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The Bachelor Recap – The Women Tell All Season 16

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Before we even get to The Women Tell All, we have to get to everyone else ever affiliated with The Bachelor or Bachelorette, as this episode starts out with clips and interviews from a Bachelor/Bachelorette reunion party, which will be the breeding grounds of the Bachelor Pad 3…eww. Oh, and Ali’s gonna be there after breaking off her engagement with latin lover Roberto…And so is Ed, after breaking off his engagement with Canadian Bachelorette Jillian. Doesn’t that all sound like so much fun? Well, this girl needs a break from all the crazies (I need to mentally prepare for the Bentleys of the world during Emily’s season coming up – I’m quite looking forward to it, actually) and Bachelor Pad is all of ’em, all the crazies, all together under one big roof. You’ll have to fill me in on how that goes. Thanks.

The recap of Ben’s journey to love is a jam-packed session, reliving every ounce of awkward in just one episode is far too much for me to handle. I will admit I had to fast forward a lot. Watching once was enough, thanks. Plus, I hadn’t even had any wine. Free advice: have some wine while watching The Women Tell All. It’s a cat fight. Meow.

Here’s the gist of what we learn on this night where the rejected come together, tans too orange, smiles too plastic, skirts too short, heels too high…

  • Blakeley: is not a competitor, is not friendly, and was just there to meet Ben. Her excuse for poor behavior while filming: she was just “too mature” for everyone else.
  • Jennifer: looks awesome. Whoa. Good on you, lady.
  • Brittney: was not at all attracted to Ben and therefore sent herself home. 
  • Samantha: the instigator, otherwise known as the chihuahua in the house. Shedoesnotstoptalking. 
  • Shawntel is back (again) and disappointed (again) and saddened (as always) by how rudely she was treated by the bullies in the house. Every woman there would like to confront Shawntel and hands fly when Chris asks if anyone has any questions.
  • Elyse is orange. 
  • Erika – who are you? I don’t know but way to tell America you’ve got big hips. That’s all I’ll remember.
  • Emily is playing the princess in purple. She says she’s happy about the way things ended because she deserves better than Ben, who showed her only that he cared more about preserving his relationship with Courtney than respecting her or the other women. She gets a lot of air time and probably because she was very likeable and America can’t understand why he’s keeping Courtney around either.
  • Nicki is heartbroken but herself again.
  • Kacie B. doesn’t think Ben would’ve fit in at her family’s house in the South for Christmas. Ben probably would’ve said the same thing about every other day of the year, too.

A good chunk of the show is spent bashing on Courtney, which is understandable but seems a bit unfair seeing as she isn’t there to defend herself, and there’s more than a 50% chance Ben is going to choose her (seriously, people, don’t act surprised – he is gaga over her and that’s been very obvious for a long while now). So really this ends up being all of Ben’s ex-girlfriends slamming his current girlfriend. Not pretty. And the point is taken a little more seriously when Chris Harrison announces that Courtney is there in person to defend herself – surprise! Aha!  And now this becomes the producer’s “let’s try to make America at least like her a little bit before the finale” episode.

Courtney says she regrets a lot and is disappointed in herself. It sounds quite as if she’s had some coaching (maybe from a publicist or Bachelor Brad’s therapist?) to respond to everyone’s harsh comments. Even Chris calls her out, wondering aloud if all the other ladies are buying what she’s trying to sell or if they believe she’s just there to repair her image.  I’ll take the latter for 500, Chris. Her defense to her poor behavior and regular jabs at the girls is that she was extremely uncomfortable and she didn’t think any of it through. After the commercial break she’s worked up some tears and manages to spill out a lot of blanket apologies. As soon as Chris takes over the conversation to tell her she has said all she can say to the other women, the tears have dried and she says her thanks and goodbye, hops into her limo and drives off.

Side note: What’s up with all the purple tonight?

Ben is welcomed to the stage and he appropriately welcomes Chris to his nightmare. We don’t learn anything new, there is nothing shocking or exciting, just every single girl asking “why did I get sent home? What did I do wrong?” Totally pathetic. Chris doesn’t ask Ben if he’s with someone now, whether he’s engaged, happy, dating…nothing. Hopefully the After the Final Rose episode will be more interesting than this.

