Welcome to The Bachelorette version of The Hollywood Reporter's Power Rankings. Each week, THR's Bachelor experts will be tuning in to the romantic connections and dramatic shenanigans taking place on season 12 of the long-running ABC franchise. In an effort to cater to viewers who opt out of show spoilers, these rankings are based on opinions and observations week-by-week.
The Chad bear has been poked.
After growing increasingly grizzly with each episode in the competition for JoJo Fletcher on The Bachelorette, the aggressive and potentially violent season villain finally got the boot on Tuesday night. But the former marine is not saying goodbye to the drama just yet.
Here's how the Chad saga went down:
While JoJo was falling for Luke during a romantic one-on-one date, Chad sat in the woods issuing a warning to not poke the Chad bear (props to ABC for splicing in footage of an actual bear).
Then, as JoJo celebrated with the winning team from her group date football challenge — more on that below — Chad created a hostile environment in the house by prodding his housemates to take their verbal brawls outside and get physical. He even launched a post-show threat at Jordan: "When this ends and you go home, you think I can’t find you? You think I won’t go out of my way to go to your house? I’m dead serious." The attack prompted Jordan to tell the camera that Chad "has mental issues."
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Finally, during the episode's much-hyped two-on-one date showdown with his rival Alex, JoJo finally sent Chad packing when she heard about his disturbing behavior. She and Alex left a dumped Chad alone by the river, without so much as a breakup wave goodbye.
But the contestant, who has threatened multiple acts of violence against his housemates during this week's two-episode event (read last night's Power Rankings here), looked to be cashing in on his promises when he stormed back to the house in the final moments. Flashing another "To Be Continued" harbinger, the TV screen faded to black as Chad menacingly — and dramatically — streaked his fingers down the glass door separating him from his roommates.
And Chad's antics and elimination weren't the only note-worthy moments.
The football challenge featured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as a surprise guest star, which caused a reaction on Twitter. Viewers took to social media to question why JoJo would turn to the football player, who was accused of sexual assault in 2008 and in 2010, for dating advice.
I love how Jojo is defending each of her choices to Ben Roethlisberger. #TheBachelorette
— Jenny Mollen (@jennyandteets) June 8, 2016
JoJo also eliminated three other contestants during the episode's rose ceremony: Nick, Ali and Christian. With Ali and Christian gone, Grant is the only remaining nonwhite contestant on a series that has come under fire in recent years over its lack of diversity.
Though JoJo's season began as one of the more diverse groupings when compared to seasons past — 21 white and six nonwhite suitors — much of the criticism has been aimed at how the nonwhite contestants are usually among the first eliminated. Only two nonwhite contestants since 2009 have gone on to win the final rose, and the odds look unlikely for JoJo's season, which is only up to its fourth episode.
The Bachelorette returns in two weeks on Monday, June 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. See how the men rank after tonight's episode below and continue to share your comments on Twitter using the #THRose hashtag.
