The continuing series commenting on ABC's The Bachelor from a man's point of view. Our own Matt Truck (@BroTruck) watches the show with his wife and awards points based on many factors, all of which test whether or not the act on the show is "Bro Council, Approved." Each positive "manly" act by Sean Lowe (@seanlowe09) gets a +1, while points are deducted for things that aren't as flattering to your manhood.
Sean and the final three women, Lindsay, Catherine, and AshLee, traveled to Thailand this week. At this point in the show, each of the remaining women will get a full day with Sean and then alone time for the first time off-camera.
The show opens with picturesque scenes of Sean standing at the front of the boat riding in to shore. He hasn't even hit the beach yet, and all he can think about is keeping the core tight and working on stability (+2). Once on shore, Sean slaps on the unlaced Chuck Taylors, a season staple at this point. The shoes even get their own brief screen time. The cameraman knows classics when he sees them.
Lindsay gets the first date. Sean takes her in some form of motorized rickshaw to an open market. While I'm all for enjoying scenery, how often does a guy have a sled pull regimen with added weight ready to go? If there's one thing we've learned this season, it's that we at Bro Council cannot support unbalanced training (-1).
At the open market, Sean is seen carrying the bag. As a married man, this is one of our great societal rituals, and a right of passage. No longer are the days that you can go shopping and carry one thing in your hand – now you need a bag, because a "one-store-and-done" is a thing of the past. So congrats, Sean, you've arrived (+1). At one point, Sean tells Lindsay he'd like to show off his barter skills in negotiating at a market stand (full price is for sissies, +1).
Sean and Lindsay then indulge in a nice spread of crickets, other insects, and then some chicken feet, which is every young boy's dream. Sean's response? "It's really not that bad". All in a day's work, I guess. (+1)
Next comes a picnic on the beach. They lay down a mat, and Sean then adds to the comfort with what appears to be a leopard blanket (-1). For the ladies out there: picnics are romantic, you're right. But they are not comfortable and they make us look foolish as we try to get comfy. A location with a back support option never hurt anyone.
The two lovebirds then spend some time on the beach playing with monkeys. As Sean feeds them, he crouches down with elbows on arms like he's taking a knee around the old ball, coach. He later describes to Lindsay about a parade of floats at dinner. Poor guy, can't get football out of his blood or off his brain. Fear not, Sean, neither can we. (+1)
AshLee's up next, and the two take a trip in a boat to a private beach. To get to said beach, they have to swim underneath a cave with the light of a small floatation device. AshLee asks Sean if he knows where they're going. Sean says, in essence, what we all say when questioned by our significant other as to our ability to commandeer our vessels: not exactly. Maps? Who needs them. We'll get there when we get there. (+1, and this is probably the most realistic interaction on the show to date).
Sean has a romantic dinner set up for the two of them on the beach, and walks in wearing what look like very thick corduroy pants. Kudos to you, bro, because the thought of wearing pants at all in sweltering humidity is enough to make my glands kick into gear (+1). The things we do for love.
Catherine gets the last one-on-one. Admittedly, Sean needed to take a lot of the time with this date to clarify some concerns he had, so there was a lot of talking and little mantivities. After taking a junk boat cruise out into the open ocean, talk time is over and Sean and Catherine do back flips off the boats. Men + diving boards = showmanship (+2).
Sean then kisses Catherine in the rain, which for some reason women enjoy. Maybe a reader can explain that one. Nonetheless, making a woman happy when we don't understand is part and parcel to these things called "good relationships" (+1). Sean pads his stats by complimenting Catherine in the evening and affirming his feelings after she shares that she has felt made fun of a lot of her life (+1).
This Rose Ceremony is always brutal, and AshLee goes home. Next week is The Women Tell All episode, where the cast gets together and relives the highs and lows of the season, and they get to ask Sean questions. I have a few: Why does no one eat on the show...ever? Why is the house gym so upper-half-focused? Somehow, I don't think these will make the cut.
Episode Total: +10 ; Season Total: +83
Check Out The Previous Recaps Here:
Week One - Week Two - Week Three - Week Four - Week Five - Week Six - Week Seven
