Welcome to The Bachelor Season 28 premiere recap! Tonight the season kicks off with a historic 32 women stepping out of the limos, all hoping to capture Joey Graziadei’s heart. Bachelorette Charity Lawson may have broken Joey’s heart, but now it’s his turn to call the shots. Who will get the first kiss? Who will get the First Impression Rose? Here are some of the highlights from The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 1.
A special envelope that will “change everything”
Halfway through the arrival of the 32 women, host Jesse Palmer steps into the driveway with some news. He reminds Joey that there will be one “familiar face” among the women: Lea, who we met at Charity’s After the Final Rose. At that time, Lea was given an envelope and told she couldn’t open it until she was inside the Bachelor Mansion. Jesse says what’s inside the envelope will “change everything.”
At last, Lea arrives. “I know you,” Joey says. “Looks like you’ve got something in your hand there,” indicating the envelope.
“I’m definitely super anxious, super nervous to open this,” Lea responds. “I hope that whatever it is, it’s gonna help cultivate and grow our story in a way that’s authentic and real … So, hopefully, if you have some time, I’d love to come steal you and we can open this together.”
“That sounds great,” he tells her. “Good to see you,” as she makes her way into the mansion.
The first kiss
Jess, the girl who arrives on a boat, gets the first kiss! “I just had my first kiss with my future husband,” she sighs. But then she went back into the house and told the other women she just got a little “smoochy-poo.” Uh oh. That’ll put a target on her back. Some of the women don’t look too happy for her. Read the room, girl.
“Is he sober?” someone jokes. Ouch.
In a confessional, Jess gloats a little bit, “All the other girls, just go on home. You’ll be getting an invite to the wedding … maybe.” Don’t get cocky, honey. It can bite you in the ass.
Too sweet for this show
Daisy’s a sweet girl from Minnesota. She lost her hearing when she was a teenager and has a cochlear implant. While she’s enjoying meeting all the other women, she’s having trouble hearing due to all the ambient noise. It’s making her feel a little overwhelmed.
Daisy tells Joey that she grew up on a Christmas tree farm. Her grandpa dressed up as Santa Claus. She thinks it must be so flattering to have so many people excited to be here for him. But Joey says he only has the “purist intentions” of finding his person. She advises him to remember to be kind to himself.
Already a little bit smitten with Daisy, Joey interviews, “She has this soft-spoken demeanor that pulls you in, that’s captivating. I’m drawn to it and want to know so much more.”
“I’m so excited for you,” Daisy assures him. “Whatever happens, I’ll be cheering you on.” And she, too, gets a little “smoochy-poo.” I’m with Joey. She’s already my personal favorite.
Jess goes back for seconds
Jesse (Palmer) walks into the room and drops the First Impression Rose on the table. “Just a little present for Joey,” he jokes. The mood in the room immediately changes. Sh*t just got real, ladies. But of course, Jess from San Diego thinks that rose is already hers. Think again, honey. You may have been the first, but you won’t be the last.
As Joey is listening to Taylor rattle on about her “blended family,” here comes Jess for more time with Joey. You’ve already had your time, sweetie. You’re giving desperate.
“I’m so sorry,” she says, seeming a little bit tipsy. “Do you care if I steal him for a quick sec?” Of course, she does!
“Second time?” Taylor asks sarcastically.
Jess says they got “cut short” the first time. Huh? She got a kiss, which she ran back and bragged about.
When Taylor asks for just one more minute, Jess graciously agrees. But then she stands about 10 feet away and watches them.
There’s no kiss for Taylor since Jess is watching like a hawk. Taylor gives the executive assistant the cold shoulder as she walks past. But Jess is okay with that ’cause she’s “not here to make friends.” Okay, here we go. I think we have our first villain of the season.
Let the drama begin
Jess has definitely had a bit to drink. She’s slurring her words a little as she tells Joey, “A lot of girls want to talk to you, but I want to talk to you more … so here’s me proving that to you,” as she giggles nervously.
Meanwhile, Taylor’s reporting back to the other women, “Guess who stole [Joey] from me? Jess!” You thought you had a target on your back before, Jess. You just made it bigger.
“Hey, Jess, do you want to go talk for a minute?” Taylor asks, and Jess agrees. The other women are all, “Oh, they have drama.”
