The Bachelor: Ben Flajnik, Episode 7

This week, we're in Belize. Ben says that the feelings of love are there, although he's not ready to tell any of them that.

Chris Harrison explains the rules of the game. There are 3 individual dates and one group date. There is only a rose to hand out on the group date, no roses on the individual dates. The first 1-1 date goes to Lindzi.

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Lindzi
Location: Great Blue Hole
Highlights: Ben takes Lindzi on a helicopter ride to the Great Blue Hole, which is essentially a coral reef that encapsules a pool of water 500 feet deep. Ben informs Lindzi that they will be jumping into the hole from the helicopter. What ensues are a bunch of overcoming fear and "falling for" metaphors. Next they eat dinner on a dock. I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay... Why is Lindzi's face a whole shade darker than the rest of her body. Someone needs to get her to a Clinique counter, stat. Also, I really want to bobby pin her bangs out of her face. After dinner, Ben and Lindzi write a letter, stick it in a bottle, and send it out to sea. They write up their own fairy tale. How cute. Lindzi better not get too attached to her fairy tale with Prince Charming Ben because Evil Queen Courtney is passing out poisoned apples that has every girl's name on them.

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Emily
Location: Caye Caulker
Highlights: Ben and Emily hop on bicycles for a ride through the town. They enjoy coconut milk, shoot some hoops, and buy some local fare. Next they bribe a lobster farmer to take them diving for lobster. This was not set up at all. Yep, totally spontaneous. Nevertheless, they both catch a lobster for dinner. At dinner, Emily feels like she's ready to take Ben to meet her family. Meanwhile, back at the house, Courtney laments over Ben being on a date with Emily and how she needs the last 1-1 to be sure of their relationship, waahhh waahhh. Once she gets it, she reverts back to her ever wonderful self and rubs the date in the other's faces. I know editing can do a number on how contestants are protrayed, but none of the ladies who have been eliminated have had anything nice to say abotu Courtney in their post-show interviews. I think that's very telling.

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Courtney
Location: Mayan Ruins
Highlights: Courtney keeps talking about how the "spark" has fizzled a little between she and Ben since their last 1-1 date. Courtney strikes me as someone who moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, because she gets bored so easily. Ben takes Courtney to a Mayan temple and notes that a lot of human sacrifices took place there. How appropriate for Courtney's date. Evil Queens usually love sacrificing the lovable heroines. Courtney tells Ben that she's lost the spark a little bit and that she's having a hard time. I think I heard every girl who watches this show roll their eyes. They climb to the top of the temple. Courtney, stop touching your hair. Or invest in some bobby pins if it's bothering you that much. Courtney says that she doesn't want to get cocky or anything but then proceeds to "kill shot" each of the other girls. Stay classy. At dinner, Courtney tells Ben that she's tried to get to know each girl, be nice to them, ect. but that they other girls don't like her and are very into themselves. Wait what? Ben shares that one of his fears is being with a woman that others don't like. I can't wait to see what happens in the After the Final Rose if he picks her. He's going to have some major explaining to do.

Date: Group
Bachelorettes: Kacie, Nicki, Rachel
Location: Swimming with sharks
Highlights: Ben wakes the ladies up at the ass-crack of dawn for their date. They board a catamaran to go shark diving. Ben does the gentlemanly thing and lets the women go into the water first. Rachel freaks out, so Ben gives her all the attention. After swimming with sharks, each woman pleads their case with Ben about why he should come to their hometown. Ben gives Kacie the date rose. The three girls then warn Ben about Courtney and how they feel that she might hurt him in the long run. It causes Ben to question what he feels about Courtney, aka RED FLAG.
Status: Kacie gets the date rose and a hometown date

Pre-Rose Ceremony Party
Chris Harrison informs the ladies that there will be no cocktail party because Ben has made up his mind.

But first, he pulls Courtney away. Courtney thinks it's a good thing. Ben explains that he needs to know if Courtney is here for the right reasons. Courtney says that she is there for him and that she's been honest with him,ect. Basically that was a bunch of baloney to make the viewers think he was questioning Courtney and was going to possibly send her home.

Rose Ceremony
Rose-d: Kacie, Nicki, Lindzi, Courtney
Sent Home: Emily, Rachel

Next week...
The remaining 4 ladies each take Ben to their hometowns to meet their families.

