'Bachelor' recap: 2 Wisconsinites go on a date
Editor's note: Waukesha native Nick Viall is searching for love during his fourth appearance on a "Bachelor"-franchise show. Will he find it? Our reporters will keep you in the loop with weekly updates.
What happened: We came out of this week's episode with quite a few firsts: the first one-on-one date, the first heart-tugging backstory, the first two group dates and the first major Nick-centered drama. But more importantly, we have firmly established the villain: Corinne. Let's break this down a bit.
As the 22 women get settled into the Bachelor mansion, host Chris Harrison pops by with the first date card – a group date. Twelve ladies get to don ridiculous wedding and bridesmaid dresses and take turns being photographed with Nick by a mustachioed, romper-wearing photographer, Franco. You know, a classic first date activity.
Corinnequietly tantrums between sips of wine as Nick poses with the other women in various themed wedding scenarios. When it's her turn, Corinne is unable to contain her jealousy over Nick's racy Adam and Eve shoot with Brittany, so she removes her bikini top, instructing Nick to "Janet Jackson" her "bare bosoms" as the other women look on in horror.
That evening, Corinne goes into full-on villain mode, "stealing" Nick away from other girls mid-convo. On her third round of interrupting, Taylor gets revenge by going back a few minutes later to "re-interrupt." This is a huge no-no in the arbitrary rules of Corinne's world and drama ensues. Yet, our villain receives the group date rose.
Back at the mansion, Germantown native Danielle M. (now living in Nashville as a neonatal nurse, and, according to our sleuthing, a model who has appeared in country music videos) receives the first one-on-one date card. She and Nick helicopter around L.A. and land on a yacht. Things get heavy over dinner as Danielle opens up about her fiancee who died five years ago, Nick Haag of Waukesha (who was a former member of Milwaukee country band Chasin' Mason).
"He overdosed on drugs and I found him," Danielle says. Nick is moved and offers encouragement, and the pair seem to genuinely connect. Nick offers her the rose.
The next date takes Nick and another group of women to L.A.'s Museum of Broken Relationships, where the drama centers on Liz.
Liz has revealed (repeatedly) to the cameras that she and Nick had a one-night stand after meeting at "Bachelor in Paradise" couple Jade and Tanner's wedding. She elaborates on their past in front of the rest of the group during a cringe-inducing fake break-up scene the women are instructed to act out with Nick. .
Later, Nick confronts Liz about why she waited until he was "The Bachelor" to try to re-connect with him. Liz stammers on but it isn't computing for Nick, so he sends her home.
Unfortunately, we have to wait until next week for the fallout after Nick comes clean to the other ladies about his past with Liz. The episode ends with a big, fat "To Be Continued."
Number of mentions of Wisconsin: Three.
How it came up: Naturally, all three mentions came during Nick's date with fellow Wisconsin native Danielle M.
"Cheese," Danielle says, spotting a plate of snacks, "'cause we're from Wisconsin."
Nick says to the camera, "She's from my hometown so there's a level of comfort there."
Later on the yacht, they move to a hot tub, and Nick says, "We're on a yacht, in a hot tub, in the middle of the ocean. This happens all the time in Wisconsin."
What we learned about Nick: He either likes Corinne's ... confidence, or he knows it makes good TV.
We also learned more about how Nick felt being blindsided twice on "The Bachelorette." "I felt incredibly heartbroken but also incredibly stupid and foolish," he says. Will that affect how he goes about things as his field of women narrows? We shall see.
Best quote of the night: Corinne, indignant, breaks down the delicate decorum of intruding on another woman's one-on-one time with Nick: "I interrupted Taylor and then she came and re-interrupted me. There's a way to go about things. The way I go about things is classy..."
Women remaining: 21... at least until the to-be-continued rose ceremony next week.
Coming up next: We'll get lots of tears, as the girls process the news of Nick and Liz's past relations. There will be a rose ceremony, and another round of dates in L.A., including one featuring a Backstreet Boys concert (this is genuinely thrilling and not to be missed).