The Bachelorette star JoJo Fletcher eliminated Alex Woytkiw and James Taylor during Monday night's broadcast of the series' twelfth season on ABC.
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The Bachelorette broadcast began with Alex feeling confused, unsure and disappointed because he came so close to not getting a rose at the prior ceremony. He had waves of confidence and complete insecurity about his relationship with JoJo and where he stood in her mind.
Chris Harrison then explained to Alex; James; Jordan Rodgers, a 27-year-old former pro quarterback from Chico, CA; Luke Pell, a 31-year-old war veteran from Burnet, TX; Chase McNary, a 27-year-old medical sale representative from Highlands Ranch, CO; and Robby Hayes, a 27-year-old former competitive swimmer from Jacksonville, FL, there would be three one-on-one dates -- with no rose up for grabs on either of the dates -- and a Group Date, where one rose would be offered.
The four guys to receive roses this week would bring JoJo home to meet their families, so everyone knew the stakes were very high. Alex was upset because his relationship with JoJo was missing "the foundation" only a one-on-one could build. However, he got one this week and the guys were excited to put an end to his complaining.
Alex was hoping JoJo could fall in love with him, because he was certainly at that point. For their date, the couple rode in style in a black SUV as the other guys were stuck on a bus and ate questionable meat at a local barbecue.
Alex's date with JoJo was normal and felt comfortable, but it was clear they were missing chemistry and JoJo didn't have a romantic connection with him like she had with other men. They also seemed to run into some awkward silence on the long ride to a ranch.
Once at the ranch, Alex dressed up like a gaucho and the pair went horseback riding through the countryside. She felt relaxed, like she could be herself. And Alex called it a perfect date, saying it was how love is supposed to feel. The couple especially bonded when they got to cuddle with a horse after a trained gaucho relaxed the animal.
Alex felt so willing to fall in love, more than ever before, and JoJo saw a side of him that made her smile. She found him sensitive and emotional. But JoJo planned to have hard conversations with him that night to determine if he was the guy she could spend the rest of her life with.
That night, Alex felt connected to JoJo and got the clarity he hoped for -- he was falling in love. It was one of the happiest moments of his life, and Alex had no doubt he'd get a rose if there was one on the table, so he almost wished there was one in order to feel secure and have no doubts about JoJo wanting to meet his family.
While Jordan learned he'd be accompanying JoJo on the next one-on-one date, Alex completely opened up to JoJo.
"I know I'm falling in love with you. I'm stumbling over my words, but I need to make that clear because I'm not going to regret it. I fell in love with you the second I saw you and that's what has made all of this really hard and easy," Alex explained.
JoJo, however, looked worried and knew those words were tough to say because Alex isn't great about sharing his emotions. He felt amazing, but she started to cry. JoJo told Alex she didn't feel as excited as she should feel, and at that moment, Alex appeared to get a little teary-eyed.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW"That kills me, because I wanted to be able to say that I was falling in love with you too, and I just couldn't say that," JoJo said, adding that she knew they weren't on the same page in her heart and she wasn't sure she could ever get to that point.
Alex noted the situation sucked, but JoJo insisted she didn't want to drag him through the whole week and another Rose Ceremony when she knew how she felt deep down.
"I came here. There was no rose on the table. I wasn't expecting this to happen," Alex said bluntly.
JoJo didn't expect to send Alex home either, and felt really bad about it. She thought she was giving him the utmost respect by sending him home at that point, but she didn't think he viewed it that way. JoJo wished she could comfort him, but she couldn't. He couldn't even look her in the eye on his way out, and that wasn't how JoJo wanted to say goodbye.
The next day, Jordan was ready to have a great day with JoJo and hopefully not be on the defense again about his motives or character. Instead, Jordan couldn't wait to talk about his family and have fun. For their date, JoJo and Jordan took a jet to Mendoza for wine tasting. She felt very strongly for Jordan and could picture a life with him -- one filled with excitement and passion.
The couple squished grapes with their feet and then drank the wine they had created together. Afterward, they got into a hot tub and immediately began making out. Their physical chemistry was undeniable, and Jordan revealed he really wanted JoJo to meet his mom.
Meanwhile, Chase and Luke discussed "red flags" they had observed with Jordan, like how he had gotten into arguments with men in the house.
Chase thought she wanted "a real guy from a real town who was ready for a real relationship," suggesting that some of those qualities were fabricated with Jordan.
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The next Date Card then arrived, and Chase, James and Robby learned they must share JoJo on a Group Date. Luke, however, was thrilled to get the one-on-one. Robby told the cameras that he was the frontrunner and had every intention of proving that to the other guys by getting the week's only date rose.
Back on Jordan's date, he told the Bachelorette it was one of the best days of his life and that he hadn't brought a girl home in years. Jordan also talked to JoJo about his brother Aaron.
