"if Ryan is the next Bachelor, then the bachelorette is a mirror"

This week we see the beautiful views of Croatia as Emily readies herself for some alone time with the boys, sans Ricki to offer a distraction inbetween.  Emily surprises the pack by dropping by their domain to hand Travis his one-on-one date card in person.  They waltz around the city hand in hand and eat a cone of ice cream.  It's a good thing they did have ice cream, because before the poor guy has a chance to eat his supper she picks up the date rose only to tell the guy why she can't give it to him.  Apparently she isn't feeling the romance, so it's better that she does send him home rather than keep him there hanging on.  We were then witness to a male ugly cry. Oh, and by the way Travis, the throwing down of the umbrella in the pouring rain was very metaphorical to explain your feelings.  Nice touch.

The group date is next, and it's a good 'ol fashion movie date.  The daters are treated to a showing of Pixar's new movie, Brave.  I guess the movie was a preparation for the boys to set up their own rendition of the Highland games, complete with kilts. By far the best scene of the season was the camera panning over their beefy chests as they changed out of their datewear into their highland gamewear.  And of course, we can all leave it to our own imaginations whether or not they truly wore those kilts the way they were intended ;).  I'm no athelete, but even I know that Chris' attempt at archery was alllll shades of wrong, and I really felt he was in danger of knocking himself in the head with the log.  Despite the fact that he was clearly the least athletic of all there, to everyone's surprise, including his own, he was picked as the 'winner' of the games by Emily because he showed the most bravery by giving it his "all".  It felt like she was crowning the winner of the Special Olympics (oh my did I just type that out loud?  Yeah. I guess I did).  And man, she's just FULL of surprises tonight isn't she?  Not only did she hand Chris the bravery cup, but she also handed him the date rose.  Perhaps he's showing her a different side than what he's showing the viewers?  *shrug*

Ryan-the-Super-Douche was given the final one-on-one date, and we can only hope that she selected both he and Travis to similarly seal their fates.  They head off on a drive where he assures her that he's an excellent driver because he, "doesn't get into accidents", and all the while the Croatians are honking their horns left, right and center at him (I guess even his driving is douchy).  They give the car a rest and go oystering.  He of course is very encouraging for her to try her first oyster.  After all, they are an aphrodesiac, right?  She spits it off the side of the boat, and if we're talking metaphors again, perhaps that's the metaphor of how she rejects him? (oh please, oh please, oh please!).  Again on the date, the topic of him wanting her to be his 'trophy wife' comes up, and as they embark on their evening supper she shows up head to toe in gold, just like a trophy.  Despite the fact that Ryan wore shoes that matched the colors of the turquoise candle holders on the table, she disappoints him by telling him why she can't give him the rose tonight.  I gotta hand it to him though, he did his damndest to try to manipulate her into changing her mind.  Fortunately, she's a woman of strong character, and she held firm, and Douche pitter-pattered in his turquoise slippers down the stone path to the car awaiting. 

Arie, who'd previously been pouting on his group date that he hadn't had any alone time with Emily since London, surprises Emily later that evening to 'comfort' her again.  They suck some more face, and she hands him Ryan's dejected rose to assure him that he's in no fear of leaving this week.  I'm not entirely sure what I feel about this guy.  He seems sincere...is he?  At the rose ceremony she stays true to her word, and, to the surprise of all the remaining 6, she asks Chris Harrison for another rose so she can hand every remaining guy one, sending no one else home.  That Em, we just never know what she's planning, eh?  At least this evening, I'm pretty much in agreement with her decisions :).