COMMENT:
Here we are, then, at the edge of a pandemic, a nation lunging at toilet paper and furiously washing its hands every five seconds while the world goes to hell in a facemask – and yet there is a greater evil. It stalks the porticos and Spanish arches of The Bachelorette. It takes the shape of a wretch who likely has 666 chiselled beneath his beard. It is – crashing piano chord, raspy blare of trumpet – Bachelor Aaron, right now the baddest man in the whole damn world.
Last night's episode of the long-running dating show was a portrait of psychological disturbance. Bachelor Aaron went insane in the brain. He glowered; he brooded; his mind was crammed with the furniture of hatred, and spite, and rage. It made for incredible viewing and was certainly the best, most-involving show of the series. I think I can go so far as to say that every show from now on in is going to be required – nay, essential – viewing.
It must be acknowledged that some or much or even all of The Bachelorette exists on dramatic license. Things are exaggerated, amplified. The bachelors are surely in on it and go along with whatever role makes for good TV. And so what I'm saying here is that food technology school teacher Aaron McKay is almost certainly a completely different person than his role as Bachelor Aaron. The former is likely a benign Dr Jekyll, blamelessly pottering hither and yon in a classroom. But as the diabolical Mr Hyde, Bachelor Aaron is a rich, fascinating and very, very disturbed hombre.
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