Thursday, March 1, 2018

Hometowns, The Women Tell All & Fantasy Suites



Synopsis

Hometowns

Arie and Kendall went to Los Angeles to do some taxidermy on a pair of white rats. Shortly after, they made out. Then they went to hang out with her mom, dad, identical twin sister and little brother. Arie told anyone who would listen he was “falling for” Kendall. The identical twin impressed Melissa. The identical twin told Kendall she didn’t see it working out with Arie. Kendall told Arie she was “falling for” him.

Then Arie went to Weiner. He drove cars in the mud with Tia. Then they drank beers. Then they went to her parents house. Tia’s dad called Arie “Arry” like it rhymed with Harry. Tia’s older brother confronted Arie about being a playboy. Tia’s dad confronted Arie about being a playboy. “I’ve never dated anyone who actually communicates with me,” Tia said.

Arie went to Minnesota to meet Becca at an apple orchard. After spending some time at the orchard, Arie and Becca met up with her mom, her Uncle Gary, and some other people who were seldom shown. Uncle Gary questioned Arie’s faith. “Spiritually, I’m not as far as long as Becca is,” Arie explained. “But I’m open to it.”

From there Arie traveled southeast to Virginia Beach to visit Lauren B’s family. They had a large house. Inside it was her parents and perhaps others – I don’t recall. They had a predictably boring meeting. At the Rose Ceremony, Arie questioned Kendall’s commitment and then gave her the final rose, eliminating Tia. The Arkansan wept profusely.


The Women Tell All

Melissa, Bailey, an excellent mushroom & wild rice soup Melissa made, a Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter and I settled into the chilly basement for the Women Tell All event of what Chris Harrison called an “exciting, dramatic and controversial season" of The Bachelor. “What?” Melissa asked incredulously. "It has been?” They introduced all the rejected women from this season, a few of whom we recognized. I wondered again why Arie got rid of Seinne, who was clearly a top-3 choice. There was a season recap which included Annaliese’s bumper car nightmare-flashback, Marikh using a compass as a mirror on a hike, Tia throwing Bekah under the bus and Krystal being bitchy. Melissa quickly got on Facebook after finishing her meal while I texted with Toph, who joked he wanted to use this epic cross-country color commentary call as his wife delivered their first child.

There was a montage of Krystal’s bitchiest behavior as a flabbergasted Bibiana was unable to close her mouth. Many women lambasted Krystal, particularly Caroline, who yelled so hard she started crying. Jacqueline managed to use several double-digit-letter words in her tirade. Then Chris Harrison interviewed Bekah, who recounted her time as a missing person on a marijuana farm in northern California. They called Bekah’s mom and Chris Harrison told her he could relate cause he was a parent. “Chris Harrison is a dad?” I asked. “Chris Harrison has had sex?” Melissa wondered.

Next up was Tia, who shed some fresh tears upon watching her montage. We caught up to live on the DVR and switched over to the Johnsonville Cornhole Championships on ESPN2, where the competitors were competing for a “high-stakes” prize pool of $15,000. The color commentator said it was the toughest competition he had ever seen. It turned out to be boring so we soon switched back to Women Tell All.

Arie came on and received a cryptic dissing from Caroline before talking with Tia, Bekah and Krystal. There was a blooper segment which actually made it seem like Arie had a personality. Then there was a transparent plug for a lousy-looking movie called Blockers. Then there was a big preview for the last two episodes of the season. Chris Harrison promised it was “truly the most dramatic ending in Bachelor history.”


Fantasy Suites

They went to a desert/ocean in Peru. “I’m going to get to know these women on a whole new level,” Arie said. “Inside and out,” Melissa added. Kendall was driven in a dark car across the desert, which reminded Melissa of Breaking Bad which would be a better way to spend our time even though we’ve already seen it. Melissa happily finished her glass of chocolate milk which is her new favorite dessert. Arie and Kendall drove dune buggies in the sand dunes and then laughed very hard and then boarded down the dunes and then had a picnic. At night Kendall cried to the cameras before conversing with Arie and telling him she was falling in love with him and making out with him. They went to the fantasy suite.

Arie and Lauren B took a plane ride over geoglyphs in Peru. Melissa and I thought they were pretty cool and googled them. They had a very boring conversation at night while I entered FanDuel tournaments. Arie told Lauren he loved her. They made out while “How Do I Live (Without You)” played. “That’s what Lauren’s gonna be asking herself in a few days,” I said. They went to a fantasy suite also but it was a different one from the one Arie went to with Kendall.

Next Becca went on a catamaran to an island. I paid minimal attention while they conversed with Becca eventually telling Arie she loved him and Arie reciprocating. They went to a third fantasy suite which turned out to be a tent in the desert. In the morning they continued to hang out in the desert and tell each other they loved each other.

