There are several big changes that Bachelor in Paradise has introduced in Season 10. The show relocated and decided to feature singles from The Golden Bachelor franchise. While these changes have helped the show to improve, the biggest change they made has done the opposite.
For the first time ever, BIP will have a winning couple. Each week, the pairs compete in a challenge to try to secure immunity. The couples who don’t earn immunity are then at risk of being voted out by their fellow contestants. The last couple remaining at the end of the season will get to walk away with a $500,000 prize. This is completely unprecedented, and unfortunately ended up being a huge mistake.
The Bachelor in Paradise couples are more focused on the prize money and challenges than building their relationships
Bachelor in Paradise is supposed to be a show solely about love. While there are several reality dating shows that include a financial incentive, BIP has never gone that route. By introducing money, BIP seems to be copying shows like Love Island. On the other hand, through introducing strategic components and voting, it’s mimicking other popular shows like The Traitors.
While BIP definitely looks like a copycat this season, the biggest issue is that the couples seem more focused on the money than anything else. Instead of focusing on building their connections, several couples are using their time together to discuss strategy instead. Sean McLaughlin even went as far as trying to establish the Parliament of Paradise, which took away time from his relationship with Allyshia Gupta. As a result, the group decided to send Sean and Allyshia home as they felt Sean’s behavior was too much.
BIP should be about love first and foremost, but this season it isn’t. Engagements haven’t even been discussed, which is a first for the series. Instead, the couples are focused on winning money, rather than trying to decide if they see a future with one another.
Eliminating strong couples gives them last time to develop connections
One of the biggest issues with the new format is that couples aren’t all getting an equal amount of time to spend together in Paradise. Under the old format, couples could stay to the end as long as they continuously gave one another a rose. With the new rules, however, one or two couples lose a rose each week, ultimately sending them home. BIP is already a short experience, so it’s critical that the strong couples have as much time as possible to spend together.
So far, several strong couples have been sent home. Parisa Shifteh and Brian Autz got the boot after building a strong connection throughout Season 10. Before them, Faith Martin and Kim Buike were sent home by the group despite developing a romantic relationship. Similarly, Leslie Fhima and Gary Levingston were the first couple sent home by the cast. Gary and Leslie were growing feelings for one another, but were eliminated before they could explore things more.
Platonic pairs are sticking around for longer than they should be
Since the cast decides who is sent home, it gives platonic couples a chance to stick around longer. BIP is about love, and it doesn’t make sense for individuals with no connections to stick around. Typically, contestants not in relationships either didn’t receive roses or self-eliminated due to their lack of connection. Under the new format, however, they feel inclined to stay and work together for a chance to win the money.
Two platonic pairs ended up making it pretty far on Season 10. Lea Cayanan and Jonathan Johnson went on a date, but Jonathan later told Lea he only saw her as a friend. Lea was disappointed, Jonathan convinced her to stick around so that they could work together to earn the $500,000. The pair made it to the final six, where they were then sent home. On the other hand, Kathy Swarts and Keith Gordon have also been public about their relationship being strictly platonic. Like Lea and Jonathan, however, they haven’t given up in hopes of potentially winning the money. Kathy and Keith are still in the competition with only five pairs remaining.
BIP should be focused on love, but instead it has turned into a race for $500,000. This has really taken away from the premise of the show, which has made the latter half of the season a frustrating watch.
Bachelor in Paradise is available to stream on Hulu.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK ADDING PRIZE MONEY HURT BACHELOR IN PARADISE? WHY OR WHY NOT?