Taylor’s upset, not just because Jess interrupted her time with Joey, but because there are still lots of women who haven’t even talked to him (like she gives a rat’s ass about them). Jess has talked to him twice. She’s being “selfish.”
Does Jess remind anybody else of Brittany Cartwright (Jax Taylor’s wife) from Vanderpump Rules? She totally reminds me of KFC.
In a confessional Taylor tells us, “If Jess gets the First Impression Rose, I will be annoyed [me, too], and she has a lot more to answer to than just me. I would hope that if she wants to not have a target on her back, she will not do that again.” Oh, she’s already got a target on her back. Don’t worry about that, Tay.
But Jess hasn’t the slightest remorse and confesses in an interview, “If I could go back in time, I’d probably do it again.” And she laughs maniacally. We’ll see who gets the last laugh, Jess. It’s not a good look.
Lea’s special privilege revealed
Lea still has her special card. “Everyone’s … guessing what it could be, and I’m just, like, anxious to open it and see what it is.”
So she opens it. “Months ago, you took a bold risk for love,” Lea reads, “and now you’re finally here at the Bachelor Mansion. This card gives you the power to steal a one-on-one date from someone else at any time before hometowns.” That’s big.
While admitting she’s grateful for it, “A one-on-one date is so important, but it’s gonna have to come at the expense of someone else.” Lea doesn’t want to hurt someone that way.
She shares the card with Joey. Once he’s read it, he asks how she’s feeling.
“I want to give a lot of autonomy to you,” she says. “I also want to give a lot of love and respect to the other women who’ve put their lives on hold to come here.” She doesn’t want to “play God” or interfere with Joey’s journey.
“Just you saying that speaks a lot about your character,” Joey responds.
“At the end of the day,” Lea adds, “I can have as many advantages and superficial little one-ups, but if I’m not Joey’s person at the end of this, then I’m not.”
But now she has to tell the other women about the card. When she reads the message, some of the women think it’s unfair. Honey, it’s not “unfair.” The producers dreamed this up, and it’s their game.
As they’re gearing up to hate Lea, she walks over and tosses the card in the fire. Both Taylor and Jess admit they would’ve kept it, though Jess admits it was “very sweet” for her to give it up. Did Lea just earn the First Impression Rose?
Another possible front-runner
Meanwhile, Joey is spending some time with Lexi, who was first out of the limos. She’s from Toronto and her dad is her “best friend.” Lexi wants Joey to come and play golf with her dad, her brother, and her. She wants him to “complete our foursome.”
She also tells him, “This is a lot … If you ever need someone to talk to or just want a smile [from] across the room, I got you.”
He loves that and leans in for a kiss. “I really like Lexi,” he interviews. “I just feel like I’m drawn to her … The maturity is so captivating. She just is a bright light, and I love how special she makes me feel. I feel like she’s here … for me.” She’s also one of my personal favorites. I know it’s early days, but I’d love to see her and Daisy as the Final Two.
The First Impression Rose
Finally, Joey makes his decision. “I’m gonna give the First Impression Rose to the person I think deserves it,” Joey says, as he walks over and picks up the rose, as all conversation halts in the room. “She gives me that validation that she is here for the right reasons. She has characteristics and qualities that I want in my life.”
“Lea, can I grab you for a second?” he says as the ladies go, “Awww.”
“I wanted to take some time to pull you aside and explain again how much a lot of things you said resonated with me … Your interpretation and thoughts of the card you were given spoke a lot to me about your character and who you are. So, Lea … would you accept this rose?”
“I would love to,” she responds. That’s what she’s there for.
The Rose Ceremony
At last, here comes Jesse Palmer with the champagne glass of doom. Clink, clink, clink! We all know what that means.
With the sun rising in the East, the cocktail party is over and it’s time for the Rose Ceremony. Who will stay and who will go?
Roses go to: Allison, Daisy, Kelsey T., Lexi, Jess (kept for drama), Jenn, Autumn, Chrissa, Kelsey A., Katelyn, Rachel, Erika, Madina, Sydney, Starr, Marlena, Maria, Taylor, Evalin (dry your tears, honey) and Lauren.
See you next week when the dates and the catfights begin!
The Bachelor Season 28 airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BACHELOR SEASON 28 PREMIERE? HOW ABOUT THE NEW BATCH OF CONTESTANTS? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YET? WHO DO YOU THINK JOEY WILL TAKE ON HIS FIRST DATE?
