To say this week’s episode was a rollercoaster would be an understatement. It was the week of the dreaded two on one [a real one, not the fake one that sent twin #2 home] and one of the most tense group dates I’ve ever watched, and I’ve watched this show for a loooooooong time. The women got mean, Ben got confused and pigs swam. Twas weird.
Let’s start from the beginning.
Ben pulled Olivia to the side during the rose ceremony, but she kept her rose. Cue death glares from the other women. Twin Emily is confused because her and Olivia are so different so how can Ben like both of them? She’s angry. Jennifer, who I honestly kind of forgot about, gets the boot.
The clan heads to the Bahamas. Chris Harrison drops off a date card and says he hopes to see “most” of them at the next rose ceremony. What is that supposed to mean, Chris? Playing favorites? Do you know something we don’t?
Anyway, the one on one goes to Caila. Shocked? I wasn’t, but Leah was. She thought she deserved the one on one because she hasn’t had one and feels like a fool for being there now. Blah, blah, blah. Don’t worry, more on our girl Leah later.
Caila’s date involves fishing and kissing. Oh, and a kind of awkward dinner conversation. Ben says she smiles a lot and is confused as to if that’s how she masks feelings or something, but she sailed through and got a rose and seat on the plane that will take them to the next “best place to fall in love.”
Next up was the most awkward and tense group date that so teetered on the edge of being perfect for “when pigs fly” jokes because Ben and the women swam with pigs. Actually, no they didn’t swim. The pigs chased them. Ben said the girls loved it. I beg to differ.
Leah finally talked to Ben- about how she likes to eat pigs. Just kidding, she did say that, but then she admitted that she was mad Caila got the one on one instead of her. Ben didn’t really know what to say.
The cocktail party was bad. Ben wanted to use it to reconnect with the women. Becca admitted she got in her own head and was upset to see him obsess over Lauren B, but they made up and kissed. Classic.
Then came Leah and all hell broke loose. For some bizarre reason she chose to throw Lauren B. under the bus. Lauren B., the obvious front runner but the most perfect and sweetest human. Leah said Lauren B. asks differently in the house. This upset Ben who then asked Lauren B. about it. This upset Lauren B. Everyone was upset, okay?
Lauren B. cried to the girls. Leah asked confused and said she didn’t mention Lauren’s name to Ben. WHAT. THE. HELL.
Personally, I thought Leah was fine before this. I didn’t know much about her and didn’t think she would last much longer but then she pulled this rumor out of her back pocket and I was over it.
Amanda got the rose on the group date. Nasally voice and all, I like her enough.
Later, while Lauren B., Amanda and Emily had girl talk in bed, Leah snuck out to Ben’s place. She really wanted Lauren B. to be sent home that night. Ben said he was happy to see her. I call BS.
Ben was hoping they could use the time to get to know each other better. Leah wanted to get her revenge on Lauren B. How dare Lauren B. have a stronger connection with Ben then her?
10 minutes later, Ben decided that a woman shouldn’t be using her alone time with him to backstab other women and sent Leah packing. I was kind of shocked. It all happened so quickly. Probably due to a time crunch, we didn’t really see Leah say bye to anyone besides Lauren H. who asked how it went meaning she knew the whole time. Not cool, Lauren H. Not cool.
No one seems to care that Leah isn’t there in the morning because IT’S THE TWO ON ONE. Emily and Olivia pile into the car and meet Ben on a boat and go to a remote island. Classic. The wind is out of control, and the date is awkward. Olivia says she falling in love with Ben. Emily says she wants this to be the beginning of their journey.
Ben asks Olivia to follow him with the rose in tow. Emily is pissed. Ben and Olivia walk away and Ben says that he needs to be as honest with Olivia as she’s being with him. He can’t reciprocate her feelings and thinks it’s time she leaves. He leaves her on the shore with the wind slapping water across her face and heads back to Emily who accepts the rose.
Emily and Ben hop on the boat and head back while the camera zooms wide to show Olivia as a speck on the beach. It kind of felt the same as it did when Chris left Ashley I. and Kelsey in the dessert.
Finally we get to the cocktail party. Just kidding, Ben cancelled it and went straight to the rose ceremony. Everyone’s freaking out, especially Lauren B. who thinks her relationship with Ben is on the rocks thanks to Leah.
But, it’s Lauren H. who gets sent packing. I was afraid he was going to say the last initial for a second, though.
We’re down to the final six girls and the previews show that there is no end in sight for the tears. Ben cries. The girls cry. We all cry. Also, did anyone else mention Ben playing with the two little girls on the beach? Are Amanda’s kids coming to visit?
Only time will tell.
Until next time, here are my top picks for the week:
Caila: As much as the girls envy her because she gets so much time with Ben, she’s hard not to love. She’s super sweet and fun, and her and Ben have obvious chemistry. She’ll be sticking around for awhile.
Lauren B.: I’m predicting that Lauren B. will clear the air with Ben and their relationship will be back on track. Not that it was really off track, but you know what I mean.
Becca: This is probably the producers doing, but Ben seemed to really care that she was standoffish on the group date. He said he wanted to reconnect with the other girls, but he seemed to really care that Becca was okay. I like her. He likes her. He should keep her around.
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