This week’s episode really packed a punch. There was a boxing match, an ambulance scene, lots of shirtless hunks, and the dreaded two-on-one date. There was also lots of whining about Bentley. One would think the shirtless hunk bit would nip the Bentley bit in the bud…
The Bachelorette’s glob-trotting continues as she takes the guys to Chaing Mai, a city in northern Thailand. We get started with a one-on-one date with Josh Groban #2, Ben F. Ashley and Ben take a rickshaw into downtown Chaing Mai to explore the marketplace. Ashley felt a strong connection last week with Ben at the Thai orphanage and hopes sparks will fly on their one-on-one. After their trip to the market, Ashley and Ben cuddle on a bench in front of one of Chaing Mai’s 300 Buddhist temples. Because the temple is built on sacred ground, they aren’t allowed to kiss in its presence. Trying to fight the urge of forbidden passion, Ben and Ashley close their eyes and settle for a “mental kiss.” Let’s all take a moment and remember where we all were when we had our first mental kiss. I hope yours was as special as mine...
After their mental make-out, Ashley treats Ben F. to a romantic dinner where they dine surrounded by flowers, candles, and band of fire-eaters. Over dinner Ben tells Ashley about the death of his father and how he’s spent the past four years being very guarded. But over the past year he’s made positive changes in life and finally feels ready to be in true love. Liking what she’s hears, Ashley moves in for a real kiss and offers him the date rose.
The next day is the group date where Ashley takes eight of guys to train for a Muay Thai boxing match. The guys train for three hours which meant lots of sweaty, shirtless hunk footage. I envy the cutting room floor! After they train, the guys change into silky boxing shorts and lace up their gloves, because It. Is. On.
Lucas, who tells us that he doesn’t know anything about Muay Thai but has been in several street fights, takes on Blake the Dentist. Proving that cavities aren’t the only thing this dentist can fight, Blake wins the fight against Lucas with a jab to the rib. JP, who “frickin’ hates being on group dates, takes on Mickey and walks away unscathed and victorious. Ames takes on Ryan and takes a few too many blows to the head and ends up being rushed to the hospital with a mild concussion. I hope none of that Ivey League education fell out of that noggin of his. And the final match is between the heavy weights, Nick and Josh Groban #1, Constantine. As it turns out, Constantine’s Muay Thai boxing was as good as Josh Groban’s voice and he wins the last fight of the date.
After the boxing match, the guys unfortunately put their shirts back on, clean up, and meet Ashley for a mixer. Ryan P. is the first to steal some alone time and braggingly shows Ashley all the bruises he received from the day’s fight. Mickey, in horrid detail, describes to Ashley how painful the punches were, and Ames, who’s recently been discharged from the hospital, apologizes for being quiet because he’s still feeling dizzy. Great date choice, Ashley! Your bachelors are all bruised up and dizzy. What’s wrong with bowling and then sharing a waffle bowl at TCBY?
Ashley did have a nice chat with Blake and found out he was feeling very insecure of where he stood with her. She tells him she feels good about where they are and for him not to worry. And as an act of reassurance, offers him the date rose.
And if this episode wasn’t vicious enough, next up we have the two-on-one date with William and Ben C. With the exception of Fox News, the two-on-one date has to be the most painful event on national television. And like Fox News, it’s neither fair nor balanced. Ashley takes the guys for a ride on a wooden raft through the Thai jungle and then for a picnic by the water’s edge. William pulls Ashley aside for alone time and discloses that he’s overheard Ben tell the guys in the house that he’s ready to “Go home and go back to online dating.” With ammunition like that, Ashley pulls Ben aside to confront and ultimately send him home. So, William essentially ends up with a one-on-one. Fair? Balanced?
Over dinner Ashley hopes to rekindle the flame she and William shared on their first date in Las Vegas. But that flame starts to flicker when William tells her that he’s just a 30 year old boy and wants to find someone to be silly with. Ashley pulls out the proverbial fire extinguisher and tells him she doesn’t feel the same as she did in Vegas. So, William boards the reject limo feeling like a “jacka$$.”
Ashley kicks off the night’s rose ceremony with a speech to guys about being true to themselves and their feelings. What was behind her mild diatribe you ask? If you guessed Bentley you are correct! Ashley tells us that she “fears what happened with Bentley could happen again” and still feels she needs closure with him before she can move on with the other guys that want to date her and didn’t leave the show. She even gives Poppa Harrison a whiney earful about how much she still thinks about Bentley and wishes she could just ask him a few questions. Chris Harrison of course dusted off his copy of “He’s Just Not That Into You” and instructed her to read the highlighted passages.
Ashley shuts up about Bentley long enough to give out roses. Returning next week we have Ben F., Blake, Constantine, Lucas, JP, Ames, Mickey, and Ryan. And from the looks are next week’s preview we also have Bentley returning. It just got interesting.
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