#’The Bachelorette’ Week 8: Tayshia’s suitors expose themselves

New bachelorette, new host, sure.

This week Jojo Fletcher stepped in for Chris Harrison. If only some of the suitors could have been replaced too.

Last week, Tayshia got more real than anyone ever had on the show. Authenticity is the cornerstone of her character. Tuesday night, she asked her 12 suitors to show her their scars. Those who did were embraced with open arms.

Those who didn’t were put in their place. Bennett and Noah kept up their petty fighting. Tayshia wasn’t having any of it, and stepped into the ring with them to sort it out once and for all. Lucky for us, it looks like their drama will come to an end next week.

Here’s what went down on Week 8.

Brunch

Former “Bachelorette” Jojo Fletcher, who is apparently a good friend of Tayshia’s, stopped by to talk about the leading lady’s worries over juice. Also, would you look at that, Chris Harrison had to bring his son to college so Jojo will be in charge this week and next.

The first one-on-one

Things got intense for Tayshia and Zac C. Their date consisted of taking pretend wedding photos, which seemed dreamed up by the producers to cause emotional issues. Tayshia’s been married before, she’s taken those pictures for real, and putting on another wedding dress was a big reality shock for her of what could be in her future. But Zac helped her get out of her head. It helped that he’s been married before too.

The after-party was particularly revealing: After suffering a brain tumor at 23 years old, Zac became addicted to pain killers and drugs. He was arrested for a DUI, causing his wife to leave him. Zac went through rehab. Now, he’s on the board for the center. But Tayshia wasn’t scared by his past. She saw it as a sign of maturity and presented him a rose.

The group date

Spencer, Ivan, Ed, Blake, Brendan, Riley, Demar, Bennett, Ben and Noah were warned they had to “express [themselves]” on this date. Yes, it was nudity-based. Do the producers know they’re allowed to do non-nude group dates? However this time the men didn’t have to strip down. They had to draw some naked models posed in a “romantic embrace.”

The group also donned blindfolds while molding clay. Bennett took it upon himself to make out with Tayshia, in what he called a “50 Shades of Clay” move. Blake molded a penis. Noah and Bennett couldn’t help but “chirp” at each other, which is the first time I’ve heard that word used outside a high school basketball game. Then, the lads were asked to make vulnerable self-portraits. Whoever exposed the most trauma revealed the most about themselves would win extra time with Tayshia.

Everyone took the task extremely seriously. Ben, who has struggled to lay his emotions bare finally did just that, by stripping down to his socks. She was moved to tears that everyone was able to be so honest with her, so every guy got to come to the after-party.

Over drinks, she made connections with Riley, Ivan and Brendan. Ben took a weight off his chest and told Tayshia that he suffered from an eating disorder for years. She was honored he shared that with her, and gave him the rose.

But before the date ended, she called out Noah and Bennett for their antics.

The second one-on-one

Eazy was given the opportunity to go ghosthunting with Tayshia at the resort. Apparently, the La Quinta is haunted by a spirit of someone named Mr. Morgan. Whether that’s true or the producers decided to work some magic is unknown to me. But the daters screamed their pants off, so either way it was a successful ghost hunt.

But the worst shock was during the after-party. Eazy told Tayshia that he was falling in love with her. She couldn’t reciprocate those feelings and decided to send him home.

The cocktail party

Before the event, Jojo came in to warn Bennett and Noah that Tayshia was fed up with their drama, and she would only be keeping one of them. Noah is silly and hotheaded. Bennett is condescending and poised. They’re butting heads, and it’s taking away from her journey.

Bennett, trying to bury the hatchet, decided to gift Noah several trinkets, including a book on social intelligence and a lecture about why he’s immature. I’m assuming Bennett majored in passive aggression at Harvard, because this was perfectly executed. It was sly, it was smarmy, it was rude and polite at the same time. 10 out of 10.

The Ivy leaguer showed off his gaslighting skills when Tayshia joined them, and acted confused as to why he was there and that he doesn’t believe there’s tension. She asked him if he was questioning her integrity, he said no. And as Tayshia noticed the gift box on the table, the episode cut off, of course.

Prediction

Bennett, or Bennett and Noah, will be kicked out of the resort. It looks like things get intense with Zac, as Tayshia and Jojo get the guys to undergo a lie detector test. How romantic!