‘The Bachelor’ Shocker: Is Nick Actually…Great?

“Skeptical” might be a polite way of describing my feelings when Nick Viall was announced as this season’s Bachelor. One episode in, I was not having it. Now that we’ve reached week 5, something strange is happening. I think…Nick…might be…a great Bachelor?

I was firmly on Team Luke from the second his adorably stunned face was sent home last summer during JoJo’s season of The Bachelorette. The fact that he wasn’t immediately named the new Bachelor, a man given over two dozen chances at love on national television, was an outrage. Nick had failed twice at The Bachelorette and after jaunt in Paradise, shocked fans by returning to the franchise for a fourth time. Ugh, this guy again?

As the limos pulled up to the mansion, he could hardly find words to mumble to the ladies to welcome them to the journey. It took him much longer than it should’ve to place the face (let alone the name) of a woman he had hooked up with earlier in the year. There were no indications that this was a man who was truly dedicated to finding love, the technical point of the show that I buy hook, line and sinker. At the very least, this didn’t seem like a guy who would be a gentleman and truly respect the feelings of these women without being kind of a douche along the way.

Now, as Corinne has clearly proven to the world, he is still a man who is very much controlled by the urges of his body. This is also a guy for one reason or another has been hurt, or at the least, embarrassed on national TV more times than anyone would want to be. So there’s a part of his male ego that loves the attention and the constant makeouts that he’s presented with every time he simply shows up in a room. But, if you’ve noticed: it’s not him initiating. These women have moved way too fast, and they are the ones pulling his face in for the liplocks. Now, he’s not pulling back, which some might interpret as polite. But he’s not being a total horndog. Oh, and just to clarify, it’s not morally wrong. Get yours, girls. But in the playing of this game, it’s not the smartest move to get so physical so quickly and hope to still keep him intrigued even as short as a week later. Let him hunt a little. Unless you have a magic tongue, in which case, cast your spell.

So we’re starting to witness a “this time it’s different” feeling with Nick. He could’ve leaned into any spitefulness he was feeling and believe himself to be a king amongst these women. Instead, he’s going…empathetic? Did not see that one coming! There’s no air that he’s been though this before so he knows best. If anything, his prior experience is helping him understand, relate, and feel for these women in a deeper way.

Again, Corinne is the exception here (and a product of producers). But with all the other women, he’s been a good listener, to the extent that they seem to be talking a lot and it looks like he’s actually hearing their words. In the case of Dominique, he listened to her and as politely as possible sent her home, knowing that if she couldn’t last just a few days into this adventure, she was never going to be a match for Mr. 4th Time’s The Charm.

Same thing with the Liz situation: he couldn’t get a grasp on what she was doing there or why, and didn’t waste anyone’s time by showing her the door and promptly and honestly explaining his side to the other women. If you were playing a drinking game at home that includes “Drink every time Nick shows maturity” you got wasted that night.

Oh, but the one on ones! How effing romantic have these dates been? From consoling (and then kissing) Vanessa when she barfed in space, to bringing Raven to his little sister’s soccer game, we’re seeing a softness and a vulnerability to him that is as refreshing as it is surprising. Could this guy actually be here for the right reasons?

As we’re just about to cross the halfway mark, Nick’s ears better stay wide open. If he can continue to listen to his heart and to these women and not his genitals, then there is a very real chance that the fourth time is indeed the charm.

Where to watch 'The Bachelor'