I'm Excited For The Bachelor Season 29 To Be Over (Grant Ellis Isn't The Lead I Had Hoped For When He Was First Cast)

As The Bachelor season 29 nears its end, I can’t say I’m sad to see it go. Lead Grant Ellis had everything going for him, and I had high hopes for his return after his The Bachelorette season 21 elimination. Grant is a former professional basketball player and day trader in Houston. He’s sensitive and kind, and he’s been vulnerable about the trauma he faced having a father who struggled with addiction. Grant considers himself a lone wolf, and it seems that his time on The Bachelor season 29 will finally bring an end to his lifetime of loneliness.

Unfortunately, Grant’s season has been unexpectedly dull. He comes across as unfocused and indecisive, which prevents him from establishing a clear front-runner. All of Grant’s dates followed the same pattern of a perfect evening that was entirely forgotten by the next day. As the season winds down, I’m realizing Grant’s inherent kindness prevents him from being the type of lead we need, and my focus is already shifting to the next season.

The Bachelor Season 29 Is Kind Of Boring Overall

The Lack Of Romance Makes For Low-Stakes Drama

As Grant struggled to find his footing, the burden fell on the women to keep things interesting. The drama began early in the season with Zoe McGrady’s brazen decision to whisk Grant away during a group date, resulting in the other women teaming up against her. Carolina Quixano soon followed the same pattern, demanding Grant’s time and becoming defensive and hostile when confronted.

While the Carolina drama continued until her week 5 elimination, not much kept the season interesting; even Rose Sombke’s self-elimination was anti-climactic. The season's lackluster vibe was a direct result of Grant’s failure to establish deep bonds with any of the women. All their fights were therefore theoretical, focusing on the potential time they’d lost with Grant instead of the strength of their real connections.

Grant Didn't Seem Very Into The Process

He Wasn’t Assertive Enough

Part of Grant’s challenge was his inability to preserve the integrity of The Bachelor’s process. He allowed women to steal him away, creating an imbalance in their ability to access him. Grant’s failure to speak up during these moments resulted in the offenders being essentially rewarded by getting extra time with him.

This unequal distribution of quality time contributed to Grant’s lack of deep connections. Zoe advanced to hometowns without ever receiving a one-on-one date with Grant. While he claimed he was confident about his feelings for her without a solo date, it felt awkward to see them attempt to connect for the first time so far into the competition. I’m unsure how Grant can expect to find true love if he doesn’t fully engage in the experience.

Grant Is Too Subdued To Be A Captivating Lead

He Seems Overwhelmed By His Options

Grant’s kindness makes him likable, but it also contributes to his downfall as a lead. He appears terrified of hurting anybody, but unfortunately, I think he underestimated how essential broken hearts are to the nature of The Bachelor. Grant can’t progress without some hard feelings. I suspect he’s afraid to let the viewers, or even himself, know which direction he’s going in out of fear of the consequences.

The trailer for the season 29 finale confirms that Grant will continue to second-guess himself in the minutes leading up to the final rose ceremony. It’s hard to get invested in a story with the knowledge that even the lead feels completely unsure. Grant has wonderful potential as a husband, but he’s not the best fit for The Bachelor. With Grant and viewers struggling to make it through the season, I, for one, am glad it’s almost over.