"The Bachelorette" Resume: Knuckleheads and Concussions by Megan Gibson | @meganjgibson | June 21, 2011 | + Tweet Image via ABC
Ashley's working some aggression. Click here for a resume of the June 28 episode, bidding welcome back to Bentley.
This week's episode of *The Bachelorette* saw Ashley showing a little bit of restraint (good!) and then overcome with uncertainty (bad!). Our steadily dwindling group of suitors is still in Thailand this week, and as the episode kicks off, Chris Harrison announces that this is the dreaded two-to-one date week. That means Ashley has to take out two men at a time, which isn't just difficult in itself but there's an extra pressure: a guy has to be sent packing by the end of the day. Fortunately for the men, great for the audience (and avid recappers). But first, lucky Constantine Ben F. (they're looking more and more alike as the weeks go) gets the coveted one-on-one date (more: see previous bachelorette resumes).
Maybe date-planner Annie from last week was busy elsewhere, but this one-on-one date was decidedly lackluster. The two head to a Thai market (which, if you've seen last week, you'll remember was the backup plan for a rained-out romantic date with Constantine), where they paint paper umbrellas and then sit in front of a holy temple and stare at it. Despite badgering to proclaim that it's the most romantic place on Earth, buzzkill Ashley Ben informs that they are not allowed to kiss because the area is so sacred. Instead, the pair shares a "mental kiss," which seems like it's meant to let viewers know how warm the two are for each other, but really it's just boring.
Then to dinner, where Ben F., who is a winemaker in Sonoma, boasts about his job saying, "it's the coolest job ever." (Ha, we bet!) So he bores our blue-blooded bachelorette with a string of clichés about finally being ready for love and looking for someone to grow with – which she predictably loves ("Ben says everything I could hope to hear").
So, in front of a group of brand dancers, they share a non-telepathic kiss and Ashley hands him a rose.
Group date time, and it seems like Ashley has finally decided to get over all the guys for the now infamous steam from an earlier group date. This time, she has the guys focus their negativity towards each other instead of her, with a violent round of Muay Thai boxing. First up, Constantine, Ames, Nick, Lukas, Blake, Ryan, JP, and Mickey all get some boxing lessons as Ashley hops from guy to guy offering perky encouraging words, while not-so-subtly ogling the shirtless men. After the men are unceremoniously trained in the art of kickboxing, they gear up to follow their uniform colors. "Every color of the rainbow" has been laid out for them according to Ames, who doesn't grab his favorite color with gusto like the other guys and ends up with the hot pink uniform. He doesn't seem to mind the MBT Sini Men Shoes, which actually is quite understandable, because right in the middle of the color fight is a real fight, something Ames continually remarks he's never done before (listen: 32 Epic Reality TV Moments). But there's no time for pacifists when it comes to a love war, so the men square up for a series of public battles. First up is Blake the dentist versus Lucas, two men, when they are on screen, you can't help but wonder, "Who's the guy?" Blake in earnestness must realize how nondescript he's been because he declares that he needs to win this fight and show Ashley that he's "more than just a dentist." Luckily he does, showing Ashley and the world that beyond being a dentist, he's also very aggressive. Good going, master! Next up is Mickey and JP, and despite a rocky start for JP, the self-proclaimed smallest guy there, ends up winning the fight. Lastly, it's time for Ames to battle Ryan, and it's not pretty. For the happiest guy in the group, surely Ryan understands throwing a punch, and he throws several Ames' way right off the bat. After Ryan is declared the winner, Ames stumbles out and sits smiling, showing even further signs of life than normal. It's clear Ashley is worried, so much so that she doesn't even notice the final fight between Nick and Constantine. Instead, she hurries out to find some help for Ames (Constantine wins).
As Ames crawls into an ambulance, still looking dazed, Ashley tells him that she's "really sorry about it" and tells the camera that she "had no idea it would go so far." (Um, really?) So the ambulance goes, sirens blaring, which seems a bit unnecessary -? but I'm not a doctor or reality TV producer, so what do I know later, the glum group gathers for drinks, but Ashley says that morale is low. "With Ames in the hospital, I almost feel like there's a dark cloud over the night," she says. Which would seem like a reflective mood, except for the "almost" part, but hey, there are still seven more guys left, so the night isn't a total bust.
As Ashley chats and flirts with the guys, a still-smiling Ames ambles into the room, where he's met with a round of handshakes and well-wishes. Ashley whisks him away for a private chat, wanting to hear all she missed by not going to the hospital with him. And Ames, bless him, still smiling and dazed, but manages to still charm, saying he'd happily have said, "I'm totally in love, and I have a mild concussion."
And though Ashley is charmed, and he made light of the brain trauma for her feelings, the group moment moves to Blake the dentist, probably to finally show her that he's "more than just a dentist" (list: Top 10 Twitter Controversies).
Two-on-one date time, where Ashley comes to take out Ben C. and William on a river-raft (tamer-flavored?) cruise. As these two sorrowful guys seem to have absolutely nothing in common, the moment seems even more difficult than expected. As the men steer the raft down the river with Ashley calmly sitting between them, William decides he's had enough of sharing and when they're back on land takes Ashley aside. "I'm not throwing the guy under a bus," he starts, cluing us all in to the fact that it's exactly what he's doing, so he continues to tell Ashley that Ben C. has told the guys he looks forward to online dating when he gets home. "Some people have you on their minds, and some people don't," he adds, to slam Ashley where it hurts. Just like that, her uncertain hat is on again and this time, it's angry. Marching back to Ben C., she declares during the two-on-one date, telling Ben that it's time for him to go. Even William looks shocked at this and Ben looks downright bewildered. Though Ben C. doesn't deny William's accusation, you can't help but feel a little sorry for him as he drives off on the river raft.
But Ashley's warpath isn't over yet as she continues the date with William. He attempts to charm her but completely falters by mentioning that he's "not quite ready to grow up," and that he notes to William "just looking for a girl to have fun with": not the best thing to say to a bachelorette who's gone on two reality shows looking for a man. So Ashley tells him that she doesn't think they can go back to the way they once were, and she sends him home too. Phew!
Unfortunately, ruthless Ashley is only a mask for uncertain Ashley and as she moves on to the pre-rose ceremony party, her self-confidence is palpable. Telling the group, "I know some of you might not necessarily fall in love with me," she then proceeds to take each guy aside and essentially grills them about their intentions and feelings toward her. Uncertainty has clearly reared its ugly head as she questions Constantine if he feels closer to the guys on the show than he does to her, which is equally strange. All the guys do their best to reassure, but she doesn't seem to listen. Why, one might ask? Ah, it's because she's still thinking about Bentley. (I imagine that audiences across America also pulled their hair in frustration over this, yes?)
During her sit-down with Chris Harrison Manolo Blahnik Online Store Europe, Ashley tells him that she can't stop thinking about Bentley, and she won't move forward with any of the guys until she clears her feelings with him. Noting that Bentley is always on her mind, she admits, "It's not normal."
"No," Chris Harrison deadpans (because he's the best), but he promises to find a way for Ashley to resolve her feelings with Bentley. But first, she has to send one more guy home, and that guy turns out to be Nick Manolo Blahnik Booties, which is a surprise to anyone but Nick himself, who says that he has "understood."
What an episode! And according to the teaser for next week (which ABC unfairly teased last week), Bentley will finally make his comeback on the show. So tune in next week and be sure to catch up on next Tuesday's resume.
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Megan Gibson is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @meganjgibson. You can also continue the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME. A newsfeed guide so Polo players just like PRI 5 unusual things people steal while the economy is in how has American national security changed