Monday night fun continues with the latest episode of the Bachelor! A villain arises, feuds are established, new frontrunners emerge and a ‘toast’ gets really awkward.

Colton’s connections get stronger this week with two group dates and a one on one and we really get to see some competition emerge between the older ladies of the group and the youngins. ‘Demi the Interior Designer’ more than once mentions the power of youth when it comes to winning the Bachelor’s heart. It is hilarious to me that the “31” year old ladies are considered the ‘Cougars’…HA! 31 years of age just happens to be ‘the prime’ for a woman…Im not making this up…go ahead and google it, it is the truth. I met my husband when I was 31 and it was the perfect age because you know who you are, you know what you want, and you’ve had some life experience. To the 23 year olds…good luck! My money is on the Cougars getting to the final rose. Let the games begin!

And by games, I mean Group Date #1. This group date was the oh so familiar “Performance Group Date” . In past seasons it was “write a song”, “make up a comedy routine” or “showcase a hidden talent” but this time it was “tell a story about something that is a first for you”. This task , honestly, wasn’t really that entertaining and borderline boring so thank goodness they had actress Megan Mullally from ‘Will and Grace’ and her husband funnyman Nick Offerman from ‘Parks and Recreation’ to host it and give commentary! I am a huge fan of those two and seeing Megan Mullally make uncomfortable passes at Colton was hilarious. Despite the boring task that was assigned, there were some gals that shined and one of them was one of the….Cougars! YES.

‘Elyse the Make-up Artist’ emerged as one of the frontrunners from this group date. She told the story of the ‘first time’ she dated a younger man and his name is Colton Underwood :). It was a huge success and showcased her as one of the ‘confident ones’ who knows who she is and what she wants and Colton definitely loved it! Some of the other girls took this performance as a chance to show their aggressive side. Demi did ‘go for it’ when she took the opportunity in her ‘storytelling’ to jump offstage and go attack Colton with a kiss but sometimes over aggressive is just not the way to go. I feel like Demi wants to be cast as ‘The Villain” this season…she even has a signature creepy ‘laugh’ almost like she invented it on purpose for the show. She knows exactly what she is doing and knows she is pushing the buttons of the other girls..especially ….

“Tracy the Wardrobe Stylist”. Oh poor Tracy, she took way too much offense to Demi’s moment of aggression with Colton and let it really get to her. What she really needs to focus more on is her outfit choices. I couldn’t tell if she was going on a first date or on a walkabout with Crocodile Dundee.

Some previous connections also were solidified on this group date as well.

“Hannah G. the Content Creator” continues to climb the ladder for the final rose. They had a very steamy moment on their one on one time and she definitely could be the one in the end. But at the end of the group date the rose went to Team Cougar Elyse.. and it was not a surprise…they really connected on their one of one time and she is now my newest frontrunner.

Meanwhile at the Bachelor mansion “Hannah B. Miss Alabama USA” finds herself as Colton’s pick for the first one on one date of the season. Usually the first one on one date signifies the strongest connection right off the bat but boy oh boy this date did anything but that…it did however showcase the most awkward ‘toast’ that I’ve ever seen on the show.

Colton whisked Hannah B. away to go horseback riding in a beautiful setting in the Vasquez Rocks. Hannah B. had never been on a horse before so I immediately assumed that she would have a fear of horses and that would be the drama for the date as we have seen in past seasons…where they always pick the girls to do something they have a fear of…rock climbing, helicopter riding, bungee jumping, or bumper cars (yep that was real). But it turned out that Hannah B. didn’t have a fear of horses but rather a fear of speaking. Wait what?! You’re Miss Alabama USA…speaking is a prerequisite! Instead of being confident and assured of herself she was quite the opposite while giving the very awkward infamous ‘toast’ (or rather attempting to toast)…. here is a the awkward recap; after horseback riding champagne was naturally waiting for them and Colton broke the ice by suggesting they each make a toast to celebrate her birthday. Did I mention it was her birthday? Colton said he didn’t know…hmmmmmm… I found that interesting. Anyhoo…back to the toast…He went first and it was a very sweet and simple toast but Hannah B. pretty much crumbled when it was her turn. She just couldn’t think of anything and stumbled over and over again. I think Hannah B. has a lot of insecurities and strives to be a perfectionist as a lot of pageant queens do (Ive been there!)

