Reality TV reflection? Count me in.
I have been told countless times through the years that the time I invest in watching television is wasteful, and that I should not look towards such an altered version of reality as means of inspiration. But in the last year, with way too many hours of free time on my hands, I turned to what brought me simple and pure entertainment: the Bachelor franchise. While struggling through the pandemic, the events that I watched unfold (despite the shows’ artificial and intentionally crafted narratives) forced me to reflect on struggles that I had been avoiding in my own life. With the conclusion of this most recent season of Bachelor in Paradise (a must-see in my opinion), I thought I would take some time to reflect on my takeaways from the many hours that I spent sucked into the world on my screen.
What initially drew me into reality television was the sense of comfort that I got from witnessing the chaos on screen, and The Bachelor is no exception. Thirty men or women vying for the attention of one member of the opposite sex in an environment that is meant to make them hyper-focused on falling in love? Now that’s drama, and I was hooked. However, as society moves forward, what gets broadcasted moves forward with it. The topics being discussed and the stories being shared changed the way I viewed contestants, past and present.
The real turning point for me was during the most recent season of The Bachelor, where the world was introduced to Serena Pitt. As a young girl with wisdom beyond her years, Serena displayed herself on national television as someone who was sure of herself while still struggling with forming personal connections. When I was watching this season, I was definitely not in the place to be a partner for anyone. I probably still need more time to figure that out for myself, but Serena’s authenticity and willingness to be honest about herself as a partner was refreshing to watch, especially in what can become a toxic, artificial dating environment.
Even though the nature of Bachelor television shows doesn’t always allow for personal growth (in fact, it commonly prevents such a thing for the sake of entertainment), I have found myself responding to these journeys with the feeling that I should remind myself that it’s okay. It’s okay to be lost and not know how to move forward, as long as you try.