This week's MVP goes to a blond named Emily...O'Brien. It's a shame that she can't be the next "Bachelorette" instead of Emily Maynard.
We can almost forgive her for being (along with the other girls) so vicious to Shawntel Newton a few weeks ago. This week, Emily showed that she's not just book smart, but she's also classy.
Despite personal (and justifiable) reservations about Courtney, Emily decided to publicly apologize to her and to put the feud behind her. Unfortunately for her, Courtney threw the apology back in her face, claiming that she doesn't forgive and forget. Emily showed herself to be the mature one in this situation.
Emily survived another week (once again receiving the last rose), but only because Jamie shot herself in the foot with her painfully awkward kissing, instructing him on when to open and close his mouth. Talk about procedural!
She also has a great sense of humor! When talking to Ben, she pulled a head-fake on him, telling him that there was another man in her life. Thinking that she was about to walk out, Emily told him that it was the chief (of the tribe where they had spent their group date). It's hard to resist a man in loincloths.
Mean Girl Courtney may be "winning" in the game of "Bachelor," but we have a feeling that Emily will be the winner in the game of life.
Speaking of other men, ABC sure did a hatchet job on Casey S. this week. Her not-quite-ex-boyfriend, Michael, had told ABC that she was still in love with him despite being on the show. Casey confessed that she was in fact still in love with Michael, but that she knew he would never commit to her.
Once she told Ben about her situation, he immediately sent her home, accusing her of not opening up to him, not being honest, (as if Courtney "Winning" Sheen is there "for the right reasons"!) Despite being Courtney's minion, Casey deserved better. She may still have feelings for her ex, but she really seemed to give it a decent shot with Ben.
Besides, ABC seems to have a double standard. Why was Frank (from Ali Fedotowsky's season) allowed to stick around until the hometown dates when he made it clear that he was still in love with his old girlfriend from home?
Bentley (from Ashley Hebert's season) was allowed to play her for a fool all season and leave on his own volition. And Melissa Rycroft had just "broken up" with Tye Strickland before filming for Jason Mesnick's season. Yet Ben gets to kick Casey to the curb for merely having unresolved feelings for someone else.
Poor Blakeley also earned a trip to Dumpsville, after being sent home on the 2-on-1 date with Rachel. Blakeley may come across as desperate and overly aggressive, but I think she actually has a good heart.
Last week, she won my respect when she opened up about learning to love herself and to believe that she deserved to find love. Although Ben is not the right match for her, we hope there's someone out there for her.
Kacie B. really opened up this week by talking about her past struggles with eating disorders, and how she's a more mature person because of what she went through. Kacie really seems like a sweet and down-to-earth girl who probably deserves someone better than wishy-washy Ben.
Can Courtney continue on her "winning streak"? Should Emily just leave Ben and run off with "the chief"? Now that Blakeley's gone, would she and Monica resume their week 1 flirtation? Does "B+C=love"?
More From This Contributor:
Courtney Robertson vs. Michelle Money: Who is a Better 'Bachelor' Villain?
Ben and Courtney Go Skinny-Dipping While Others Strike Out in Game of Love
Something's 'Fishy' About Courtney on 'The Bachelor'
Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network here to start publishing your own articles.