The Bachelorette: Devin Strader's Threat To Leave Proves The Show Doesn't Care About Its Lead

Devin Strader and Jenn Tran seem to have forged a strong connection on The Bachelorette season 21, but his threat to leave proves that the show has failed to care about its lead. Jenn and Devin's relationship has been going strong, highlighted by a memorable date where they bonded over growing up without fathers. Their date, which included participating in Māori traditions, was wholesome and genuine. Devin and Jenn opened up about their childhood struggles, which deepened their bond. However, Devin might be stirring the pot behind the scenes ahead of The Bachelor season 29.

Producers have scrambled to fix Jenn's season in recent weeks. Sam McKinney slipping through the cracks was a blunder, though Jenn rightfully eliminated him in the August 12 episode. In an attempt to save the franchise, producers announced Grant Ellis as the lead of The Bachelor season 29 ahead of the hometown episodes, which was bizarre timing from previous seasons. Unfortunately, Devin's threat to leave the show proves that production has completely abandoned Jenn in her pursuit of love.

Devin's Uncertainty Shows He May Not Be Ready For Marriage

Jenn Told Marcus She Loved Him

In the latest episode of The Bachelorette season 21, the drama intensified as Devin contemplated leaving after the Fantasy Suites, ending the episode on an all-too-predictable cliffhanger. Jenn had overnight dates with Devin, Jonathon Johnson, and Marcus Shoberg. While Jonathon and Marcus spent the night with Jenn, Marcus expressed doubts about being in love right as Jenn planned to tell him she loved him. Unfortunately, Marcus wasn't ready to say the same words to Jenn.

" There's a lot of different phrases of love and I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I am in love with you and the way that you make me feel ."

"It's been hard for me to get to a point where I feel comfortable saying that I'm, like, in love," Marcus said about Jenn. Meanwhile, Jenn didn't back down, saying, "There's a lot of different phrases of love and I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I am in love with you and the way that you make me feel." While Marcus wasn't ready to reciprocate Jenn's professions of love, Devin felt increasingly insecure, struggling with the fact that Jenn hadn't said the same to him and still had Jonathan and Marcus in the picture.

Devin's behavior during the latest episode of The Bachelorette suggests a deep-seated insecurity, especially when he didn't receive a reciprocal declaration of love from Jenn after he expressed his feelings during the Fantasy Suite date. His reaction—contemplating leaving because of Jenn's connections with Jonathan and Marcus—highlights his struggle to handle the emotional challenges that come with the ups and downs of The Bachelorette.

Devin's willingness to walk away instead of communicating and working through his feelings suggests that he may not yet possess the emotional resilience needed for marriage. His insistence on hearing Jenn say, "I love you" before fully committing indicates that he might be more focused on validation than on building on what they have. It would have been much worse for Jenn to make a profession of love that didn't feel genuine. Because of his reaction, he might not be ready to marry Jenn.

Devin Knew What He Signed Up For And Needs To Let Jenn Move At Her Own Pace

She's Going Through The Process

Devin became vulnerable and emotional with The Bachelorette host Jesse Palmer as he began to spiral. "I've been waiting for this time to hear something that will get me through this process. But the one big question that I wanted to ask her, 'Do you love me as much as I love you,'" the cast member explained, "I never got to ask her that." Devin claimed that he's told Jenn he loved her multiple times but never heard it in return. The blow was only compounded by knowing two other men were still in the picture, and Jenn told Marcus she loved him.

Devin's behavior is a little ridiculous, considering he knew what he signed up for when agreeing to be cast on The Bachelorette season 21. Perhaps Devin wasn't expecting to fall so hard for Jenn, and there's plenty of pressure that comes from being in the final three men competing for Jenn's heart. It can also be difficult for men to be vulnerable, and Devin has taken plenty of risks in baring his heart to Jenn. The stakes are high, but Devin seems to have forgotten what show he's on.

If his relationship with Jenn is meant to be, he'll make his way to the finale. He's already captured her heart to some degree by making it this far in the competition. Devin needs to trust The Bachelorette's process to allow Jenn to make meaningful connections and trust her gut when it comes to choosing her husband. His inability to trust Jenn shows he doesn't understand the process as well as he thought.

Devin's Threat Shows He's More Immature Than He Leads On

He Didn't Take Jenn's Feelings Into Account

es he's more immature than he lets on. When Devin felt insecure about his relationship with Jenn, instead of addressing his concerns with Jenn, he reacted impulsively by threatening to leave the show while talking to Jesse. This move seemed more like a dramatic plea for attention.

"And it hurts me because I keep giving and giving and giving, and she's growing from that, but I'm withering away ."

Instead of taking the opportunity to communicate and build on their relationship, Devin chose to dramatize his frustration by threatening to exit during his heart-to-heart with Jesse. He might not be as emotionally mature as he had previously exhibited. Jesse asked Devin, "Did you get any kind of reassurance from her at all?" Devin responded by detailing his profession of love without reciprocation, saying, "I, again, told her I loved her on the way out and...nothing. And it hurts me because I keep giving and giving and giving, and she's growing from that, but I'm withering away."

Devin did say he wouldn't give Jenn an ultimatum, but he needed to hear her feelings for him. When he didn't get the answer he wanted, he threatened to leave rather than remain patient and mature with the process. Instead of trusting Jenn, he threatened to throw in the towel.

Will Devin Make It Past Fantasy Suites On The Bachelorette?

He Might Make Up With Jenn

The latest episode of The Bachelorette ended on a cliffhanger, with Devin preparing to confront Jenn about his feelings. "I can't keep moving forward. Can't do it anymore," he shared, continuing, "This is probably the end for me, and it scares me to no end." His decisiveness doesn't bode well for The Bachelorette's most troubled contestant, but there are hints that he will make it to the Fantasy Suites. According to Reality Steve, as reported by Bustle, there are indications that Devin isn't eliminated after Fantasy Suites and even gets engaged to Jenn in the finale.

It's understandable for tensions to be high at this point in The Bachelorette process, but Devin's threat to leave the show is another clue that production doesn't care about Jenn. She's been put through the wringer throughout the entire season, and Devin's threats prove he's immature and unclear about the process of the show. Hopefully, he comes around, and Jenn will reciprocate his declarations of love in the next episodes of The Bachelorette season 21.