Episode 8 - 7/18 Hometown dates - Discussion - Spoilers

GrahamGal wrote:I am not sure where to put this so I am putting it here as well. I tweeted Ashley's sister and this was her reply.

LindaI26
@ccmaine Has your opinion changed after seeing the show of the 1 guy you didn't like for Ashley when you first met him? Do you like him now?


@ccmaine
Chrystie Corns
@LindaI26 my opinion has changed


So not matter what happens during MTP remember this.

Thanks for taking the initiative to find out. I'm glad her opinion has changed.

Kelad9 wrote:

KarmaGirl wrote:Wow, JP's comments on their HTD were ALL about Ashley - how sweet. Ben's comments were about wine and his hair. Well, not ALL, but most. Quite a difference between the two. JP and Ashley are going to have such a sweet life together. I think for sure we can now say the "clue" that MF was talking about in the last episode was the wedding picture. Can't wait for the next few shows!

That's what I was thinking when watching the show. Ben wasn't talking about Ashley and or how she'd fit in with his family on the HTD. well some of the time but most of the time it was all about talking about his dad, the company and etc. Not really a sign of someone in love but it could also be that he is in love but finds it difficult to express it in words. I know some people who are that way and I have a feeling Ben is one of those people.

I found Ben's date a little off for an F2 guy. It was all about him and his family but not much about how Ashley at all. Even the conversations between Ben and his mom, it was like they were talking at a therapy session. I just don't see a connection between them. Like usual, maybe there was more between them but the edit isn't showing it for a reason. His edit doesn't even say final 3 never mind F1

northernviewer wrote:

Kelad9 wrote:

KarmaGirl wrote:Wow, JP's comments on their HTD were ALL about Ashley - how sweet. Ben's comments were about wine and his hair. Well, not ALL, but most. Quite a difference between the two. JP and Ashley are going to have such a sweet life together. I think for sure we can now say the "clue" that MF was talking about in the last episode was the wedding picture. Can't wait for the next few shows!

That's what I was thinking when watching the show. Ben wasn't talking about Ashley and or how she'd fit in with his family on the HTD. well some of the time but most of the time it was all about talking about his dad, the company and etc. Not really a sign of someone in love but it could also be that he is in love but finds it difficult to express it in words. I know some people who are that way and I have a feeling Ben is one of those people.

I found Ben's date a little off for an F2 guy. It was all about him and his family but not much about how Ashley at all. Even the conversations between Ben and his mom, it was like they were talking at a therapy session. I just don't see a connection between them. Like usual, maybe there was more between them but the edit isn't showing it for a reason. His edit doesn't even say final 3 never mind F1

I'll have to agree that his edit confuses me as well. It doesn't feel like F1, F2 or F3. I do have to say I think they are cutting out a lot of great moments that would convince more people if they got to see them. We saw pictures of his HTD date that we never got to see onscreen and Chris even said they cut out a lot of their more lighthearted moments:

Ben's date was much more intense than the others.
Harrison: That was very cathartic and therapeutic. I think he was saying some feelings out loud about his dad [dying] for the first time and the conversation he had with his mom was very healing. I feel like we got a look inside someone's soul. It was so intimate at times I was like: Should we even be listening to this? But there were some things we didn't show. They shopped in the market for some of the picnic items before they went into his vineyard, they tasted some of his wines and goofed around. We didn't show some of the more lighthearted moments because we felt what was really impactful and what moved people about the date was the stuff about his dad.

I hate that we didn't get to see any of that.

Teenamarie wrote:

GrahamGal wrote:I am not sure where to put this so I am putting it here as well. I tweeted Ashley's sister and this was her reply.

LindaI26
@ccmaine Has your opinion changed after seeing the show of the 1 guy you didn't like for Ashley when you first met him? Do you like him now?


@ccmaine
Chrystie Corns
@LindaI26 my opinion has changed


So not matter what happens during MTP remember this.

So do you think the one she doesn't like is the one Ashley picks? Previews make it seem that way.

that's what it sounds like to me. If she didn't like Ben she wouldn't have much of an opportunity to get to know him any better and change her opinion. Sounds like she initially didn't like JP - or decided to amp up the drama for the cameras.

northernviewer wrote: I found Ben's date a little off for an F2 guy. It was all about him and his family but not much about how Ashley at all. Even the conversations between Ben and his mom, it was like they were talking at a therapy session. I just don't see a connection between them. Like usual, maybe there was more between them but the edit isn't showing it for a reason. His edit doesn't even say final 3 never mind F1

agreed - although I do see a comparison to F3s, with Danielle and Jeremy and a F2 who was supposed to be a F3 Chris L.

Reality Mary wrote:

umngirl wrote:Love all the MN love! I actually just got home from the Twins game. (We had a walk-off win!) The weather here is nuts right now though.

I actually need to rewatch this episode. Do the guys have commentary on their dates?

Crazy Minnesota weather this summer and crazy Bachelorette season! To all my MN buddies, a big hi!

MN here too!

hey PM - when's your b'day?? I see you have one coming up.

JBF wrote:

cfck2222 wrote:

anders wrote:going by the history of this show, the odds are against JP and Ash lasting. It's not just the edit of the show, it's the nature of this show.

I definitely agree with that.

In my opinion, the overall Ashley/JP storyline this season seems to have been overcoming obstacles. Why did they pick that? Because they see tons of obstacles for Ashley/JP in real life or because the only storyline they've got for Ashley/JP is how they deal with obstacles (because their connection is so obvious). I sure don't know. Of course that assumes JP is F1 but I'm having a hard time not believing he is at this point. I just don't see any other relationship that's anywhere near the level of theirs on the show. I just feel like this is playing out like a rom com where they're storyboarding in all these obstacles but there's going to be a happy ending (without knowing if it's a happy ever after).

I've always said I'll wait not for the FRC but ATFR. Right now my gut is telling me that if JP is F1 then he & Ashley are basically on the same page now about the show messing with your mind so they've almost started over after the show, they're tuning everything else out and focusing on each other and so far so good. It's just a vibe I get from Ashley's interviews and JP's vlog. But I have no evidence and this is just an opinion so I don't expect anybody to agree. Even if I'm right it doesn't mean this'll last forever and I know that.

I wonder if Jordan will reply with a “No, WE need to figure it out”… now, that would be GREAT editing, I must say!

Life deals us problems all the time. They may be molehills we make into mountains, or they may indeed be mountains. Add two people and a romantic connection and you make problem solving more difficult. I think the reason that show couples don't survive the journey from the bubble to the real world is that they fail to figure out how to solve their problems and give up and throw in the towel.

What is unique about this season is that we have a couple that has figured out how to solve their problems. It starts by admitting them, talking about them, and the most unique thing is that one is an integral part of the solution to the others problem; Ash has a problem - she goes to JP to solve it; JP has a problem - he goes to Ash to solve it. This is the "skill" that makes a relationship work. There's no way that this show can present this without first presenting them with problems to solve. This isn't done because they see tons of problems in real life for them, nor is it done because that's the only story line for the couple. It's done because this is the most important story line for the couple.

We can only guess what will happen when Ashley says to Jordan that she needs to figure it out, but if I were forced to hazard a guess (and knowing that we have been given this preview and later the entire scene for a reason) it would be that Jordan plays an integral part by helping Ashley figure it out. We had Ben's brush-off of "You're a smart girl - you'll figure it out" to show how he isn't - and doesn't want to be - a partner with Ash in problem solving - he's the yin to Jordan's yang.

JBF I think we will see, when we get to see the whole scene, that your dream of great editing will be fulfilled in some way.

Lucas15 wrote:Life deals us problems all the time. They may be molehills we make into mountains, or they may indeed be mountains. Add two people and a romantic connection and you make problem solving more difficult. I think the reason that show couples don't survive the journey from the bubble to the real world is that they fail to figure out how to solve their problems and give up and throw in the towel.

What is unique about this season is that we have a couple that has figured out how to solve their problems. It starts by admitting them, talking about them, and the most unique thing is that one is an integral part of the solution to the others problem; Ash has a problem - she goes to JP to solve it; JP has a problem - he goes to Ash to solve it. This is the "skill" that makes a relationship work. There's no way that this show can present this without first presenting them with problems to solve. This isn't done because they see tons of problems in real life for them, nor is it done because that's the only story line for the couple. It's done because this is the most important story line for the couple.

We can only guess what will happen when Ashley says to Jordan that she needs to figure it out, but if I were forced to hazard a guess (and knowing that we have been given this preview and later the entire scene for a reason) it would be that Jordan plays an integral part by helping Ashley figure it out. We had Ben's brush-off of "You're a smart girl - you'll figure it out" to show how he isn't - and doesn't want to be - a partner with Ash in problem solving - he's the yin to Jordan's yang.

JBF I think we will see, when we get to see the whole scene, that your dream of great editing will be fulfilled in some way.

LOVE this post and ICAM!! Will you please accept this rose? :giveheart: :giverose:

They're totally a team and I love watching their interactions and problem-solving everything together in a totally ridiculous and unrealistic environment. The great editing has been going all season IMO, starting with ep3 when she whined that now she was "alone" when Bentley left when we knew that it wasn't the case at all, she already had an ally and we all saw it and as the season has gone on, it's become more and more evident just how much of a team they've become.

As always - i'll be the wet blanket. I don't think a couple not surviving this show has anything to do with being able problem solve. It has far more to do with the environment they are in. They're basically sequestered like rats and let out to play every few days and have nothing to do but think, eat and sleep the lead. Even leads are almost always bound and determined to fall in love and choose someone.

Once everyone is back into the real world where real situations arise (not the manufactured ones they dream up on this show) like where to live, how to even go on a date when you don't live in the same town, etc. become obstacles that may or may not be able to be overcome.

will Ash and JP try and make a go of it - absolutely, but could real life come between them?? Almost certainly. I would be estatic to be wrong, but I give them a year, if that.

anders wrote:

Teenamarie wrote:

GrahamGal wrote:I am not sure where to put this so I am putting it here as well. I tweeted Ashley's sister and this was her reply.

LindaI26
@ccmaine Has your opinion changed after seeing the show of the 1 guy you didn't like for Ashley when you first met him? Do you like him now?


@ccmaine
Chrystie Corns
@LindaI26 my opinion has changed


So not matter what happens during MTP remember this.

So do you think the one she doesn't like is the one Ashley picks? Previews make it seem that way.

that's what it sounds like to me. If she didn't like Ben she wouldn't have much of an opportunity to get to know him any better and change her opinion. Sounds like she initially didn't like JP - or decided to amp up the drama for the cameras.

I honestly don't think that Ashley's family has gotten to spend any more time with her F1 while the show is airing (maybe at most, they stuck around in Fiji after she got engaged and hung out with the couple there, but I'm not even sure that's allowed). I suspect what her sister meant was that she has seen the shows, sees how sincere her F1 was throughout filming and sees the connection they have, and has observed both Ashley's and her fiance's post show behavior, and realizes that whatever she thought was wrong with the guy is not the case at all.

It could be Ben who fits that scenario, but it seems much more likely to me that it's JP, and that Chrystie is seeing both on screen, and in reading/observing the behaviors of the 2 guys post filming, the same things that the JP fans are seeing, that he is truly all about Ashley. JP's personality is more intense, and maybe it rubbed her the wrong way initially. Ben is so laid back, I'm not sure what could have offended her other than his somewhat blase attitude, and I don't think anything she would have seen of his behavior on the show so far, or post show, would have changed her opinion. He still comes across pretty blase.

anders wrote:hey PM - when's your b'day?? I see you have one coming up.

July 25...same as ATFR taping, better be a good day! :cc1: