by David McAlpine

Last night on The Bachelor, the girls got their first taste of travel as they packed up to leave Los Angeles and head to Vegas. Once there, Shawntel was the first to score a solo date. Now, Shawntel and Brad have gotten along fairly well lately, so naturally this bodes well for a good date between her and Brad.

And what girl can't have fun when her suitor takes her out on a $5,000 shopping spree in Vegas? Evidently, the answer is Shawntel, as she looks very out of place in the boutiques that Brad takes her into. It's kind of Pretty Woman-esque, but in a less endearing way, especially when what she walks out of the store with is less than appealing.

It's almost as if Brad was in just as much pain as we were when Shawntel went into the specifics of her job as a mortician. I'm not one to be squeamish, but it was still incredibly uncomfortable to listen to her talk about preserving dead people, so it was great news to all of us when Brad shut her up with a rose.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the producers continued their mean streak towards Emily when they put her on a group date at a race track (note: her former fiance, Ricky, began his career as a NASCAR driver). But not just any race track, it's the race track where Ricky ended his career as a driver.

So naturally, Emily is upset. But since she's sweet and lovable, she tries to hide it. I must stress this point, because the other girls don't seem to get it: Emily was not looking for attention, the situation the producers put her in was what was so upsetting. So Brad pulls her aside for a little pep talk, where he realizes how attached Emily was (and, understandably, still is) to her fiance.

But like I said, the other girls refused to get it. Says Ali, with a hint of pout: "We all have problems. We all have issues. Just because somebody comes in with the worst story means they get the most attention?"

I would invite Ali to try to be in Emily's shoes, and then see what she says. Chantal is even more affected, giving Brad an ultimatum: either he emotes for her or he sends her home. Cue the scared Brad eyes! I do agree that it was a little over the top that Brad ended up giving Emily the rose for the group date, but at least it shows he's a compassionate person.

For the last date of the evening, the ugly two-on-one date reared its head. The victims: Ashley…and Ashley. Yes, sadly it would be the end of Ashley S. versus Ashley H., but at least they'd have fun doing it! The three got a sneak peek of Cirque du Soleil: Elvis version, finding out only one girl would get to perform with Brad that night.

After a painfully long date, Ashley S., the non-crazy one, was cut loose. And it's not like Brad let her down easy, either. "I think you'll make an extraordinary wife. I just don't think you'll make an extraordinary wife for me." Could he be any more harsh?

Just when things continued to get awkward at the rose ceremony, Michelle pulled Brad away to continue her string of crazy on national television. Their relationship is clearly sexual, but I'm not really sure it's nothing more. Does she really pride herself on being the Vienna of the season? I'm sure if you asked Michelle, it wouldn't matter, because Vienna did end up the winner, after all.

In the end, two more relative unknowns, Marissa (the sports publicist) and Lisa (the…other small brunette?), were cut loose as a spoiler-laden preview showed us the exotic places Brad and his suitors have yet to travel to.

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

(Photo courtesy of ABC)

Follow David on Twitter: @DavidMcAlpine

For more Bachelor links, visit SirLinksALot.net.