The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 5: How the underdog has become America’s favorite reality star

What started as a misunderstanding about ageism (likely a fabrication scripted by the producers to fill about 5-10 minutes of dead television time) has since developed into a full-fledged war. 

Our unexpected hero, Maria Georgas, has had to battle through a series of bullies and she’s showing the youth of America exactly how to stand on business. 

The delusions of Sydney

After one of the suitors made a self-deprecating comment about being the oldest woman on the show, Maria responded by trying to give her a confidence boost and own who she is. When her comments were misconstrued that she was somehow being “ageist,” she clarified to the rest of the group that she was simply trying to uplift the elderly 31-year-old.

Incredibly, the dumbest argument in Bachelor history made its way to the next episode when Sydney pulled Joey aside to tell him that she was targeted and verbally attacked by Maria. And if you’ve ever watched this show, you know exactly what happens next: two-on-one. But slow down, cowboy; this means something entirely different in the Bachelor world. Two girls, one rose, and a whole lot of awkwardness. 

Luckily for Maria, this two-on-one ended up being a cakewalk. Sydney arrived with a stink face, and an attitude that screamed woe is me. From “My body is taking a toll” to the “stomach issues from intense stress” and having to “spend the day with the devil,” you might forget that they’re actually on vacation and in Malta. 

Later that night, Maria would perform The Bachelor’s version of dunking on an opponent and proceeding to hang onto the rim. As if watching her enemy get sent home wasn’t enough, she was gifted a rose moments before a woman appeared on a balcony above her and Joey while singing Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” 

Lea’s Villain Arc

For somebody who chose to save the drama and burn an envelope that had the power to make reality television history, it’s shocking that Lea would use Sydney’s departure from the show as her villain arc. All it took for her true colors to come out was watching others be friendly to Maria following her return from the two-on-one. It bothered her so much that the 23-year-old confronted somebody eight years her elder so that she could try to convince her whom she could and couldn’t talk to.

While the rest of the girls continued to enjoy their trip in Spain and work on connections with Joey, Lea had become fixated on having to breathe in the same air as Maria. 

Nonetheless, America’s new reality television queen did her thing and found a way to slay another foe. After the group date, she earned a rose by opening up to Joey about her childhood and what it was like to grow up without a mother throughout much of her life.

Bold strategy, Jess. Let’s see if it pays off!

In almost every season of The Bachelor, we get to a point where the women in the show forget how things work when it comes to finding time to speak to the man they’re pursuing. I have never understood why some people will sit down and complain when there is a famous question associated with this show, and one that all of Bachelor Nation has heard before: Can I steal you for a second? And as long as I’ve been watching, it has worked almost every single time.

Jess used this line twice the first night and immediately made an enemy in the house. Surely, if anybody knew the magic question so they could spend more time with Joey rather than sitting on their ass complaining, it should be her. However, she decided she would use that time to eff around and find out instead. 

As we have learned by now, Maria has gracefully disposed of anybody who has tried to cross her, belittle her, or push her around. Upon learning that she interrupted another suitor’s one-on-one time with Joey despite already having a rose in her possession, Jess confronted her about her decision.

After getting cooked on national television, Jess proceeded to throw a meltdown and walk off in tears. 

No matter what happens from this point forward, Maria has won the hearts of Bachelor Nation by swiftly dealing with three bullies in elegant fashion.