‘Bachelor In Paradise’ Season 9, Episode 1 Recap: Premiere Vibes, Toe Sucking, And More

Bachelor in Paradise is finally back, and as you watch Bachelor Nation alum pack their suitcases and dance along to Irene Cara’s famous Flashdance song, you can’t help but think, “What a feeling!”

Before host Jesse Palmer welcomes some of our franchise faves (and least faves) to the beach, the Season 9 premiere kicks off with a round of incredibly intimate intro videos, followed by some predictably awkward meet-and-greets. After Paradise bartender Wells Adams serves some drinks, the make-outs, date cards, and drama commence. And you won’t want to miss a moment of the action.

Looking for a recap of Bachelor in Paradise Season 9, Episode 1? Curious who arrived at the beach? Who shared a Day 1 kiss? And who snagged a date card? We’ve got you covered. Since so much of the first episode focuses on meeting the cast, what better place to start?

Bachelor in Paradise Season 9 Cast: Premiere Intros

First things first, who’s who on the beach? As a reminder, additional cast members will be introduced throughout the season, and we know we’re getting appearances from Katie Thurston, Charity Lawson, and Hannah Brown. But based on the first episode, here’s a Paradise Season 9 cast guide, including interesting tidbits from intro videos and aspiring Paradise partners.

• Greer Blitzer: Meet The Bachelor Season 27 alum who snagged Zach Shallcross’ first impression rose, then tested positive for COVID during filming and was sent home Week 7 ahead of Hometown Dates. (Also known for a Blackface scandal, which she addressed live on “Women Tell All.”)
• Brayden Bowers: The Bachelorette Season 20 alum known as the “villain” among Charity Lawson’s men. Also known for his bold collection of statement earrings. He’s looking forward to meeting Kat, Jess, and Kylee on the beach.
• Aaron Bryant: Another Bachelorette Season 20 alum who made Charity Lawson’s Top 3. This time around he’s looking forward to meeting Mercedes.
• Peter Cappio: Yet another Bachelorette Season 20 alum who got sent home Night 1 but started major drama at the “Men Tell All” special when he explained the meaning of “FP.” He’s also an Instagram-famous pilot, in case you care.
• Jess Girod: Another Bachelor Season 27 alum who left Zach Shallcross on her own terms, yet is still primarily known for her love of body glitter.
• Eliza Isichei: Eliza is from Clayton’s Season 26 of The Bachelor, but she also joined Paradise Season 8 mid-way through and got stuck in a painful love triangle between Rodney MAtthews and Justin Glaze.
• Kat Izzo: Katherine “Kat” Izzo was another Bachelor Season 27 contestant who hates everything about the beach (sand/bugs/crabs/etc.) but is excited to meet Blake Moynes.
• Sam Jeffries: Samantha “Sam” Jeffries was “on Clayton’s season for like five seconds,” but self-eliminated before even speaking with him or having the first rose ceremony.
• Olivia Lewis: Another Bachelor Season 27 alum who’s obsessed with toe sucking (more on this later.)

• Sean McLaughlin: Fresh off The Bachelorette Season 20, Sean calls himself a Ken doll, a Swiftie, and he can’t wait to meet Jess G.
• Blake Moynes: You may know Blake from Clare and Tayshia’s season of The Bachelorette, or from Katie Thurston’s season, which he won! The two called off their engagement, so it should be exceptionally awkward when she arrives on the beach later this season.
• Mercedes Northup: Also from The Bachelor Season 27, Mercedes is a girl from Iowa known for making a first impression with Henry the pig.
• Rachel Recchia: Perhaps the most recognizable face on the beach this season is Rachel Recchia, who went from Clayton’s season of The Bachelor to co-leading The Bachelorette alongside Gabby Windey. After breaking off her engagement, Recchia has appeared on Paradise Season 8 and The Bachelorette Season 20. She’s excited to meet — wait for it — Brayden.
• Kylee Russell: This Bachelor Season 27 alum is best remembered for getting sent home by Zach Shallcross via video chat when he had COVID. She’s hoping to meet Recchia’s ex Aven on the beach.
• Aaron Schwartzman: Aaron S (not Aaron B) is another alum from Charity’s Season 20 of The Bachelorette.
• Will Urena: Will is the sole contestant thus far from The Bachelorette Season 18, where he dated Michelle Young. You may remember him as “Jacket Guy,” the dude whose jacket was thrown in the pool.
• Brooklyn Willie: You may remember Zach Shallcross’ ex Brooklyn from her famous catchphrase, “If the shoe fits, lace that bitch up!”
• Cat Wong: Finally, another Bachelor Season 27 alum, known for her expressive face.

Paradise Season 9‘s First Kiss (No Toes Were Sucked In The Making Of This Episode)

Both Kylee and Olivia had their eyes on Will, but Olivia and Will shared BIP Season 9’s first kiss. Normally, romantic witty banter leads to Paradise smooches. But this time, I’m half-convinced Will planted one on Kylee to get her to stop asking him to suck her toes.

That’s right! Far too many minutes of Paradise‘s two-hour premiere centered on — as Wells called them — “NC-17 convos about sucking toes.” Even former Bachelorette Rachel Recchia admitted, “I’ve never sucked a toe, but I could be open to sucking a toe. I mean if all we’re talking about is toes. Maybe I’m missing out on something. I could put a toe in my mouth probably. I put a lot of other things in there so I don’t know why a toe would be different.”

Despite all the chatter, no toes were sucked in the making of this episode (to our knowledge). And though Olivia secured Paradise‘s first kiss, she didn’t snag the first date.

BIP Season 9, Episode 1 Recap: Who Went On A Date?

The first date card of the season went to Kylee, who — after much deliberation — asked Will out. Without talking to Olivia first, Will accepted. And even though he fell in a pool fully clothed (which gave him PTSD becuase his jacket got thrown int he water on The Bachelorette) he and Kylee shared a lovely dinner date, complete with kissing and talk of commitment.

The next morning, Will pulled a fuming Olivia aside, apologized for disrespecting her, told her he wasn’t feeling the toe-sucking talk, and that he’s all-in with Kylee. After the date, Kylee told cameras that “Justin Bieber could walk down those steps and I’d be like, ‘No. Will is my guy.” We’ll see about that…

Bachelor in Paradise Season 9 Premiere Pairings

The men have the roses Week 1, and though there was no rose ceremony during the Season 9 premiere, there were some solid pairings by the end of the two-hour episode. Here’s who could be coupled up next episode:

• Blake and Jess (Kissed)
• Rachel and Sean (Kissed)
• Aaron S. and Sam (Aaron said, “I’ll probably marry Sam”)
• Kat and Brayden (Kissed)
• Aaron B. and Eliza (Flirted) or Aaron B. and Mercedes (Kissed)
• Will and Kylee (Dating, but TBD…)

Who Arrived On The Beach?

Why the TBD? Well, the Season 9 premiere ends with Aven, a 29-year-old from Gabby and Rachel’s season of The Bachelorette, arriving on the beach WITH a date card. Remember when we said Aven was the only guy Kylee was hoping to meet on the beach?! Pre-Paradise the two had been flirting via Instagram likes, and Episode 2’s preview teases Kylee and Olivia pursuing Aven while Will is in tears.

New episodes of Bachelor in Paradise Season 9 air on Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. on ABC. Next-day streaming is available on Hulu.