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The Bachelor Season 26, Episode 2: Most cringeworthy moments

By Fatemeh Mirjalili

THE BACHELOR - "2601" - Clayton Echard's journey to find love kicks off! For the first time in two years, 31 women arrive at Bachelor Mansion ready to make their grand entrances and first impressions for the man they hope could be their future husband. New host Jesse Palmer returns to the franchise to welcome Clayton and guide him through his first evening full of dramatic ups, downs and everything in between. But before the first limo even arrives, a shocking franchise first will have Clayton clutching a rose and questioning everything on "The Bachelor," airing MONDAY, JAN. 3 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/John Fleenor)CLAYTON ECHARD
THE BACHELOR - "2601" - Clayton Echard's journey to find love kicks off! For the first time in two years, 31 women arrive at Bachelor Mansion ready to make their grand entrances and first impressions for the man they hope could be their future husband. New host Jesse Palmer returns to the franchise to welcome Clayton and guide him through his first evening full of dramatic ups, downs and everything in between. But before the first limo even arrives, a shocking franchise first will have Clayton clutching a rose and questioning everything on "The Bachelor," airing MONDAY, JAN. 3 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/John Fleenor)CLAYTON ECHARD /
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Rose lovers, this week’s episode of The Bachelor Season 26 was…a hot mess. The season’s first group date saw the women setting up a birthday party for a girl named Maya–hanging up streamers, blowing balloons, the whole thing.

Shanae accuses Elizabeth of being two-faced (she really isn’t) and becomes the villain of the week, while Cassidy can’t care less about impressing anyone but Clayton Echard, and she’s taking that seriously.

But that’s the beauty about The Bachelor Season 26, Episode 2–it’s completely unhinged, and the drama has begun. Time to recap this week’s most cringeworthy moments!

The Bachelor Season 26
(ABC/John Fleenor) /

The Bachelor Season 26, Episode 2: Moment #1: Cassidy Hates Kids

The first group date of the season in a child’s birthday party–The Bachelor Season 26 conveniently leaves out all details about the birthday girl in question, which makes me wonder if they are child actors hired so Clayton may show off his dad persona (Spoiler alert: he fails).

Anyway, the party is hosted by former Disney Channel queen Hilary Duff who looks really bored to be here, but Cassidy, who is on the group date for Clayton seems somewhat more interested in talking to Duff, even if for a minute.

Not only does Cassidy reject participating in said birthday party, she frequently pulls Clayton aside so they can smooch, so he doesn’t get a chance to show off his dad persona either. What’s the point of this birthday party, again? Anyway, when Cassidy does sit down with the kids, she tells them front that she finds kids annoying–and then drops the birthday cake another contestant spent two hours making.

When the women confront her during the post-date cocktail event, she is unapologetic and declares, “I’m simply not going to apologize for not hanging enough streamers.” Cassidy also ends up bagging the group date rose. She might have her reasons for keeping her eye on the prize, i.e. Clayton, but they’re all pretty cringeworthy.

The Bachelor Season 26, Episode 2: Moment #2: What Do You Want, Shanae?

The Bachelor Season 26 has two villains this week–we’ve already discussed Cassidy, and now we’ll talk about Shanae, and there are two things you need to know about her. One, she has an aggressive alter ego she called Shanae-nae, and two, she thinks Elizabeth is two-faced. Just for your information, there is no reason for her one-sided beef with Elizabeth–who is the real MVP of this episode and is mature as hell.

But Shanae does what Shanae wants, which in this case, is relaying to Clayton that Elizabeth is not here for the right reasons™, which he wants to further discuss even though Shanae has no basis for her beliefs. When Elizabeth confronts her #1 hater, she explains that because she has ADHD, she has a hard time processing numerous auditory inputs.

Elizabeth doesn’t even need to explain–but she’s actually trying her best, while Shanae continues to reinforce that her being two-faced is a symptom of her ADHD. She also announces to the group that Elizabeth is forgetful because of her ADHD, and picks on her for no reason–which honestly makes me feel like she’s not a good person.

The basis of her anger towards her is that Elizabeth “ignores” her, which is nonsense. Shanae needs to realize that she’s one word away from being canceled before she can accept a rose at the rose ceremony, and well, what is the rose going to count for, then?

The Bachelor Season 26, Episode 1: Most cringeworthy moments. dark. Next

What were your favorite moments of The Bachelor Season 26 premiere? Share in the comments!

Tune in next week for another episode of Clayton’s journey on The Bachelor!

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