Unfortunately, the awkwardness and insecurity continued as the date went on and Colton even commented off-camera how he was really unsure if he was going to give her the rose. Even the hot tub on the top of a mountain was awkward! But….luckily there was a part 2 to the date and Hannah B. was saved:). She managed to open up much more during the dinner and Colton decided to give her another chance and keep her around. Im really glad that he did because when she lets go of her insecurities and is just herself she is very real and genuine and that is refreshing. Characteristics that are sort of missing in the other pageant queen here, “Caelynn Miss North Carolina”.

Speaking of the other pageant queen, Caelynn, she confessed back at the mansion to another contestant that she and Hannah G. had a falling out after Miss USA. So I was wrong…it appears as if there IS a feud between these two gals. Caelynn claims that Hannah G. was jealous that she was more successful in the pageant and that she flipped a switch and became totally different towards her. Hannah G. later confides in Hannah B. that she has a real problem with Caelynn and believes she is fake. Im sure ABC is loving it…pageant queens dueling it out for the Bachelor makes for great TV, I suppose. But they’re giving Miss USA gals a bad rap…boo.

More dueling continues on the final date of the episode…Group date #2…the “Summer Camp date”. I absolutely loved this date idea so kudos to the producers! They played old school games like Red Rover, Badminton, Duck Duck Goose before the real competition began…competing for more time with the Bachelor. The competition was hosted by comedian Billy Eichner and he really gave Colton a hard time about being a virgin…poor Colton..he just can’t get away from this storyline.

The competition showcased the Red Team against the Yellow Team and was a combo of egg , wheel barrel, and canoe races, and finally ends with a game of tug of war. The winner of the competition, who won more time with Colton, was the Red Team and ironically I felt all the girls on the Red Team were the girls that had the strongest connections with him anyway.

…Caelynn, “Cassie the Speech Pathologist”, “Katie the Medical Sales Rep” were on the winning team and they are all front runners. Katie definitely kept her connection strong with a romantic one on one time with him during the group date…I really like them together, it is very effortless. Caelynn’s time seemed to go well too but something about her just makes me think she is hoping to be the next Bachelorette. Her story was very heartwarming but she seems almost ‘too perfect’ and I don’t think Colton is looking for perfection…I think he likes the ones that are confidently ‘imperfect’.

The Group Date #2 rose actually didn’t end up going to any of the frontrunners but instead to “Heather the Never Been Kissed” because she opened up about having ‘never been kissed’ and Colton felt he could relate to that and appreciated her honesty. Heather is super nice and genuine but very very young. I feel like she really needs some more life experiences and relationships before she would be ready to get married. I do think Colton is intrigued and likes her but she’s not going to go very far…but maybe she will atleast get her first kiss.

There wasn’t any real drama at this last group date in the wilderness so I was anxious for a little bit of something at the cocktail party and rose ceremony. And thanks to our villain, Demi, there was drama indeed. As if she wasn’t aggressive enough on the first group date she decided to step it up a notch and pull a ‘Corinne’. If you don’t know what Im talking about I mean putting on a robe and pulling the Bachelor aside basically to make the other girls mad….

…which contestant Corrinne did on Nick’s season. Demi wasn’t original and desperate for attention. The big drama was who she had to interrupt to steal Colton away…her nemesis…Tracy, hmmmmm what a coincidence. Tracy flipped out again and was so upset she retreated up to her room crying. Demi confronted her and actually ended up kind of giving her a ‘pep talk’ which was really weird. I don’t see either one of these gals as a match at all for Colton so the drama is just more for entertainment.

The rose ceremony didn’t have any surprises which at this early stage is pretty typical. Most of the girls that are sent home are the ones you have NO IDEA who they are because they are barely given any screen time. Im sure there will be surprises in episodes to come. I can’t wait till next week! Will Miss Alabama USA and North Carolina USA have a face off?? Will Demi and Tracy surprise us all and become friends? Will Tracy make better outfit choices? Will new frontrunners emerge? Counting the days till Monday..until then it is back to my day job…Mommying:).