'The Bachelor' star Sean Lowe sends three more bachelorettes packing

The Bachelor star Sean Lowe eliminated three bachelorettes and narrowed his love search to six women during last night's broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' seventeenth season.


Sarah Herron, a 26-year-old advertising executive from Los Angeles, CA, was eliminated immediately following the group date because Sean didn't want to make her go through a Rose Ceremony when he knew beforehand he wanted to send her home.

Selma Alameri, a 29-year-old real estate developer from San Diego, CA, and Daniella McBride, a 24-year-old commercial casting associate from San Francisco, CA, were ousted during the sixth episode's Rose Ceremony.

"I have had a rough go with love, and this definitely does not feel good. I came here to fall in love and I'm leaving with a memory -- heartbreak and a memory -- and I honestly thought with that last rose, he was going to call my name, and I couldn't believe he called [Tierra LiCausi's] name. I was like, 'What?!' It's really hard to leave and Tierra's in there having a glass of champagne, celebrating. I honestly don't think that Tierra is the right person for Sean and he'll soon see that too. Everything rises to the surface," Selma said following her ouster.

"I'm in complete shock. It's not a good feeling to feel rejected obviously, but I'm keeping a straight face, but obviously I'm hurt. I never got that shot with him, and now all of a sudden, I'm leaving," said Daniella, who had never received a one-on-one date with the Bachelor.


"It's tough to have your heart broken. It really is. I feel like I put myself out there with my heart and I was vulnerable and I just want to find love really badly. I'm just over having a broken heart, I really am."

The Bachelor's sixth seventeenth-season episode began with the nine remaining bachelorettes traveling to Alberta, Canada and host Chris Harrison telling them in their Chateau Lake Louise suite that over the course of the week, there would be two one-on-one dates and one group date with a rose up for grabs during each. If the bachelorettes on the one-on-one dates failed to receive a rose, they would be eliminated immediately.

AshLee Frazier, a 32-year-old personal organizer from Houston, TX, said if Tierra, a 24-year-old leasing consultant from Denver, CO, got a one-on-one, she'd "throw up." At this point in the season, in addition to Daniella, Tierra and Catherine Giudici, a 26-year-old graphic designer from Seattle, WA, also hadn't received a one-on-one date yet.

The date card then revealed Catherine would be accompanying Sean on the week's first one-on-one date. Catherine had a feeling her date was going to be "perfect."

Meanwhile, Sean left Montana disappointed considering all the drama that went down, but he still had his heart out there and remained hopeful he could find his wife through The Bachelor process.
 
Sean then picked Catherine up in a snow bus for their wintry date. At Jasper National Park, the couple then played in a glacier. They went sledding, made snow angels, did flips and somersaults in the snow, and drank hot chocolate. Sean loved how Catherine could make any situation fun, carefree and enjoyable, while Catherine was "over the moon" and couldn't imagine not falling in love with Sean.


That night, the pair took a horse-drawn carriage to an ice castle built just for them, where they were going to eat dinner and relax by a fire pit. It was lightly snowing and Sean called it "one of the most romantic settings" he had ever been in.

In the meantime, the bachelorettes back at the suite learned who would share the group date with Sean.

Tierra; Daniella; Sarah; AshLee; Selma; Lindsay Yenter, a 24-year-old substitute teacher from Fort Leonard Wood, MO; and Lesley Murphy, a 25-year-old political consultant from Washington, D.C. discovered they would be joining Sean on the week's group date, leaving Desiree Hartsock, a 26-year-old bridal stylist from Los Angeles, CA, with the second one-on-one date of the week. The girls were shocked about Desiree's opportunity since she had already enjoyed a one-on-one with Sean and Daniella hadn't yet.

On Sean's date, Catherine opened up to the Bachelor and told him she had a very serious side of her in addition to the goofiness he always saw. When she was 12-years-old, her friend got killed when a tree branch fell on her at summer camp. The victim had walked in front of Catherine at the time not knowing the branch was going to fall, so it could've been Catherine who got killed.

