'Bachelor in Paradise’ Has Completely Gone Off the Rails

Bachelor in Paradise premiered in 2014 and offered a fresh take on the iconic reality dating franchise. Unlike the format of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, which feature a single lead, the spin-off brings together former contestants from the original shows for another shot at love. It gives the franchise a fun twist by placing these hopeful singles in a romantic, laid-back, tropical setting as they search for their perfect match once again.

The show skips the high-pressure group dates and allows the contestants to explore connections at their own pace. That’s not all, though, because the drama starts when new singles enter the paradise and threaten all existing dynamics. All in all, Bachelor in Paradise is a show about second chances and forming organic connections. However, the latest installment of the spin-off seems to be heading in a completely different direction for some reason.

It Feels Like ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Is Trying Hard To Keep up With Other Reality Shows

The Bachelor in Paradise Season 10 premiere aired on July 7, 2010, and left everyone feeling a bit confused. Since the show was returning after a two-year hiatus, longtime viewers were excited for everything, from the cheesy intro song to the contestants walking down the iconic stairs. However, right off the bat, the show felt like an overproduced mess, which strips away from the rawness that made the show feel so authentic. Starting with the brand-new contestant intros, each one felt like a short film and projected a pretty curated picture.

Instead of gradually getting to know the contestants through their interactions with everyone, the audience was essentially fed with more context than they really needed, and that really takes away half the excitement of the show. The intros felt like they were designed to tell the audience exactly who to care about. It’s understandable that the producers want the fans to instantly build connections with the islanders, but fast-tracking everything is not the answer here. Not to mention that the viewers are already dealing with the iconic beaches of Mexico, which have been swapped for Costa Rica this time around, and all these back-to-back changes make it feel like the show is going through a mid-life crisis.

The Manufactured Drama Takes Away From the Heart of the Show

Speaking of mid-life crisis, Bachelor in Paradise Season 10 will also see contestants from The Golden Bachelor franchise entering the island for the first time. There’s no denying that the idea is exciting. The way it’s being implemented, though, is a little questionable. For starters, the Goldens are arriving later in the season, and that immediately establishes a difference between them and the younger contestants. Their delayed entry almost feels like an intentional twist designed to manufacture conflict. What could have been an organic way for the contestants to explore age-gap romances then comes off as extremely forced since the Goldens enter the villa with the very objective of disruption.

The most surprising part of Bachelor in Paradise’s new makeover, however, is the introduction of game-show-style challenges and a $500,000 cash prize. In contrast to the show’s original, relaxed format, this twist adds a layer of competition where the contestants’ organic romantic connections are bound to take a backseat. While it’s true that Bachelor in Paradise needed to switch things up after the show’s last two seasons experienced a serious dip in ratings, fans don’t really know how to feel about the islanders going head-to-head against each other this way. The game-show format definitely works well for other reality shows like Love Island, but it takes away from the objective of Bachelor in Paradise. If anything, the producers are really leaning into the over-produced style of most other reality shows in an attempt to replicate their success while turning Bachelor in Paradise into something it’s not.

Is the Show Really Benefitting From Switching Things Up?

The introduction of all these elements feels like a bizarre experiment where the producers are trying to do too much all at once. Just one episode in, Bachelor in Paradise already feels overcrowded, and the Goldens haven’t even entered the picture yet! There’s nothing wrong with a franchise as old as Bachelor in Paradise trying to reinvent itself, but keeping up with so many new elements feels jarring, to say the least. This new, fast-paced direction might be the key to attracting a new audience. At the same time, though, Bachelor in Paradise is seriously risking alienating viewers who have been right there from the start. To them, it feels like they’re watching a totally different show.

Bachelor in Paradise Season 10 airs every Monday on ABC. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.