Now that The Bachelor, the male-fronted half of the duo, is in its 26th season, it's hit its stride, expertly engineering dramas, betrayals, and shocking moments that look really exciting in the weekly commercials and then end up being pretty mundane when you see them in the actual episode. There are a few different ways to watch ABC's The Bachelor/Bachelorette, the reality dating and relationship show that's been inflicting itself on us for more than 20 years.
These shows, all of which are currently airing, have elevated trash to an art, and will satisfy you in the best-worst way possible. "Trashy," in this case, is a term of endearment, a qualifier for shows that capture the raw human emotion that makes compelling viewing, without demanding all your brainpower to decipher plot, motivation, or fan theories.
But a rare few have mastered the art of trashy reality TV, which is no easy feat. Most of these shows are actual trash, leaving you feeling empty and listless on your couch. As cable channels multiplied, the allure of producing cheaper shows that could air on endless loops meant that you didn't have to channel surf long before stumbling on one of them. Plenty of youngsters will have left Ravenhill on Saturday night dreaming not just of growing up to be an Irish international, but growing up to be Neve Jones.In 1992, MTV's The Real World started a slow-moving revolution that turned into an all-out blitz when Survivor premiered eight years later: Look at all these regular people starting drama! They are not polite at all! Watching unscripted lives unfold may have felt dirty early on, but no one could stop watching. The game here should do so too with growing the support-base all the easier with such players to build around. Having travelled from Ballymena to Belfast in search of rugby as a 14-year-old, and now gone to ply her trade with Gloucester-Hartpury, Jones’ commitment to her game has long been evident and she is now reaping the rewards. “She’s incredible and she epitomises the individuals that we want representing this country and she’s getting better all the time, she’s had a chance now to really grow and develop.” I can’t explain, like she’s on TikTok doing dances, she’s always bantering, always joking and then, all of a sudden, we turn it on and she becomes like a different person. She bounces in and she’s smiling, she’s happy. “Neve Jones is one of the most extraordinary players I’ve ever coached – men or women,” said her coach Greg McWilliams after her try-scoring showing versus Scotland. Not only that, but she displayed a star quality too. Over the following weeks, though, Ulster’s Jones made the jersey her own and was one of her side’s star performers. When things kicked off lst month, the discussion surrounding Ireland’s hooker position centred upon the absence of Cliodhna Moloney. Over the course of the campaign, though, new stars emerged with Neve Jones chief among them.