MATTrimony

The episode starts off the only way it should-with Chris Harrison stirring the pot. Because despite there being a RECORD NUMBER OF GIRLS this week there is only one group date.

Bri, love is an adventure.

The date starts with an ATV trip around the property of the resort. Bri and Matt get flung into a mud puddle and I don’t know what the laundry situation at the resort is but I hope Bri is able to get the mud stains out of her clothes one way or another. Matt is a good sport and he's actually kind of funny. I hate to say it, but I’m starting to like Matt, which is the biggest shock of the episode.

Bri and Matt end up at a hot tub in the woods, which can’t have been that unexpected if Bri had to pack swimwear for it. They end up kissing, which isn’t a surprise. Here's where my Bachelor Knowledge comes in handy, every time I’ve seen the hot tub in the woods, the person ends up going far. You heard it here first, Bri is one to watch!

Over dinner, Bri talks about being the child of a teen mom and how it feels now that her mom starting a new family. She and Matt both grew up with semi-absent fathers and as they’re unpacking that, Matt gives a toast, which I wouldn’t have interrupted the conversation for but to each his own. Matt says he has never told anyone else some of what they talked about with and Bri gets the rose and fireworks.

I’m looking for the One.

• Chelsea

• Serena P.

• Abigail

• Sydney

• Alana

• Kristin

• Lauren

• Jessenia

• Serena C.

• Kit

• Kylie

• Katie

• MJ

• Mari

• Pieper

• Rachael

• Victoria

If you stuck around during Tayshia’s season, you might recognize the photographer from this week’s group date. All EIGHTEEN girls dress up in wedding gowns, despite the rain that pelts Matt as the girls are walking to meet him, as soon as the girls get dressed, the clouds part and the sun shines down down, and I'm terrified of the implications of Bachelor production having control over the weather.

Halfway through the date, Chris Harrison shows up and tells the girls that he’s gotta pull Matt aside, and the tone of the date shifts. It turns into a weird mix of capture the flag and paintball. Even though only the winning team gets to spend the evening with Matt, I couldn’t keep up with all 10 of the girls and their individual storylines. Lauren gets the group date rose and Matt kissed her with his eyes open.

Sarah, The sky is the limit for us.

Matt and Sarah get into a biplane and end up having a fireside chat in the woods. Matt asks Sarah about her family, which is what he has asked every single girl, down to calling everyone’s dad their “pops.” Sarah has a hard time initially opening up because her dad has ALS and she is his caretaker. Because Matt is a man who loves family, once Sarah opens up, Matt gives her a rose, and they get into a hot tub.

At the pre-rose ceremony cocktail party, there are so many girls who didn’t even have a date and don't really get time with Matt at the party. Victoria, who has been trying everyone’s patience this whole episode, decides to call Marilyn manipulative, so Matt pulls her aside to address the allegations. A classic she said she said. Except it seems like VIctoria's claims are baseless. I’m tired of it. And so is absolutely everyone else.

We go to the rose ceremony and Bri, Lauren, and Sarah already have roses.

The remaining roses go to:

• Pieper

• Kit

• Magi

• Rachael

• Abigail

• Chelsea

• Jessenia

• Katie

• Serena C.

Mid Rose ceremony Sarah (who has the group date rose) starts to blackout and we’re left on a cliffhanger for next week's episode. Hope to see you back here next week, and hope that Matt doesn't ask another girl about her "Pops."

xoxo,

Cyber Claire