Modern dating has changed. Twenty years later, 'The Bachelor' hasn't
CNN
"The Bachelor" franchise, which is now 20 years old, depicts dating in a way that is often far from viewers' reality. But the emphasis put on falling in love and getting engaged isn't too far off from the things we prize in a relationship, two experts told CNN.
You don't need to have seen every episode to know the drill: Hot young singles vie against each other over the course of a few breathless weeks. There are competitive group dates, opportunities for physical intimacy in the "fantasy suite" and contrived meetings with extended family. The prize is, hopefully, everlasting love and a Neil Lane engagement ring.
It's all very fantastical and fizzily romantic. But some elements of the series -- namely, the emphasis put on falling in love and getting engaged -- aren't too far off from our reality and what we prize in a relationship, one expert on love and another on reality TV told CNN.