After last week’s jaunt down risqué behavior lane I hoped this week’s epi would put us back on track to finding love. Well…I was wrong. By a long shot. It seems like Ben is working backwards with these women…eliminating the ones he has no interest in, in hopes the one remaining sticks, rather than creating relationships and eliminating those that don’t work.
In Panama City Kacie B gets the first repeat one-on-one date! I think the two of them have an attraction to each other but they haven’t really dove in to understand their connection. Ben is playing cautiously with her because he recognizes her vulnerability…which may end up coming in between the two of them. But for now, I like this couple.
Both had to bring three items that they would want on a deserted island. FINALLY one of those god-awful questions you see us answer on abc.com has come to use! Kacie brings a stuffed monkey (uh?), corkscrew (before you judge, she reminds us “It has a KNIFE!”) and candy. Wow…I pray to the Lord above I never get on the same plane as Kacie. If I do, I will be changing my flight immediately for fear that it goes down and I’m stuck with the contents of Dora the Explorer’s backpack.
See? Dora has a monkey, too!
On this date Kacie and Ben are forced to get by on their three items they brought…wait. Uh…where did these flutes come from?
C’monnnn producers. I would’ve loved to see these two fend for themselves, live in the wild and actually have an alcohol free convo.
Later that night I finally see the depth I’ve been waiting for between these two. Kacie opens up about her struggles (eating disorder) as a young girl and Ben is nothing but supportive. It takes a moment like this to test the waters and the fact that Ben didn’t shy away from her problems is very refreshing to see. Apparently he does think with the lump between his shoulders!
Back at the ranch the girls get the next date card. Courtney was PUMPED to be on this group date:
And Blakeley was equally as pumped to be….on the two on one? Before everyone calls her bluff on the excitement she shared let me give my take as to why she was happy. During my season I got to the point where I wanted the two on one date, too. There came a time where the group dates had taken my “relationship” with Brad as far as they could and there needed to be a bigger step. If it meant a two on one to figure out if there was something there, I wanted it. I don’t think I would’ve jumped up and down and hollered for one but I think that was Blakeley doing her part to psych Rachel out.
Group date rolls around and Ben and the ladies are off to the wild. Jamie makes it a point to let us know she thinks Ben looks like a man’s man by driving a long boat on shore.
If there is one thing that men across the world should appreciate The Bachelor for it was that comment right there. These women are leaving this show with the bar set so low, men in each hometown should be sending thank you tweets to Ben. All ya gotta do is drive a boat on shore and you’re a man’s man. Dave Good needs to ship these ladies a copy of his book, stat.
Surprise, surprise Courtney is naked again! This girl just oozes class. She likes to call it “being one with nature.” I’d like to remind her that none of her lady bits are truly from nature. But Ben doesn’t have a problem:
Because he gets to see this:
I’ll get into my thoughts on her in just a second.
An apology to Courtney from Emily (not accepted BTW) and a racy convo between Courtney and Ben later, the group date ends with Lindzi getting a rose (much deserved) and Jamie having an uncomfortable conversation with Ben. Jamie mentions that she wants to make moves or act in a certain way with him but holds back. Ben doesn’t quite understand, although he should being that he has been in her shoes. Like I mentioned in a previous blog, group dates are a very weird dynamic. There are times where the Bachelor is pulled away, times when you can’t talk because any and every move needs to be on camera and times when everyone is segregated. In a normal world you would walk up to someone and just strike up a conversation but due to filming restrictions and then your own mental restrictions (because you are, in a way, trained to not do anything unless it’s being filmed) you don’t take action.
On to Courtney and her little monologue about men in her life. Courtney throws it out there for Ben to come visit her and “repay” the favor that she apparently gave him the week prior. What he needs to “repay” I’m not too sure…but he owes her in her mind. Courtney tells us she has a pattern in her life of men treating her great at the beginning and then she gets taken for granted. Ok…let me break it down for you chica. The reason why men treat you well in the beginning? That’s because they feel like they need to earn your love, trust and attention. You, on the other hand, use your body and physical features to get the attention of said man without him having to do any work…I’m guessing because you feel like you have no other cards to play. Once the guy realizes you’re giving him everything he wants from the start without any effort, of COURSE he is going to take it for granted. You didn’t make him earn it or appreciate it from day 1! Once you start treating yourself like you deserve the care and attention a man should give a woman, it will come to you, I promise.
Oh, and Ben…please stop praising Courtney for being the only one to step up and give you attention. You are drastically mistranslating her motive. Courtney isn’t giving you attention for you to feel as if she is interested. She is giving you attention so she gets your attention. All of her actions are to feed her need to feel wanted, not to make you feel wanted. She knows exactly what to do to turn it around and you have fallen for it every single time.
