Despite it being love week, the episode opens with an icy scene of complete silence between Maria and Sydney as they are presumably heading to their two-on-one date.
After that chilling scene, we see the women talking about the drama between Sydney and Maria and how their drama is sucking the fun out of the entire process for the other women. They are all hoping the two of them can put what’s been said behind them and move forward. Meanwhile, we cut to Maria admitting that she said some shit she shouldn’t have said to Sydney, but that Sydney should get over it (or something like that) 😂. It was at this moment I knew it would be a long two episodes.
Joey and the women are in Senglea, Malta living their wildest Game of Thrones dreams.
Exploring Malta
Lexi has faded to the back since we met her on night one, so it was good to be reminded of her on this date.
The international dates are the best because they’re so regular, but seem fancy because of all the beautiful shots we get. Lexi and Joey are just walking around Malta, stopping for food, or to shop from a local artisan cart. Their conversation feels a little forced, but it could just be the nerves.
They stop at a stunning church and meet with a priest, who gives them unsolicited advice about having kids—even though Lexi’s question was about making a marriage last lmao. This leads Lexi to remind us that she has a health condition that could affect whether she can give birth to children or not. Production working overtime to force Lexi’s health struggles storyline because I know ain’t no foreign priest making a 15-minute appearance on an American reality TV show and dropping a line about having kids.
When we first met Lexi during the premiere her intro package alluded to her not being able to have kids within the first 30 seconds of her limo entrance, which was such a turn-off to me. But I assumed it was being shared because she was open to sharing—or because it becomes a meaningful plotline throughout the season.
As expected, Lexi wants to use their dinner date to share about her health struggles and the implications they may have. She shared that she was diagnosed with stage 5 endometriosis, which can severely affect if she’s able to have her own children. She also shares that before telling the literal world (via The Bachelor) about this health issue, the only person she shared it with was her ex, who responded by breaking up with her. How devastating.
I think Joey and Lexi handled this very well. I understand Lexi feeling the need to share this with Joey upfront so he can make an informed decision. I also respected Joey’s response. In the last few episodes when women have shared some tough news with him, his response has been to immediately start making out with them (i.e. last week with Jenn). This time, Lexi had room to share her full story and Joey mustered up an empathetic response. At this point, we don’t even know if Joey wants kids (we find out he does later) but he seems more moved that Lexi would trust him with such a difficult experience than the fact that she might not be able to have children.
This conversation is why I want to see more women in their thirties on this show—and on dating shows in general. Lexi’s lived enough of her adult life to have a more mature perspective than say a 23-year-old. I like the mess these young women bring to the show, but I love the maturity the few thirty-somethings that make it far enough into the season bring as well.
In the end, Joey gives the date rose to Lexi.
True Love is Worth Fighting For
On the date: Jenn, Daisy, Edwina, Katelyn, Allison, Rachel, Autumn, Kelsey T, Jess, Madina, Lea, Kelsey A
The group is at Fort Manoel, the same place where Ned Stark was beheaded. IDK what it says about me that I knew that before Joey told us, but I need you all to know that. I watch low and high-brow television, I contain multitudes 😂.
The women are being “trained” to be knights so they can…fight for Joey? Something about that don’t make sense, but we’ll go with it. Joey is shirtless, and looking great.
Their first challenge was to stare into Joey’s eyes one by one. I’ve noticed how much eye contact Joey makes with these women, so I’m convinced he personally asked for this challenge. Next, they play something similar to one-on-one flag football. Finally, they play a game where the goal is for them to catch sausages with their mouth as the sausages are tied to a revolving wheel. These women were told they were going to train to be knights and they are running around a wheel with their mouths open to catch a sausage. This show is so unserious and we just keep watching it 😭.
In the end, Autumn wins alone time with Joey and they make out overlooking what I think is the Mediterranean Sea.
In the words of one of the greatest performers of all time, Joey’s ‘got it bad’ for these women and it is clear during this group date. Daisy and he are picking out kids’ names, and Kelsey A. and he are looking at one another like they aren’t on a date with 10 other women there. Just ready to risk it all.
