Bachelor in Paradise - Episode Recaps (S9, E7)

Overall Episode Rating: 4/10 stars

I enjoyed seeing the different couples develop this episode, but I have to give the episode a low rating because the editing/production really threw me off this episode. I feel like we as viewers were really left in the dark about a lot of different situations.

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Main Events of The Episode

• My Perspective

Charity and Eliza talk about the Aaron B. sketchy ex-girlfriend situation. Charity says she got messages from his ex-girlfriend, but in her own interactions with Aaron B. she didn’t see any of those red flags.

• So it seems like the entire situation was not as dramatic as Kat made it out to be.

• It doesn’t seem like Aaron B. did anything major wrong, but I think he should’ve been less defensive. I think if he had been more calm from the get go, Eliza wouldn’t have been so concerned.

• Overall, I think Charity was very fair with how she spoke about the situation, and I really enjoyed seeing her on the beach.

Charity pulls aside Aaron B. to chat about the situation. They clear the air, and Charity gives him some advice on how to handle the situation.

• This entire interaction was so sweet and wholesome, it’s clear the two of them have so much respect and appreciation for each other.

• Charity offered Aaron B. incredibly good advice when it came to reassuring Eliza, and I think she helped calm Aaron B.’s nerves a lot.

Eliza and Aaron B. talk to clear the air. Eliza says she believes him, but she still has her hesitations and needs to take things slow.

• Aaron B. handled the situation very very well. He struck a great balance between trying to explain his side, but holding himself accountable as well for the complexity of this situation.

• Overall, I thought Aaron B. had a very mature reaction, and you could see he really took Charity’s advice to heart.

• It was very refreshing to see such an open, honest, and vulnerable conversation on paradise.

Kat pulls John Henry, and continues to aggressively flirt with him right in front of Olivia. This is their 4th conversation of the night. Olivia is incredibly aggravated by the situation. Tanner, Eliza, and Aaron B. are all put off by the situation.

• I thought this entire interaction was quite funny. It’s clear that Kat maybe has questionable intentions based on her track record on the beach, and I thought it was funny how even Tanner was wicked out by her.

• I am a little confused about how much John Henry is entertaining this connection despite seeing Kat be a very angry and aggressive person over the past couple of episodes.

• On Olivia’s end of things, I just think she needs to chill and to not let Kat get under her skin.

• I think she’s giving Kat too much of her energy and too much power over her emotions. I understand her frustration, but Kat is just not worth the time of day.

Sam has pooped! - update from Jesse.

• I really do appreciate being kept in the loop on this situation, I wish Sam the best!

Aaron B. tells Eliza that he is falling in love with her.

• Very sweet and wholesome moment.

• I think how Aaron B. has handled this difficult situation with Eliza has really made me confident in the fact that they could be a strong couple outside of paradise.

No one seems to acknowledge Jess and Tyler’s kiss at all? Tyler seems all in Mercedes again!

• I’m not sure if I’m crazy, but literally no one has seemed to acknowledge the fact that Jess and Tyler made out on the beach yesterday?!?

• We never see Tyler talk to Mercedes about it, and we never see Jess talk to Blake about it.

• Personally, if I were Mercedes, I would be very concerned if the man who said he was all in on me was making out with another girl less than 24 hours ago?

• Also, I’m even more confused because it seemed like there was an expression of feelings along with the kiss, so what happened? Why is everyone pretending like nothing happened? My assumption is that the producers are editing things out to maybe give certain people a better edit on the show, or get the fans more invested in certain couples? Maybe they are even trying to protect Tyler or Blake because they want them to be the next bachelor?

• I’m not sure, but something sketchy is going on here, especially because this episode was 10 minutes shorter than average.

Jess tells Blake how much she missed him, and he says he wanted to press the green light with their relationship.

• Jess’s feelings for Blake are quite frankly giving me emotional whiplash. Ever since she said she wanted to explore other people, I have been confused about

• Jess. I don’t think we ever got a clear indication about why Jess was having doubts, maybe it was just commitment issues?

• However, I did think this entire interaction was quite cute, and they do seem very invested in each other. I think they’ll be a great couple on the beach in paradise, but I don’t think they will make it in the real world.

Tanner is the “bachelor” of paradise at this rose ceremony. Davia, Genevie, and Rachel try chatting with him. Rachel and Tanner kiss.

• I’m also confused with what happened here because Tanner and Davia’s date seemed to go quite well, but we never saw any interactions between them after?

• I imagine they must have had a conversation after Tanner ended things with Kat, and I’m very curious as to why the producers choose not to show that. Are they trying to give Tanner a better edit or Kat a bad edit?

• Overall, the editing in this episode, and what was or was not chosen to be shown had me a little suspicious.

• This is all to say, I was quite surprised to see how open Tanner’s rose was. I was also surprised to see how much chemistry there was between him and Rachel when they chatted. It was an unexpected match, but I'm rooting for them.

