Chris Harrison Blogs ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 5

Photo: Chris Harrison
Photo: Chris Harrison

Welcome back, Bachelor Nation. I think tonight we saw the most anticipated and dramatic two-on-one date in Bachelor history. And the best part about it is it’s not over yet. I can’t remember seeing anyone more surprised to be sent home on a two-on-one than Taylor, and Taylor is not about to take things lying down. As we saw, Taylor still has more to say, and she outright refused to leave New Orleans without being heard. Before we get into next week, let’s talk about New Orleans.

Related: ‘The Bachelor’ Episode 5 Recap: Battle in the Bayou

You didn’t get a chance to see it, but Nick and I sat down when he got to New Orleans, and we discussed the two-on-one date. Obviously, it’s a very difficult thing to have to go through for any Bachelor or Bachelorette, but sometimes the best way to figure out what you want is to apply pressure to yourself. At this point, Nick knows that the girls have strong feelings about Corinne, and Taylor has certainly been the most outspoken between them. Another thing we talked about is how serious his feelings were becoming.

It had been quite some time since Rachel, who got the first impression rose, had any serious quality time with Nick. It was Nick’s first time in New Orleans, and there was no better tour guide for him than Rachel. Even though Nick took the lead on the date, Rachel really helped him relax and have a good time. In this very pressure-filled week, Rachel was exactly what he needed to keep his journey to falling in love on course. A concert by Lolo at Preservation Hall and a second line in the French Quarter really got this week started right. The chemistry between the two of them is undeniable, and Nick let Rachel know that he feels like she is going to be in his life for a very long time. I hope those promises don’t come back to haunt him.

Related: 5 Craziest Things to Come Out of Corinne’s Mouth on ‘The Bachelor’

Speaking of haunting — and corny — segues, the haunted date at Houmas House was truly scary. People from all over the world flock to the area to get legitimately spooked, but almost no one gets to stay overnight. I’m not sure if that makes Nick and the ladies lucky or unlucky, but the ghost of Mae definitely noticed that there were new energies in the house. Jasmine should definitely not have touched Mae’s hat, and that seemed to really set off a chain of bizarre events. We’ll never know what was imagined and what was real, but we do now that everyone had a great time that night. Spookiness and scares aside, all the women had a good amount of one-on-one time with Nick to further their relationships.

Behind the scenes at the rose ceremony. (Photo: Chris Harrison)
Behind the scenes at the rose ceremony. (Photo: Chris Harrison)

The dreaded two-on-one took place in the bayou, and it felt extremely fitting. Corinne played the game like a football coach, making her best defense an offense. She felt attacked by Taylor at the cocktail party in Wisconsin, and she led her time with Nick letting him know that she was afraid he was giving too much time and attention to a “bully.” Taylor, who obviously was totally taken aback by the accusations, seemed more bewildered than anything. It threw her off so much she didn’t even really have time to get her act together and explain her side of the story. Nick had to follow his heart and give a rose to someone, and he gave it to Corinne. Taylor did not take it well. Next week, we’ll see exactly what she has to say to Nick.

Get ready for a mind-blowing conclusion to this story and even more surprises next week on The Bachelor.

The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes of The Bachelor for free on Yahoo View.