This season of The Bachelor just got real. We can’t be the only ones still reeling from last night’s episode, which saw Ben sending Jubilee home during the group date. Sure, we were hurt, but when Ben decided to give the group date rose to none other than Olivia, we’d had enough.
Jubilee has been a favorite since the beginning of the season. She’s definitely exhibited a bit of awkwardness here and there but nothing any worse than what we’ve seen the rest of the women do during their inductions into Bachelor Nation.
From day one, Jubilee’s statements were often misconstrued by the other women—like when she asked if anyone else wanted to take her one-on-one with Ben since it involved a helicopter ride. But in case you haven’t noticed, there’s this little thing called sarcasm that we—just like Jubilee—employ on a regular basis.
Things turned especially grim for Jubilee this week when she shied away from many of the group date activities. Hey, we wouldn’t want to hear a guy whisper sweet nothings in our ear during a beginners’ Spanish class either—especially knowing that he said the same thing to four other women already. (We’re suddenly transported to a very yucky memory from high school.)
Jubilee was again quiet and focused as she participated in the group date cooking challenge with her partner, Lauren B. Turns out, her silent determination won her the contest…but somehow lost her Ben’s heart.
Granted Ben’s interactions with Jubilee grew increasingly icy as the evening went on, but we were blindsided when Ben decided to send Jubilee home during the group date. Her insecurities were mounting and definitely rearing their ugly heads, but we can’t say we wouldn’t feel the same way given the situation. Perhaps, Ben was simply tired of reassuring Jubilee and would rather give the group date rose to someone who’d really appreciate it.
Of course, if he’d given said rose to any woman but Olivia, we would have recovered—ego slightly bruised by Jubilee’s dismissal but willing to move on without her. That’s not exactly what happened, though. Olivia was instantly—pardon the pun—jubilant over the thought of sticking around another week to let her love story with Ben play out. She commenced with rubbing her victory in the face of every woman there and bullying Amanda, Emily and others into tears and fits of warranted snark.
We totally understand that Ben somehow hasn’t seen this side to Olivia, but the simple fact that he wouldn’t hold her hand as she walked down the stairs at the cocktail party or how he kind of cringed when she gave him a (promise?) ring says it all, right? At this point in the game, it seems Ben is more reluctant to stroke a girl’s ego than he is to deal with her incessant cray. Coming on too strong? Ben’s okay with that. Admitting that you’re not 100% into yourself all the time? Ben cannot handle that truth.
Just weeks ago, we saw the same thing happen with Lace. Now Jubilee is certainly not the level of insecure that Lace was, but Ben definitely had a problem with Lace’s emotional issues. Had she not left the competition on her own, is there any question he would’ve sent her home the moment he couldn’t take any more of her “whining”?
We thought we moved past the idea of women being completely perfect specimens a while ago. Heads up—we’re complex messes sometimes; other times, we couldn’t be happier with ourselves.
If the end of last night’s episode is any indication, Olivia’s number might finally be up next week. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see if it’s her mistreatment of the remaining women or Ben’s sneaking suspicion that she might not be all she’s cracked up to be that sends her packing.