Awkward two on one date time! Blakeley is still pullin’ out the tough girl attitude and it’s actually working on Rachel. Granted, Blakeley has now admitted to us she isn’t as confident as she seems but, she is playing a great game in front of Rachel. I can’t remember the last two on one where we actually see the two on the date almost fighting for the lead. Will pulled the “throw your partner under the bus” move last season but these girls are literally trying to one up each other every chance they get! I really like Blakeley and am totally bummed she didn’t get the rose. Even though I kinda poked fun at Blakeley for her little notebook move on twitter, I’m not going to do that here. After all, I AM the girl who gave notes to Brad. Yikes. PS…why didn’t Blakeley call Ben out for attempting the same dump recovery that Ash did to him? He tried to sugarcoat that dumping like he was the local candyman in the creepy white van.
Before we arrive at the rose ceremony we get to watch Casey and Chris Harrison talk through her “BF” that she left at home. It’s not too random for a girl to have been seeing someone right before the show. I know of plenty of girls in which this has been the case. Women aren’t going to stop their regular lives before they go on the show. Yes, they shouldn’t get in a serious relationship and should be sure to end all things before coming on the show but, don’t be shocked if you find out a woman was seeing someone before. That being said, I don’t know how Casey thought that this could get by producers after filling out the million page personal history application. You pretty much have to list every person you ever lived with, had a relationship with, talked to, waved hi to at the grocery store and worked with for the past 20 years. Ok, maybe it’s not that extensive but it’s dang close! You give them all this information that they can do whatever they want with…contact whomever they please to find out information about you and Casey thought this would slip past them? I’m sure she’s doing just fine now but as a note to all future applicants, don’t assuming that the producers won’t do anything with the information you give them. In fact, expect the opposite.
someone should tell her not to talk and cry and the same time
FINALLY on to the rose ceremony. The only part worth talking about is Jamie. I saw it coming from a mile away and braced for awkwardness the second I heard her train of thought. There is nothing worse than trying to be someone you aren’t…except for trying to be someone you aren’t on national television.
“I have a surprise for you. I have a really big surprise for you. Do you like surprises?” – awkward
“When I go to bed at night, I uh, I uh, definitely think of you often.” – creepy
“I had really big plans for you. Do you want me to show you?” – awkward times a billion
“I like sitting on your lap. Do you like me sitting on your lap?” – uhhhhhh
By the way…these are all lines said by JAMIE. No, not a man. By Jamie. To Ben.
If I saw this face looking at me…I’d stop. And escort myself off the show.
If the guy I like laughs while kissing me…I’d stop. And RUN off the show.
And I haven’t even approached the kissing lesson she gives Ben. While I completely agree that he needs to be told to OPEN his mouth while kissing, this was so not the way to fill him in. It’s safe to say America’s was watching this part of the show behind their hands.
Sorry this blog was a little wordy and lacked in creative screen shots…this season is taking a toll on me! See you next Monday on twitter for live tweeting and back here next week for the recap. Belize is next on our adventure and apparently more women confront Ben about Courtney. Will he see the light? Probably not because with our luck Courtney is standing off to the side in her bikini.
As far as the Casey S storyline goes, how is she different from Courtney. Ryan Seacrest divulged that Courtney had broken up with her boyfriend when she discovered she had been accepted for the cast. Whoops, Chris hadnt mentioned that. And why did Chris feel obligated to disclose what he had heard as rumor from 3, yes three, individuals about Casey in order to protect Ben. Because he felt after the Bentley incident, it was his purpose to disclose such critical storylines. So why hasnt he disclosed the Courtney skinny-dipping event to the other girls? It would certainly have a similar impact upon them as Ashley finding out about Bentley. Oh yea, this is a TV production and it wouldnt help to have 9 girls walk off.
With Courtney being in the final two, she wont be attending the WTA. But WOW, the ATFR will be unbelievable with the barrages being fired at her.
Thanks again Marissa for taking your time for this recap.
Love your recaps, Marissa, especially your little observations (the champagne flutes on the island and ESPECIALLY the scoreboard during the baseball game last week -so blatant!) and also your behind-the-scenes insight. I imagine this season is getting tiring to write about as it is to watch, but thanks for keeping us fans entertained!!
“PS…why didn’t Blakeley call Ben out for attempting the same dump recovery that Ash did to him? He tried to sugarcoat that dumping like he was the local candyman in the creepy white van.” Thought the SAME thing!
And the Jamie kissing scene was so painful to watch…
We can say all we want about Courtney, but she owns our souls this season. Tuesday through Sunday sucks without her in it.
My Tuesday through Sunday are far better than my Monday’s. Just sayin’