Chris says this was an unusually emotional season. Hmmm…seemed quite usual to me. What say you? Who is your pick for the final rose?! Will there be a proposal?

P.S. Maybe my favorite part of this Women Tell All is Manic Monica confronting crazy Blogger Jenna about her breakdown on television, trying to make amends by offering her a tampon of which they will share. “Jenna, will you accept this tampon?”  What was your favorite part?

The Bachelor Recap episode 9, season 16

Posted in Television & Movies, The Bachelor/Bachelorette Recaps by

This week we’re in beautiful Switzerland with awkward fantasy date card invitations to look forward to. Yay!

First is the worst
Nicki arrives to meet Ben and he doesn’t seem all too excited to see her …maybe the elementary school kids have it right: first is the worst.

I’m sure you’re surprised to hear they’ll be taking a helicopter ride to see the city. I have to say, while it’s cool because it’s not a very common mode of transportation, I really think the helicopter date is a good plan if you want to rule out any opportunities for forced intimacy and conversation. It’s loud, you’re looking away from each other out separate windows, it’s difficult to hear what the other person is saying, plus there’s lots of nodding and empty smiling.  The helicopter lands on a mountaintop for the pair to set up a picnic. Nicki is reliving telling him she loves him and he seems to just laugh it off.  

At my house we’re a little disappointed there was no yodeling involved in this date. Seriously, what else are you supposed to do on a mountaintop in the Swiss Alps with a girl you aren’t really that into? Totally blew it, Ben.

Fireside dinner
Ben says he feels comfortable with Nicki and every time he sees her, he feels better. It seems awkward. And then it gets worse: Nicki asks how many kids he wants. Like he’s practicing for this conversation that he might want to have with someone he actually likes, Ben says the “more the merrier – four” and recalls that he and his sister and dad conspired to create a big family.  As if she realizes she isn’t fitting into this little life Ben has planned, she confidently affirms that she came from a small family and she’d like two kids.  Well, settled then. This isn’t working. 

Despite the fact that Ben says he is nervous about giving her the fantasy suite card, (which I don’t believe unless he means that he is nervous she’ll say yes and he’ll have to keep pretending with her) and she accepts. Of course.  And Ben is flattered. And off they go. And despite the fact that Nicki says she doesn’t take this lightly, she later says something along these lines: hey, folks, we’re a few short weeks away from the proposal…I gotta try this guy out, and, plus, the last guy I was with was my ex husband.

Nicki tells Ben she is confident she can make him happy. Next they’re in the hot tub. Woof. Is it itchy in here or is it just me? Ugh, yeah, this is awkward.

Second, the best

“Hey, I know I just had intimate relations with contestant #1, but now Lindzi’s here and I’m excited…welcome, Lindzi.”
–what Ben should say in his opening voice over

To start their romantic day together, according to Ben they’ll be repelling down 300 feet in a canyon. And a few minutes in we realize in disappointment they aren’t actually repelling, but rather someone up at the top is slowly lowering them down. Sounds like a metaphor for their relationship if I ever heard one – what Lindzi thinks will be a fun and exciting adventure is really just going to be a slow and anguishing let down.  In the midst of their snail’s pace descent, Ben tells the camera, “I love this woman” and I almost let myself believe Lindzi has a shot against Courtney’s crazy head mind games. Almost.

Hey, surprise! Another hot tub!  Finally at dinner, Lindzi tells Ben she is falling in love with him and is hoping for a proposal at the end. Ben tells the camera he is really starting to fall in love with her too. Upon receiving the fantasy suite invitation, Lindzi gives the obligatory “I usually don’t stay the night with anyone, but I want to spend more time with you” speech. And Ben loves her.  And she probably is the best.

Third’s the golden bird
Saving his best for last, Ben finally gets his beloved Courtney all alone (just the way she demands it). They take a train ride (where they get to talk and hear each other and cuddle up all cozy like, as opposed to a helicopter ride – see above).  At my house, we’re surprised to be halfway through their date and realizing we’re not yet annoyed by Courtney. They picnic with cows, and when Courtney brings up having a hard time with the girls, Ben tells her he wishes she would have made it easier for him and tells her it was all very messed up. And that’s the end of that conversation. Oh, and now Courtney loves him so much and is sorry that she treated those girls so poorly because it has made him second guess her. Oops.