The Bachelor: Ben Flajnik, Epsidoe 6

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Kacie B.
Location: Deserted island
Highlights: Ben picks Kacie B. up and they take a helicopter ride to a desterted island, where they are dropped off and left to their own devices for the day. How awkward would that have been if either Ben or Kacie were allergic to coconuts and/or seafood, yet that's what they had to forage for? Luckily Kacie brought a bag of candy and Ben brought some alcohol, so not all hope is lost, just nutrition and hydration. After spending the day on the island, they head to dinner where their hair turns to frizz and they sweat profusely. Sexy. If Ben and Kacie had a child, that poor thing would need some Joh Freida Frizz Control stat. Kacie opens up to Ben about her battle with an eating disorder when she was in high school. Luckily she overcame it and Ben likes that she opened up to him. He gives her the date rose.
Status: Rose

Date: Group
Bachelorettes: Nicki, Emily, Courtney, Casey S., Jamie, Lindzi
Location: Embera Indian Village
Highlights: Ben picks the ladies up in a canoe and they head down the Chagres River. Oh look, some cute little native children are playing soccer. Ben suggests they all go play soccer and hang out with the natives. Say what? Call me crazy, but cruising down a river that may be crocodile infested and "happening" upon a native Panamanian village in the middle of the rain forest doesn't sound like good times to me. It actually sounds like the makings of a horror film. Ever seen Anaconda? Because I have. But I digress, and I'm sure the ABC folks scouted this place beforehand, or at least that's what I'm telling myself. Ben and the ladies change into native garb and Courtney takes to "fitting in" a little too seriously and strips down under the native outfits. Then she shakes what God blessed her with and proclaims, "These beads are cold!" Stay classy Courtney. They do some dancing and then retire back to the Trump Ocean Club for the after party. Ben has some quality time with each of the ladies until it's time for Jamie, whom we've heard about two words out of this entire season. She wants to show Ben that she really does like him, however Ben is distracted by Courtney flouncing around in her bikini behind them. It's becoming apparent that Ben likes overt sexuality and women, er, girls who throw themselves and their bodies at him. Did I mention that Courtney also invited Ben back to her room? Again, stay classy Courtney. Your parents must be so proud. Much to Courtney's chagrin, Ben gives the date rose to Lindzi.
Status: Lindzi gets the date rose

Date: 2-1
Bachelorettes: Blakely, Rachel
Location: Salsa dancing
Highlights: Blakely is stoked for the 2-1 date, which should be the tip off to her that it's not going to go her way. They all go to a little place for some salsa dancing, where Blakely proceeds to use Ben as if her were a pole. Hey, a girl's gotta work with what is comfortable and familiar to her. Boom. Too mean? After dancing, Ben pulls each lady away at dinner for some last minute chats. Both ladies open up to Ben but Blakely takes it to another level by making Ben a scrapbook of magazine cut-outs, which describe how she feels about him. Maybe as a wedding present, this would be okay. However, it's kind of funny that this is creepy to Ben, but skinny dipping is completely normal. Ben gives Rachel the date rose and Blakely storms out. Ben follows to explain his decision to her. Wait, didn't Ben tell Ashley not to sugarcoat things?....Hypocrite. Cut to some random shot of a lonely cat walking down the street. A glimpse into Blakely's future?
Status: Rachel gets the date rose, Blakely gets sent home

Pre-Rose Ceremony Party
Chris Harrison arrives to pull Casey S. aside to discuss something with her. That's never a good sign. It usually means something is going down and someone is going home. Chris tells Casey that it has been brought to his attention by 3 people that Casey is still in love with someone back home. Chris has talked to this Matthew person and he said that he and Casey were still dating when she left to go on the show. At first Casey acts shocked but then, after some masterful prodding by Chris, admits to still being in love with this Matthew person even though she doesn't want to be. So wait, she came on the show to try to fall out of love with and get back at her ex-boyfriend who didn't want to marry her? Sounds like a perfectly sane reason to me. Chris takes Casey to talk to Ben. She admits to still being in love with her ex-boyfriend, but he's in no way holding her back. Say what? Ben is having none of it and sends Casey home. Casey then proceeds to ugly cry. Courtney has the sads because her minion is gone.

At the party before the Rose Ceremony, Jamie decides it's time to make her move. What happens next is awkward for all involved. First, Jamie declares that she is kind of a prude, but then talks about wanting to do things to Ben and give him all of her. Jamie, please look up the definition of prude before you throw that word about next time. She then proceeds to straddle him awkwardly and then dictate how they are going to make out. Both get the giggles and Ben decides he's had enough. Jamie is now nervous. Uh, you think?

Rose Ceremony
Rose-d: Kacie B., Lindzi, Rachel, Nicki, Courtney, Emily
Sent Home: Blakely (2-1 date), Casey S. (eliminated before the Rose Ceremony), Jamie

Next week...
We're off to Belize! Ben pulls Courtney aside before handing out the final rose at the Rose Ceremony. Will he finally see through all her BS? Methinks this is just a dramatic ploy to get everyone who dislikes Courtney to watch with hopes that Ben will finally send her home. Well played ABC!

The Bachelor: Ben Flajnik, Episode 5

Once the women arrive in Puerto Rico, they head to their new digs at the W Resort and Spa on the island of Vieques. Anyone else find it incredibly ironic that Courtney is wearing a shirt that says "Be Nice"? Someone doesn't follow their own shirt's advice.