Kelsey T. uses her time to deepen their connection after feeling insecure watching the other relationships progress. Joey asks her what she needs more of from him, and she says action, proof that he’s feeling her like she’s feeling him. So he leans in for a kiss and gives her reassurance about his feelings. He also gives her the group date rose at the end of the night, which I thought was such a sweet touch after she was vulnerable about feeling a bit behind. It looks like my girl might get a one-on-one in tomorrow’s episode. I’m hoping that’s the case!
The Drama is Getting Weird
Y’all, I’m not gonna hold you, I want both of these women to go home. Sydney seems a bit delulu and Maria seems like she don’t know how to read the room. I’m convinced Joey couldn’t pick Sydney in a lineup of blonde-haired white women, and we know he just wants to fuck Maria. So we can move on.
I love a messy two-on-one, I love mess in general, but this entire storyline has been so contrived. The women are on their way to the date in a sick yacht in complete silence, but at least the view is beautiful!
They meet Joey and get on a smaller boat to explore the sea. Eventually, they stop and Joey acknowledges that the situation is awkward, but he says he wants to get to the bottom of things and move forward.
Joey and Sydney spend time together first and Sydney shares that she’s been so anxious about this week and this date. She claims Maria cursed out the women after Joey left the pool party, which I don’t remember, but kind of believe. Maria is abrasive, I’m sure she did say “shut the fuck up,” at least once. Was it said maliciously? Who knows.
As he heads into his conversation with Maria, he admits he’s not confused about his feelings for Maria, he’s concerned about the behavior Sydney is alleging. I think this is an important distinction. At the end of the day, Joey’s got to date the woman he ends up with, but if said woman is truly mean and unlikable, that doesn’t bode well for him. Character matters and has been at least somewhat of an important trait throughout the season so far.
Ultimately, the conversation with Maria brings no clarity. It’s truly Sydney’s word versus Maria’s and it’s clear Joey just wants to move past it. He makes it clear to Maria that he doesn’t care if she’s friends with all the women in the house, but he does care if she’s making it hard for other women to stay in this process. That’s a fair, healthy way of looking at the bizarreness that is this process.
Going into dinner, Joey says the night isn’t about finding the truth, it’s about choosing the person he has the stronger connection with and determining who he might have a future with. With that in mind, he asks Sydney if she feels there’s a potential future with him. Of course, she says yes, and spins her actions as that of what a good partner would do, which is having his back.
Joey turns to Maria and asks the same question. She says she started the process knowing that there was something between them, but throughout the drama with Sydney, she’s questioning if they can move past it and if it makes sense for her to stay.
He grabs the rose and says that he’s trusting his gut with his decision. He then turns to Sydney and says he cannot give her the rose and walks her out. It’s unfortunate that we heard so much about Sydney’s disdain for Maria and nothing about her vintage store, which I was personally really invested in.
Maria gets the rose and as the production staff enters the hotel room to collect Sydney’s belongings, the women are truly shocked to see she’s the one leaving. Is this creative/coercive editing, or did the women lowkey agree with Sydney’s assertions about Maria?
The Drama Ain’t Over
Joey kicks off the rose ceremony addressing Sydney’s absence. He says his choice to send Sydney home was all about where their connection was (it was nonexistent).
Sydney might be gone, but that doesn’t mean the drama is. As the women settle into the cocktail party, Lea is taken aback at how quickly the other women have moved on, especially Madina. She takes it upon herself to stir the pot. She pulls Madina aside and questions her narrative of calling Sydney her best friend one night and being buddy-buddy with Maria the next. Madina explains that she doesn’t have to hate on Maria to be upset that Sydney is gone. Which is true.
I’m sad that the women of color are fighting 😩. I get it, Lea thought Madina was being fake after her closest friend in the house got sent home. But she should’ve left it alone. Aligning with a woman who was sent home because she lacked a connection with the man you’re still trying to pursue, ain’t it sis. Honestly y’all I just think Maria is probably annoying a lot of the women with her strong personality. She seems like she likes attention, and likes eyes on her, and I could see how that could get old very quickly in a process like this. For whatever reason, Sydney—and now Lea—would rather play up what Maria has done to them/the other women instead of admitting she’s annoying to be around. Now we gotta watch another 20 minutes of this cocktail party/rose ceremony tomorrow to see how this shit plays out.
I stand by what I said earlier, Joey should’ve just sent them both home!