Another season of "The Bachelor" is here, and all anyone can talk about is llamas, PowerPoint presentations, and how many lips Grant kissed on night one. Though leads in the past have most often limited their make-out sessions on the first night it's common for them to only kiss the person they give their first impression rose to , Grant went all in last night. And to be honest, I didn't hate it. For those who weren't counting, Grant kissed a total of five women last night.
And though this may seem like a lot in the "Bachelor" universe, let's remember that night one is essentially filled with a ton of first dates. When you compare the experience to the world outside of reality television, kissing on a first date is totally normal and, in fact, typically encouraged if the date goes well.
Grant was simply doing what we all do when we're on a first date: exploring chemistry. Sometimes, it doesn't matter how great the flirting is β or how compatible your life goals are β if the kiss ultimately ends up feeling off. Someone plunging their tongue in your mouth is a red flag you unfortunately might not be able to ignore.
If you ask me, Grant was just being efficient with his time. Why waste time pretending to build a connection with someone when a kiss can confirm whether or not it's worth pursuing? On a show like "The Bachelor," where time is extremely limited, this kind of clarity early on is important. Though Grant's approach might feel bold and maybe unhygienic , I respect it.
Like podcast host Natalie Joy said on the Jan. It's the Bachelor's main focus to narrow down 25 women to just one in the span of eight weeks β all while balancing group dates, cocktail parties, and one-on-one conversations. Time is Grant's most precious commodity, so kissing is one of the quickest ways to gauge connection. At the end of the day, it's my belief that physical intimacy is just as important as an emotional connection. According to what he said in the season premiere, Grant is physically and emotionally ready to settle down.