At dinner, Courtney tries again to open up to Ben by confessing she has a hard time with girls, she puts walls up…Ben says he just feels cautious about the fact that Courtney is saying she doesn’t get along with women…he has a lot of girl friends, he’s very close to his mom and sister…is that going to be okay? (No.)  Courtney tells him that she acknowledges and regrets those mistakes. She wants normal in her life. Really? (No.)

Ben gives Courtney the fantasy suite card and says he feels really good about where they are. He wants uninterrupted everything, just to be with her. Courtney is calm and triumphant.  In a wine barrel of a hot tub (oh, sorry…surprise!) it gets rather steamy.

“It’s the smallest hot tub I’ve ever been in, and I’m not complaining!”  – Ben, also triumphant about saving the best girl and best hot tub for last.
 

Hot Mess Hotel Guest
Helicopter – check.
Hot tubs – check.
Previously sent home contestant knocking on hotel door to sort out feelings and confront Bachelor – check. 
Back from the depths of rejection, in a not-so-surprising move, is cutie pie Kacie B.  A self-proclaimed “hot mess,” Kacie says she feels like when she left she didn’t know what to say and couldn’t – still can’t – rationalize what it is that happened.  (remember the now famous girl next door yelling in the limo “What the f$%! happened? What the f$%! happened?!”?) She was so confident in what they had and she didn’t see getting sent home, and she can’t get over it. So, Ben: “what the f$%! happened?  His answer: they were worlds apart, two families with different backgrounds, and he doesn’t feel like he could give her all the things she needed. She didn’t do anything wrong, but Ben didn’t see her in the end and he didn’t want to hurt her. It’s easy to see that Kacie realizes her daddy who doesn’t drink and momma who won’t let her live with a boy before getting married have completely jeopardized their relationship so she tries to make Ben see his mistake by informing him that while she respects her parents, they don’t speak for her.  Ooh…ouch. Wonder if Ben wishes he would’ve asked about those sorts of things before sending her home?  Recognizing that she’s too far gone, Kacie tells him she loves him and cares about him, warning that Courtney will break his heart. Ben asks for reasons why and Kacie proclaims Courtney to be “in it to win it,” recalling Courtney advising the girls of the plenty of fish in the sea if Ben isn’t the one. Ben seems distraught and Kacie is laying on a hotel hallway floor to catch her breath.

Roses:
Lindzi, the normal one, first impression rose winner
Courtney, the unstable one…still winning

Dearly Departed
Nicki says goodbye and tells Ben she just wants the best for him and hopes he is making the right decision. Ben tells her how incredible she is and that he cried a little bit today at the thought of sending her home but couldn’t ignore his doubts. He tells her she deserves everything. Nicki says she fell in love with him and fears he will be hurt one day…she hopes she is proved wrong but if she was being honest I bet she’d say she knows who he’s going to choose and sees that he’s gonna get hurt. Regardless of a really unflattering dress choice, it’s an emotional and sad goodbye.

Next week: The Women Tell All…

Final episode: Zurmat, Switzerland. (I’ve been there…it’s amazing). And a stunning engagement ring!  Whose will it be?!?

P.S. From Emily, a preview of her upcoming season:
Back normal, being a single mom, ready to meet her husband and not be lonely after kiddo goes to bed.  Oh, hey, Ali is still wearing yellow in case anyone was wondering if anything had changed. Ali and Ashley H. try to give her advice…you know, because they were so successful. Eww. They go to watch Titanic in 3D and I can’t take these three women seriously wearing 3D glasses. That was ridiculous. But…I like her. I still have hope that her season will be better than these last two. 

 

The Voice Season 2 – Two to Watch

After all the drama of The Bachelor’s Hometown dates last night, I was happy to hear some great talent on The Voice. Are you watching this season? I shared a video of my two favorite blind auditions so far, and here are two others I’m adding to my pick list:

Jamie Lono, the Sandwich Maker, singing and playing “Folsom Prison Blues”

Mathai, the destined for medicine-turned-musician:

 

Do you have any favorites so far?

