Bachelor South Africa - Lee Thompson - Season 1 - Episodes - *Sleuthing Spoilers*

Mbali is next. She has an intro video and talks about being a beauty blogger and beauty instagram influencer. She has been single over a year and now understands what she wants. She doesn't want a yes-man. She wants someoen to help her grow as much as she will help them grow. Lee says she looks stunning and he is rigth she is gorgeous! Good banter!

Thenjiwe "Thenji" is next. Beautiful woman. They do a secret handshake. Super cute! 

.@Lee_Thompson_ and Thenjiwe met just two seconds ago - and they already have a secret handshake.  https://t.co/uUoqfMuTuA #TheBachelorSA  pic.twitter.com/Iejz4KGzjT

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

Loving these women so far. So many fantastic women and Lee seems like a great catch!

Music!! Very romantic music with Michelle R!      

Lee is shown grinning away. So cute!   

VO as Michelle R, 29, KZN and Marketing Specialist walks down towards Lee. Says she entered the Bachelor show because she hasn't had the best past relationships. She is gorgeous! Simply stunning gown too and Lee looks very taken with her! 

A later ITM in different clothes talking about meeting Lee. Her dress is like Belle's yellow dress from Beauty and the Beast. Lee is smiling SO WIDE!   He is pretty smiley kind of guy but he is smiling so wide he looks thrilled to meet Michelle R. She begins a dance with him. I can tell Lee is super attracted to her and smitten already!

Michelle R talking in later ITM says "What best way to start a new journey on the bachelor finding love, publicly". She looks so happy and smitten. Definitely think she is a contender 

The chemistry between Lee and Michelle R! Wooo   

She has such presence and beauty and grace. She reminds me of Priyanka Chopra. Just stunning. Lee looks like he can't believe Michelle R is there. They are dancing and *swooon* what a moment and such chemistry  End the show  

Lee is shown looking backward toward Michelle as she walks away. First time that is shown. I can hear him clearing his throat like he was holding his breath. He says "wow! Michelle on camera saying "I hope this is it for me. I hope it leads me to my happily ever after" and she is filled with love and ready to give it". Lee in VO talking about how elegant and classy Michelle is and how much he likes that. Shown in camera saying he is very intrigued and would like to get to know her better.

Longest intro so far but no Intro video. So early prediction: either F1, FIR but loses steam, or gets her heart broken and a bachelorette edit. Will need to look at Season Preview SCs to see for sure how far she goes.

A real-life 'Belle Moment'  We can only dream! https://t.co/uUoqfMuTuA #TheBachelorSA  pic.twitter.com/ugErHgc7IX

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

Will their love become a tale as old as time? #TheBachelorSA   https://t.co/jsAZTgxsYB

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

Oooo Mbali is mocking Michelle's dress and look. Doesn't seem like something they'd do for a F1 (then again I recall Matilda got some negativity voiced from the other girls). 

Then the show tweets this about Kelly who also got a long intro and seems to be a contender so could be a sign. The girls mocked her wedding veil look too.

It is, what it is. https://t.co/uUoqfMuTuA #TheBachelorSA  pic.twitter.com/AihaHECHOL

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

Jacqueline "Jacqui" is next. Music!! (she was the first intro video at the beginning of the episode!) VO by Jacqui saying the first thing she noticed about Lee were his eyes. She gives Lee a keyring with his initials and on the back there is a chili and she says she needs to explain its meaning later. Lee likes her!   She says to camera that she felt like there was chemistry. Also says "when you say you can see your future in someone's eyes" and referring to Lee. Definitely think she could be a contender. 


Chantelle is next. Very quick. He is so nice and a gentleman but given how fast this was she has to be going home? Blink and you'd miss her entrance! 

Next....

Ooooh! Music music!!! Contender?! Gina, 31, Make-up Artist JHB. 

Lee is shown and his smile this time... different than with Michelle R. Definitely think he is taken with Gina for sure   

Gina gets an *INTRO VIDEO* just before shown walking towards Lee. 
She describes herself as clumsy which is pretty cute. She says she has a very corny sense of humor and she is kind. I really like her. I could see her being a match for Lee. 

