Холостячкa #15 Hannah Brown

barish

Just as the Rose Ceremony is about to start, Luke S whisks Hannah away, leaving the men (who have already been waiting for HOURS) to wait further. Though this is just speculation on my part, I STRONGLY suspect it’s a producer who asks, “What do you guys think they’re talking about?” …

First, we have a clear shot of all the guys, so it’d be easy to show it coming out of someone’s mouth—yet it’s not shown. Also, the question itself is incredibly producer-y. (I can still hear producers’ questions to us as a group, à la: “Who do you think’s getting the Group Date rose? Who do you think’s going home tonight? Aren’t you guys worried about going home tonight?” I remember at one Rose Ceremony, a producer became ANGRY with us for not seeming worried enough about going home.)
The alternative to my above suspicion is that a producer told the guys to start talking about what was being talked about, forcing one of the men to say, “What do you guys think they’re talking about?” But either way, there’s a 0% chance the guys just began talking about this for the hell of it. They all know what Luke S is up to. They don’t need or care to talk about it—it’s production that wants it narrated.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

SCOTLAND

As Hannah meets her men in Scotland, she once again, in her wonderful Hannah way, subtly breaks that 4th wall…

This is not dissimilar to her breaking character during B-rolls or asking Luke P (on Night One), “Do you know where we’re going?” There’s this impression of the lead knowing all, of being the one in the driver’s seat. But here, she shows she didn’t know that the guys didn’t know she was coming. She’s subtly revealing how in the dark she, too, is. She may have graduated but she’s still a pawn.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

MIKE’S 1-ON-1

As Hannah whisks Mike away for his date, we see the guys discussing something that I remember well and that drove me CRAZY…

I may have mentioned this before, but when Amy Kaufman interviewed me for her book, I read her some excerpts from my journal entries on the show. There were PAGES dedicated to my irritation with actor-y types who transformed based on whether or not our Bachelor was in the room. It may sound only mildly annoying in real life, but trust me, in that bubble and when it’s someone you’re living with and with whom you may already be an incompatible housemate, trust me… it’s bad.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

In the evening, Mike asks Hannah about her past with relationships and what brought her there. First, YAY MIKE for asking a legitimate question. Yes, it may be broad, but it’s way better than a lot of them. (Most of the time, the mission on a 1-on-1 is to reveal something, less so to inquire about something.) I had to capture Hannah’s response as it struck me as SO honest, almost brutally so…

It’s one thing to say that relationships haven’t worked out in the past, or even to admit you have a history of going for the wrong type. But it is another thing entirely to admit the above, that you have a pattern of changing who you are for men. And for what it’s worth, I think a lot of young women do this, so I loved hearing Hannah admit to this on national television. The younger audiences watching might hear it and even take the opportunity to reflect.
I don’t use the term “role model” lightly; in fact, I’ve traditionally hated it used to refer to contestants on this show. When I myself got a lot of feedback that I was seen as a “role model”, it made me a bit uncomfortable. I had so little say in my actions that made air, in my edit, in even the order of my words that left my mouth. How was what was seen of me meant to really reflect me, let alone reflect me as a potential role model?
But with Hannah, she’s admitting to flaws and unflattering truths, in the context of having overcome them. It’s one thing to be told or demonstrated how to behave, but it’s another to hear someone recount their own flawed journey from a dark place to one of self-acceptance and self-love. All I’m saying is, there are far worse “role models” out there, especially in reality TV.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

GROUP DATE

The guys participate in what the Scottish battle reenactor and host calls “The First Bachelorette Highland Games”. (How quickly we forget.) I got a good laugh out of Hannah being the only one to successfully land her axe. Also note Peter’s fantastic, truly shocked reaction…

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Back at their castle, Mike and Luke P are having a “conversation”. And in case any proof was needed that this is a forced, required, and undesired Man Chat, just watch how quickly the men spring up and cease “chatting” the second they’re obviously been told they can…

Also note Mike’s hilarious little “I’m done with you” sniff.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