The Bachelor Recap Episode 8, season 16 – Hometown dates

Posted in Television & Movies, The Bachelor/Bachelorette Recaps by

Florida: Lindzi
We watch as Lindzi shows Ben the ropes around horses.  Not too sure that there’s any real conversations going on between the two of them.  Here’s a fun conversation they included to highlight their strong connection:
Lindzi: “You been on a horse farm much?”
Ben: “No.”
Lindzi: “Huh. Really?”

Really.

Lindzi says she was in a serious relationship with a guy – the only other guy she’s brought home to meet the fam – but he broke her heart. Ben seems relieved some other guy already broke her in so he doesn’t have to do the dirty work.

[I just have to pause right now to get up on a soapbox and say how much I loathe when these contestants announce any variation of this: “after just a few weeks, I am now so ready to be married to this man…” eww. No, you’re lying to me, you’re lying to America and you’re lying to yourself.  Stop it.  Now back to regularly scheduled recapping…] 

Dad says he’s got some chilled Chardonnay waiting for Ben.  Sounds like dad did his research. In a made-for-tv moment, Ben and Lindzi recall their first date at San Francisco city hall, which just so happens to be where Lindzi’s parents were married. aww…

Dear dad challenges Ben to a horse cart race and my favorite part is Ben holding onto the little dog for dear life. It also happens to be a jack russell terrier, which Ben also owns.  Either that’s a coincidence or dad went a little too far overboard doing the research. 

In alone one with mom, Ben asks if Lindzi is ready to be engaged. Mom says yes.  Ben tells dad he has strong feelings for Lindzi and while he’s not ready to propose he would want her dad’s blessing. Harry doesn’t quite give a straight out yes but he tells Ben he’s a stand up guy and he hopes they continue to build a great relationship. But then toasting later, Harry says they’d be trilled to have Ben as a son-in-law.

Lindzi is in love. Ben is happy. He thinks he is falling in love with her.

Ben’s Pros about Lindzi: level, grounded. (wow, that’s exciting romance).

Kacie B. in Tennessee
Ben pulls up to meet Kacie B. at a high school and finds a marching band playing while Kacie twirls her baton like a beauty pageant pro. Kacie explains that the football field is named after her grandfather, a man whose love story has inspired her. 

Ready to meet the fam? Okay, great. Hey, by the way, Kacie’s dad doesn’t drink. Oh, and one other thing — he’s a federal probation officer.  Might be a bit of a problem because, ya know…Ben makes wine for a living. Ah, the business of booze. That’s the devil’s work here in the bible belt, Ben. Not sure why, knowing this, Ben decides to bring a bottle of wine as a gift. Apparently not the brightest fella.

Dad is skeptical and grills Ben quite a bit – he takes marriage very seriously and cautions Ben to not rush into marriage. Dad somewhat threateningly asks that Ben let Kacie know soon if she is not “the one” so as to shield her from more harm. And just when Benny boy thinks he’s come up for air, Mom doesn’t give him much breathing room either.  Oh, and you betcha boy that she’s seen The Bachelor before – she knows how this all works and she is not a fan of the whole moving into together before marriage idea.  No siree.  Ben says that if he wants to propose then he will be asking both mom and dad for permission but after this disaster-of-a-day it doesn’t seem like that’ll be happening anytime soon.

Despite the awful first encounter meeting her folks, Kacie pulls her sister aside and tells her that Ben is her future husband then informs her father that she will say yes if Ben asks her to marry him. Dad says if Ben were to ask him for his permission he would say no.  Awkward.

Pros about Kacie B.: Ben feels at ease, she brings out the good in him, she knows what she wants.
Cons about Kacie B.: parents are very conservative and might have scared Ben off.

“Make every decision prayerfully and carefully.”
– good advice from Kacie B’s dad

Fort Worth, Texas
According to Ben, his relationship with Nicki has been slow to go (translation: she’s going home soon)

“The last time I brought a man home under these circumstances, I married him.” – Nicki, not helping

In true Texas fashion, Nicki takes Ben into a boot shop and they get geared up with boots, hats and buckles.  I usually love  cowboys but Ben is not doing my generalization fantasy any favors. Yuck. 

Nicki is boring Ben to death with talk about her parents’ concern now that she’s been married and divorced already and seemingly headed straight down that path again. 

“Everyone feels like i gave up but I did not. I put everything I could in for about two years…”
– Nicki, on perseverence

 Ben tells Nicki’s family that he was going to wear the cowboy hat and whole getup but he decided his greasy, undone hair would give off a better impression.

“Well, dad, last time [I got married] I leap into something I wasn’t ready for…and this time I’m gonna be sure…i’m gonna wait six weeks and test our relationship on national television to make sure it’s for real.” -Nicki (okay, I may have taken some courtesies on this one)

Anyone notice Nicki’s creepy brother? Almost expected him to tell Ben he made him a painting a la Todd Cleary in Wedding Crashers. Aside from that, Nicki’s family seems pretty normal.

When Nicki says “I’m in love with you” Ben just says “I know.” Eek.

Scottsdale, AZ is Courtney’s hometown.
Now that she’s back at home on her own Courtney says she feels bad about the way he’s treated the girls so far. Probably because she doesn’t really have to interact with them too much anymore. When she introduces her family, I’m surprised she has a sister. What happened to all that “I don’t get along with girls talk”? 

Talking about Ben like he’s not sitting next to her at the table, Courtney announces to her family that she’s in like/love with Ben. Mom says she’s not convinced.

We see a more genuine side to Courtney at home and perhaps my favorite thing that she says is that she feels deserving – she didn’t say it in her normal snotty way but in an actual sincere sentiment.  At least so it seems.  Either that or she paid these people to be her pretend family so she could seem like she’s got it together.  What about you?  Do you like Courtney more without the other girls around?

After telling Ben she feels ready and excited for the next chapter together, they just so happen to stumble upon a wedding being set up on property. Courtney tells Ben she always envisioned getting married there. Coincidentally, she’s wearing a white dress. And happens to have pen and paper to write vows. And rings. And a bow tie for Ben.  Oh, and a pastor to preside over their vows [perhaps another paid actor?].

Ben wonders if she is too good to be true…but he’s decided the answer is no.

I laugh out loud when I hear Courtney recite the vows that she’s apparently just written because she quotes Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw word-for-word: “I’m looking for real love; consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love…” wow. But then she goes on to tell him she’s ready to get married and she is in love with him.  And he eats. it. up.  And I can practically see the thought cloud above Courtney’s head: this is such a done deal.  [smirk, giggle, eye sparkle].

Roses:
Courtney, Ben’s #1 says “I do” to the rose (ya know, because they’re ‘almost married’)
Lindzi, the downhome country cowgirl
Nicki, on her way to divorce #2

I had a feeling that Kacie B. (my favorite) would be going home but it was still sad to see. It was clear from her home visit that their lives are very different. Instead of giving her any explanation or clarity about why he’s sending her home, Ben just apologizes a few times and sends her on her way. She keeps it together in front of him but loses it in the limo and I wish she would’ve asked him instead of crying/yelling at the cameraman in the limo “What the f*%! happened? What the f*%! happened?” Indeed. What f*%! did happen, Ben?  (poor thing, that video clip is going to be referenced every time anyone speaks her name moving forward.  We can all watch for it at The Women Tell All episode). My theory is that Ben knows he’s going to pick someone else (Courtney) and he took dear ‘ole bible-hugging, criminal rehabilitator daddy for reals and decided to cut Kacie B. loose before it went on too much longer. What’s your theory? 

Gotta say, though, I wouldve really liked to see Kacie B. and her dad pull out batons (hers school issued with tassels, his law enforcement issued) and give Ben a few whacks for being such an idiot and never even combing his hair. (really, somebody tell this guy that the seriously matted part down the center is not doing him any good).

Now that my favorite, cutie pie Kacie B., is out of the running, I’m even more convinced that Courtney is Ben’s final pick. Lindzi seems way too normal and nice to win so I’m gonna say shes the one left crying on a mountaintop somewhere with crushed dreams and a broken heart. And I just don’t see it with Nicki so I count her out. Who is your pick?

Up next: Switzerland. Helicopter (surprised?), mountaintops, hot tubs, someone comes back, and Courtney wonders if she screwed up talking so badly about all the other girls….


