‘The Bachelorette’ recap: Ed, Chasen clash – but Noah (and his mustache) may be the season’s true villain

Before Matt James was tapped for “The Bachelor,” Rachel Linsday was the only black person to hold a title role. She was “The Bachelorette” in 2017. USA TODAY

Ah, yes, there you are, “Bachelorette.”

Now that Clare and Dale are out of the picture, “The Bachelorette” feels more like its usual over-the-top, dramatic self instead of a way-too-quick love story that may end as quickly as it began. (Though Tayshia thinking Brendan is husband material is giving us pause – and we’re not the only ones.)

With a few candidates in mind, who will be the season’s biggest villain? Let’s dive in.

Tayshia invites Montel, Ivan, Demar, Ben, Chasen, Ed, Joe and Bennett on the episode’s first group date. Ashley and Jared from “Bachelor in Paradise” help Tayshia test the men’s ability to act like grown men. Who will be the date’s “Grown Ass Man” and who will be a “Man Child”?

First, the men must compete in math and spelling challenges. Harvard graduate Bennett has trouble in both areas – and can’t manage to spell “limousine.” The men then compete in a physical challenge, but the breakfast-in-bed cooking challenge is where the tension really ratchets up. Chasen hops into bed with Tayshia after taking off his shirt, and Bennett, clad in a bathrobe, makes beignets for Tayshia and feeds one to her.

“He’s bougie and I’m bougie. So, I appreciate it,” she says.

The “Man Child” award goes to Ed, who now has to carry a baby doll (who he names Carlos) around. But the “Grown Ass Man” award goes to Bennett … who takes the opportunity to plant a slightly cringeworthy kiss on our “Bachelorette.”

Tayshia Adams is in now that Clare Crawley is out.

 (Photo: ABC, ABC)

While Bennett ruffles some feathers after he keeps his bathrobe on for the night portion of the group date, it’s Chasen and Ed who really start to clash.

Ed calls him a “fraud” and “phony” behind his back.

Elsewhere, Tayshia admits she’s attracted to Ben but her guard goes up. Ben has a bunch of baggage with long-term relationships but says he’s feeling things for Tayshia, and they kiss. “There’s something about that boy,” she says in an aside, and we agree. #TeamBen!

Tayshia calls Ivan a dark horse (she kisses him, too!) with which we also agree. 

Bennett and Ed begin questioning Chasen’s intentions with Tayshia directly. Ed tells Tayshia that some people in the house aren’t as genuine and that Chasen has used the same words to describe Tayshia that he has to describe Clare. He implies Chasen is after Instagram followers. All these people are likely after Instagram followers, but sure, Ed, go off.

Tayshia addresses the situation with Chasen, and naturally, he defends himself. After, Chasen aggressively confronts Ed. “Stop jibber-jabbering your mouth,” he says.

Ben tries to stay out of the situation. “I’m going to focus on what’s most important to me,” he says in an aside, i.e. getting a rose and developing a relationship with Tayshia. Good call, my man.

The rose goes to … Ivan! Well-deserved.

In case you missed: ‘The Bachelorette’ recap: Tayshia’s takeover comes with a few twists – including more men

Tayshia’s first rose ceremony: Who goes home?

It’s almost time for Tayshia’s first rose ceremony. But first …

Chasen tries to clear the air with the group, though Ed says he stands by his comments calling Chasen a fraud and phony. Chasen calls Tayshia a “smokeshow” in front of everyone, which people are taken aback by. We hear him call her that a lot going forward.

Chasen tries to forge a truce with Ed; Zac steps in and wants the men to bury the fight. Zac, the voice of sanity.

So, who receives roses? Remember that Brendan, Ivan and Eazy already went into the ceremony with them.

Zac, Riley, Kenny, Ben, Demar, Bennett, Spencer, Jordan, Noah, Joe, Blake, Ed and … Chasen snag roses from Tayshia. That means three men go home: Jay, Peter, and Montel. 

Wow: ‘The Bachelorette’ recap: Mind-blowing proposal and a long-anticipated debut shock Bachelor Nation

Who crashes the wrestling date?

Tayshia brings Eazy, Brendan, Joe, Jordan, Spencer, Ben, Ed and Chasen onto the episode’s second group date. “I’m looking for my perfect match,” the card reads. What could that mean? Wrestling. Specifically, oiled-up wrestling. “Bachelor in Paradise” fans will appreciate seeing Wells Adams visit to play announcer with Chris Harrison.

The men begin aggressively wrestling, resulting in scrapes and bleeding. But before the big showdown can happen between, you guessed it, Ed and Chasen, Ed tells Chris that his shoulders chronically dislocate and that he doesn’t want to go to the hospital. He forfeits in an anticlimactic moment.

All of a sudden, Noah, who isn’t even on the date, hops the fence (sound familiar?) to wrestle Chasen himself. Chasen wins the match, and the overall competition. But Noah secures an invite to the afterparty anyway. The men are unhappy with Noah but Tayshia is happy enough to kiss him. She wants his mustache gone, though.

Noah leaves the date after some alone time with Tayshia, only to return and interrupt her time with Jordan to have her help him shave off his mustache.

Ben, meanwhile, was biding his time while all the other men went to rendezvous with Tayshia, hoping to make a final, lasting impression. But he ran out of time as the night drew to a close, and she shares she was disappointed Ben didn’t find her sooner. Sigh. Ben, we hope you can make it up to her.

You can probably guess who received the rose: Noah.

Folks, do we have a new prime villain?

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