The Bachelor Recap: Quit Playing Games with Vanessa’s Heart (Season 21 Episode 3)

While last week’s episode of The Bachelor ended on a major cliff hanger — leaving us to question how the women would react to Nick and Liz’s secret past — The Bachelor Season 21 Episode 3 episode serves up some answers right away.

Cocktails and Confessions

We jump right in with confessionals from the ladies, who reveal that news of the secret has spread throughout the mansion. Everyone feels blindsided. Everyone, that is, but Christen, who was apparently awarded the group date rose after confessing to Nick that she knew the truth all along.

Now, it’s time for the weekly cocktail party, and Nick takes the opportunity to really come clean. He gathers his girlfriends together and tells them what they already know: he and Liz met at Jade and Tanner’s wedding, spent the night together, and kept their past a secret from the moment Liz exited the limo on Night 1.

Though they ultimately choose to let this indiscretion slide, the women begin to contemplate how they would react if Nick were to sleep with another contestant before the fantasy suite. It happened with Kaitlyn, after all. But would any of the women be careless enough to make the same mistake?

Cut to Corrine, who prepares to “turn on the sex charm” during her private time with Nick. To do this, she spreads whipped cream — from a poorly disguised bottle of Reddi Whip — on her chest and asks Nick to lick it off.

Nick, of course, is a perfect gentleman. He tells Corrine that they should slow things down tonight, AFTER he willingly licks the cream off.  Because he was probably hungry, so why not?

Finally, it’s time for the season’s second rose ceremony. And after waiting an entire week to find out who would make the cut, we’re met with zero surprises.

Though a rejected Corinne decides to sleep — and snore — through the ceremony, she remains safe thanks to her previously awarded date rose. It’s Lacey, Hailey, and a girl who’s genuinely never been shown on camera before who are ultimately sent packing. They shed a few self-pitying tears and say their goodbyes, and with that, this week’s round of dates can finally begin!

A Larger Than Life Date

The first group date card arrives, and all it says is “Everybody!” This results in a moment of confusion, as the women attending wonder whether everybody else will be included too.

Everything is made crystal clear, however, when music begins to blast through the mansion and the Backstreet Boys themselves suddenly appear in the living room. The lucky ladies on today’s date will be dancing on stage at their concert!

Unfortunately for Nick, he can no longer end up with any of the devastated women he decided not to invite, as they will never truly forgive him.

The day starts out strong, as The Backstreet Boys teach Nick and the girls the dance routine that they will later perform during the concert. Nick is impressed by Danielle L.’s moves, while Corrine struggles to keep up.

Corrine’s lack of coordination provides some good entertainment, but leaves her feeling frustrated. But not to worry, she assures us that she’s “not a cry baby.” When the attention’s not on her, she’s not one to cry about it…

In the very next shot, we see that Corrine has left the choreography session and is crying in the bathroom. But it has nothing to do with getting attention.  As she explains later, “planned dancing” just isn’t her thing. Plus, she probably misses her Nanny.

In the end, the group’s dance is a success. Nick throws in some Saturday Night Fever moves, and Danielle L. is awarded the coveted prize for “best chemistry” — and, later, the date rose.

Floating on Air

Vanessa’s name is on this week’s one-on-one date card, and she’s initially more anxious than excited. It sounds like she and Nick may be doing something dangerous — like skydiving — and she’s just not feeling it.

To Vanessa’s relief, their date will not include any death-defying stunts. Instead, they’ll just be floating around together in an anti-gravity chamber. And at first, all is perfectly well. Nick is entranced by Vanessa’s perfect, weightless hair, and Vanessa isn’t disgusted by Nick’s gaping mouth as he grasps at the surrounding air in an attempt to kiss her.

Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when Vanessa finds herself getting nauseous.  But, in his most human scene to-date, Nick is considerate and comforting throughout the ordeal.

(This sweet moment soon turns icky, however, when the pair kisses right after Vanessa vomits into a barf bag.)

In the end, they put the puke behind them, and Nick is moved to tears by his newfound connection with Vanessa and how much hope it brings him.

Playing the Field

For the final date of this week, Nick invites a group of women to join him on an extremely low-budget work out. They meet at a track, where they will be running around with three olympic athletes (each of whom the women pretend to recognize).

Rachel enters the day worried her winning first impression with Nick won’t last much longer. She didn’t attend a date last week, so she’s ready to remind Nick of their once-immediate connection.

Lucky for her, she is chosen by the athletes as one of the date’s three stand-out performers.  She, along with Astrid and Alexis, will be racing to win time with Nick.  A giant ring sits at the finish line, behind which Nick awaits the winner — from the comfort of a bubbling hot tub.  The first woman to grab the ring and reach Nick will be able to join him inside (with all their workout clothes on). What a prize!

Just when it looks like Rachel has it in the bag, she knocks over the ring and it shatters.  In the meantime, Astrid is able to scoop the largest piece off the ground and wins the brief hot tub make-out. But not to worry, Rachel gets her shot later in the night and is awarded the evening’s date rose.  That makes her two-for-two when it comes to group roses, and her competition is certainly taking notice.

Jealousy, as they say, can get the best of us, and poor Dominique is the first to crack under the pressure. She somehow convinces herself — with the help of a producer, perhaps?? — that Nick has not been “giving her a fair chance”, and she decides to confront him about it.  After a cringeworthy conversation, Dominique is sent packing.  Looks like she won’t be getting the fair chance she was hoping for.

Bikini Party

Just before the next Rose Ceremony, Sir Chris Harrison enters and tells the ladies that Nick has decided to cancel the preceding cocktail party.  Instead, he’s throwing a pool party! Because he needs another good look at the goods before making any major decisions.

Luckily, Corrine is prepared for today’s change of plans.  She has a full blown bouncy house at the ready, just for her and Nick to enjoy.  Our 36 year old bachelor is thrilled! He loves that Corrine is super fun. He loves it so much that he engages in some very adult behavior with her inside of the bouncy house.

Meanwhile, the other women stand by watching them. Fun time over.

Obviously upset, they proceed to confront Nick about it. Vanessa says it best when she tells Nick that her concern isn’t with Corrine, but his intentions.  Is he looking for marriage, or someone to mess around with?  Nick is clearly thrown (because his answer is BOTH, no doubt), but how will he respond?  We’ll have to wait a week to find out.

Could Vanessa be the one for Nick? Or will his constant antics push her away? Let us know what you think in the comments, and be sure to tune in next Monday when The Bachelor airs at 8/7c on ABC.

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