I know I should be feeling great, but Im really struggling, he admits.
Im falling for multiple women, and it scares me.
Im finding myself holding back in some ways, and I dont like it.
Jesse Palmer greets the women on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
The last time I really opened upwas with Charity, he says.
Aww, look at him!
Poor guy looks so sad.
Our bilingual ‘Bachelor’ host in action.ABC
Joey says he feels like people expect him to be perfect, and the pressure is getting to him.
Most of my life Ive been struggling with the fact that I dont feel perfect.
I feel like theres a lot of st thats wrong with me, says the Bachelor, choking up.
Joey takes a bite of Jenn’s dish on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
Would someone c’mon give this poor man a hug?
Hes overtired and emotional and just needs a cup of cocoa a nice long nap.
Could someone make that happen?
Joey and Kelsey A. on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
Heres our host in yet another cozy sweater!
And hes about to interrogate the womenen Francais.
That means Kelsey T. and Maria will be getting the very romantic one-on-one dates this week!
Joey gives Jess the boot on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
Oh, and suck on that, Lea!
Todays group date activity is a scavenger hunt.
And this time, none of themaple leaf flags are blurred.
Joey goes for a spin on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
Later, Joey and his harem arrive at Jesses favorite restaurant in Montreal, Garde Manger.
Owner (and Canadian celebrity chef)Chuck Hughesinvites the group to make their ownpoutine.
Joey, bless his heart, takes a bite anyway.
Joey wipes away Kelsey’s tear on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
I sure hope TeamBachelorhas some Pepto on hand.
The other women cant help but notice his connection with Jenn, and they do NOT love it.
I just dont really understand why I havent had a one-on-one, says Jess with a sigh.
Maria, your ride is here!.ABC
Girl, youre onThe Bachelor!
Just join hands with all the sister wives and dance around your Rose God.
It felt very culty, says Kelsey A. of their ring-around-the-rosy moment.
Joey unknowingly drops the l-bomb on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
The whole date is bringing her down, because she feels stuck in the shadows.
Sorry, maam, but thats on you.
Thats called taking initiative.
Actual distance from Claudette to the Rialto theater.ABC
Many of the women are feeling insecure as they head into the after-party.
As soon as he walks in, Joey can sense that the mood is off.
he asks, but the only response he gets is an uncomfortable chorus of nods and chuckles.
Joey and Maria on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
I really believe it, he jokes.
Katelyn goes first, and she almost immediately starts crying.
Its really hard for me to see your connection with everyone else, she says.
Lexi surprises Joey on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
I guess, like, that coupled with no one-on-one, and stuff… Its been a little hard.
Kelsey A. is next, and their conversation is pretty similar.
I want to feel wanted, she says, choking up.
Joey and Lexi on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
I dont want to just feel like Im in the background.
You dont deserve to ever feel like youre in the background, says Joey.
Its impossible for you to be.
Don’t forget the arch, Joey!.ABC
You have this brightness about you that is so different.
He says he has zero doubts about their connection, and Kelsey admits shes falling for him.
Say it one more time, Joey whispers, and they smooch.
Joey and Jenn (background) have a moment on ‘The Bachelor’.ABC
When its Lexis turn, she asks Joey to clarify what his timing is on getting married.
Does he want a long engagement, or does he imagine being settled with kids sooner rather than later?
Lexi truly appreciates the Bachelors candor, but shes not sure how she feels about waiting to have kids.
I need to sit and think on it, she says in her confessional.
Meanwhile, Jenn just told Joey that shes falling for him, and he LOVES it.
I almost jumped up and started dancing when I heard that one, says the Bachelor.
I dont feel like Im fully ready to say it, but I feel like Im getting closer.
Any time spent with you is time well spent, she says.
But it just gets hard seeing you connect with the other women here.
Its just scary, because I am falling for you…
I just hope that youre feeling the same things.
Narrator: Hes not.
Joey goes on to tell Jess that shes unbelievable, but shes just not his person.
That is like the last thing that I expected, she sobs.
I just feel stupid.
I didnt expect not to be able to say bye to anyone.
Joey returns to the holding pen and informs the women that he sent Jess home.
Oh, and the date rose goes to Jenn.
The first one-on-one date of the week goes to Kelsey T. Shes excited, but nervous.
I dont open up to people very often, she says.
My trust level is at, like, a 0.0 percent.
Still, shes going into the date determined to have fun and be her true self.
A nice woman namedMarie-Michelle Fabergreets them and says, Love is like a leap of faith.
Oh wait, sorry wrong date.
Im gonna get sick!
Im just not feeling great with the dizziness.
Again, does anyone have any Pepto Bismol handy?
The Bachelors stomach is really taking a beating this week.
And its not over yet!
Get this poor man a ginger ale.
Back at the hotel, Lexi is ruminating over her conversation with Joey about kids.
I do feel Joey came into my life for a reason, she says, wiping away tears.
But is it the wrong timing?
Ultimately, Lexi decides she needs another one-on-one conversation with the Bachelor about this very complicated subject.
On the menu tonight: Family trauma!
The source of the rift, she explains, was his religion.
Kelsey went to live with her mother, and her dad cut her out of his life.
Oh, Joeys doing his signature Tear WipeTM everybody drink!
Do I even need to tell you that she gets the date rose?
Then they smooch as an aerial silk performer twirls above them.
Enter the French-speaking butler!
Looks like Marias getting thePretty Womandate.
(Suck on that, Lea!)
The Bachelor is waiting for Maria outside, in front of a white Packard limousine.
On the ride to their first stop, Maria asks Joey if hes learned any French.
Youre just going to get me in trouble in another language.
The two continue giggling and teasing each other the entire ride, and Ill admit its pretty cute.
Joeys arranged for you to choose a special gown for your special date, she says.
Today, its all about you.
(Feel free toshop Marias dress, if youve got $1,335 to spare.)
Back in the limo, Maria tricks the Bachelor into sayingjtaimemultiple times.
Yeah, thats a no.
Silly girl, youre just taking a quick flight across town to theRialto theater.
Rose lovers, youre not going to believe this:
Its a four-minute drive.
And they took… a helicopter???
I cant with this show.
I truly cannot.
All right, all right.
Ill let it go.
At dinner, its time for Maria to Open UpTM about her past relationships.
I just want someone to say what they want and mean it, she says.
An engagement to me means marriage next.
In other words, Joey, this one isnt going to wait around during a long engagement.
For now, though, Maria is happy with how things are going with Joey.
Im falling for you in ways that I didnt expect, she reveals.
You make me happy.
The Bachelor LOVES it.
Before Joey hands Maria the date rose, he leads her into another room for a private concert byFeist.
They end the evening by slow-dancing and smooching.
What could possibly take that long?
But thats just not something that I have the privilege to do right now with my health situation.
This isnt what I thought was going to happen, he says.
But youre going to get everything you want, and youre going to make a remarkable mother.
Awwww, THIS MAN.
Lexi heads back to the ladies hotel suite and shares a tearful goodbye with Maria and Daisy.
You cant make someone ready for something that theyre not, she says.
And he doesnt need to be ready for that right now.
Correct, but it still sucks.
Hang in there, Lexi and props for doing whats best for you.
One by one, the women take a stab at life his spirits.
I like it, like, every night maybe multiple times a night, Daisy adds.
(Same, girl.)
Yep, its awkward.
You truly are amazing, she says.
Youre just so kind and such a good human being.
Just know that youre doing everything right.
Crap, I am!
Tink!Enter Jesse Palmer with his Butter Knife of Bad News.
Joey announces that hes going to have to say goodbye to some amazing women, and leaves the room.
He said women, whispers Rachel.
They were all hoping that only one person would go home, since Jess and Lexi left early.
Thats right, ladies.
Joey will only be handing out three roses, which means two more women are going home tonight.
Who will make it into the Circle of SafetyTM with Maria, Kelsey T., and Jenn?
Rose ceremony roll call!
It also means we get to celebrate Leas departure.
See ya, toots!
Heres hoping you watch this back and do some soul-searching.
And with that, Joey and his ever-shrinking harem are off to Jasper, Alberta!
Before you go, rose lovers, allow me to pose a few questions.
Were you surprised that Joey sent Jess home so early?
And do you think Lexi would make a good Bachelorette?
Let me know your thoughts on Twitter@kristengbaldwinor Bluesky@kristengbaldwin.bsky.social!
The Bachelorairs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
