After being left on a cliffhanger last week in Cleveland, week five of The Bachelor resumed with the contestants still reeling about Alayah’s return. Peter finally pulls her away to address the drama and assures her that he doesn’t care what others think of her. However, the connection isn’t as strong as he claims when he decides to send her home for the second time.
“I think that, just with everything that’s happened, that, like, this is a little too much,” Peter says before escorting Alayah out.
Peter may have sent Alayah and her drama home, but his character is being questioned by the women as they start giving him a cold shoulder. Natasha is the first contestant to break it to Pete that the idea of leaving “has crossed a lot of minds.” The girls (and everyone else) are absolutely done with the toxic energy in the house and are eager to put Peter in his place.
After his classic “Sorry, I’m not perfect” speech, Pete tries to mend his connections with the women. Of course, they accept apologies with open arms before heading into the rose ceremony. Savannah, Kiarra and Deandra get the chopping block.
“I’m literally in shock,” Deandra whispers to Peter. He sends her off with a nice ‘ol, “It wasn’t easy for me. It was nice to meet you.” Hm. Do better, Pete.
It’s Costa Rica time, rose lovers!
After a nice … exotic … stay in Cleveland, the ladies were more than ready to get tropical. Peter shows up with a wound on his head that Bachelor Nation has been milking for months — explaining he has 22 stitches from smacking his head on a golf cart. “It’s a little embarrassing,” he says. Yeah, we know.
Sydney gets the first one-on-one, as the two are whisked away into a helicopter. “I think you can say love is in the air right now,” Peter says with a cheesy smile. The couple explores the jungle and eventually lands for a picnic. Peter adds to their attraction by admitting to Sydney that she is “the best kisser.”
Sydney plays it off, but we know this is a drama ticking time bomb waiting to explode once she’s back with the other women. The two get serious at dinner as Sydney tells Peter about her childhood and being bullied in high school. He’s amazed by her strength and gives her the rose.
Group date!
The ladies meet Peter by a waterfall, where they will be doing anything except for relaxing. Instead, the women earn their cocktails by modeling swimsuits for Cosmopolitan magazine. The prize? The winner being featured with Peter on the cover. No big deal.
Victoria F., after her makeout with Peter, is crowned the winner. However, Cosmopolitan won't be running the cover after editor-in-chief Jessica Pels recently rescinded The Bachelor issue due to past modeling campaign of Victoria F.’s that featured White Lives Matter messages and undertones.
Drama alert
Meanwhile, drama is erupting in the house after Kelsey has a boozy meltdown about Peter going on dates with the other women. Uh, you’re on The Bachelor? Tammy takes it upon herself to inform Peter that Kelsey had a “mental breakdown” and “has been drinking excessively.” Of course, the two get into it.
Kelley gets the next one-on-one, and she seems anything but enthusiastic. The two pay a visit to Ricardo and Pia, who are shamans who help them perform a much-needed “cleansing ritual.” Symbolically, it seems like Kelley is pushing him away.
At dinner, the two address the elephant in the room as Peter asks Kelley why she’s “disappeared” on him. She says she’s been hanging back, but she is ready to open up. Kelley brings up valid points and puts Peter in his place by claiming that he “rewards the drama” in the house. He dances around the reality of it but still gives her a rose.
At this point, Peter’s reputation as The Bachelor is seriously being doubted by the choices he makes. For one thing, he has a pattern of never seeing the red flags as he continues rewarding the drama. Ultimately, a few clear lessons were learned this week: Snitches get roses, Kelley is way too good for Peter and the women are going to start dropping like flies sooner rather than later.
Until next week, rose lovers.
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The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
