'Bachelorette' recap: Baha Men in the Bahamas

Prior Lake American

It’s time to get tropical.

Not necessarily for regular working folk, of course, but for the cast and crew of “The Bachelorette,” starring 2008 Prior Lake High School graduate Becca Kufrin.

While there were once 28 men competing for the heart of and engagement to Kufrin, there are now just six men left — Colton, Garrett, Blake, Jason, Wills and Leo — heading to the Bahamas.

Show host Chris Harrison tries to earn his presumably excessive paycheck by exchanging platitudes with Kufrin in her hotel before the week begins.

“It is working so much more than I ever expected at this point,” Kufrin said. “I can easily say I’m falling for a couple guys here.”

Kufrin tells Harrison that she’s never been to the Bahamas, which Harrison responds to like a French king horrified that a peasant has never eaten cake while bathing in gold leaf. Some people lead regular lives, Harrison.

Kufrin then lets the men know there will not be a rose ceremony at the end of the week, but four dates — three one-on-ones and a group date.

For those uninitiated to “Bachelor Nation”: First of all, are you reading this article by accident? Either way, there are typically three types of dates on “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” which are one-on-ones, two-on-ones and group dates. These consist of one contestant, two contestant or multiple contestants going on a date with the lead.

If a contestant receives a rose, either on a date or during a rose ceremony, he or she continues to pursue the relationship with the lead. If a contestant does not receive a rose, they are sent home.

Contestant Colton receives the first one-on-one date, which sends the other contestants into a tizzy about his “big secret.”

Oh, a big secret. Is he a spy for the United States government? Is he the cause of global warming? Does he see dead people? Is Voldemort living on the back of his head under that mysterious turban?

As it turns out, the “big secret” is that Colton is a virgin. OK.

While sexual desires are important to communicate in a relationship, the contestants at the hotel act like Colton is about to reveal that he robbed all the casinos in Las Vegas.

On the one-on-one date, Kufrin and Colton head out onto a catamaran. After they’ve harvested a few conch, the fisherman teaches them how to pull out a clear, worm-looking item called a “pistol.”

At dinner in the evening, Colton tells Kufrin that he hasn’t really had any serious relationships because of his career, which is why he is a virgin. He then drops the line: “I’m not waiting for marriage, I’m waiting for the right heart.”

Kufrin asks to excuse herself from the dinner for a few moments to stare out into the night, which makes it seem as if the virgin revelation has hit her hard. However, Kufrin then returns and tells Colton “I would never judge you or think any less of you for that” and then gives him the date rose, which means that move might have been orchestrated by those with titles that start with “pro” and end with “ducers.”

“I appreciate someone who takes that so seriously,” Kufrin said.

The next one-on-one date goes to Garrett. The two take a sea plane to island hop and spend the day on the island, kissing in a multitude of uncomfortable places, including in the sand and on a tire swing. Garrett tells Kufrin that the last person he brought home to meet his family was his ex-wife.

Garrett tells Kufrin that he’s beginning to fall in love with her and he gets the date rose.

The last one-on-one date goes to Blake. The two dance on the beach to the Baha Men. Yes, of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” fame. During a picnic later on, Kufrin tells Blake that she is developing strong relationships with the other contestants.

During dinner, Blake tells Kufrin that his mom had an affair with one of his teachers in high school, but that his family didn’t really talk about it. He said he would like more open communication with his future family and Kufrin said she would want that as well.

Blake tells Kufrin that he is in love with her and gets the date rose.

“All I want to do is tell him I’m in love with him,” Kufrin said. “It’s so difficult to hold back. I can 100 percent see him as my husband. ... I feel like my heart recognizes his.”

With all the one-on-one dates used up, Leo, Jason and Wills head out on the group date, which consists of each pairing making out on different parts of another island.

During their one-on-one time, Leo asks Kufrin if their relationship is at the same point as the others. Kufrin essentially tells him that it’s not, and Leo is sent packing.

During dinner, Kufrin gives the rose to Jason, meaning Wills is sent home. Kufrin said it was the toughest decision she had to make up until that point.

“I’m absolutely wrecked right now,” Wills said. “I thought she was going to pick me.”

This all means that next week, Kufrin will meet the families of Jason, Garrett, Blake and Colton. Things are starting to get real, Kufrans.