10 times this season’s Bachelor was clearly written by a woman

Let's hear it for Joey Graziadei, product of the female gaze

TV Features Katelyn she
10 times this season’s Bachelor was clearly written by a woman
Joey Graziadei as the Bachelor Photo: Disney/John Fleenor

For the first time in years, The Bachelor feels fun to watch. Sure, it’s still a parade of twentysomethings looking for an Instagram following rather than True Love™, but as we move through the same formula that has aired 28 times (!!) before, something feels fresh. What could it be?

Oh yeah, it’s the Bachelor himself, Joey Graziadei. When I tell you this man was written by a woman (something that more than a few people have pointed out online since the start of this season), what I mean is that he asks follow-up questions. He wipes tears away with the pad of his thumb. He’s not afraid to look stupid. And feminine energy doesn’t scare him.

After years of watching the Bachelor say, “Thank you for sharing that” in response to a woman unloading the most traumatic story you’ve ever heard, it’s life-giving to have a lead who is an active listener. So ahead of the March 25 finale, The A.V. Club presents (in chronological order) 10 times our guy said and did the right things.

previous arrowWhen he said Daisy’s cochlear implant made her special (episode 3) next arrow
When he said Daisy’s cochlear implant made her special (episode 3)
JOEY GRAZIADEI, DAISY Photo Disney/Jan Thijs

On the same group date, Joey gets a little time with Daisy, who had already told him about her medical history and cochlear implant on their one-on-one date the week before. The dialogue continues in this little conversation, with Daisy asking him if he’d like to touch her implant to help him get more comfortable with it. She explains how it works, and then says, “It’s a part of me. But I know, it just makes me a little different.”“No,” Joey replies. “It makes you special, not different.”My guy was on fire that night. Dialogue written by a woman!

6 Comments

  • murrychang-av says:

    So if a guy is nice and not an asshole that means he’s written by a woman, got it.

    • harrydeanlearner-av says:

      Or gay, hellooooooooooo

    • twstewart-av says:

      Yeah, it’s a pretty condescending phrase. Probably not meant literally (though it is reality television, so who knows), but still.That said, it’s all pretty cool. Actually partaking in challenges is a nice step up from just interview talk, which is what I feel like stories about “the new masculinity” often focus on. Well done, heavily-produced reality show man! Maybe one day I’ll actually watch your show.
      Also, I know there’s always a few articles on the front page about men being non-monsters, but it often doesn’t feel like it, so it’s kind of refreshing to me. And it wasn’t weirdly embarrassed to be talking about men! A miracle!

  • robertaloblaw-av says:

    This headline is an abomination.

  • theunnumberedone-av says:

    Dude is an angel. He may have two brain cells, but they’re both really decent.

  • johnwc-av says:

    If unironically using the phrase “strong independent women” is a sign something was written by a women, then maybe the editor should be a man.

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