Bachelor Nation, we’re back! With a whole new twist on Bachelor in Paradise. Not only do a cast of former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants head to the new resort in Costa Rica, they’ll also will be joined next week with the goldens, who previously were on Gerry’s season of the Golden Bachelor and Joan’s season of the Golden Bachelorette. I love that twist, expecting some interesting dynamics with the goldens giving advice to the younger crew, and I think we’re going to have a really fun season, along with plenty of other new twists that will come. Pretty hyped for this season that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before!

Spencer, who was on Jenn’s season of The Bachelorette is the first to the resort. Alexe, who walked in with a llama on night one of Grant’s season of The Bachelor is the first guy to arrive. The next lady to arrive is Lexi, who sent herself home on Joey’s season of The Bachelor. Kind of surprised on her being here, but I did really like her. Jeremy, a fan favorite from Jenn’s season of The Bachelorette is next. Another fan favorite from Jenn’s season, Jonathan shows up next. Bailey, from Grant’s season shows up next. Hakeem, yet another fan favorite from Jenn’s season heads to the resort. Jess from Joey’s season, who was a pretty quick exit, comes to Paradise. Another guy, Kyle, who I don’t remember whatsoever, and was apparently sent home on night one on Katie’s season. No one else knows who he is either. Zoe, who was in the midst of drama on Grant’s season, but ended up in the final three without having a one on one, comes to Paradise next. Ricky, another guy I don’t remember, and was sent home night one of Jenn’s season arrives to Paradise. A Brian guy I don’t remember from Jenn’s season comes to the resort. Not a fan of this dude right off the hop and then I’m reminded he’s the guy that took the other douchebag’s car in night one. Kat makes her return to Paradise. She got engaged with John Henry for a cup of coffee in her first time in Paradise after Zach’s season of The Bachelor.

Jesse goes to greet the cast, let’s them know that they now have air conditioning, which is huge. Wells is back to be the bartender, and he’s joined by Hannah Brown to be in charge of “Paradise relations”. The ladies start the season with the roses. This time around, they’re adding more exercises and chemistry tests to find the perfect person.

One last arrival returning to Paradise, Justin Glaze…for the third time, who’s not back just to find love, but to “prove he can keep it”. Justin gets the first date card of the season and asks Lexi to go with him. Their date gets rained out with a rain check for the next night.

Meanwhile other couples start pairing off. Spencer and Jess kick it off right away and have the first kiss of Paradise before the rain rolls in. Jonathan and Kat seem to have a spark. Hakeem’s very into Bailey, who seems to want nothing to do with him.

On day two, a new arrival via boat to Paradise…Dale Moss, the VERY early winner of Claire’s season of The Bachelorette. All the girls are instantly attracted to him. He gets a date card on the catamaran he rolled in on. After talking to a handful of the ladies, Dale asks Kat to go on the date with him.

At the resort, the cast does a game, reading fun facts about people on cutout silhouettes of people, and stick hearts on one’s that they’re attracted to and Xs on one’s they’re not interested in, taking the looks out of it. Ricky and Hakeem get into a stupid argument when Ricky tells Hakeem that he’s vanilla.

Following that activity, another guy that had his silhouette in the game, but wasn’t there, Sam, the villain from Jenn’s season of The Bachelorette rides into Paradise. I hated this dude on The Bachelorette, but I’ve hated plenty of cast members on the regular shows who ended up being likable on Paradise. Could absolutely see Sam become one of them. He gets a date card upon arrival. Sam ends up asking Jess to go on the date, and she says yes, even after kicking it off with Spencer. That pisses off Spencer quite a bit. Their date ends up being a “purification & rebirth ritual” in the middle of the jungle. Jess starts the date saying she’s still thinking about Spencer at the resort, but then her and Sam end up kicking it off and connecting pretty well. The whole time while Spencer is saying that he’s not gonna be someone’s second choice.

On another note, they really cranked up the production budget for this season. Feels like more of Netflix level production show over just ABC.

There’s two love triangles going into rose ceremony night. Obviously Jess with Spencer and Sam, then Jeremy and Kyle fighting over Bailey.

Justin’s the first to talk to Hannah Brown, and asks for help in setting up something special for his rain check date with Lexi. Justin opens up to Lexi about his last relationship with Susie, and how real it was for him being best friends with her for a year and then dating a year. Lexi’s concern is that he’s not over Susie yet and he gives his reassurance to her that he’s there for the right reasons and his intentions are pure. They do seem to have a decent early connection.

Lexi says to a few other people during the cocktail party, that she doesn’t know if she wants to get into a relationship with Justin when he’s so fresh off his relationship with Susie of two years.

Time for the first rose ceremony of Paradise. Four guys going home and I don’t think any of the guys are safe at this point besides maybe Dale.

Lexi has the first rose and although she has her doubts, still gives Justin the rose. Zoe’s next and gives her rose to Brian. Kat to no surprise gives her rose to Dale after they hit it off on their date. Jess has the first tough choice and chooses to give her rose to Spencer. Right choice there. Bailey’s next and goes with Jeremy over Kyle. That was a complete 50/50. Alexe (and who knows who she picks) with the final rose tonight…

“Jonathan”…yada yada yada…”Will you accept this rose?”

Best choice there.

That sends Sam, Hakeem, Kyle, and Ricky home.

Solid first episode to start off what’s gonna be a great season. Next week the Goldens arrive! It’s going to be fucking INCREDIBLE. And an all star cast of Bachelor Nation. And a half a million dollar surprise.

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