Catherine told Sean the experience at such a young age made her cherish every day of her life and appreciate love. She also realized then and there she wanted a husband and family. She then explained to Sean she knew they could be great together, and he agreed.


"Catherine is a combination of things. She's intelligent, she's funny, she's sexy, and I want her to know how incredibly special I think she is and the rose is going to say that for me," Sean told the cameras. "I can see myself with Catherine. Catherine has melted my heart. She has given me hope that things are going to turn around here."

After offering Catherine the rose and telling her that he couldn't get enough of her, Catherine was on Cloud 9.

"I opened up to him, I took a risk, and it was a really good reward. I am hopeful that Sean and I will find our happily ever after together," Catherine said.

The next day, Sean took his girls on their group date at the lake. They first canoed to the other end of the lake and Lesley luckily got to ride alone with Sean. Sarah did her best to row in a canoe with other women although she was having trouble and said she'd do whatever it takes to get the rose.

Meanwhile, Lesley turned herself around in her canoe to flirt with Sean in front of the other girls, and Selma jokingly told the cameras she wished a shark would come out of the water and "eat their boat."


After they made it to dry land, Sean told the bachelorettes they'd be taking "the polar bear plunge," which meant they had to jump into the water and go completely under for it to count. The water was just about freezing and they were instructed to exit the water as fast as possible as a safety precaution.

While most of the girls were onboard with the crazy task, Selma refused to put her life at risk just for a rose and she admitted she didn't care if people called her a princess because of it. Tierra also said she didn't want to do it because she was already freezing, and AshLee was similarly nervous but didn't want to be a chicken.

Selma joked with the cameras she was from the desert and was one of "warm weather people." Sean told her that he wished she would do it but was totally okay with her decision and not mad about it. Tierra was unsure about whether to attempt the jump but then got a sudden adrenaline rush in which she threw her clothes off and got ready to try it.

AshLee said she was going to dive in just for Sean although she really didn't want to. It was the first time she truly wanted to do something for a man she wasn't really onboard for. As a result, all the bachelorettes, except for Selma, jumped in the water with Sean and were all laughing and screaming the entire time. The girls were so excited they accomplished the task and thought it was an amazing experience. They were very proud of themselves.

However, Tierra felt differently. She suddenly started having trouble breathing and then the medics wrapped her up in a blanket. Tierra's body just folded over in weakness, and Sean noticed she didn't even seem responsive. Sean said she looked miserable and he felt terrible. He worried it was hypothermia.


As time progressed, the medics took good care of Tierra, and when she finally became stable again, she was upset she missed out on time with Sean. Tierra was then brought back to the girls' suite, and Catherine and Desiree acknowledged how sick and helpless she really looked.

But Tierra didn't have Lindsay and AshLee fooled. Lindsay noted it was the same story but a different day with Tierra, while AshLee said Tierra was good at being the boy who cries wolf. Sean then got into bed with Tierra -- who was resting and wearing oxygen -- and comforted her. Tierra said she didn't want Sean to see her disheveled again for a third time, but he assured her that she still looked cute.

Tierra told the Bachelor she jokingly had said to herself that he better marry her for all the crazy things she was doing for him. After talking for a bit, Sean told his bachelorette he thought it would be best for her to stay at the hotel and take care of herself instead of going to the night's party with the rest of the group. Sean said he felt confident in his feelings for Tierra and didn't really need her to be there.

That night, Sean and his six bachelorettes -- not including Tierra -- enjoyed the second portion of their date. Lesley talked with Sean first and planned to really let her guard down. She told him her feelings for him were very real and intense and she was thrilled to feel the feelings of love once again. Sean told her that he loved her energy and appreciated her so much and then kissed her. Lesley realized she was truly falling for Sean because they had chemistry, friendship and passion -- all the makings of a great relationship.

Sarah then pulled Sean aside and showed him pictures of her immediate family from when she was a young girl. Sean loved seeing the photos and Sarah said she hoped Sean could meet them all someday. Sean, who seemed a bit uncomfortable, then told the cameras he saw the potential there to meet Sarah's family but meeting a girl's family in general was still a scary thought. He wondered if he was really ready for that.

