The Bachelor Review: Roller Derby Disaster

I’ve grown to really enjoy my weekly viewing of The Bachelor, if only because it provides me with a lot of good laughs and ample drama. This week certainly didn’t disappoint with either of those things. And for the second week in a row, we saw the paramedics! They are becoming more popular on this show than the girls themselves!

So let’s get started.

It’s Getting Hot In Here – Err, OUT Here
The first date went to Selma, who we haven’t seen much of. I’ll admit, she’s very pretty, so it’s no wonder Sean wanted to be one-on-one with her.  I’ve liked her a lot, too. She seems pretty drama free – well, she did until this week, when she showcased her epic whining skills.

Sean took Selma out to the desert, where she immediately started whining about the heat. Then he told her they were doing some rock climbing, so she started whining about how she normally wears six-inch heels and how she’s not athletic. Oh my God, get over it! Finally she started making her way up the rock, and the complaints subsided. Then she and Sean went and grabbed some dinner.

Over dinner, they talked about past relationships and got to know each other. Selma admits her family is very conservative and strict. She tells Sean she can’t kiss him because of her family and her culture. (She grew up Muslim).  Sean is very understanding, and if anything, I think it makes him more intrigued by her. In the end, she gets a rose.

I Like the Way You Roll
The group date card arrives, and as soon as the card is read, I know Sean is making the girls do a roller derby. And man oh man, am I stoked. Roller derby is intense and crazy and I have a feeling that, with these girls, it’s gonna be a blood bath. And I was sort of right.

Sarah is really uneasy about the roller derby and pretty upset. If you don’t remember, she has only one arm. It’s hard to punch all the other girls out of your way with one arm. Also hard to balance on the skates. I was kind of frustrated that she was being made to do the challenge – as someone with a disability, I want to be held as an equal, but there are limits and this could have been seriously dangerous. Sean listened to Sarah’s concerns and was really sweet telling her she could sit out if she wanted, but in the end she decided to participate.

Turns out, though, it wasn’t Sarah who needed to be worried. It was Amanda. Despite telling everyone she had experience with roller derby (totally BS), she crashed and burned, smacking her chin on the ground. The paramedics came and Amanda milked it. After she was rushed off to the hospital, Sean cancelled the derby and took everyone back to his house.

At the house, Tierra had a tantrum – wow, I do not like her – and told Sean she wanted to go home. Sean felt bad for her saying she was “sensitive” – NO SEAN! SHE’S JUST A BRAT! – and he gave her the rose to convince her stay. Totally playing into her plan. UGH! Do not reward bad behavior, Sean!

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend
The next date card comes with a present – a pair of diamond earrings. The date is for Leslie H, and Sean takes her out on the town to go shopping. She gets to pick out a dress and shoes and a necklace. The works! Leslie talks about how she feels like Pretty Woman, which made me raise an eyebrow.  So you feel like a prostitute? Um . . .

Sean then took Leslie out to dinner, and despite both opening up to each other, Sean didn’t feel a romantic connection. He was honest with her and said he wasn’t giving her the rose. Before going home, she warned him against girls who weren’t in this for the “right reasons.” She didn’t name any names, though.

Goodbye to You
The rose ceremony comes around, and Sean mingles with everyone, as usual. Robin really steps up, trying to make an impression with a joke about chocolate. And Sean has some good chemistry with Catherine.

In the end, though, someone had to go. And Amanda’s almost-injury wasn’t enough to keep her around for the pity rose. She got sent home, and all the other girls breathed a sigh of relief.

What did you think of this week’s episode? Did Sean send the right girls home? Do you think Tierra is a Terror? Let me know in the comments!

Season 17, Episode 3: “Week 4” (originally aired January 28, 2013)

For more of The Bachelor, check out our other reviews.

The Bachelor airs Mondays 8 p.m. on ABC.

Images courtesy of Rick Rowell and ABC.