The Bachelor: Week 2 - Lisa Quits, It’s Down To 12! (recap)

By Tom Rose
Fancast.com

Last night on The Bachelor single dad Jason Mesnick started to sort through the bevy of 15 beauties still left standing and a few lovelies made a break for the lead with wildly different approaches. Nikki decided to take the mature, perfect step-in mom strategy, Shannon continued with her bubbly, bordering on stalker-style and Erica sweated bullets ’til the last minute over her upfront gambit to wipe the stigma of last week’s ballot twist away.

The job was made a bit easier when Lisa decided she couldn’t stay, opting to return home to care for her ailing grandmother. The girls paid lip service to her trouble, but then Erica remarked “there should still be three girls going home.” The stakes got higher.

The producers dropped the usual red herring clues, edging us to believe that DeAnna Pappas would show up unexpectedly in Jason’s limo ride home, but it turned out to be Raquel in a last ditch effort to get Jason to pay some attention to her. And the bartender continued to be the busiest staff member, although there was no hint of his presence on camera. So where do all those margaritas, bloody marys and champagne cocktails come from?

ABC added some footage and extended the 90 minute episode to two full hours, but they should have stuck to the script as the proceedings began to drag a bit. And the budget for the show is skimpy for the first few dates, until a few phillies bolt from the pack. Jillian received the first one-on-one date rose and accompanied Jason to the Disney theater for a private concert by retro 70’s funk love crooner Robin Thicke that turned out to be a spooky, lame move, covered in cheese. And Melissa’s day date was a walk on the beach, a first time oyster treat (she hated it) and a ride on the Goodyear blimp.

But this happens. Until a show gets really greased, the wheels tend to stick a little here and there. Still, there was plenty of sliding off the rails.

Let’s have a look:

In the opening the 15 ladies remaining got a chance to check out their new digs at the mansion. As they settled in, unpacking mountains of clothes from their suitcases they decided to take a champagne break out by the pool. This is when Jason made a surprise visit in order to get to know them all a little better.

With cameras following your every move, that’s hard to do and it shows. Chris Harrison created new wrinkle: not every girl will be going on a date with Jason every week. That means there’s gonna be plenty of long faces throughout as girls start getting snubbed.

Jason put on his backwards ball cap and took off his shirt to universal approval when another twist was introduced. The first one-on-one date rose was delivered early and the girls remembered what they’re there for.

Jason picked Jillian for the retro love concert, but as they slow danced to some really mediocre, schmaltzy Barry White knockoffs a card was delivered to the mansion. Melissa got the next rose for the day date at the beach. This all while Jason and Jillian are practically falling for each other to the strains of Robin Thicke’s annoying falsetto. Alan Thicke would have been more entertaining.

Jillian dished about the date next morning and Melissa got upset. Later she admitted that an unexpected difficulty for her was having to put up with the feeling that you’re dating a guy, yet you can see him cheating on you right in front of your eyes. Very poignant point, and one I hadn’t considered. Melissa showed some heart. And brains.

Moving right along, as Melissa’s blimp ride unfolds, the doorbell rang with the list for the first multi-date. Megan was not on the list and she was totally bummed. Why does Jason keep messing with her head?

Next day, Jason announced that the date includes a shopping spree on Rodeo. Natalie was thrilled, saying “its like the mother ship calling me home.”

The action buzzes by and I offer some more raw notes:

On to a poolside party at Le Petit. Jason laid on the old “get it out of your system speech” while the athletes laid on a synchronized swim. Molly dragged him away and revealed her secret talent - kissing. Nikki and Natalie went at it. Naomi pushed for some face time and it turned into face sucking time. But Molly got the rose.

Raquel hid in Jason’s limo ride home. She said some whacky things about her own death “if a man really loves me, then if I die, he will not get married again.” That’s her idea of love? “And Jason is the one for me.” Jason looked scared

The rose ceremony began. Jason went for one on one talk time. Lauren is high maintenance. Shannon continued with the stalker interview. “You’re so cute! Why are you so cute” Stephanie told the ladies she’s a widow, which they didn’t know. She says “I don’t wanna talk about how wonderful my husband was. I wanna talk about how awesome Jason is.” I’m sure that’s not flying too well at home.

That’s when Lisa let Jason know that she had to leave to tend to her sick grandmother. It’s a bit of a surprise, she hasn’t been joining in for awhile now, but she was warming up. It’s the right choice. Sometimes your family just really needs you.

Megan finally got a face to face but she was defensive about the ballot. She’s a single mom at 23. Molly steals Jason away. Nikki is getting annoying, despite the beauty. She’s a little too serious. Erica and Megan get into a battle over words. The daquiris are topped off and the claws are out. Chris Harrison clinks a glass and the rose ceremony begins.

In the Deliberation Room, Jason realizes Lauren needs to be noticed too much and it’s a turn-off. He muses that “Nikki and I have a lot in common. I can really trust her.” He goes on to think out loud that Shannon is fun, but Raquel came on too strong with her surprise meeting in the limo. Megan made a mark. The word amazing is said 12 times. But here’s the kicker for me: he’s falling for more than one of them. I didn’t know that was possible. Jason is really going where few men have gone before. But he has to send two ladies home and Jillian, Melissa, Molly all have roses already.

The roses go to Megan (she lights up) Nikki, Lauren (what a look she gives Jason!) Naomi, Stephanie (she says “yes” - even though it mean’s missing her daughter’s birthday) Kari, Natalie and a very relieved Shannon,

The final rose goes to Erica. She accepts but can’t help bitching Jason out a bit, saying “you have to stop doing this to me!” But she did lay off the sauce this week and she is a single mom herself. Look for some real development there as the weeks fly by.

Sharon the teacher goes home. She left her job to be on the show and is severely distressed over the choice. Raquel (who looks best in evening wear) goes home with a big chip on her Brazilian shoulder. Her limo trick backfired.

Next week: Stephanie happily scores a day date with Jason who surprises her with a visit from her 3-year old daughter, making up for the missed birthday party. It brought a tear even to this jaded heart. But Jason has already proved he’s a considerate, kind hearted fellow. Maybe too kind?

In the last flash on the screen, Melissa looks like she’s gonna be sick. Too much cheating out in plain sight?

Find out next time on The Bachelor, Monday night at 8:00 on ABC.

We’ll be watching on Fancast.