‘Bachelor Canada’ Episode 4: Tears for fears
It's week four of "The Bachelor Canada," and if you were worried the show wouldn't hit its stride in terms of tears or twists, fear no more. As three dates led to four exits, revelations came to light, leaving Brad Smith and his remaining ladies to plan for next week: family time.
Onto the rose ceremony!
- One minute in, and.. a twist! While at a winery, the ladies learn that four women will be sent packing this week, with one being dismissed immediately following a two-on-one date. Four others will go the four-one-one route, one lucky lady will have Brad to herself, and the other will sit in solitude, subjected to Brad-free mansion time for a week. - 2 roses (one for each of her tears)
- But enough sorrow for now. Ana, Kara, Gabrielle, and Britany are chosen for the first outing, and true to "Bachelor" form, their date is not one for mere mortals. Treated to a photo shoot for an eight-page spread in Lulu Magazine, the girls get gussied up and get set to dazzle. Especially Ana, who, as far as she's concerned, "definitely deserves to model." - + 1 rose
- Meanwhile, to balance Ana's confidence, Britany begins to worry: she's a "small-town girl," and her connection with Brad feels a bit off. Luckily, Smith keeps her comfortable on set by ... putting his hand on her thigh? "I don't think Britany knows how good-looking she is," he tells the camera. "She's a really sexy girl." Not that he tells her that, though. (How mysterious.) - 2 roses
- However, the time for Britany and Brad to bond again comes quick. Since next week the remaining women will bring Brad to meet their families, Britany needs to come clean: her father has depression, and it's a big part of her life. Understandable, and Brad thinks so, too. Cue the hugs, kisses, but a lack of rose. + 2 roses
- But let's keep it moving, ladies. Date two (the two-on-one) is quickly approaching, so Laura B. and Bianka get the call. Neither can live while the other survives, so one will be sent home if their venture with Brad proves unsuccessful. Chantelle looks on the bright side: "At least you get to go to the city of love!" she says, only to be met with silence and stares. + 1 rose
- This far into the episode, and Whitney will not be overshadowed or made to wait. Thus, she "breaks the rules" (even though we're sure the producers put her up to it), sneaks out of the mansion, and runs over to Brad's hotel, where she takes her suitor by surprise. Bold, albeit unsurprising. +1 rose
- And then it gets real. Instead of kicking Whitney out of his room, Brad opens up about his painful past, and reveals how his two best friends both died tragically within a matter of years. He cries, we cry, Whitney doesn't seem to. Yet despite the fact she ended the conversation with, "I better get that one-on-one date," Brad tells the camera he couldn't have been happier to share his news with Whitney first -- he's crazy about her. (While she's just crazy.) + 4 roses for Brad, - 6 roses for Whitney
- Then to Paris Brad, Laura B., and Bianka go. Date one is with Laura B., so she and The Bach kiss under the Eiffel Tower -- for luck -- then go back to his hotel room, where they lounge casually in terrycloth robes with zero explanation. He worries she's emotionally fragile, while she worries that Brad thinks she's emotionally fragile. Considering Brad thinks she's cute, smart, and is 100 per cent into her, this could prove complicated. - 1 rose
- Meanwhile, at the mansion, a date card shows up, to the delight of everyone. But while Chantelle's sure the date will be hers (since she's had no one-on-one time with The Bachelor), the date goes to -- you guessed it -- Whitney. The news is greeted with "Are you kidding me right now?" expressions by everybody, and prompts Chantelle to doubt her future among the ladies. - 4 roses
- Back to Paris. Bianka and Brad also meet under the Eiffel Tower, but this time retire to a sidewalk cafe where they discuss Bianka's trust issues, and Brad dazzles her with his French. Ooh la la! + 1 rose
- But a decision needs to be made. So instead of taking both Laura B. and Bianka on a romantic carriage ride, Brad gives Bianka a rose and tells Laura B. to beat it. (Well, not exactly: he's very gracious and tells her she doesn't need to be defined by anybody else, and that she's amazing on her own.) Laura B. cries, Bianka does not. + 2 roses
- Moving on! Evidently, Bachelor Brad Smith is afraid of heights, so to help him conquer that fear, he brings Whitney on a rock climbing date to Penticton, B.C., where the two bond cliffside. Eventually overcoming his "be-all-and-end-all fear" (and subsequent gagging, dry heaving, and exclamations), Brad piggybacks Whitney down the rest of the cliff. To the camera, she reveals that she "knew he'd come rescue her." The audience then experiences Brad's "fear of heights" reaction. - 3 roses
- Though Brad wants to know if there's more to Whitney -- if she can be soft, and not so "crazy intense." She promises that she can be, and that they have something so special they don't even need words. It's decided: he will give her the second rose and visit her family in Calgary, and she will remind everyone -- again -- that she never loses. Of course. - 4 roses
- That's when Chantelle gets a phone call from home. Her grandpa has died, and she needs to go home. She cries, Britany cries, everyone cries (again). True to Brad, he's understanding and kind, then closes the door on her van and bids her adieu. - 4 roses (We miss her already!)
- But the show must go on. Which is why, on ceremony night, the ladies vie for more one-on-one time with their boyfriend-to-be. Brad tells Gabrielle that he might propose to whoever wins, but their conversation is short-lived when Whitney interrupts -- despite already having a rose. Just a reminder: she never loses. Just so everyone knows. Whitney? Doesn't lose. That's her thing. - 3 roses
- However, Britany and Ana do lose, getting sent home after Brad takes a dramatic pause. Gabrielle, Kara, Whitney, and Bianka are left, and next week, Mr. Smith will visit their families. Get psyched. + 3 roses
Best bachelorette of the week: Britany. Four roses to her for opening up and owning her family life.
Worst bachelorette of the week: Whitney. No matter what she says about herself, she's losing this rose ceremony.
Brad's smooth line of the week: "I'm going to throw up!"