P.S. Did you blink? If you did, you might have missed the sneak peek at Emily’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette. I heart her way more than I ever liked Ben so I’m optimistic. Looking forward to a few weeks of her endearing accent.  Apparently her daughter is old enough now to be subjected to the harsh limelight of reality tv (for those of you who forget Brad’s season, such was the main theme of Emily’s uncertainty despite being quite the Souther Belle charmer). What about you – excited about Emily? I wonder if Bentley will be a contestant…think Brad will make a guest appearance with his therapist in tow?  Are you in for another season of this? Of course you are. Me too. Glad we agree.

The Bachelor Recap episode 7, season 16

Posted in Television & Movies, The Bachelor/Bachelorette Recaps by

Hi there friends. Last night’s episode takes place in Belize with only six lovely ladies left. Ben says he’s got that lovin’ feeling but he’s not ready to sing it out loud anytime soon. Two ladies will be going home after 3 one-on-one dates with no roses on the line, and a group date with a rose that guarantees one lucky lady a trip back to her hometown with Benny Boo.

Musings from Emily:
“It’s beautiful [in Belize] but I’m sharing it with four other girls… and a shark.”
-Emily, about Belize, and Courtney

“Seeing Ben today was like someone slicing a piece of cheesecake and putting it in front of me, then someone else walking over and saying ‘bye bye’ and taking my cheesecake…in swim trunks.” – Emily, loves cheesecake

One-on-one date: “two halves make a whole” Lindzi
Ben and Lindzi take a helicopter ride (surprised?) to The Blue Hole (gorgeous!) where they will be jumping from the helicopter into the water. After falling for Ben [literally] into the water, Lindzi announces to the camera that she’s definitely fallen in love with him. Cheesy, yes, but America loves cheesy. Right? Right. Wondering out loud if she’s ready to take Ben home to meet her family, Lindzi reassures Ben that yes, she is more than ready. I can practically hear the producers prompting in the background: “hey, Lindzi, why don’t you talk to Ben now about whether you think you’re ready for him to meet your parents. okay, good…roll camera…” During their dinner portion of the evening, they decide to write a message in a bottle – a cheesy fairy tale on one side (see, people love cheesy!) and a goofy illustration of them jumping out of a helicopter on the other. A representation of their relationship: on one hand utterly juvenile and ridiculous, and somewhat serious on the other.  Good mix hethinks, and also that he’s pretty sure he’s falling in love with her.

One-on-one date: “Emily, do you Belize in love?”
[Side note: I think I could really make a living at writing these one-liner date cards. Think that’s a job?  Fortune cookie fortune writer/date card one-liner writer. Where do I apply?]

Emily boards a small plane all by her lonesome to meet Ben in a small town to ride bikes, play some ball with the locals, buy some jewelry, and walk barefoot around the city (eww, where are your shoes?). Ben tells Emily he has his heart set on lobster for dinner so they find a guy with a boat to take them out diving for lobsters. Ben can see himself loving Emily. He asks how she feels about possibly taking him home to her family and I cringe when she brings up Courtney again, but she recovers quickly by agreeing they wasted precious together time talking about someone else. It’s all good now. They seem to have a great connection and Emily thinks she’s falling in love with him.

Speaking of Courtney, though…back at the hotel room, Courtney is crying and confessing to Lindzi that her good times with Ben are too few and far between – and it’s just too bad for Ben because she’s lost the spark, now no longer ready to bring him home to her fam.  Oh, and boy does she hate Emily. She says if Ben doesnt give her a one-on-one then she is not ready to take him home to her family. Lucky for her, she pulls the next date card…

One-on-one date: “Courtney, let’s take the next steps in our relationship.”
Courtney is the only woman in this competition who believes Ben must win her and prove to her that she should stay.  Poor guy, doesn’t even recognize the crazy head mind games when Courtney smirks and gets that sparkle in her eye. [They must have classes for that somewhere – she’s been practicing.] Ben takes Courtney to a Mayan temple where they set up a picnic and begin to sweat like crazy.  Hot. To add to the heat, Courtney sets right in on the threats that she wasn’t going to accept a rose if she didn’t get this here one-on-one date, and oh, by the way, “I think the spark is gone,” and she no longer knows whether she wants Ben to meet her family. It’s like she was practicing the speech on Lindzi the night before to see how it would work on Ben. Mumbles is visibly angry at the tv just hearing Courtney’s baby talk voice. [must be part of the Crazy Head Mind Games 201 course.]  Ben tells Courtney that he realized he wants a woman who is a little weird, and apparently she fits that bill.  [yes, if by “weird” you mean “psychotic.”]  At the top of the temple, taking in the beauty of the view, Ben says he feels closer to his father and realizing he is feeling as such with Courtney, he thinks she might be the one.  Cue smirk, batting eyelashes, “weird” laugh, and eye sparkle. 

