‘The Bachelor’ Season Premiere Recap: Chris Soules Begins His Search For Love

It didn’t work out for Chris Soules and Andi Dorfman on “The Bachelorette,” but Prince Farming is back and looking for his soulmate.

On Monday night, ABC kicked off the latest season of “The Bachelor,” starring Chris, a seemingly earnest 33-year-old farmer ready to find love.

Here’s how the evening unfolded:

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At his Arlington, Iowa, home, Chris explains to “The Bachelor” cameras he’s a fourth generation farmer, proud of helping to feed the world with his family’s crops. And he shares his views on romance in one of the choice quotes of the night.

“Love is a lot like farming. You plant a seed, you hope it grows. Sometimes, the weather isn’t always on your side, but with a little bit of luck, something beautiful can come from it. And that’s the type of love that I want to find, and hopefully this journey’s gonna get me there,” he tells America.

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He may be handsome, and a “normal guy,” but living in a town with around 400 people has hampered his search for love (although his sisters are married). And to show America he’s been taking things seriously in the run up to the show, we get a visit from Cody (also from Andi’s season of “The Bachelorette”) who is now helping to beef Chris up before meeting the ladies.

But, eventually, it’s time to leave training and his roots behind, so Chris hops on his (two-wheeled) hog and heads down the road and off into the sunset, on a journey to find love – and since it’s “The Bachelor,” a lot of drama.

The Women

Britt, 27, from Hollywood: Tall, thin and stunning, brunette Britt reveals she didn’t have sex in her last relationship, but she’s “a very touchy person.” And, she’s 101 percent ready for Chris.

Jillian, 25, from D.C.: National news producer Jillian backflips her way into the competition for Chris’ heart, making an impression with her muscular, toned legs. “I lift heavy and I love it,” she tells America. She also offers a warning. “Watch out girls, ’cause I like to win.”

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Amanda, 24, from Lincoln Hills, Ill.: Ballet instructor Amanda is asked why she’s still single in her clip package. “Can I say because I’m … crazy,” she tells “The Bachelor” crew, who bleep out part of her answer. She also lives with her mom because, she says, “I like not paying bills and I don’t cook and I don’t like cleaning. So it’s great that mom does those things.”

Whitney, 29, from Chicago: Fertility nurse Whitney thinks she could help out “America’s Prince,” as she refers to Chris, should a romance take off. How? By using her skills to inseminate animals on his farm. “I could help with making some pigs and cows and all that jazz. I mean, I know how to do it,” she smiles.

Mackenzie, 21, from Maple Valley, Wash.: One of the youngest women in the game for Chris’ heart is Mackenzie, a single mom to a toddler named Kale. She’s already smitten with Chris. “I think he’s hot, mature and grown up. That is what I want. Like, a man,” she tells the cameras.

Alissa, 24, from New Jersey: It’s up in the friendly skies for flight attendant Alissa’s opening package. And, she’s got an announcement to make over the loudspeaker. “Roses may be handed out if you’re interested in continuing this journey to find love,” she states.

Kelsey, 28, from Austin Texas: School counsellor Kelsey has a different story to share. She found love, but her husband tragically died while walking to work more than a year ago. “Even though I lost a huge love in my life, I believe that soulmates exist and that you can meet maybe more than one soulmate,” she says.

After showering outside on a wooden deck (well, obviously!) and suiting up, it’s time for Chris to start meeting the ladies.

The Women, Part 2

Ashley, 26, from Wayne, N.J.: Brunette beauty Ashley is the first woman we see in her cocktail dress gearing up to meet Chris. “After tonight, it’s gonna be all over. I’m gonna get him,” the freelance journalist tells the cameras.

Trina, 33, from San Clemente, Calif.: “Chris is an amazing looking guy. He’s that hot farmer and I’m excited because I really want to get to know him,” is what special education teacher Trina says, as she makes her quick “The Bachelor” debut.

