It's Not All Bikinis, Bubbly and Beefcake When The Bachelor Canada Heads to Riviera Nayarit Ruth Myles - Galgary Herald
go to original October 19, 2012

The Bachelor Canada, Brad, and some of his lucky ladies (Gabrielle, left, Ana, Tia, Bianka and Britany).

It was not all bikinis, beefcake and bubbly in the hot tub in the third episode of The Bachelor Canada, 28-year-old CFL wide receiver Brad Smith and some of his lucky ladies went to Rivieria Nayarit, Mexico, for a date.

Hello, all you fans of the rose, that gorgeous flower that, in the end, will leave you bleeding, with empty pockets, staring at the withered husk of a once-vibrant thing of beauty. How’s that for a metaphor for a show about finding true love? In honour of Brad’s game-changing move late in this, the third episode of The Bachelor Canada, let’s drop the deadweight and get right to it.

For his five-on-one date, Brad meets up with the ladies in Riviera Nayarit on the west coast of Mexico, just north of Puerto Vallarta.

"This date is different," he says, and he’s not talking about the change in language or temperature. "It's not about you, it's not about me, it's about the kids." And with that, he and the bachelorettes distribute sports equipment to the kids from a local youth centre. If a girl wasn't into being involved in giving back and charity work, Brad says, that would be "a huge red flag."

Something that is sounding warning bells is Bianka’s standoffish attitude. "I don't think Bianka likes me," he says at one point. And then, God love him, Brad works on winning her over. Because, you know, someone who won't show her feelings is so much more attractive.

Later that night, it's hot tub time, with bikinis, bubbly and beefcake as Brad takes off his shirt for the ladies for the first time. (Note to the producers: how come the porn movie soundtrack was rolled out for select limo entrances in the premiere, but Brad stripping down didn't merit a single bar of bow-chicka-wow? Just wondering . . . .) (And also: why weren’t those bums blurred? Those were some mighty cheeky itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini bottoms.)

Bianka and Brad hug it out on the playground in Mexico during a group date

Brad pulls Gabriella aside for some one-on-one time and they have a nice chat. But then it’s back to Bianka, who "hasn’t made an effort." Brad pushes her, saying he gets the impression that she doesn’t want to be there, so she plays the Kim Kardashian card. (Her ex, Kris Humphries, dumped her and hooked up with KK, leading to that infamous 72-day marriage.) "I want it to be for real," she says. And that somehow gets her the one-on-one date the following day with Brad.

But Gabriella doesn't let her off that easy, telling the others that Bianka told her that Brad "is a loser." Then Bianka (and her nearly non-existent bikini bottoms) call out Gabriella for the trash talk. It's all very high school, but with more exposed boobs and bums. (Hey, there’s a tag line: Now with more exposed boobs and bums!) But don't dismiss Gabbie as a little poop disturber, as Bianka tells the camera, "I would be lying if I said I liked him."

As proof that playing hard to get is a winning strategy when it comes to men, Brad picks Bianka for the one-on-one date the following day, which involves heading out on a 62-foot yacht and strolling on a private island. Good thing Bianka packed a sparkly tank top emblazoned with a large white anchor. Perhaps the Bachelor knew she had it and just went with the theme, rather than rewarding her behaviour? He says that with Whitney there is an "intensity," with Kara an "understanding" and with Bianka "it could go either way."

If he does pick her in the end, though, Brad lets slip that his plan is to take his chosen one and "travel the world for a year." They share a kiss on the beach and Bianka decides the whole deal is "the most perfect first date that I've been on." I would hope so: flying to Mexico, helping disadvantaged children and having a day on a mega-yacht with a stint on a private island doesn’t just happen, honey.