"My middle brother won't be there," Jordan told JoJo. "Aaron, like I said, I have a great relationship with my brother Luke. Me and Aaron really don't have much of a relationship."
Jordan continued, "It's just kind of the way he's chosen to do life, and I chose to stay close with my family and my parents and my brother. Yeah, it's not ideal, and I love him."
Jordan then backtracked a little bit and tried to cut Aaron some slack.
"I can't imagine what it's like to be in his shoes and have the pressure he has and the demands from people that he has. I don't have hard feelings against him. It's just how things go right now," he told the Bachelorette.
Jordan then revealed Aaron didn't even know about his The Bachelorette participation, so JoJo quickly discovered they barely even talk.
"No [we don't talk]. Not really," Jordan noted. "But it's okay. I think it's just important to know where I'm at and where I stand."
Jordan reiterated to JoJo how he's not entitled, especially because everything he did in life was never good enough and he was always compared to someone who did it the best. He said his family dynamic doesn't define him and he became confident through the example his parents had set for him.
Jordan told JoJo that he didn't want to screw things up with her, and the Bachelorette's fear of getting hurt by him was slowly dissipating. She truly trusted him and believed she knew the real Jordan.
"I am so in love with you and it's been a couple of weeks since I knew it was happening," Jordan told JoJo. "After our first one-on-one, I thought I wanted to tell you but I wanted to make sure it was right. Today, I was fighting it at times but it's so real."
"That makes me so happy. Do you know that?" JoJo asked, adding that she felt giddy inside and really loved.
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The following day, JoJo's Group Date got canceled because it was outdoors and the rain was pouring down. As a result, she just hung out in her hotel suite with Chase, Robby and James. They ordered food and drinks and played games. James shoved French fries into his mouth and Chase joked that he looked "highly unattractive." Robby was even dared to strip down into his underwear and run through the halls of the hotel.
James joked with JoJo about how Robby had a wandering eye and checked out pretty girls all the time, which Robby denied. James, although joking, made it seem like there was a hint of truth to what he was saying. JoJo didn't like hearing that and Robby was growing frustrated.
JoJo had a chat with each guy afterwards. Robby told her that everything in his last relationship of over three years was "wrong," like how he had only met her mother once and had never even seen her house. Robby said they broke up in December of last year, which was four-and-a-half months before this scene filmed.
Robby told JoJo he got into a "blowout fight" with his ex and both parties knew they could never recover from it. JoJo asked Robby if he had definitely moved on from his ex, and Robby insisted he had.
JoJo then asked Robby if he was ready to get engaged, and Robby said he was absolutely ready for her, for them, "for us." Robby had faith in their connection.
Meanwhile, Chase was having emotions of love but was scared to tell JoJo about them. He was confident in what they had though, and JoJo just wanted to make sure he was ready to get his family involved. Chase said he was ready to bring JoJo home because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He was opening up more than ever.
JoJo then had a chat with James, who felt he had a deeper, more emotional connection with the Bachelorette than the other guys. He knew they lacked physical chemistry, but he tried to imply that wasn't the most important facet of a relationship. James told JoJo his family would love her because they love whom he loves.
James told the cameras that JoJo was the girl his family was wishing and hoping he'd find, and James finally told JoJo that he was falling in love with her. Although typically insecure, James felt great about his relationship with JoJo and more confident than ever. He even expected to get the Group Date rose.
James felt JoJo gave him "crazy validation" of their romance, especially because she insisted he had every quality she wanted to find in a husband.
That night, Robby told James and Chase he was the frontrunner. It pissed him off that the guys thought it was Jordan. JoJo also gave Robby the Group Date rose, telling the cameras she was absolutely sure she was making the right decision. Robby couldn't wait, saying his family is incredible.
Because Robby got the rose, he also got to spend more alone time with JoJo. Chase and James were both hurt and confused, and they acknowledged how one of them was going home at the next Rose Ceremony.
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The next day, Luke and JoJo embarked on their one-on-one date. They rose horses and Luke felt he was completely in his element. JoJo's feelings for Luke were growing stronger every day, and she found him to be intelligent and deep -- much more than just good looking. Luke felt like he was back at his family's ranch. The couple even shot some guns together.
Luke believed his relationship with JoJo felt "real and natural." He was 100% committed to seeing their connection through, and Luke said he was open to building a life with her. Luke said he didn't expect JoJo to just move to a small town with him, which really resonated with JoJo.
JoJo eventually canceled the cocktail party because she knew exactly what she needed to do and felt good about the decision she was about to make. James, however, was upset because he wouldn't get the chance to tell JoJo that he loved her.
At the Rose Ceremony, JoJo handed a rose to Luke, Jordan and then Chase.
When JoJo walked James out, he told her that he gave her his all. She said he made her a better person and James was just getting tired of hearing he deserved to find a great girl. However, James thanked JoJo for being so sweet to him. They hugged goodbye, and James cried about it being the last time he'd see or hang out with her.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