In the evening, Hannah has a particularly hot makeout sesh with Jed, but what I found funny was the build up to it. As Hannah attempts to straddle him, he ever-so-politely asks…

I also got a giggle out of his hands as he half attempts to support her, half feels her up.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

It was GREAT to catch some genuine camaraderie among the men, when Kevin revealed he had spied on Jed’s aforementioned makeout sesh…

What’s interesting to note here is how easy it would have been to have shown this in a completely different light. Just imagine Kevin watching Jed and Hannah from the staircase, but with creepy or villainous music in the background. And imagine that without our being shown the above clip. (Let’s be honest, airing the above was a conscious choice on production’s part; it doesn’t advance any storyline.) It would completely change the tone of Kevin’s storyline—currently that of a easygoing non-frontrunner (who evidently gets along with the men)—to that of a jealous non-frontrunner.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

LUKE’S 1-ON-1

Wow, what a date this was. I was so overwhelmed with choosing what to discuss, I kept sweeping this section under the rug while assembling the rest of this recap.

There was nothing “fluff” about this date, and it was at times challenging to discuss this on PeopleNow and to read the general Twitter responses to this episode because there are so many things I saw differently than the majority. A good example is people scoffing at Hannah exclaiming, “I just want to know if you like mac & cheese or spaghetti better!” In the bubble, with the constant “all roads point to marriage” reminders of simply hanging out with a person you hardly know—plus the constant prompting and pressuring to reveal things you would normally only reveal months, if not years, into a relationship—it’s easy to bypass the seemingly silly, inconsequential shit. I think I’ve touched on this somewhere before, but one of the reasons I loved my own first 1-on-1 so much was that we DID THINGS. This sounds stupid, I know. But there’s a big difference between walking through a bustling market in a foreign country together, versus laying on a catamaran together. A huge way of getting to know someone is just doing stuff together, because through the doing of stuff, you learn about each other: Do you like spicy food or not? What’s your favorite color? Yes, do you like mac and cheese or spaghetti better? We’ve seen contestants in the past go into their 1-on-1 times with notebooks of questions (Kendall and Lauren B from Arie’s season come to mind here). It just irks me to see people who haven’t been there scoff at something like this as dumb; trust me, if you were there, you’d want to know, too.
Another example is how many people really think Hannah still sees Luke as a potential future husband. In general, it was frustrating to hear and read how many people still automatically eat what they’re fed when it comes to this show. Just because a lead says in an ITM that she can sometimes see a guy as her husband does NOT mean she can actually see him as her husband. Given the premise of this show, and that aforementioned “all roads point to marriage” blanket draped over everything, OF COURSE Hannah will articulate her issues with Luke in the context of his potential as her future husband, just as leads make out with a dozen contestants despite knowing early on who their final two or three finalists will be.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Perhaps it wasn’t this way in the beginning, but at this point Hannah has chemistry that easily rivals (or surpasses) that with Luke, with at least two, if not three other men there. She gets along with those men swimmingly and never has to baby them, make excuses for them, berate them. In real life, and without a dozen other men on her roster, sure—maybe Hannah would have a hard time letting go the potential she sees in Luke. But their relationship is based on their physical connection and chemistry (it’s not like their moments together have featured scintillating conversation), yet we haven’t seen them kiss since EPISODE 2. Layer on the fact that she has other obviously far better, more compatible, more suitable, and more popular options... HELL NO, she does not see a future with Luke anymore. (I personally think that that began to wane the second she began having to mother him.) There are many examples of this, but here’s one that stuck out to me…

Now, do I think Hannah wants to have SEX with Luke? Abso-fucking-lutely. But that’s a different conversation. I dated a guy once who drove me as nuts as Luke drives Hannah. So much of what he said and his opinions on things made me crazy (just as I’m sure I did him), yet our chemistry was through the roof. It was a short relationship but still lasted far longer than it should have because of it. But never at any point, and from early on, did I think, “Hmm, but maybe I could maybe marry this man.” HELL NO. We could hardly get through a day without a fight!

