'The Bachelor' recap: Nick Viall cuts Corinne Olympios, enjoys fantasy suite with Raven Gates

The Bachelor star Nick Viall ousted Corinne Olympios, was confronted by his ex Andi Dorfman, and enjoyed a fantasy suite date with Raven Gates during Monday night's one-hour episode on ABC.


Nick, a 36-year-old former software salesman, sent Corinne, a 24-year-old Miami native, home during the Rose Ceremony in Brooklyn, New York that following the women's hometown dates.

"Saying goodbye to Nick, I feel like my heart is literally like never going to be repaired. I just want to feel love the way I'm supposed to [feel], the normal way. Why can't I just have a normal relationship? I'm trying to say things that men think are appropriate and you know what? I'm done," Corinne said in tears following her ouster, before falling asleep in the car.

"I'm done trying to show my men how much I worship them and love them and care for them and support them. I need that. So if someone feels that way for me, they can come to me and tell me... I am done. I'm done trying to impress these men. I'm going to be me, and no matter what happens, I'm never going to kiss up to a man again. I'm done. I'm done. I want to go to sleep."

The Bachelor broadcast began with the women venting about how nervous they were about the Rose Ceremony since Nick just traveled to their hometowns and met their families. Knowing Nick asked each father permission to propose to his daughter, Vanessa Grimaldi didn't feel special, which she called "a horrible feeling."


Rachel Lindsay was longing for Nick and falling in love with him. She'd be devastated to go home, as would Vanessa. Raven Gates was ready to say yes to a proposal and would be crushed to leave without getting a chance to tell Nick she's falling in love with him. As for Corinne, she felt vulnerable because Nick knew her "to the core." She felt sick to her stomach thinking she may never see Nick again.

Meanwhile, Nick was meeting with Andi, who had dumped him in favor of Josh Murray on The Bachelorette's tenth season.

Nick told Andi that every time he felt something like love during this process, he'd hold back since he was used to getting crushed or misjudging romantic situations. He had fallen madly in love with two women -- Andi and Kaitlyn Bristowe -- who didn't want him back.

Nick explained he wasn't going to get engaged just because he's the Bachelor, nor would he pick a girl just because she's the last one standing. Andi thought that meant Nick wasn't finding love, but he countered, "I think it's going to work. I hope it will."

Nick said every time he's with a different woman, he thinks she's "the one," so he was confused.


Andi then asked Nick a very personal question -- whether he intended to have sex with women in the fantasy suites.

Nick replied, "I don't know. Honestly, I'm torn." While Nick was physically attracted to all the ladies, he really wanted this process to work. Andi gave him some advice, saying that if he could picture the girl at the end, he's entitled to be intimate. She advised Nick to do whatever feels right but abstain from having sex with a woman he can't see a future with at all.

Nick then told Andi his "single biggest regret" was revealing on national television they had sex on The Bachelorette. Nick acknowledged his public disclosure brought Andi "a lot of heartache and a lot of pain" and it was something she had to deal with for a long time, and for that, he was very sorry.

Andi and Nick both hurt each other at some point, but it was clear they had developed a friendship.

Andi told Nick not to hold back on The Bachelor just because of something he had said two years ago, a statement that made him into a villain for a while. Nick thought it was good advice and was thankful Andi wanted him to find lasting love. Nick felt lucky to have her support and they both wished each other the best.


At the Rose Ceremony, Nick handed out a rose to Raven, Rachel and then Vanessa. Corinne started to cry even before the final rose was handed out, and when she learned of her rejection, the aspiring model bawled in front of the other girls.

As Nick walked Corinne out, she said, "I'm sorry if I ever did anything to make you upset."

"You never did," Nick assured the blonde beauty. "You didn't do anything wrong, ever. You have nothing to regret. You have nothing to second guess... I'm going to miss the hell out of you. I had so much fun with you Corinne."

After a hug goodbye, Corinne wished Nick good luck.

Nick, Vanessa, Raven and Rachel then traveled to Lapland, Finland, for the fantasy suite round. Nick told the cameras his relationship with Corinne simply wasn't as strong as what he had brewing with the other women. At this point in the season, Nick was feeling love but afraid to fall at the risk of getting hurt.


Although there were only a few hours of sunlight every day in Finland, Nick knew he'd have the opportunity to view the Northern Lights. He hoped to find the clarity he needed this week. Nick had amazing chemistry with Vanessa but many unanswered questions that could affect their future together, and Rachel and Raven still needed to let Nick know where their hearts were at.

For their date, Nick and Raven took a helicopter ride to observe the beautiful scenery. Raven wanted to tell Nick that she was in love with him, and she intended to make the opportunity of a fantasy suite date count. Raven, however, was quite nervous about spending the night with Nick because she had never told a man she loved him -- and she only had sex with one person in her life.

Raven was afraid to put it all out on the line and then get rejected. After their helicopter tour, Nick and Raven hung out in a local pub and played darts. He made her feel really special and she could see her life with him. Nick loved her "southern sweet charm with an edgy craziness," which he called "the perfect combination of spicy and sweet." Nick noted he'd be lucky to spend the rest of his life with her.

At dinner that night, Raven revealed to Nick that she can't cook, but he wasn't looking for a wife to cook and clean for him. Nick bragged about his ability to iron clothes, although he hated folding laundry. Raven never felt this way before and expressed how nervous she was to Nick, but he promised her that he had no expectations going into the fantasy suite.

Raven wanted to have sex complete with all the fireworks and magic that come with it. With that said, she blurted out to Nick that she never had an orgasm before despite being intimate with her ex-boyfriend. Nick also knew she never told a man, "I love you," before. If Raven said those three words, it therefore meant so much, and Nick knew that.


Raven was hoping for love and lust with Nick -- as well as an orgasm -- but knew that if she was physically and emotionally invested in the Bachelor, it could lead to "double the heartbreak."

Raven did end up saying, "I love you," to Nick in one of the sweetest ways. Raven said she was the "biggest skeptic" going into the process but Nick made her feel safe, unlike her ex, who apparently only told Raven he loved her a couple times over the course of two years when he was drunk.

She told the Bachelor that her father once prayed Raven would find "an easy love." Raven explained it was easy to view Nick as a partner, and seeing him with his little sister Bella made it easy to envision him as a father, and it was easy to feel comfortable around him.

"Every step of the way, you've made it so easy for me to love you," Raven said, eventually adding, "I do love you and it would be the worst thing I could do to not tell you that."

Raven's confession meant the world to him, and he called it one of the most memorable moments of his life. Nick found her profession of love "amazing," probably the best he's ever heard. Raven insisted to Nick that she wasn't just saying, "I love you," just to say it, and based on his reaction, she felt Nick loved her back.

The episode concluded with Raven accepting Nick's invitation for the fantasy suite. Nick wondered, however, whether not sleeping the women would help him arrive at his final decision easier.


But Raven seemed ready to make love, telling the cameras that Nick made her feel warm and there were "pitter-patters" in her heart.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski