Running Afoul in Turkey

It's true it's true!! This is the most dramatic season ever and the drama unfolds against the colourful, mysterious and picturesque city of Instanbul.

Got Game? (thx Nat)
What we got was a lot of bull from Rated R. The Bachelor family comes through for Ali. Jesse (remember make up artist from 'On the Wings of Love' Bachelor that wore too much eye make-up) well she reached Ali via Chris in Instanbul to tell her that Rated R has a gf named Jessica . Jesse then put Jessica on the phone Jessica spoke to Ali and told her that Justin was on the show to further his career (how original!) AND he's been calling Jessica, but Jessica found out he also has another girlfriend so she just wanted to stop Ali from any further pain. Got that? That one messed up love trapezoid. I'll get back to Rated R...but was Jessica reaching out to Ali out of a place of love and concern for another woman's feelings? I don't think so...seems to me that Jessica wanted to out Justin because she was dissed that Rated R had one more girlfriend. After all...Jessica was in on this master plan to further Rated R's career..she even took Rated R's headshots for the application. So after Ali gets off the phone she eloquently tells Chris H that she's p#$%*#$ (rhymes with dissed). So she marches down to the room to confront Rated R. Rated R responds by grabbing his passport and manbag and exits the room...and then hops around the hotel grounds like a chicken with his head cut off trying to exit the Hyatt hotel compound...he dashes through flower gardens and tries to re-enter the hotel but is politely refused by a waiter. Not exactly a macho exit for the wrestler..but it certainly was entertaining. So after Justin realized he couldn't find his way off the hotel grounds..he comes back to talk to Ali...and I'm not a proclaimed bulls$%* detector like Craig..but Rated R was lying through his teeth. He was so busted by the voice mails that he left for Jessica that were playing when the camera was filming him trying to leave the hotel again. Yikes...he got his fame but not likely as he imagined. I was expected Kasey to swing down to guard and protect Ali's heart during all of this....guess he's still stuck on the glacier in Iceland.

Ty
Okay the cowboy thing was cool in Iceland..but the redneck came out in Instanbul. Ty and Ali had a one on one in a Turkish bath. That was difficult to watch. I think Ty was really trying to create some moment with all the turkish towels, steam and bath salts. At least he took off his unsightly necklace for that part of the date..but it did come back on for the waterside dinner. Unfortunately what also came up at the dinner was 'traditional' views. He has learn that women are presidents of companies and CEOS and stuff. Yup. She still gave him a rose.... I dunno...i just don't get it.

Two on Twos for some One on One
Perhaps the most masochistic challenge for one on one time with Ali. The guys have to wrestle with professional wrestlers while doused in olive oil. Painful and risky. I wonder how Rated R would have fared in a wrestling match? Craig emerged victorious over the other guys..because he really really wanted time with Ali. Craig and Ali had the date (after Craig degreased)...but the lack of chemistry was so obvious on the date.

Frank
Frank gets the last one on one date. Frank's been getting very antsy about not being with Ali..and Ali has been saying that she really wants to reignite what they once had (nope not 20 years ago.more like 20 days ago). Again, I'm no expert..but I think this term describes them...

D. H. Lawrence called an "égoisme à deux": two people banded together, not because of love or an increasing understanding of each other, but rather because of their over-entanglement and mutual self-deprivation- a result of two underdeveloped egos.
They seem to just really need eachother..but it seems a little unhealthy...what do I know..I thought Jake and Vienna were going to last? But at least Frank got an awesome carpet and a rose from the date.

Painful goodbye...
I felt Craig's departure coming when Ali announced she didn't want a cocktail party and Ithink Craig knew too..he looked so nervous...so she cut Craig. During the long and painful walk to the door..Craig left on a high note..and told Ali that everything he said he meant (aww nice....) and Ali in her wisdom decides to rub some turkish bath salts in his wounds and tells him she didn't really feel that there was a romantic connection. A legitimate reason to cut Craig loose? Definitely! Necessary to tell him on his way out the door? No at all. Craig is likely smarter than most guys there..he likely got it that she wasn't into him when he didn't get rose.

Next stop..Lisbon...looks like it's going to get piri piri!!!
Until next week...I LOVE THIS SHOW