Harrison drops off the first date card. It goes to Nicki. Casey S. and Elyse had their sour-puss faces on while Courtney tried to act like she didn't care that she didn't get the 1-1 date.

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Nicki
Location: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Highlights: Ben and Nicki take a helicopter (shocker!) to Old San Juan. Halfway through their stroll through the city, it starts to pour. Puerto Rico is raining on their Old San Juan parade. The rain stops so they go look for some new clothes. Ben dresses in all white, linen, old Puetro Rican man threads and Nicki tries to say 'muy caliente' but only manages to say 'caliente' correctly. They then discuss living together before marriage. Both agree it is something they would do, as Nicki did not before her first marriage. They then encounter a wedding. Ben immediately starts to sweat and worries about maiking the right choice, because, ya know, he only wants to propose one more time in his life. Come on Ben, don't you know that the third time is the charm? You'll need that third charm time the way these relationships tend to go. Nicki's nose gets bright red when she's been drinking. Anyone else notice this? Ben gives Nicki the date rose.
Status: Rose

Date: Group
Bachelorettes: Lindzi, Courtney, Jennifer, Kacie B., Emily, Rachel, Casey S., Jamie, Blakely
Location: Roberto Clemente Baseball Stadium, Puerto Rico
Highlights: Ben informs the ladies that they will be playing some baseball. Chris Harrison crashes the date. He informs them that there will a beach party after playing baseball, but not all the ladies will be there. The ladies will be split into two teams and the winning team gets to go to the beach party with Ben, the losers have to go back to the hotel. One woman will be playing on both teams and she automatically gets to go to the beach party. Ben gets to choose who that is. He chooses Lindzi. After the first inning, the Red team is winning. After the second inning, the blue teams ties it up so the game goes into several tie-breaker innings. The red team wins which means that Kacie B., Jamie, Courtney, Casey S., and Lindzi get to spend more time with Ben. The blue team (Blakely, Emily, Jennifer, Rachel) leaves in tears...and on a school bus. Way to rub salt in the wound, ABC. Ben gives Kacie B. the date rose. Courtney steals Kacie's thunder (shocker!) and takes Ben down the beach and proposes the idea to go skinny dipping. At first, Ben appears put off by the idea. I guess he changes his mind later.
Status: Kacie B. gets the date rose.

Date: 1-1
Bachelorette: Elyse
Location: The Ocean...no literally, the ocean, Puerto Rico
Highlights: Hey Elyse, Shawntel called, she wants her dress back, you know, since you hate her so much. Ben is taking Elyse on a yacht for the day. Elyse tells Ben that she gave up her job and missed her best friend's wedding to date Ben. Smart moves...not. That's not going to end up well for Elyse. After jumping ship, literally, they have dinner on the beach. Elyse is talking about wanting to be in a relationship and Ben couldn't look more disinterested if he tried. I know what's coming next. He decides to not give Elyse the date rose, therefore sending her home. Note to future Bachelor contestants: Say no to yacht dates, they always end in heartbreak.
Status: Elyse does not get the date rose.

Skinny Dippin'
As Ben returns from his date with Elyse, Courtney greets him for a night-cap. I'm starting to think that Courtney is a wine-o, since we never see her without a glass of red wine in her hand. She reiterates her offer to skinny dip. Ben thinks it's probably not a good idea but he wants to spend more time with her, so what they hay?Thank sweet baby Jesus for black-out bars. For cereal, Ben, no one wants to see you nekkid...at least, not on tv. Did you guys know there's a country song called "Skinny Dippin'"? It's by Whitney Duncan, also a contestant on this past season of Survivor. I thought it would be appropriate for this section because Courtney and Ben are, well, skinny dipping in the ocean. Poor fish. Only Ben and Courtney's skinny dipping adventure wasn't nearly as innocent as this song.


Pre-Rose Ceremony Party
Ben and Jennifer think that they're conversations are easy, however, all we ever see them doing is making small-talk and making out. Blakely has recently discovered something about herself that she's excited and nervous to share with Ben. So, without actually saying it, she's basically telling Ben that she's in love with him, yes? Four group dates will do that to a girl. Courtney tells the women that she likes to be naked as much as possible, which leads to converstaions about skinny dipping. Jennifer is a fan. Emily uses her time with Ben to not talk about Courtney, but actually does. Emily is essentially digging her own grave.

Rose Ceremony
Rose-d: Nicki, Kacie B., Lindzi, Jamie, Rachel, Courtney, Casey S., Blakely, Emily
Sent Home: Elyse (sent home on her 1-1 date), Jennifer...not gonna lie, I was kind of shocked with that elimination.

Next week...
We're off to Panama City...Something goes down with Casey S., and not something good.