by David McAlpine

Last night on The Bachelorette, Ashley shipped herself and the six final suitors (can you believe there are only six left?) to Taiwan for another round of exotic dates and mystery.

Not only are we in yet another setting, but Chris Harrison tells us and the men that this is a very crucial week: this is the week that Ashley will narrow the field to four. You make it through this round and you're taking Ashley home with you, guys. So it's a big week for them and for her. Already, JP is stressing, which is making me nervous, too.

Constantine is first up with his date, which is just a steam engine ride away in a neighboring city. Ashley compares her relationship with Constantine to the locomotive they're riding on--it's a little slower than the rest. Now, I would take that as an insult, but apparently it's a good thing because they're clicking left and right on this date.

At one point, Constantine even pauses to think about how she would fit into his life. Never mind the fact that this is her show, because he has a life, too. After some flirting with the L-word, Constantine and Ashley finally share their first kiss.

Ben gets the second one-on-one date, and I'm hoping it's better than their sacred temple date where it was some seriously awkward sexual tension. Instead, they're gripping onto each other for life as they race around Taipei in a moped.

Back at the hotel, the final date card says that Ames, Lucas and JP will be going on the three-on-one date, while Ryan scores the final solo date of the week. This makes JP go through the roof, because he can't stand the thought of Ashley being with other guys. Uh, did you check what show you were signing up for, buddy? That's kind of the whole point of this thing, so I show no sympathy.

JP can't help but react, then, when Ben walks through the door the next morning. Wheeling a duffle behind him and all. Although Ben says it was nothing physical, JP can't stand it, so he storms off. Oh, JP, if you had any idea what was in store for you, you would run for the hills.

However, Ames, Lucas and JP didn't have that choice when they were introduced to their date activity: taking mock wedding photos. But not just any wedding photos, Taiwanese wedding photos. This meant the guys were dressed up in awkward costumes while Ashley got to be the woman in white.

But it was the afterparty that had everyone talking. Lucas was fairly calm about everything, not making too much of a scene. Ames pulls out childhood photos, clearly trying to get the juices flowing in Ashley's head about a hometown date with him.

Finally, JP gets a chance, and he lets loose on how much he's been digging Ashley. But it's not so much protective as it is complaining, which just come off as annoying. Dude, this is The Bachelorette. I hate to say it, but man up. Unfortunately for us, Ashley rewards such behavior with the date's rose.

Onto Ryan's date, where it seems to be losing steam. There's a lot of downtime on the date and Ashley seems to be letting her mind wander. The date takes a turn for the worse when Ryan tries to talk to Ashley about the danger of water heaters during lunch. The conversation makes a turn towards family when Ashley drops a bomb on Ryan: she's just not that into him.

So instead of going any farther, Ryan is cut loose, which Ashley is unsure about, but also says she thinks is a good decision (leaving the producers ample room to bring him back).

To speed things up even more (since Emily's interview is waiting in the wings), Ashley opts to hold off on the cocktail party since, you know, who needs to talk when the decisions have been made? She makes it quick and easy: Constantine, Ben and Ames move on, and Lucas is the second person sent home.

Now that that business has been taken care of, Chris Harrison is back in LA to promote how well the show does in terms of making relationships (which isn't very successful). Of course, this all leads up to the moment we've been waiting for: Emily's exit interview from her relationship with Brad.

Apaprently, Brad knew she would be there, and she has his blessing. Why, so they can both get some credit out of this? Either way, Emily is going on and on about how there were little red flags and there was always a hint in her mind that this relationship wasn't going to work--it all starts to blend together after a while.

In the end, Emily concludes that she liked the idea of being in a relationship much more than actually being in one, especially with a little girl, and that Brad wasn't the person that she could be with from the rest of her life. Oh, and she thought she could pass for Taylor Swift to her 5 year-old. Let's keep the conclusions to the experts, shall we, Emily?

The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 9/8c on ABC.

(Photo courtesy of ABC)

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