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Before Chris can meet the girls though, we get one last moment to hear them share their enthusiasm for Prince Farming, including ballet instructor (and this season’s Episode 1 quote generator extraordinaire) Amanda, who gushes, “Chris is dead sexy. His smile! Oh! It’s just a panty dropper.”

Limo Time!

“You are beautiful, oh my God,” Chris says as he meets Britt first. She hugs him. And hugs him. And hugs him. But clearly, Chris doesn’t mind. “That’s the best hug I had in a long time,” he tells her, as she stares deeply into his eyes. Before she heads inside, she hands him a note. “Free hug from Britt,” it reads. He can cash it in later.

Arriving in another car, Trina steps out first, followed by cadaver tissue saleswoman Reegan, 28, from Manhattan Beach, Calif., who greets Chris with a cooler, complete with biohazard stickers on the side. “I got you a little present,” she says before opening it up. It’s. A. Heart. Chris and America don’t know what to do until she reveals – it’s fake. Phew! But, still…

Daisy dukes-wearing Tara, 26, from Ft. Lauderdale, makes her entrance in those shorts, cowboy boots and a flannel top. “I like her style,” Chris comments. Less happy though are the women inside, including Trina. “It’s the first night, first impression. Maybe be a little more dressed up,” she says. Tara doesn’t hear Trina’s advice, but she clearly was thinking it. After two more introductions to bachelorettes, Tara comes back around for a second entrance, this time in a little black dress. “You’re back,” Chris says, confused. She wanted him to see the real her the first time, she explains to the cameras.

Hoping for her own memorable entrance is a “mystery” lady. OK, it’s actually Amanda, who asks the chauffer to give Chris a note. “Chris, please turn away from the limo and close your eyes. Hugs and kisses.” He does and Amanda saunters over and puts her arms on his shoulders before heading inside without a face to face greeting.

After a few more introductions, dance instructor Kaitlyn, 29, from Vancouver, B.C., gets saucy with her greeting. She doesn’t know much about Chris other than his occupation. “You can plow the… out of my field any day,” she tells him, the second girl to get bleeped in this season premiere. “Didn’t see that coming,” Chris says quietly as she walks away.

Stunned by all the beauties, Chris S. tells Chris Harrison he needs someone to slap him to wake him up, so the host obliges, before sending the newest “Bachelor” inside to mingle with his first 15 women.

“This is a big deal to me. I know that love can happen in this setting. Just be yourselves,” Chris says. “That’s all I did and it’s got me to be the luckiest man in the world right now. So let’s enjoy this journey together.”

It’s hugger Britt who gets the first 1 on 1. She wants him to know he can feel safe with her and she’ll be a shoulder he can cry on, and she sells it. After he leaves, following (obviously) another hug, Britt reveals she thought they could have taken things further. “I felt like when we were leaving that we almost kissed… it was this close,” she says.

Stunning Austin school counsellor Kelsey gets time too. With her short hair, she stands out from all the long-locked ladies, and she quickly bonds with Chris over growing up in a small town. He finds himself smitten over her dimples.

Fertility nurse Whitney tries to suggest she and Chris “have a lot in common,” because inseminations happen on farms too. It works. “I am excited about her,” Chris tells the cameras. “If that’s how they’re all gonna be, I am in trouble!”

“There’s a secret admirer here,” Chris tells the women a short while later. “It hugged me. So I’m looking for the secret admirer.” Eventually, he finds and finally meets Amanda. “I was just too busy making goo goo eyes and trying to listen. Hopefully I’m not just creepily staring at him. I don’t think I was, God!” Amanda confesses to the cameras after their introduction.

But the night isn’t over and there are more ladies on the way, so Chris is sent back out.

Vanessa, Jillian and Becca step out of the limo and into Chris’ “Bachelor” world, but Tandra, 30, from Utah, has her own way of doing things. Zoom! She pulls up on a motorcycle and Chris, a rider himself, is very pleased. “That’s pretty cool,” he says, happily.

The next lengthy limo ushers in flight attendant Alissa, who has a gift – a seatbelt she straps around Chris as a sly way of giving him a hug (it’s a cute move and he likes it). Jordan, 24, from Windsor, Colo., also has a gift – booze! She knocks back a stiff whiskey with the reality TV hunk.

