“Today is my first day as The Bachelor and I am ready,” are Ben’s opening words and it definitely sets the tone for this week’s dramatic episode. After a very appreciated and gratuitous opening montage of Ben getting ready (can this be the opening for every episode?), we skip over to the girls. Hanging out at the house, they’ve been getting to know each other and there are good moods all around as they gush over Ben.
Of course, this is The Bachelor, so good moods are promptly soured with the arrival of the first group date letter. So who’s getting the first shot at Ben? Jackie, LB, Lauren H., Becca, Amber, Mandi, Jojo, Jubilee, Jennifer, and Lace.
First Group Date: Bachelor High!
On why he brought the girls back to high school - “I just wanted this day to be goofy and fun so I’m taking the women back to school today,” Ben explained. So, from the science fair to gym class, the girls teamed up and competed to win the title of Bachelor High’s Homecoming Queen. The highlight? The girls in geography class, where Ben and Chris make them place Indiana on a map of the United States. As Lauren H. pointed out, “I think my kindergarteners would have a better chance than Becca and Jojo right now,” which proved true as the girls put Indiana sideways...in Pennsylvania.
Ultimately, Mandi and Amber win the team competitions so they face their ultimate competition: jumping literal hurdles to win the title of Homecoming Queen and the chance for some solo time with Ben. Mandi smokes Amber and the girls half-heartedly cheer for her while Lace grumbles on the sideline.
At the end of the day, Ben gets some one-on-one time with each of them. Becca gets the first solo hang out of the night, playing some basketball and being open about being on the show for a second time. Our favorite trainwreck, Lace, finds out Ben’s been kissing other girls and gets aggravated, claiming, “from here on out, I’m gonna do what’s best for me,” because apparently...she hasn’t been? Which, naturally, prompts her to interrupt his date with LB after less than two minutes because...it’s Lace.
However, Jojo gets the first group date rose after Ben pulls her up to the helipad and gushes about how impressed he was by her attitude at the high school. It’s cute, okay?
The One-on-One...on-Two Date
In a thinly veiled attempt to promote their new movie, Ice Cube and Kevin Hart crash the one-on-one date with Ben and Calia. Calia takes it in stride, going along with the shenanigans. Of course, in typical Kevin Hart and Ice Cube fashion, it’s easily one of the best parts of the episode, starting with buying flowers from a roadside vendor to stopping in at a liquor store to getting cozy in a hot tub. Because “what better way to end a cheap date than in a hot tub?...store.”
Bringing it back to earth, the two finally have their one-on-one time as they sit and enjoy dinner (that remains entirely untouched) and have a serious talk. It’s one of the first moments where you see Ben honestly connect with someone and it makes sense; Caila is definitely the female version of Ben, which makes for cute dates and great conversation, but together they’re a little tame (and dare we say...boring?) for a show like The Bachelor.
Then, because it’s already been a surreal day for these two, they end the night at a private concert with Amos Lee, slow dancing and swaying in a way that seems awfully foreboding for another type of dance potentially in their future. “Caila seems like someone who could be a really great wife and a really great friend,” Ben remarks during their date in a voiceover while he looks on at her in the personified version of the heart eyes emoji.
Second Group Date: Love Lab…?
In probably the weirdest date we’ve ever heard of, Ben takes the second round of women to “Dr. Love’s” Love Lab, where Ben decides he’s going to let science do some of the figuring out for him. Emily, Haley, Shushana, Amanda, Samantha, and Olivia are rounded up and given several tests meant to see how compatible they are with Ben, “scientifically” speaking.
The first test is done via retinal tracking, where the girls are shown two pictures and their time spent staring at the two pictures is compiled. They’re given the choice between things like diamonds and babies, with Ben and former Bachelor Sean Lowe, which might be the only funny thing about this scenario, looking on. Then, the girls are ordered to run on a treadmill for a few minutes so a blindfolded Ben can smell them and decide whether or not he’s attracted to their smell. Though most of the girls get a pretty decent rating, Ben claims Sam smells a little “sour,” which, appropriately, mortifies her.
The last test in this series of torture events? Each girl gets a chance to sit with Ben in a private room and get closer and closer, while the other girls watch in a waiting room as Ben’s thermal activity acts up with each interaction. In one kind of shocking twist, you start to see Olivia’s claws come out; she’s clearly paying attention to their looks of jealousy and annoyance and plans to play that up. When it’s her turn with Ben, she explains that she’s “imagining some very disappointed faces,” as she’s in the room with Ben, shamelessly working the angle to get the first kiss of the second round of group dates.
The scores of the “tests” were then rounded up and presented to the girls. Sam had the lowest score of the night with only 2.42 out of 10, while Olivia had the highest score with 7.45 out of 10.
Due to their “scientific compatibility,” Olivia gets the first solo hangout of the night...where Ben promptly takes her up to his room to makeout with her. After Ben drops Olivia back off and takes another girl for their alone time, the girls try asking Olivia about her time with Ben, which she promptly stands up, announces, “I don’t really want to talk about it,” and stalks off, leaving the girls with a bad taste. However, the punches don’t end there. As Sam is stating that she’s feeling pretty confident she made a better impression after their conversation, Olivia throws in, “I mean, Ben’s a big believer in science so I’d be kind of worried.”
To take the mood up a bit, Amanda finally gets the chance to tell Ben about her kids, which she was worried about. Ben, because he’s literally a giant teddy bear, loves it. “If we continue this, they’d be a big part of my life, too.”
Though Ben admits he felt a connection with Amanda and Olivia both, Olivia gets the second group date rose. “I don’t know what rose ceremonies are, really,” Olivia announces to the camera with a smirk. Suddenly, Lace doesn’t seem so crazy.
Rose Ceremony, Week Two
This rose ceremony was interesting. While the girls were off freaking out (hi, Lace), Ben made an effort to show the girls that he was interested in them, even if he hadn’t taken them on one of the dates. Olivia pulls a Lace and starts to stalk him, ready to pounce early on in the night. Though he’s clearly feeling her, the other girls aren’t, and Lace quickly pulls her aside to tell her that she’s not sure what Olivia’s up to, but she’s not playing fair.
Lace finally gets a chance to talk to Ben and she fumbles, talking about how she was picked on when she was younger, which makes her insecure and is the reason for her “big personality.” Just as she’s kind of starting to redeem herself, Leah interrupts them and Lace practically runs off, making her way to the bathroom to cry.
Though the tension between the women has clearly shifted, Ben’s still trying to play the nice guy, making sure all the girls are happy and know that they’re on his mind. In what might have solidified his place as The Nicest Guy Ever ™ in Bachelor history, Ben pulls Amanda aside and explains that he’s been thinking about her and her daughter and wanted to make them something. They spend a few minutes hot gluing flowers to barrettes and even my cynical heart had a Grinch-like moment where it kind of grew a little.
Moving on? Amanda, Jubilee, Lauren B., Leah, Becca, Rachel, Lace, Jennifer, Emily, Jaime, Lauren H., Shushana, Haley, and Amber. In a shocking twist, the other Lauren B. (“LB”) was originally offered a rose but after getting her name called, pulled Ben aside and announced it was time for her to leave, putting an extra rose in play that Amber eventually received.
Samantha, Mandi, and Jackie were sent home.
What are your thoughts on this week’s episode? Were you surprised by Olivia’s attitude this week? Personally, I think she’ll make an interesting villain, though I’m not so sure she’ll be able to hide this side of her personality from Ben for a long time. Who are you rooting for? Tell us in the comments below! #TeamAmanda
The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.