The internet might have a stereotype about men obsessing over the Roman Empire, but Joey Graziadei breaks that mold. He wasn’t into it until he appeared on this season of The Bachelor, where he found himself in Malta, dressed in a brown skirt and chain mail for a romantic gladiator match.
But that wasn’t even the biggest drama this week. As anticipated, the feud between Canadian executive assistant Maria Georgas and Rhode Island vintage store owner Sydney Gordon reached its peak with a painfully awkward two-on-one date. Unfortunately, the tension didn’t end there. One of Sydney’s allies decided to keep the negativity alive for no apparent reason. The upcoming episode promises more drama, but Monday’s installment was chaotic enough to last a month.
Credit goes to the Bachelor editors for their skillful storytelling this season. They teased viewers with Joey’s emotional moment on the proposal beach in the premiere and gave a humorous preview of the inevitable two-on-one. Maria and Sydney sat in silence on a boat with ominous music in the background, perfectly capturing their misery. Despite the premiere’s attempt to mislead, I still believe Joey will find love.
For those who need a recap of Maria and Sydney’s feud, it started when Madina Alam expressed concern about her age affecting her connection with Joey. Maria suggested that 31 isn’t old, revealing she’s 29 herself. Sydney intervened, informing Madina about Maria’s dismissal of her concerns, leading Madina to feel bullied. When Joey confronted the women, chaos ensued, and tensions have only escalated since.
The exhaustion on everyone’s faces this week showed they wanted Maria and Sydney to resolve their issues. Excitement for the Malta trip was overshadowed by the dread of group gatherings.
Meanwhile, Joey navigated the drama with charm, even making light-hearted comments during his travels. Lexi won the one-on-one date, sharing a meaningful conversation about her health struggles, which deepened her connection with Joey.
While Joey enjoyed his date with Lexi, tension brewed at the hotel. Sydney complained about the conflict affecting her health, while Maria appeared drained. A two-on-one date loomed for them.
The group date at Fort Manoel featured sword fighting and a bizarre sausage-catching challenge. Autumn won the date, but Kelsey received the rose.
On the two-on-one date, tensions between Sydney and Maria persisted. Despite Sydney’s efforts to paint Maria negatively, Joey chose Maria, who was rewarded with a live performance of “Ave Maria.”
Sydney’s departure was met with relief, but her friend Lea stirred more drama by confronting Madina. Maria’s emotional breakdown exposed the toll of the conflict. Lea’s behavior disappointed many, as she had initially shown solidarity with the cast. Just as it seemed the drama might end, a new villain emerged in Lea.