As The Bachelor Australia reached dizzying new levels of anxiety and jealously, frontrunner Megan Marx quietly bowed out.
The West Australian who had been a favourite to win Bachelor Richie Strahan's heart didn't want to play the game anymore.
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The Bachelor put to the test
Richie Strahan is put to the test by our very own Amy Croffey on all things The Bachelor Australia.
She declined a rose from Richie, told him she was tired of the drama, and went back to the sunny shores of Western Australia.
And who can blame her? Marx's walking out has been about the only real thing to happen so far this season.
Wednesday night's episode showed just how manufactured reactions and emotions on the Network Ten reality show have become.
As the contestants were rounded up for a group date garden party, Richie was notably absent. Where was he? Busy meeting the three new intruders, of course.
Paranoia and anxiety set in as the women, dressed to the nines, were left to their own devices. Over a game of bocce, Megan confessed to fellow favourite Alex Nation that the game was getting to her.
"What I'm feeling like is a bit like this game. Richie's the white ball, all us girls are playing a different game every week, and you never know how close you're going to get to Richie.
"Some weeks I feel really close to Richie and then other weeks, I may as well be throwing the ball, you know?"
Alex echoed Megan's sentiment, saying what she had with Richie wasn't special anymore "because there are so many other girls that are close to him."
And who can blame Megan and Alex? Imagine you're falling in love with someone and then, boom, a helicopter load of other girls rock up and announce they're going to steal your man.
As if that wasn't bad enough, "villain" Keira was having another episode, yelling at former Playboy model Kiki and calling her "a peasant" because Kiki warned the intruders to avoid her.
Realising she couldn't fall in love with Richie in such an intense and dramatic environment, Megan did the honourable thing and removed herself.
Spurning his red rose, the Perth native told a blindsided Richie that while he was someone she could fall in love with, she couldn't do it in an environment "with such competition and intensity".
In a series full of heavily-produced dates, manufactured drama, cat fights and braggadocio, Megan's departure was a breath of fresh air.
Richie's reaction also showed a rare glimpse of the real man behind the Bachelor suit.
"I was hoping you could be patient with this process," he said, indicating he also thought the format boulderdash and that he was looking forward to spending real time with her.
The producers could only dream of such emotion, which indicates Megan's shock exit will only do more to boost the franchise than discredit it.
On social media, Bachelor Australia fans praised Megan for being true to herself and getting the heck out of there.
"I love Megan even more," tweeted last year's Bachelorette Sam Frost. "Mad respect to her for calling B.S [bullshit]."
Richie has also emerged unscathed. Some could say the walkout has even benefited him. The retiring and rather milquetoast rope access technician has been slammed by critics as wooden, but his raw emotion in the face of Megan's exit makes him less tin man and more lonely, brooding bachelor.
As for Megan? The 27-year-old nature lover has already settled back into her sunny Perth lifestyle, with the occasional star struck fan approaching her for photos.
A pretty easy exit from what could have been the world's worst dating experience, with a side of humiliation, on national television.
Megan, you're too good for this. Go fly and be free pretty bird. #TheBachelorAU
— Rachael Lonergan (@RachaelHasIdeas) August 17, 2016