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

I actually think it’s a bit insulting to Hannah to think she still sees husband potential with Luke. She has proven time and again that she is smarter than that. It’s such a basic, black and white, believing-what-you’re-told explanation for what’s happening here.

There were so many things I wanted to capture with this date. The following exchange was too long for a .GIF but I had to include it as it so clearly highlights the disconnect between Luke and Hannah. It’s fascinating how much of what Luke says is contributing to some greater goal (the goal always being him coming off well) rather than a simple answer to a simple question. Case in point, as Hannah realizes that what she’s missing from Luke is a basic expression of his emotions and feelings—good or bad—rather than making it about who’s to blame, she asks him for just that. But Luke cannot compute the simplicity of this, repeatedly making it about what happened rather than how what happened makes him feel. His lack of ability (or refusal) to differentiate the two is downright fascinating. Note how in the end, it twists into a stock Right Reasons response…

Hannah: I don’t want to know what happened, I want to know, like, how it affects you. Like, your heart, and me. Does that make sense?
Luke (as though he’s being patronized): Yes.
Hannah: Like, how does it make you feel? How is all this, with our relationship, with you as a person…
Luke: I’ve just been continuing to be myself and be very respectful of everybody else. Even throughout being disrespected throughout conversations. So… how does it make me feel…
Hannah (nodding encouragingly): Feelings.
Luke: Yeah, I think—I now don’t think, I know… that it’s not right. A lot of how they’re treating me is totally not right. But it’s not “affecting” me. Because… I know I’m here for you and I’m not ever going to lose sight of that.

Hannah abruptly leaves to consult with her producers. The show seems so willing to show producers now…

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

… that I feel my Producer Watch™ tradition may end up going way of the dodo. (I am alright with this! Bring on the producers!) It’s during this chat that we get a taste for how useless (and arguably terrible) the advice they provide can be…

Like, really? Is time the issue here??

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

In the same conversation, we also get a taste of how utterly alone being a lead must feel at times. As a contestant, you at least have one another. (Knowing who to trust is a different story, but you technically have “peers” in the same boat as you.) Her producers don’t really give her anything here, no advice, no suggestions. In the following clip, to me, we see the huge difference between a producer and a friend. A friend would call it like it is and say, “This is going nowhere.” A producer says (of course, knowing Luke is walking drama in the house), “Talk to him more. It just takes time.” There’s no way this type of feedback doesn’t have an impact on how she perceives and commits to each relationship, especially since she has no one else to talk to. There’s a moment here where you can see Hannah realize how alone she is. Watch her after the producers basically tell her she’s on her own…

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

In the evening, and having had the “getting ready” interim to reflect, Hannah perfectly describes Luke’s issue:
“There’s a great man inside but there’s these walls that have been put up that, like, I can’t break through because you’re trying to protect what you want people to see. Instead of just saying “It wasn’t my intention, I’m a great guy, like, people love me.” That is a façade that you put up and I don’t want that. I want a real man and an incredible man but that person has flaws and can own up to them.”

There’s an entertaining correlation between what Luke’s saying and his eyebrows’ activity. The more whatever he’s saying is bullshit, the more his eyebrows reflect that. Like, here, things start out promisingly, like he’s almost able to reflect on what Hannah’s saying and possibly even agree with her. Yet the second he starts playing victim, the eyebrows come ALIVE…

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

I may be in the minority here but I felt myself starting to feel a bit bad for Luke during the evening conversation. I say that because I really got the sense that he was trying to communicate with Hannah; he’s just on a different planet (whatever planet narcissists inhabit), speaking a different language. I did feel some genuine, earthly effort, though, when he actually asked Hannah a question about her contestant experience. Note how he holds his gaze after the question’s left his mouth; this split second is the real Luke…

I mean, sure, it was a question that did in a roundabout way pertain to him and his experience, but this moment and the effort he made still felt like an improvement for him.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Finally, as Hannah jokingly goes to strangle him, something about the way his smile fades is heartwrenching…

