by Gina Scarpa

 

It's a little trip for the girls of The Bachelor as last night, they were flown to Ben's hometown of Sonoma to get a taste of what life would be like there. Considering these are the first dates, it seems a little premature to be asking, "Can you see yourself living here?"

 

As soon as they arrive, Ben hands over a date card (no side table delivery?) to Kacie B. There's polite clapping and squealing but Courtney can't fake her unhappiness. The way she thinks Ben should only pay attention to her says that The Bachelor was looking for another Michelle Money this season - and they found her.

 

Ben and Kacie's date consists of him attempting to teach her to play piano and her attempting to teach him to twirl a baton. Things take a more personal and romantic turn over dinner, thankfully, and she ends the meal with a rose and a kiss. Finally, he surprises her with a movie showing video clips of her childhood, which I find to be completely odd until they show videos of Ben, too. Oh The Bachelor, you are emotionally manipulative, aren't you? Case in point: Kacie thinks she may have found a lifetime of love with Ben.

 

The next date card arrives for Brittney, Rachel, Jennifer, Blakely, Emily, Jenna, Shawn, Monica, Samantha, Jamie, Nicki, and Jaclyn. This date is about making the women feel like they're part of the community, with Ben asking them to put on a play written by a group of local kids. The auditions expose many of the women for being self-conscious and to add to the pressure, some of Ben's closest friends are in the audience to watch the show.

 

Let's be real - the play was pretty bad but it was also pretty cute, and the audience at least feigned interest. After all, there was a weasel, a hippie, a donkey, a prince that turned into a sheep (I think)... yeah, I couldn't follow it.

 

Just when you thought The Bachelor couldn't handle one Michelle Money, we've got two. Welcome Blakeley who sinks her claws into Ben after the play, upsetting the other women. After Jennifer gets a little alone time with him (complete with kisses), Blakeley takes him aside and makes out with him herself. That kiss must've been good because she gets the rose for the date. I can understand the girls trying desperately to make an impression but I never understand the Bachelors who have no problem getting physical with one girl, while others look on in the background.

 

A date card arrives at the house in Sonoma for Courtney, who gets a one on one date, and brags way more than she should about it. They take his dog for a walk in the woods and then sit down to talk about life over a picnic. Later at dinner, she smartly asks him all about himself, gets the rose, and he wonders if this is too good to be true. Psst, Ben. It is.

 

At the cocktail party, Ben grabs Lindzi and tells her not to worry that she didn't get a date this week. Blakeley, who already has a rose, interrupted Samantha's time with her, which as you can imagine, didn't go over well. Ben's not complaining. In fact, she steals him AGAIN a little later on. Do the Bachelors or Bachelorettes seriously have no awareness that other people are trying to get to know them?

 

Finally, Jenna gets some time to talk to Ben and I have no words for how awkward that conversation was. Thankfully, another girl rescues him and she heads to cry in her bed. Joining the Cry Fest is Blakeley, who feels like everyone hates her. Ben runs off to find her and cheer her up, then runs into Jenna and has to run damage control there.

 

At the rose ceremony, the first rose is given to Jennifer, which surely boosts her confidence. The remaining roses are handed out to Emily, Elyse, Jaclyn, Erika, Rachel, Lindzi, Nicki, Casey S, Samantha, Monica, Jamie (which he pronounces "Jammy"), and Brittney.

 

And so Shawn is sent quietly home while Jenna continues her downward spiral outside.

 

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

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