Fans of The Bachelorette know that no season goes by without something called
Members And the single woman Know that no season can go by without the presence of so-called villains. While villains are a problem in some seasons, they are misnamed in others. This seems to be the case for season 21, as Devin Strader Devin seems to have earned the title. This season, the guys have really started targeting Devin, but not for good reason. Despite being labeled a villain in season 21, Devin is actually one of its heroes.
Devin Strader is there for the right reasons.
Devin’s biggest green light is his obvious interest in lead Jen Tran. In his introduction video, Devin made it clear that he thought he was a perfect fit for Jen. Remember, Jen said she wanted a man with a big personality, which shows that he was paying attention to her. Although he didn’t get the first impression, Devin made a great impression on Jen after the first night.
After the guys arrived in Australia, Devin was among those chosen for their first group date. During the market date, Devin took the opportunity to pull Jane aside for some alone time. While this annoyed the other guys, it was very smart of Devin. In past seasons, the heroes have expressed how lonely they feel on group dates when no one tries to create a special moment with them. Devin did just that, and Jane really appreciated it.
Devin’s actions show how seriously he takes this process. Some other men have hesitated when it comes to talking to Jane, but Devin doesn’t hesitate. Jane wants a man who will take charge and stand up for her, and so far Devin has been the perfect example of that. Devin makes the most of the limited time he has with Jane, which is something all men should do.
Devin Strader handled Thomas Nguyen’s fight brilliantly.
During the second cocktail party of the season, Devin found himself at odds with Thomas Nguyen. Thomas was on the second group date, where most of the guys were sent home early. As a result, the guys from the first group date asked the guys from the first group date to respect their time at the cocktail party. While Devin agreed, he never indicated that he wasn’t planning on pulling Jane out first. Of course, when he did, it was a big deal for Thomas.
Thomas then decided to interrupt Devin and Jane’s conversation, asking to speak to Devin instead of Jane. This left Jane sitting alone, while Devin and Thomas stepped aside to discuss matters. Thomas immediately attacked Devin and claimed that he had no respect for any of the other men. Furthermore, Thomas admitted that he felt that Devin should have been in “ninth place” to talk to Jane.
After listening to Thomas, Devin pointed out that it was wrong for Thomas to treat Jane like an object. Devin explained that no one “deserves” to spend time with Jane, which Jane seemed to agree with as she secretly listened. Thomas’s actions were very childish, but Devin handled the situation maturely. On his way downstairs, Devin also made sure to apologize to Jane, which Thomas failed to do.
The rest of the guys seem horrified by Devin Strader’s association with Jane.
While several of the men do have disagreements with Devin, their reasons don’t quite match up. In addition to Thomas, Aaron Earp had a notably heated feud with Devin during the second episode. Aaron initially became frustrated with Devin during a group date, when he called Jen aside for ice cream. Aaron commented that Devin and Jen should have been hanging out with the group, which was unreasonable.
Later at the after-party, Aaron pulled Devin aside to tell him that he didn’t think he was right for Jane. Devin was understandably surprised that Aaron had come out of the blue with this. Aaron told Devin that he didn’t think Jane wanted a “baby,” to which Devin replied that he didn’t want one. Devin responded to Aaron by saying that he didn’t think he was right for Jane, because he wasn’t responsible enough.
Ultimately, Devin had every right to be frustrated with Aaron for interfering in his relationship with Jane. Aaron didn’t take the same initiative to talk to Jane as Devin did, and he didn’t get as much time as he did as a result. However, it was Aaron’s job to make sure he made the most of his time, just as Devin did. Aaron and some of the other men seemed to be jealous of Devin’s strong relationship with Jane, and wanted to bring him down because of it.
Be sure to watch The Bachelorette on Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
Tell us – what do you think of Devin’s performance so far this season? Do you think he’s a good fit for Jen?