What was so great about Hannah holding out for Luke throughout this episode was that, in a crazy way, it actually made me want to see him figure it out. Of course, I’m not holding my breath, but it still makes me want to root for him. Instead of simply aching for her to send him home (as I was a week ago), I almost want her to keep him so he can find himself there. It’s not even about their relationship anymore. And to cause that change of heart in me is pretty damn impressive on Hannah’s part.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

"Don't Believe Chris Harrison For One Second": Sharleen Joynt on The Bachelorette Episode Six

I don’t get recap episodes. I never have—but especially in the case of last night’s episode of The Bachelorette. First, five episodes is hardly so many hours of television to have lost track of things and need a refresher.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

At one point last night, we were being recapped an excerpt that was literally shown ONE HOUR prior.

This was obviously cheap filler and resembled the type of fare we normally only get on Bachelor in Paradise. Second, you can’t recap without having a different angle. Either give us plenty of deleted scenes or never-before-seen footage (and not as an afterthought, as it was shown last night), or give us new intel or perspectives on existing content.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Hearing Hannah re-express the exact same feelings and thought processes about the exact same scenes we’d already seen involving Scott, Cam and Luke was patronizing, to say the least. Give us something—anything—new! If it weren’t for my own recaps, let me tell you, I would have switched over to Shark Tank for the second half or so of last night’s episode and Marcus The Zit would have been the only remotely entertaining thing I’d have missed.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

As for last night’s events, I’m mixed. I’ve been a loud and proud Hannah supporter all season, however, her approach last night missed the mark for me. I have no problem with her confronting the men in terms of wanting to set the record straight on what Luke said about whom, but her frustration and eventual anger with them felt misplaced.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

And don’t believe Chris Harrison for one second: There is this much drama EVERY season. (It’s one of the reasons we keep watching, after all.)

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

The guys’ irritation with Luke may be a different flavour, but it is no more intense than the irritation with Chad on Jojo’s season, Krystal on Arie’s season, Lee on Rachel’s season, Kelsey on Chris’ season, Courtney on Ben Flajnik’s season…. Therefore, for Hannah to get as up in arms as she did about something that is a natural—and from a production standpoint, strategic—aspect to this show is wasted energy on her part. Friction in the house is the goal, dating way back to the casting process, and it’s as engrained a part of this show as helicopter rides and Rose Ceremonies.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Further, let’s not forget that Hannah herself was the first on her season to talk badly about another woman—Caelynn—on Colton’s season. I’m not condemning her for it, as many contestants talk about each other, but it’s a bit hypocritical to reprimand the guys for involving themselves in house drama when she was involved with her own when she was in their position.

To her credit, on Colton’s season, she learned her lesson very quickly and was never again heard speaking ill of another woman, but I still think there should be a bit of sensitivity to how producer egging can cause more irritation and obsession than normal.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

Hannah of all people should recognize the influence of production in the guys’ desire to “warn” her about Luke.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)

barish

None of this is even taking into consideration the fact that these guys LIVE together. I know they’re “all there for her,” but the reality is they’re spending way more time with each other—and certainly Luke—than with her. It affects the men and their experience there far more than it does Hannah for her to keep him even only an extra week or two. And just as it’s natural that they’re not all going to get along in a situation designed for friction, it’s natural that they’d feel they know Luke better (or at the very least, differently) than she does. Other leads, feeling in the dark about who their contestants really are, have often welcomed dirt about them, just so they feel that have a fuller picture of who they’re dealing with. But Hannah’s anger at the guys’ concerns with Luke felt, to me, increasingly like defensiveness.

I understand she felt like her ability to judge her relationships was in question, but the guys’ issue with Luke wasn’t really about her at all. It was about Luke’s history with dishonesty, his tendency to lie to people’s faces. You can be there for your relationship with her and still dislike someone you’re forced to live with.

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“The only thing that was ever wrong with me was my belief that something was wrong with me.” (c)