All of her friends are in relationships except for her. Seems similar to Lee in that regard too. Shown in later ITM and saying she hopes Lee finds her jokes funny and that he wants to be loved and wants to give it. 

Gina in ITM later saying she doesn't think she has ever felt this nervous or overwhelmed in her whole entire life. Makes me think she is talking about something else later in the season as she looks very worried and it doesn't match her entrance vibe at all. So definitely think this is spliced into this moment. 

Gina tells Lee a joke. Lee shown saying that Gina has a really corny sense of humor and he really likes that because he has a really corny sense of humor too. The dryer the joke the better. Yup, he likes her!

Gina shown going back towards the women. First person who greets her is Michelle R. Michelle R seems so lovely and warm. Milisha shown too greeting Gina. Seems like they focused on those three quite a bit. Definitely early contenders but not sure how far they all go yet.

Jozaan, 27, Attorney from PTA (Pretoria) is next! Music with her entrance too! She gets an INTRO VIDEO as part of her limo entrance/exit. 

She is very sporty and outdoorsy and shown doing archery and then dressy up (so a girl next door tomboy who is also super tall and model like and can dress up too). 

Talks about a typical night own with wine but really tequila is her drink of choice  

She says she is a daddy's girl! If she gets a HTD I can see the tough dad edit already   Her whole family is shown in her Intro Video which makes me wonder if they filmed it around HTD (if she gets one). 

In ITM filmed later, Jozaan says she sees her journey on the bachelor as something that is going to be crazy and spontaneous and "maybe I was born for this". Ok.  

She is super tall and Lee says so and that he likes it! She has a stuffed dog named Lucy and tells Lee that this is probably going to start as puppy love (Lee laughs, he definitely liked that joke) and she hopes it turns into the real thing. She tells Lee he can keep Lucy the stuffed dog until the end of the season and then he can give her back. 

Lee says he finds her attractive and likes that she is tall (he likes tall women. Past exes?) He says he likes strong tall women. Shown looking back at Jozaan walking into the mansion (so second time this is shown)> 

Jozaan says she hopes they can spend more time together to get to know each other more as she thinks they will be quite compatible. 

Yep I definitely think she is a contender.  

Seems like quite a few from this first ep so the Season Preview and SCs will narrow it down very quickly I think 

Lee saying he is more comfortable now that he has met most of the women. 

Last limo: Lucy shows up. Gives Lee a card with a 2 on it. Lucy's twin, Sandy, shows up. INTRO VIDEO of them both. Feels more like a gimmick because they are twins so something for TV and a narrative for that. 

We’ve had a bride & a belle  , hearts given away , people tripping on their own two feet  and a little chemistry  We’ve even got TWINS!   @Lee_Thompson_ definitely has his hands full! Who are you rooting for?   #TheBachelorSA pic.twitter.com/07AiEqSZ6G

— DStv (@DStv) February 14, 2019

Inside the mansion: Jozaan shown saying she doesn't like surprises. AT. ALL. And that Lucy and Sandy have the same dresses on. Jozaan seems a bit cold and not warm like Milisha, Michelle or Gina. Even Kelly was more warm. Will be interested to see how far she goes and if her edit shows her being more warm. Could just be the attorney/lawyer part of her?

Jason the Host comes in and welcomes the ladies. 24 women but only 21 roses so 3 women going home. 


Kelly is shown in ITM talking about how nervous she is. 


Edith in ITM saying she is looking around the room and there are lot of people that need to go home   

Jason the Host saying take the time to get to know Lee because it may be the only chance to do so - camera pans to Jozaan and Gina. 

Gina in ITM saying she is just going to be herself. 
Jozaan saying in ITM that Lee is very good looking and it is hard to find someone that good looking. That he is perfection. 

Lee comes in. Does a toast to the women. Says it is a bit daunting with 24 women and he is a bit nervous. Jacqui says she wants to go first (looked like Lee was walking towards Jozaan so maybe was going to approach her first?) Jozaan in ITM saying Jacqui was in it to win it and going for gold. 

Edith in ITM saying Jacqui took the bull by its horns and went for it and that's some inspiration and she is definitely going the same way.   she cracks me up.


The show is definitely pushing Kelly imo (along with Michelle R, Jozaan, and others).

From a bride (complete with veil), to twins who will be fighting it out for Lee’s heart; here are all of our favourite entrances from our #TheBachelorSA ladies.

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

Jacqui's 1on1 time chat with Lee. Talks about the keychain she gave him and the chili meaning on it: Fiery, passionate, spicy and can be full on. Lee talks about how he likes that she is a teacher and loves and works with kids because he loves kids and wants a family. 

The ladies are not wasting any time interrupting and getting their 1on1 time with Lee. Lee talks about how it's difficult for them and also daunting a bit to chat but trying to get to know them.

Seen chatting with Kelly. He definitely likes her. She's younger but she seems mature and quite nice. She's also ambitious and has her degrees etc and he seems to like that. She is shown in ITM talking about Lee and also her age so I think it may be a thing this season. I hope not. It gets boring. It's more about maturity and readiness and age doesn't necessarily mean one is ready just because one is older. There's a flashback of Lee and Kelly from their red carpet arrival meet and greet (her with her wedding veil) so the edit is definitely pushing her. 

Edith is shown with Gina and telling Gina if she doesn't make her move she may miss her chance with Lee. Could be foreshadowing and tying to the earlier ITM of Gina where she seemed stressed out? They both go and interrupt Lee who is chatting with Kelly (he definitely is interested in her). 

Lee gives Gina his jacket. Gina and Edith sit with Lee and chat. Then the twins join  

Gina says she is heading back so Lee can chat to the other ladies too. Lee says thank you for understanding. She asks if he wants his jacket back and he says she can keep it. The twins go oooooo  

Lee to camera saying that Gina has a reserved energy but there is something about her that intrigues him and that he would definitely like to get to know Gina a lot better. He likes her 

Lee goes back inside the mansion and goes to Michelle R (the one he danced with). He says he wants to dance again with her (camera pans to Jozaan) and so Lee takes her outside and they waltz again together.

Jozaan in ITM saying she doesn't like it that Lee and Michelle R are dancing. She says "I was like, sit down please". She seems kind of bitchy and rude imo   Jozaan says to one of the other women that she won't interrupt because it would be rude for her to say "hey stop waltzing I want to talk to you". Well, at least she owns it that its rude!   

Michelle R says in ITM that she felt grateful and that Lee gave off a sense of kindness and welcome. A gentleman. Can overhear him talking about luckily he travels (so she must have asked him something in that regard?). They get interrupted (because of course they do, it's the bachelor  )

Lee says he feels bad for the ladies having to try get time. Also at the same time it's difficult to get to know the ladies better since there's not much time (it really is crazy how much limited time they spend together, just minutes really the first night). 

Jozaan finally interrupts and he says he will be back. Jozaan has a LOT of ITMs this episode. She says that the women are interrupting each other a lot which is shady. Um, girl you just interrupted another woman  Pot meet kettle. Jozaan in VO saying "I am getting impatient. I have never waited this long for ANYONE". She sounds like a spoiled princess. Not warming to Jozaan at all   

What's interesting is all this is in ITM or VO or conversation with other women so Lee would never see this side of Jozaan until he watched this. Crazy!!   

Lee comes back with a blanket. Jozaan talking about her hobbies and family. Michelle D comes up to interrupt. Lee says that he actually has to go do something really important - First Impression Rose!?

Women talking about/reacting to/about FIR: Jozaan, Gina, Milisha, and Jacqui in VO saying her heart is sinking as she didn't think it would happen so early. Jozaan is shown and she looks befuddled as to why the rose isn't hers  

FIR goes to Michelle R (yellow dress, waltz, Belle of the ball for sure) 

Michelle R gets the First Impression Rose, leaving the rest of the mansion anxious about their fate at tonight’s Rose Ceremony. #TheBachelorSA

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

A Belle has found her beast, we mean prince   #TheBachelorSA https://t.co/EBBW6lJw0u

— M-Net (@MNet) February 14, 2019

Michelle Reddy, I'm in awe!! Such beauty and poise!! Wow definitely the Belle of the Ball #TheBachelorSA #YellowDress #IndianPrincess #Stunning pic.twitter.com/N9kC2Z3uB6

— Natasha Haricombe (@TashHaricombe) February 14, 2019

Gina reacts more positively. Jozaan acts peeved about not getting the rose. Jozaan in VO again. Jozaan has had so much camera time, ITMs, VO. It's like the edit want to see her reaction to everything. If Jozaan is F1 then they are painting her as jealous early on 

@AllAboutLove Ok...I'm in. Off to watch.

You seem to have filled in what happened quite well, so I will concentrate on who I think he is into and my impression of the ladies.

Based on his into, you are right...he seems really nice and genuine. I love the accent too!

Annallene with some time with Lee. He picks her up "sweeps her off her feet". 

Jenna in ITM and talking about hard to speak to Lee. She has yet to speak to him. 

Milisha and Lee chatting. Speaking love languages. Lee says his is Acts of Service. He gets a rush from doing things for others. They talk about books and their favorites. Talk about The Alchemist. They seem to have a really good connection. If not romantic definitely could be friends.

Natasha and Lee chat and he talks about his upbringing. How sometimes those who come from tough things and broken homes have this desire to want to achieve things and make something of themselves. How he has always had to work very hard for everything he has. He seems like a good guy.  

Time for Rose Ceremony. It's like old-school bachelor but with updated technology where Lee looks at the bio pics of the women on the ipad in the "contemplating" room! 

Michelle R already has FIR
Daneal called first
Kelly (yep, she's a contender imo)
Mbali
Edith (she did VO right before)
Camera pans to Jozaan
Jozaan (definite contender imo)
America
Gina (music changes and VO by Gina saying she hopes she can have many more moments with him)
Nontombi (VO right after getting rose)
Kerry
Chanielle
Natasha (VO right before getting rose and after)
Milisha (VO worried about getting rose and get rose)
Kimberly (super fast)
Annallene (super fast)
Thenji (super fast)
(VO of how Michelle D she is worried)
Shelley
Michelle D 
Jenna (music changes softer)
Jacqui (VO saying her heart is pounding out her chest, gets rose)
...last rose goes to Lucy 

3 eliminated:
Sandy (twin), Taryn, and Chantelle 

Preview for EP2: 
ganging up on the FIR person Michelle R. Sheesh. Michelle R crying as women ganging up on her. Wth. Then at RC 3 women are going home so only 17 remaining. No preview of who gets the date.

Sprite wrote:@AllAboutLove    Ok...I'm in. Off to watch.

You seem to have filled in what happened quite well, so I will concentrate on who I think he is into and my impression of the ladies.

Based on his into, you are right...he seems really nice and genuine. I love the accent too!

@Sprite yay so glad you can watch!    Looking forward to reading your thoughts and impressions of who he is into! 

Watching now.  

WOW, these girls are certainly a cut above the usual Bach applicants.  (Edith is stunning - I'm already wondering if they're setting her up for Bachelorette, if they continue with the SA franchise).  The dresses are AMAZING (clearly no Ch 10 cheapskate Aussie budget here!).  

It's refreshing to see a racially diverse cast (though based on the population ratio of the SA population, there statistically should have been less pale skin).  I'm guessing that probably reflects the preferences of the Lead (Top 5 will be racially diverse but F1 will be white, IMO).

Jozaan and Edith stood out in the edit IMO but Lee's body language towards Gina got my attention.  He offered her his jacket (and let her keep it - an excuse to see her again later), touched her leg several times and kept looking at her lips.  She's my dark horse F1 pick.  

ETA: I've posted Lee/Gina screen caps on the SC thread for discussion. Also just watched the rose ceremony.  Special, softer music and a reply to Gina when she accepts his rose "it's a pleasure".  Focus on them exchanging warm glances.  They're planting seeds here IMO.