“You’re beautiful. You’re stunning,” Chris tells Brittany, 26, from Orlando, who is in a dress that the women inside find scandalous (it’s short and lacey, and short, and short). They don’t like cruise ship singer Carly, 29, from Arlington, Texas, either, who struts over in a princess-esque pink dress, singing for Chris on a portable mic with amp.

Finally, the last limo arrives, shuttling in five more women, including fourth grade teacher Tracy, from Wellington, Fla., who reads a note from one of the students she left behind to be on the show. “Dear farmer, Please like my teacher so she doesn’t end up lonely with nine cats!”

With all the women here – 30! – Chris H. tells Chris S. to head inside, and the connections (and games) heat up.

“This is extremely important to me,” he tells the gathered gals. “I know what I want, I know what I’m looking for and I’m here to find a wife and I truly, truly believe that my wife is in this room, which is… (touches his chest), incredible.”

Canadian Kaitlyn turns her 1 on 1 time with Chris into a dance lesson, and it wins her points, but it’s one of his last light hearted moments as the ladies, realizing their time is almost up, get serious, most especially, 24-year-old Ashley.

“Every person you meet is like an onion. You cut ’em, but when you cut them, you peel them back and what you do is you peel them back layer by layer,” she tells the cameras in the start of what will be a series of awkward moments.

Cut to Ashley walking up to a brunette (who is chatting with Chris), who she hands a yellow rose to, in an attempt to get her to move on. The woman protests, but Ashley stands her ground, and even begs, a little. “I’ve been here longer than you so, please,” she requests. Ashley’s chat time with Chris is brief (it involves a sunflower field and riding a horse), but there’s a lot of time with “The Bachelor’s” cameras – and more onion talk.

“That, to me, is an onion. If you want to take a look, camera, it’s blooming,” she tells the crew, motioning to something on the left side of the screen. “Take a freaking look at the onion. … Seriously, I’m not even kidding,” she adds, before finding out the thing growing in the nearby tree is a pomegranate.

After a few more moments with the ladies, Chris H. sets Chris S. to work handing out the first impression rose.

No surprise, it goes to Britt.

“The way she makes me feel is why I’m here, and I don’t even know what that means, but it feels good. It feels right,” he says.

The two gush about their connection, and before they head back to the house, they give the audience the show’s first kiss of the season. “When we were kissing, it was honestly like I’m kissing someone that’s my boyfriend that I’ve known for a long time. … Something real is going on amidst all this chaos. And I’m loving it,” Britt said.

Back with the rest of the ladies, the atmosphere is frosty, but for Chris, things are about to get colder – it’s time for the rose ceremony!

The Rose Ceremony

The ladies are gathered, standing around nervously, except for Tara, who is dealing with the effects of what the show is suggesting is a little too much alcohol (earlier in the night she named a number of liquors as her friends). As the women are called up by Chris one by one – dancer Kaitlyn, special ed teacher Trina, and a few others — Tara’s inability to just stand there gets noticed by “The Bachelor,” who leaves the room.

Turning to Chris H. for advice, Chris S. asks what to do. He wanted to give Tara a rose, but he suggests she’s “wasted drunk.” It’s up to him, the host tells the other Chris, who heads back inside and chooses… single mom Mackenzie.

And then… surprise! Tara gets one too, followed by news producer Jillian and finally, onion Ashley!

“I thought you would never ask,” the blonde says when Chris asks if she’ll accept the rose.

Sadly for the viewers, ballet instructor Amanda will not be continuing on this road to romance. “That was never expected in the slightest,” she said of the rejection. “But he must’ve seen something in the crazy drunk girls that he didn’t see in me.”

While Chris welcomes the ladies he’s chosen, one he rejected – yoga instructor Kimberley — decides to head back in and asks to speak to the “Bachelor.” As for what happens next, Chris Harrison suggests tuning in next week!

“The Bachelor” airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

— Jolie Lash