Meanwhile, Desiree's date card arrived and it became official that she was to go on the next one-on-one date with Sean. Tierra was pissed she was still being deprived of that special date with Sean, but at the same time, she admitted she was still okay with it because Sean was worth it. Tierra then worked up the nerve to get dressed, put on her makeup and attend the party to continue developing her connection with Sean.


"I think Tierra does a very good job of getting Sean's attention. It's almost like damsels in distress, like there's always something going on, always, with her," Daniella explained.

"She's been dramatic since Day freaking 1. She had a concussion from falling 'up' the stairs. I don't know what she's done throughout her life to be so good at this, but she is a professional at getting attention. If this was a class, she should teach it. Everybody, watch your back. We have a 'tierr-orist' on our hands," Lesley said.

Lindsay added that "hands down" Tierra was faking her condition. She said if Sean was to choose Tierra, he'd definitely end up exhausted. Sean then had a conversation with Tierra, asking her if she was going to expect a proposal at the end of the journey if she was the last woman standing. Tierra said it didn't really matter as long as she could be with him and have him be a part of her daily life.

Tierra then told the cameras she just didn't see much chemistry between Sean and the rest of his bachelorettes, and therefore, she thought it was a given she'd be getting the rose.

However, Sean ended up giving the group date's rose to Lesley, who had embraced the date and turned a corner with Sean in the Bachelor's eyes. Tierra thought she deserved the rose and it wasn't fair because she had "put up with a lot of sh-t."

After the girls returned to their suite and Sean went back to his hotel, Sean realized there was a girl he had to send home because he just couldn't envision meeting her family and becoming her life partner even though he had high hopes for them.


"I don't see a forever with her, and if I don't feel it, I don't want to lead her on. I'm afraid to tell her because she's so sweet and I do not want to hurt her feelings. I need to come clean tonight and let her know that. This has definitely been the hardest decision I've made this far. I'm sending someone home that I never thought I would send home this early," Sean explained.

"I don't want to wait two days for the Rose Ceremony, because she doesn't deserve to sit around all day tomorrow when I know tonight that it's just not meant to be."

Sean then walked to the girls' suite and asked to talk to Sarah. Sarah jokingly asked Sean if she was "in trouble" and Sean assured her she wasn't with a laugh. The pair then sat down and Sean explained how he was feeling.

He said picking her for the first date was easy because they had an immediate connection and she was so sweet, but he was starting to feel like he was forcing their bond. Sean said in all honesty, he felt like they were reaching to make something work. He really wanted things to work between them but there just wasn't something strong enough there.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally hurt and surprised and caught off-guard," Sarah said.

"For whatever reason, it didn't 100% percent click with us. But that doesn't take away from the fact that you are definitely one of the most incredible girls I've ever met. This is by far the hardest decision I've had to make so far. I don't want you to sit around all day tomorrow and I don't want you to have to sit through a Rose Ceremony if I know that it's not in your best interest," Sean told her.


"Yeah, I don't want to do that either," Sarah said in tears. "It's the way love goes and it's totally okay."

Sean then gave Sarah a hug and allowed her to say goodbye to all the girls. She began bawling in front of the door before sharing the news with the shocked bachelorettes, and while Sean gave her a minute and walked away, it seemed as if he was tearing up as well.

"Right now, I'm completely blindsided. I'm just embarrassed. I'm embarrassed about the whole thing. I just want to fall in love and I thought 100% percent I could fall in love with this guy. I don't know what happened. I don't know if it's me. I don't know why this always happens to me, and I wanted to stop him before he started because I knew what he was going to say," Sarah said in the limo.

"But I wanted to hear his explanation because it's always the same -- 'You're an amazing girl. I know how special you are and I want to connect with you so bad but I don't, and someone is going to be so lucky to have you and I don't want to put you through this.' It's not my first time. I just don't want to be told forever how great I am and what I deserve. I just don't want to be told that forever. It's just sad to think about, 'How did Sean see it and feel it in the beginning?'"

