And this is the episode that Bentley’s return started to take shape – well, sort of. I mean, did he really ever leave?? We’ve heard more about him than any other guy still left.  Now, I’ve met Ashley and I liked her a lot but the ghost of Bentley, or hearing his name repeatedly, is becoming my pure hellish torture, and if Ash doesn’t stop soon, I just don’t know what I will do!

ONE ON ONE DATE WITH BEN F.
‘Let’s fall in love in Chaing Mai, Love, Ashley,’ is the date’s clue. Before the date, Ben said there is a “100 percent chance Ashley will be kissed today.”

Ashley and Ben were whisked off to a local marketplace where they walked around, ate and shopped–taking in the whole Thai culture. Ashley said the more she gets to know Ben, the hotter he seems to her. At one point, the two were staring into each other’s eyes but Ashley said, “you know, we can’t kiss here, it’s not allowed (near the temple.)” So, they had a mental kiss instead. Ashley told the camera there was so much tension that she just wanted to jump on Ben.

Over what Ashley called “the most beautiful outdoor dinner that Ben F. has ever seen,” they talked about life, his wine business and family, including the death of Ben’s father. The chemistry was awesome and undeniable — just as it was during their group date at the orphanage. So, of course Ashley gave Ben a rose and they kissed while a traditional show took place around them. Ashley told the camera that there is a lot of passion between the two of them and that Ben is the kind of guy she could fall in love with.

GROUP DATE
Constantine, Ames, Nick, Blake, Ryan, Lucas, JP and Mickey got the group date which left William and Ben C as the two on one date. The date card read, “Love is worth fighting for,” and unfortunately for all involved, including us the viewers, it meant literally. Guess ABC didn’t learn from the hot mess that the comedic roast group date created, so, it took things to a whole new level of date absurdity by making amateurs take part in Thai boxing.

At first Ashley was excited because she said “it was a really hot way to watch the men,” and she hoped to find the masculinity in them. OK, Ash, I can think of another way or two, but, this is your show, so, a fight it is. Poor Ames must have had a premonition because he said he had not idea what he was doing but if he got a broken nose, it would be worth it. Ashley kept saying how hot this date was at every opportunity. The men sure enjoyed watching her in her spandex, too, until they realized the seriousness of the day ahead of them.

Ames is not much of a fighter and it didn’t help that he ended up with pink gloves and boxing shorts. It made things worse too that the men were taken to a real boxing ring in middle of town with a huge crowd gathered to watch them beat the crap out of each other. I wondered at this point if Ashley still thought this was a hot way to spend a date.

JP was freaking out because he is the smallest guy there but didn’t want to show his fear. Two men at a time got in the ring. Blake and Lucas started the fights and of course testosterone took over in this intense environment of fighting over a woman, not only in front of the said woman, but all her other suitors as well, not to mention half the town that had shown up to watch. FINALLY  it hit Ashley that this may be a dangerous idea. Blake won the match.

Mickey and JP took to the ring next. This whole Gladiator-like dating scenario really bothered me and made me cringe, as it did Ashley at times. JP took an early beating but soon realized he was going to die if he didn’t fight back so, he brought his street game and ended up winning.  Ames went against Ryan but told the camera that he’s never been in a fight in his entire life because he always finds another way around problems. Ryan gave Ames some shots to the head because he wanted to impress Ashley. Ames not only lost the fight, but he was left loopy with a bloody nose. The guys and Ash were concerned about Ames and Ash ran during the last fight (Nick and Constantine) to get the crew to get Ames to a hospital to make sure he was OK.

Ames came back to the group date at night and said he was “dizzy but OK.” Ames told the camera he had a hard time speaking with Ash because of his head and told her that the docs said he was totally in love. Despite all Ames went through, somehow, Blake got the rose at the end of the night.

During what then became a one on one date with William, Ashley did not feel the same feelings she had felt during her first date with William in Las Vegas, and there was no renewed spark, so, she sent William home as well. Here is what Ali Fedotowsky said today, and she should know: “Not surprised that Ash sent both guys home on this date. You don’t bring guys u ‘like’ on the 2-on-1 date. Even if she kept 1, he wouldn’t have lasted much longer.”

ASHLEY ASKS FOR BENTLEY WILLIAMS
Ashley decided she needed closure with Bentley Williams before she could move forward with the other men. So, she had a heart to head talk with Chris Harrison. She told him that she is certain about the core group of guys she wants to go forward with but she still has Bentley on her mind and “what could have been.” Chris told her it’s not fair to the guys who are fighting for her (literally girl, they’re getting the crap beat out of them for you). But Ashley said the only way to pay respect to the men is to be honest with them and figure out the Bentley situation.

She told Chris, “there was something there [with Bentley].” She asked to talk to Bentley so she could ask him a couple of questions. “The fact that he left me with a ‘dot dot dot,’ leaves me wondering….” Chris said he is there for Ash and he will do what he can to “make something happen.” And we all know that “something” will be to bring Bentley back. OH GOD HELP US ALL!