John Henry tells Olivia he still has to explore things with Kat to know for sure what he wants. Kat organizes a little rendezvous with John Henry in the hot tub. John Henry tells her he feels something very special with her, and they make out.

• I was also taken by surprise by this interaction. Up until this point I was sure that John Henry was going to choose Olivia, and that he was just entertaining Kat out of curiosity. However, this interaction clearly showed how he has very genuine feelings for Kat.

• He clearly seems more excited to be with her than he does to be with Olivia. This makes me think that there may be more to Kat than we are seeing, and the producers are probably choosing to give her a harsher edit than may be true. I also think this because some of the girls on the beach and Charity herself all seem to be fairly good friends with Kat, so I imagine she must have some good qualities.

• Overall, I still don’t like her very much and don’t approve of any of the yelling or anger in recent episodes, but I can acknowledge she might not be pure evil.

Olivia confronts Kat about her advances towards John Henry. Olivia questions the integrity of Kat’s actions, and storms off after the argument.

• I think Olivia clearly really cares about John Henry, but I think she should have just stopped engaging with Kat.

• At the end of the day, Kat is going to do what Kat wants to do and nothing is going to stop that.

• I do believe that Olivia was genuinely concerned about Kat using John Henry, but I don’t think there was any use in confronting Kat about that. I don’t think Kat did anything overtly wrong in this situation, but I do think she could also just benefit from being the bigger person in this situation.

The rose ceremony kicks-off, but Becca is not there. She’s having major doubts about Brayden and paradise. Becca leaves paradise before the rose ceremony.

• Yet again, I was taken by surprise by this entire situation. Firstly, Becca and Brayden coming back to paradise from their date was never shown on the show which I think is interesting.

• Secondly, I imagine after his date with Becca, Brayden had a talk with Rachel to end things, and that conversation was also never shown. Even, Becca as a person was not shown at all after her date with Brayden. What on earth is happening with the editing? Who are the producers trying to protect, or what narratives are they trying to advance? Why was there no real reason given for Becca leaving?

• My guess is she probably has some ex or situationship at home, so being at paradise just didn’t feel right to her. Who knows what really happened, but overall I was very much caught off guard.

Most roses go where they are expected. Tanner’s rose goes to Rachel. John Henry’s rose goes to Kat. Brayden gives his rose to Olivia in a friendship type of way. Davia and Genevie go home.

• I’m really happy to see that Rachel is staying on the beach and especially with a nice guy like Tanner. I know they are a fairly new couple, but I see a good amount of chemistry between them. I also just love Rachel and want the best for her after everything she has been through.

• After John Henry’s hot tub moment with Kat, I wasn’t surprised that she got his rose.

• I thought it was absolutely hilarious that Brayden decided to give his rose to Olivia just as Kat thought she was going to go home. Although Brayden said he gave Olivia his rose because he thinks she really deserves to find love, I imagine there was some petty part of him that also did it to spite Kat. Quite frankly, I support the decision either way, and it sure did make for great television.

John Henry pulls Olivia to talk. He tries to apologize for the way he handled things at the rose ceremony.

• I appreciated that John Henry acknowledged that he didn’t handle things the greatest. I think the apology came from a genuine place, but I also think Olivia had every right to be a little standoffish and not too receptive.

• Either way, I think John Henry is going to regret the decision eventually because there is absolutely no way he and Kat will last.

Michael from Charity’s season comes down to the beach. He chats with a bunch of the girls. Everyone is praying that Olivia gets a break, and Michael takes her on the date.

• I think Michael will end up asking Olivia on the date because I don’t think many of the other women would say yes to be honest.

• I also think that’s the best choice from his point of view too if he wants an open person to develop a relationship with.

Predictions for Next Episode:

1. When Katie arrives at the beach, Blake is actually more put together than the preview makes him seem. I think Blake and Jess will stay strong and there will be less drama than expected.

2. Michael takes Olivia on the date, and they have a good time.

3. Although the previews show Rachel with Jordan from her season, I think she will stay strong with Tanner. I don’t think she’ll switch gears.

4. I think we will see Sam and Peter grow stronger in their relationship.

5. I think John Henry and Kat’s relationship will begin to fall apart.

Quotes of The Episode:

“She’s grasping at straws, she’s not playing the field, let me make that clear.” - Olivia on Kat

“I think that she likes everybody. Tyler, Tanner, Brayden, John Henry now…at this point if you aren’t being pursued by Kat, there’s something wrong with you.” - Wells on Kat

“I never saw this coming, he was an alternate on my list.” - Kat on John Henry

“It’s basically still my birthday this whole week.” - Kat

“I wore my butterfly clip because I’m going to spread my wings…not my legs.” - Kat

“My goal for tonight is to have a tongue in my mouth.” - Kat