A man with a gray suit and a southern accent showed up. Arie thought he was a member of hotel management but the man quickly announced himself to be Becca’s ex. He said Becca was the love of his life and he wanted to marry her. “I came here to get her cause she’s the one for me,” he stated. Arie thought it was “one of the unclassiest” moves he’d seen. The man then went to see Becca. He tried to make a Notebook-style speech winning her back but failed miserably and left in embarrassment. Obviously Becca cried. Then she went and talked to Arie who noted it was bad timing because the Rose Ceremony was approaching. At that Rose Ceremony, which Melissa noted was on cobblestones and attended by three women in high heels, Arie quickly got rid of Kendall. She cried a little bit in the hearse, but didn’t seem too bummed overall. There was a big preview for “the incredibly emotional three-hour finale” to end it.



Standings

Julia & Paul - 85 points
1. Krystal - 9
2. Bekah - 15
3. Jacqueline - 17
4. Lauren S - 0
5. Lauren B - 26
6. Jenna - 10
7. Marikh - 8

Kelly & Phil - 82 points
1. Chelsea - 12
2. Seinne - 10
3. Becca - 25
4. Kendall - 23
5. Maquel - 5
6. Lauren G - 1
7. Ashley - 6
It's Lauren B vs Becca for all the marbles, and it's close. I can't imagine either will be next Bachelorette, so it will come down to what happens in the "incredibly emotional three-hour finale." There is a three-point gap between finishing first and second (including the rose), so this could well be decided by crying and/or sneaking extra time in the final episode. It may be a photo finish. Amazing that K&P could win it having scored the least of anyone with their first two picks. Used to be your first two picks meant everything in this pool.

Andie & Eric - 79 points
1. Tia - 23
2. Seinne - 10
3. Jacqueline - 17
4. Annaliese - 3
5. Maquel - 5
6. Jenna - 10
7. Marikh - 8
+3 last team standing bonus
Will Tia be next Bachelorette? I thought she had it sewn up, but Kendall made a late charge. Or they could bring in fresh blood. Or they could bring back someone from the past. I dunno if it will be worth watching. I say this and then summer rolls around and there's nothing to do and I end up not only watching but looking forward to it.

Andrea & Zack - 72 points
1. Bekah - 15
2. Caroline - 8
3. Chelsea - 12
4. Lauren B - 26
5. Jenny - 2
6. Bibiana - 3
7. Ashley - 6

Melissa hypothesized Caroline's cryptic calling-out of Arie in the Women Tell All was in regards to him telling so many women he's in love with them. Maybe he is, but this guy has really gone overboard with it. Based on his words, both Becca and Lauren B must be convinced they're going to win. The loser is not going to take it well, and it's Arie's fault.

Melissa & Tom - 67 points
1. Krystal - 9
2. Tia - 23
3. Annaliese - 3
4. Lauren S - 0
5. Kendall - 23
6. Lauren G - 1
7. Marikh - 8
Kendall seemed to take that exit a little too well, almost as if she'd gotten as far as she wanted to and was relieved she wouldn't actually have to do all the post-finale publicity and, you know, date Arie for real.

Bri & Doug - 58 points
1. Caroline - 8
2. Becca - 25
3. Brittany - 6
4. Jenny - 2
5. Bibiana - 3
6. Brittany - 6
7. Marikh - 8
Bri & Doug may have drafted the winner and still finish last. That is an achievement that will likely never be matched.

3 comments:

  1. 1. Lauren B has had this in the Bag ever since that night she told Arie she was falling in love with him.
    2. Arie had trouble telling Becca he was falling in love with her.
    3. Next Brette is Tia or a someone previous.
    4. Once Lauren B saw Arie told other women he was in love with them. She is insecure and she will be crushed and their relationship will not survive, just like Lauren and Ben H.
    5. If Tia's family wasn't so different from Arie's she would have made the final 4. It's really hard for someone from the south to win this show.
    6. I told Andie the women weren't falling for Arie like other Bachelors. Andie theorized that Arie was more feminine and not as hunky as the other guys.
    7. If I had passed on Seinne and taken 2 Tias I'd be leading wire to wire only to lose at the end.
    8. This season wasn't as exciting because the quality of the women was higher and there wasn't as much drama.

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  2. I agree with Big E, Lauren B has it "in the Bag." I am really curious to see what this Caroline call-out was referencing; I assume we'll find out. At first, I thought it was just the show creating drama, but it seemed unexpected by Chris Harrison and everyone else...

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  3. So excited for the finish. Crying is going to be the difference!

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