The Bachelorette Season 8 – Weeks 1-3 – Overview

By Melissa Wang ·

Hello there blogosphere, I’m Melissa, your new Bachelorette recapper/guru/maestro! I’m incredibly excited to start writing for you all about Season 8 of my ultimate guilty pleasure show. Although this show frustrates me at times, you have to admit, it’s pretty darn addicting. But enough about me – you’re probably more interested in hearing about Emily and her 25 lovely—for the most part—gentlemen. Let's quickly recap the first three weeks of Emily's journey.

The 26-year-old blonde from Charlotte, NC, was once engaged to Ricky Hendrick, a racecar driver who tragically passed away in a plane accident. Here’s the kicker: several days later, Emily discovered that she was pregnant with his child. After winning Brad’s love on The Bachelor Season 15, getting her heart broken after their engagement didn’t work out, and winning a legion of fans throughout the whole process, she is now the new Bachelorette. Quite a backstory, eh?

Her Quest4Love starts off in Charlotte, not California like usual, so Emily can be close to her six-year-old daughter Ricki. As a way to get to know some of the most remarkable guys, let’s hand out some awards, shall we?

Most fabulous hair: Arie. Dayum. (Note to Bachelorette powers-that-be: a race car driver? Really?!)

Most f@Bu10u$ hair: Jef. He received the first group date's rose, so it's nice that Emily is looking past his flamboyant 'do. Good girl.

Most unnecessary entrance: Kalon, who arrived via helicopter. Not surprisingly, the guys immediately hated him. “I DON’T LIKE YOU,” Jersey Boy/Party MC Stevie sneered. Of course you don’t, Stevie. Of course you don’t.

Biggest *facepalm* entrance: Randy. No wonder she sent him packing just the first night.

Best first-night gift giver: Chris. Bobbleheads of the two of them! So cute.

Emily’s favorite first-night gift giver: Doug, a single dad, who gave Emily a letter written by his 11-year-old son Austin. Doug received the first impression rose.

Most noteworthy exploitation of a friend’s opportunity to date 25 hot dudes: Wendy (Emily’s friend), costarring Sean

Other notes:

31-year-old Ryan, a professional sports trainer, got the first one-on-one date, which was also probably one of the most normal and indicative-of-everyday-life dates that the show has had in a while. The pair baked cookies at Emily’s own house and delivered them to Ricki’s soccer team……… and then went to a fancy restaurant for dinner where a red carpet and dozens of screaming, camera-equipped fans greeted them outside. And then they were treated to a private concert in the middle of a street in downtown Charlotte. Well, I guess the normalcy was nice while it lasted.

Following a ropes climb up a building to reach their dinner as well as yet another private concert, 25-year-old Chicago native Chris was the first lucky guy to make out with Emily. Not sure what to say to that… congratulations?

But don’t get too contented, Chris! Arie also had a good time with Em on his one-on-one at the Dollywood theme park, in which Emily’s idol Dolly Parton made a surprise appearance.

So did Sean, and he didn’t even get a one-on-one date!

At the end of Week 3, we’re left with 13 suitors: Alejandro, Arie, Charlie, Chris, Doug, Jef, John “Wolf,” Kalon, Michael, Nate, Ryan, Sean, Travis.

Thanks for reading, and tune into ABC at 8pm EST on Monday for Week 4’s episode! Come back to Rickey.org later that night for the recap. With that, I’ll leave you with my favorite quotes from the first three episodes.

Best quotes:
  • Aaron: “I’m a high school biology teacher, but I’m here to have chemistry with you.” Emily: “Awesome, I think I failed both so I have a lot to learn!”
  • Alessandro: “I’m from Brazil…” *proceeds to speak in Portuguese.* Emily: “Well I’m going to say… gracias!” Me: …………………………
  • John “Wolf”: “I have a rule. If you have Louis Vuitton luggage and you’re a dude, then you’re a *BLEEP*”
  • Emily’s friend Ashley: “I just want to focus on these guys and find out who’s here for the right reasons.” NO. “For the right reasons” IS A CLASSIC BACHELOR/ETTE PHRASE THAT NEEDED TO BE RETIRED YESTERDAY.
  • Alessandro: “Back home I had a long relationship with my cousin – well, she was my third cousin – well anyways.” Hmm. Right after, he admitted that he has also cheated on a girlfriend, had a one-night stand, and has such severe commitment problems that he won’t even own a pet. “I’m kind of a gypsy,” he says. Then why the hell are you on the show, knowing full well that Emily’s number one priority is her child?!? Nice knowin’ ya, Alessandro.

Reality TV