At dinner, she pulls an Inception moment planting thoughts of Ben asking her father for her hand in marriage by telling him she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to allow him home to meet her family for fear of putting dear old dad through that if she wasn’t feeling it.  More about The Spark. Oh, did you know?  It’s back now. So don’t worry.  Ben revisits his crazy moment of clarity regarding his past, present and future – thinking about his dad, seeing Courtney there with him, and picturing his future with her. At this, Courtney announces to the camera, finger guns drawn and all, that the game is now over. (she even does the sound effects: “pew, pew, pew pew pew pew…” as she takes aim.)  Oh, and to make sure she’s really killed the mood regarding the other women: “the other girls are very boring, so vanilla, very into themselves. I’m not like that.”  Eye sparkle.

“I have a lot of good friends…I have a lot of guy friends…”-Courtney
This should be a huge red flag to Ben and I think he is seeing a defensive side to her, perhaps a little worried that he’s going to go back home with Courtney, host some wine tasting get together and no one is going to like his lady.  See, told you I should be a fortune cookie fortune writer.

Group date: Rachel, Nicki, Kacie: “let’s see whose family I will meet”
Ben sneaks into their room before the sun is up to tell them to put on their swimsuits. They scramble to get ready. Hmmm, shaving right before going in the ocean?…ooh…ouch. Wait, what just happened? It was pitch black and by the time the girls meet him outside it’s bright and sunny. So much for that. Rachel speaks too soon about this being the perfect date for her: she hates sharks and soon finds out that they’ll be swimming with them. Lady also has a bullseye on her back – was it a butterfly? Woof. Rachel freaks out the whole time so Ben will stay with her. The other girls have a jolly good time palling around with the sharks.

Poolside later on in alone time with Rachel, Ben seems bored and only just a little bit more interested with Nicki, methinks he just likes hearing her shower him with compliments. She let him know she’s falling in love with him, and he seemed a bit apathetic. In contrast, he lights up when Kacie comes around and tells him she wants him to come home to meet her family so they can meet the man she’s fallen in love with. He smiles, they kiss, and Kacie gets the rose. She screams, she smiles, she is excited. Lurking mistress Courtney on the balcony looks on while the girls warn Ben to be cautious with Courtney because they fear she isn’t there for the right reasons. dun dun dun duuuun….

Cocktail party
As the girls all discuss how somber and serious they find this particular evening to be, sad at the prospect of having to say goodbye to Ben and to these women they’ve established friendships with [Courtney scrunched her nose, smirked, eye sparkled], Courtney proceeds to tell the girls to liven it up – it went something like this: “I’m happy, the piña colada tastes so good when it hits my lips, hey, let’s get this party started! Oh, no? Oh. Okay, we’ll then don’t fret, girls, this isn’t your (or my) only chance for love.” Right, good pep talk, crazy.

Chris Harrison arrives and announces that Ben has made up his mind about who he wants and there will be no cocktail party. Before the roses get handed out, Ben asks for alone time with Courtney to address his concerns. And in an incredibly superficial way says something along the lines of “hey, are you bein’ real with me? yeah? Cool. Let’s get this show on the road.”

Roses
Kacie – still gets my vote
Nicki – wow, definitely thought she was going home
Lindzi – full of cheesy goodness
Courtney – in it to win it. pew pew!

• Rachel feels very rejected and is very tired of being disappointed.
• Emily says a quick goodbye to Ben in shock and disbelief. She is a pretty crier so kudos to her, and she says some really lovely words, hoping for Ben that there is enough time for him to really get to know the women truly because he deserves someone that is honest and cares just as much about him as she does for herself. Aww, see, more of that and she might still have been around.

Next week: hometown dates!

Who are your final two picks, friends?