rant.
Though many of the season’s women became embroiled in drama at various times, the lovable Canadian Serena P. managed to stay above the fray. She got an early one-on-one date with Matt, and their relationship developed quickly. Serena was in Matt’s top four, but after hometowns, her confidence in their relationship began to waver. Ultimately, Serena decided Matt wasn’t her person, and she sent herself home following a tearful goodbye. The Bachelor format was nothing new to Serena, but she found that the reality of being on the show was vastly different than what she could have ever expected.
“I've been a viewer of the show, but living it and experiencing it is a whole different thing,” Serena told Screen Rant. As a long-time Bachelor fan, Serena thought she knew what it was like, but she quickly realized there’s so much more that goes on behind the scenes. After all, viewers only see two hours a week out of day's worth of filming. According to Serena, there’s no way she could have anticipated what being a contestant would be like. “You just don't know what you don't know,” she commented.
The show's process can be a breeding ground of bitterness and jealousy among contestants, but Serena saw more friendships emerge than rivalries. “I think what surprised me was how fast and easily you can get close with the women, and how we were really able to navigate to the best of our ability the awkwardness of dating the same guy,” she commented. “I felt like it would be super awkward, and there would be a lot more resentment and frustration.” Despite the intense focus on drama and bullying, many of the women were apparently very close and supportive of each other.
Serena said there were definitely some emotional moments, but overall, “We really did a good job of being able to navigate it and maintaining strong friendships. We could be honest while also not divulging everything while dating the same guy.” Matt clearly had a difficult time filming the show, and has been honest about the toll it took on his mental health. But it seems the women had a better experience. Serena isn’t eager to repeat the ordeal, though she admits it could have been much harder. “It's not normal,” Serena said. “I hope I never do it again. But we made it work, which I was surprised about. I thought it would be a lot more difficult.”
Of course, it could be that Serena’s playful and positive attitude contributed to her having such a positive experience on The Bachelor. Throughout the process, she kept true to herself and knew when it was time for her to leave. In a season so fraught with drama, fans will be happy to know that the women on the show were much more supportive and understanding than the final edit made them out to be. Perhaps next season production will decide to show more of the contestants' human sides.