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All Luke P. Drama Aside, Hannah Is Still the Best Bachelorette We've Had in a While

19/06/2019 - 11:45 PM

To be frank, I wasn't thrilled when ABC announced Hannah Brown as this year's Bachelorette [1]. I immediately had flashbacks to her cringe-worthy one-on-one date during Colton Underwood's season of The Bachelor [2], when she awkwardly couldn't find the words to make a toast [3] and kick-start their day together. "If this gal can't even make a simple toast, how the heck am I supposed to watch an entire season with her as the leading lady [4]?" I thought to myself while watching the "After the Final Rose" special.

Needless to say, my expectations were pretty low when I tuned into The Bachelorette's season premiere [5], but my scepticism quickly transformed into optimism as the episode unfolded. The first "Hold up, am I a Hannah stan now?" moment came when the Alabama native [6] gave a contestant named Scott a piece of her mind after learning he secretly had a girlfriend waiting for him back at home [7]. She bluntly confronted him about it, defended herself when he claimed her involvement in Colton's season was similar to his having a girlfriend he'd broken up with just days before filming began, and, ultimately, she sent him home. Show 'em who's boss, queen!

Since then, Hannah has continued to prove herself a worthy Bachelorette week after week. Do I wish she would just bite the bullet and eliminate Luke Parker already [9]? Yes, absolutely. But despite all the drama surrounding her confusing hot-and-cold relationship with Luke [10], I can't help but acknowledge that she's still one of the best Bachelorettes we've had in a hot minute. Don't get me wrong — I enjoyed Becca Kufrin and Rachel Lindsay's respective seasons of the series, but Hannah's has been way more entertaining and up my alley. Kindly sit back and allow me to present my evidence, detailed ahead, and you'll undoubtedly hop aboard the Hannah bandwagon, which is already inhabited by plenty of Bachelor Nation members.

She's Refreshingly Honest About Her Emotions

A former Miss Alabama, Hannah used her pageant queen platform to advocate for depression and anxiety, both of which she has struggled with throughout her life. She's continued that advocacy during her time on The Bachelorette [11], always down to admit to her suitors when she's not feeling 100 percent [12]. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she explained, "There are times when I get super anxious and want to be able to control all of the things going on around me . . . Doing this show has taught me how to handle that in a more positive way. I think it's okay to just say, 'Hey, I'm a little anxious, I'm a little sad.'"

Hannah did just that at the start of her one-on-one date with frontrunner Tyler Cameron [13], candidly confessing that she wasn't in the best mood because of Luke-related drama from the previous day. Rather than shrugging off her down-in-the-dumps state of mind and pretending everything was hunky-dory, she was upfront about her mixed emotions, which allowed Tyler to swoop in and cheer her up like the supportive stud muffin he is [14].

She's Weeding Out the Bullsh*tters (Well, Most of Them)

As I mentioned before, Hannah demonstrated her unwillingness to put up with slime balls on night one of her journey when she sent Scott home immediately after learning about his mystery girlfriend. Nice try, bucko! She proved herself yet again during the third episode while confronting Cam about the story he shared with her.

To refresh your memory, the other men told her that Cam was seeking to snag a "pity rose" by telling her about a trifecta of unfortunate events from his past (getting leg surgery, losing his grandmother, and having to give away his puppy). Hannah wasn't here for it, as she sent Cam and his overused "Always Be Cam" slogan packing that same night. We love a gal who calls the shots and takes charge! Now, if only she'd do the same with Luke Parker . . .

She's Making the Men Fight For Her

Remember that time she challenged Matteo to eat a plateful of bugs in front of her? Iconic, TBH. Hannah certainly hasn't made the journey an easy one for her suitors, testing their ability to fight for her with taxing and embarrassing group dates, much like past seasons. They've had to parade around on stage in skimpy swimwear, repeatedly bust a** during a roller derby competition, learn the ins and outs of pregnancy (including getting hooked up to a labor pain simulator [15]), and wrestle each other in kilts sans underwear [insert side-eye emoji here].

She's Nothing if Not Relatable AF

Hannah is the first Bachelorette I can truly relate to. She's ditched the ideal of perfection she desperately strove for during Colton's season of The Bachelor [16], and instead, she now embraces that she has flaws and insecurities (and constantly reminds the men of that!). Meanwhile, she's not afraid to put her endearingly quirky personality on display. Remember how she named her zit Marcus? I do weird sh*t like that, too. Even more relatable was when she accidentally called Scott "Marcus" in front of the other men and laughed it off because, well, we all make mistakes! Keep doing you, Hannah.

She's Not Afraid to Go Off Script

To be honest, ABC has likely had to hire an entirely new employee who's sole job is to bleep out Hannah's curse words — and I'm here for it! It never sounds like she's reciting words the show's producers fed her, which feels like a callback to Kaitlyn Bristowe's refreshingly candid attitude from her time as the Bachelorette [17]. She blurts out exactly what's on her mind, expletives included, and it's clear that she's marching to the beat of her own drum this season.

She's Brutally Honest About the Luke P. Situation

Episode after episode, Hannah keeps putting Luke P. in his place, and although I personally think said "place" should be in a van with his packed bags, I still appreciate how she's been handling the situation. Early on, when Luke started showing his true, manipulative colours [18], Hannah made it clear that he was in the doghouse and needed to work hard to redeem himself. During their cringe-worthy one-on-one date, Hannah told him point blank that it was the worst date she'd had yet and that their conversations weren't giving her the clarity she needed. I may not agree with her decision to still keep him around, but ultimately, I can sympathize with the pickle she's in. Hannah and Luke have an undeniable physical attraction, and she's likely lured in by her desire to figure him out once and for all.

What's more is that she's also been upfront about Luke with the other men, asking them to butt out of their relationship and let her figure out her complicated feelings because, in her own words, she's "a grown ass woman." Just about every season, there's at least one contestant who stirs up the most drama in the house, but those conversations usually happen in small groups or behind closed doors, and Hannah's more than willing to set things straight out in the open. One thing's for sure — Hannah's not letting Luke get those roses without first putting him through the ringer.

She's Mature For Her Age

Hannah is just 24 years old [19], aka one year younger than I am, and I'm totally fine admitting that she seems about 10 times more mature than me. Does she have occasional meltdowns? Yes, but wouldn't you if you were under the same immense pressure she is as the Bachelorette [20]? I mean, trying to fall in love under the scrutiny of thousands of viewers is pretty intense, but Hannah has maintained poise and sensibility in most situations.

She addresses issues head-on, rather than beating around the bush. Case in point: when Luke S. and Luke P. started feuding after the group date rugby match [21], Hannah sat both men down together to clear the air and put the he-said, he-said drama to rest. Although she ultimately walked away from the three-way conversation because of their unproductive bickering, I do appreciate how she handled the annoying scenario.

She's Adored by Viewers

It's clear that Hannah's raw, real approach to being the Bachelorette [22] has had an impact on Bachelor Nation, as each Monday night, Twitter is flooded with a flurry of messages praising her poise and funny one-liners. Check out some of the supportive tweets ahead to see all the positive thoughts fans have shared about "The Beast [23]." Here's to hoping she finds her "fierce love"!


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