The following day, Desiree got ready for her one-on-one date and admitted she began questioning her feelings for Sean the week prior since she wasn't sure whether they were being reciprocated. Sean said his time with Desiree was overdue. Her confidence had been shaken and Sean wanted to put her mind at ease. For their date, the couple had a picnic awaiting them at the bottom of a 400-foot mountain. To get there, Sean told Desiree they had to rappel down it.

Sean hoped Desiree would no longer question their relationship or what they had after their special date. Desiree was terrified about rappelling, but Sean gave her support and cheered her on the entire way down. They ended up conquering the mountain together and then ate their lunch. Desiree told Sean she didn't want to give up on what they had, and Sean thought Desiree was catching onto how much he truly liked her.


The couple then climbed a tree together -- a childhood activity they both still playfully enjoyed -- and kissed in its branches. Desiree was thrilled for the future and her confidence was completely restored.

That night, the pair entered a teepee and sat in front of a fire pit. Sean told Desiree it's impossible not to enjoy his time with her because she was always so positive. Desiree then opened up about how her family grew up with little money. They had even slept in a tent for four months, eventually moving on to trailers and small apartments.

Desiree told Sean that it didn't matter where they lived or how much money her family had, however, because she was loved. Therefore, she said she never felt bitter or any resentment. Desiree insisted she's looking for the same thing in life, a house full of love, and Sean agreed. Desiree then told Sean she wanted a best friend and an assertive husband who could take care of a family.

Sean, absolutely loving everything Desiree had to say, then offered his bachelorette a rose -- and she gladly accepted.

"She probably shared things with me that she normally wouldn't share. It amazes me because that has made her into the person she is today, which is a beautiful, confident, strong woman, and I'm glad that she was vulnerable with me tonight. I hope she understands how special I think she is and that I could see myself being with her. I could see myself proposing to Des, I really could," Sean explained.

"It feels so good to have a rose. I feel like we actually took about 10 steps forward. So it was really amazing just to be able to have that moment with him and have it be so special and kind of get the spark back that we had the first date. I'm going to remember this night for the rest of my life. I opened up about spending some of my life in a tent, and here I am, falling in love in a teepee," Desiree said.


The following night, the cocktail party preceding the Rose Ceremony took place, so each of the bachelorettes would have one last chance to snag some personal time with Sean. Everyone was hoping Sean would get rid of Tierra.

Sean acknowledged he was emotionally invested in every single woman remaining, so each of the eight roses was going to be very important. Sean said if he couldn't envision raising a family with a particular woman, there would be no reason to keep her around.

Selma got some alone time with Sean first. She may not have taken "the polar bear plunge," but she decided to take the plunge and give Sean a little kiss although she had originally wanted to wait until the end.

"To kiss somebody on national television is a huge change to my family, but mama, please forgive me. It was necessary. I had to bring out the big guns tonight," Selma told the cameras.

Afterward, Lindsay pulled Sean aside and tried her best not to kiss him despite their strong mutual attraction because she wanted to have a good conversation with him. Sean asked her to tell him something new about herself and she laughed and said she sleeps naked. Sean thought the comment was hilarious and believed Lindsay was the "total package."

Meanwhile, AshLee was allowing herself to fall in love with Sean and become vulnerable. They had agreed earlier in the season that she needed to work on giving up her desire to be in control all the time, so AshLee wanted to prove she was working on that by letting Sean blindfold her -- which represented him having the ability to lead her in the possibility of their future together.


That moment solidified their connection in AshLee's mind, and she noted she was falling in love with Sean and adored him.

"Everything in me is letting go and I feel as though I see my whole future lied out now," AshLee said. "I feel like I moved a mountain in my life, and it's crazy because I moved a mountain and Sean is standing there on the other side. Right now, in this moment, I'm not scared. My life has changed."

When it came time to deliberate, Sean said he had no idea whom he was going to send home. It was apparently a scary thought for him because he was blown away by all the women and could see himself getting down on one knee at the end of the journey.

The night's Rose Ceremony then commenced. Besides Catherine, Lesley and Desiree, Sean gave roses to Lindsay, AshLee and Tierra.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski