By Olivia Ritter ’17
Another round of romantic dates, surprising send-offs and a dramatic rose ceremony, brought to you by Ben Higgins, this year’s heart-throb of a bachelor.
With the drama from last week still fresh in our minds – Leah’s rumors about Lauren B. and Olivia’s memorable and theatrical send-off, the six remaining women are taken to Warsaw, Ind., Ben’s hometown. The lucky girl to go on the first hometown one-on-one is…Lauren B.
Lauren’s anxiety about last week’s drama did not last long; Ben picks her up in a red Chevy truck and takes her past all of the places in Warsaw that he holds near and dear to his heart. One of these places is a movie theater where he got his first kiss. He promptly tells Lauren the story and recreates it with her. What else would he do, right?
Ben takes Lauren to the Bakers Youth Club, a recreation facility, which Ben describes as “an important part of who [he] is.” They are immediately involved in games and sports with the kids. Paul George and George Hill from the Indiana Pacers stroll in to play basketball with the kids. Typical boyfriend.
Meanwhile, at the house, the girls are anxiously awaiting the date card. They discuss their jealousy and the struggles of watching Ben date other girls. Did they not know they would be sharing a boyfriend with multiple women? Week seven, ladies, you should know this. Jojo is given the one-on-one, with a date card that reads “Let’s find love in the Windy City.”
Back on Lauren’s date, she addresses the rumors about her that she acts different at the house than around Ben. It doesn’t take much for Ben to dismiss the comments he heard and tell Lauren how he trusts her and does not question who she is. (That didn’t last long.) Then they kissed. Of course!
In a sidebar interview, Lauren says, “I’m not in love with Ben the bachelor, I’m in love with Ben from Warsaw, Indiana.” Yes, it’s that time. They are starting to fall in love.
The next day rolls around and Jojo goes to Chicago for her date, while Ben emphasizes how he wants Jojo to feel special. When she arrives, Ben takes Jojo to none other than Wrigley Field. If she didn’t feel special before, she does now.
They change into matching Mr. and Mrs. Higgins baseball jerseys and hit a few balls. In Wrigley Field. “I’m at Wrigley and I can’t keep my eyes off you,” Ben says, obviously, because it wouldn’t be a date if Ben didn’t do some corny flirting.
After laying around on the field and a lot of kissing, they sit down for dinner, which is, you guessed it, right in the middle of the field. Jojo says again and again that she is scared to “let herself fall” and Ben admits that he’s a little turned off by that. Good thing he has five other options.
Don’t worry, Jojo “lets herself fall” by the end of dinner.
On to the next date: a group date with Amanda, Caila and Becca. While Caila and Ben have a The Notebook moment, Becca and Amanda are left to row by themselves. After a while of awkward rowing and flying kites, Ben leads the girls into a cabin where a rose sits dramatically on the table.
Ben explains that the rose is significant because whoever gets it will remain on the date, while the other two are out of luck and have to go back to the house. Of course, this means one of the girls who are not given the rose is at risk for being sent home. The girls all have their separate conversations with Ben and are all equally strange and awkward. Amanda talks about how excited she is for Ben to meet her kids, Caila worries that Ben won’t like how she “doesn’t have roots,” and Becca is simply being deprived of a relationship. Technically everyone watching is being deprived of Ben, so she’s not alone.
Amanda is chosen and gets to stay for yet another one-on-one. While Caila and Becca sadly look out the windows of a limo as they are taken back to the house, Amanda and Ben go to McDonalds and help work the drive-thru. Somehow it looks really cute and better than any normal date. Ben then takes Amanda to a carnival where the entire town is waiting to greet them, including the mayor. This whole time she has to hold onto that rose. Crazy.
The next and final date of the episode is Emily’s. On this date Emily will meet Ben’s parents in Ben’s childhood home. Hold onto your hats.
When she is talking to Ben’s mom, Emily is adamant about seeing herself getting married to Ben and starting a family young, also adding that she wants to be an NFL cheerleader. In their own side conversation, Ben easily agrees with his mother that Emily is too young and he cannot see her as his wife. It is after, in view of the other girls, when Ben sends Emily home. Bye, Emily.
Finally, it’s the rose ceremony. Caila is worried, Ben is stressed, Chris Harrison is concerned. Seems like a typical night. But, for the second time, Becca is the one walking away on “The Bachelor” without a rose.
No worries, next week is hometown week – for the girls! Who knows what kind of drama will be stirred up with family around. Will Ben get the feel for dad-life with Amanda’s children? Will Jojo’s protective older brothers understand her relationship with Ben? Is Lauren’s family worried about her getting hurt? Will Caila’s short hometown roots hold Ben back? We’ll just have to wait until Monday at 8 to binge again.
