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With The Bachelor‘s highly-anticipated Season 28 premiere behind us, Bachelor Nation can finally watch 28-year-old lead Joey Graziadei embark on romantic solo and group dates with his remaining 22 women.
The Bachelor Season 28, Week 2 featured two crowded group outings, one crucial one-on-one date, and several special guests — from musical artists and franchise alum to a reception full of randos. Plus, the first major feud of the season and a shocking self-elimination played out ahead of the rose ceremony.
We may only be two episodes into Graziadei’s season, but it’s clear strong connections are forming, tensions are building, and our leading man is hopeful he’s met his forever doubles partner. (No, not Jesse Palmer — though the franchise host did get a top-notch tennis lesson this week.)
Wondering who landed Joey Graziadei’s first one-on-one date of the season? Who snagged the group date roses? Who self-eliminated? And who went home during Week 2 of The Bachelor? Decider’s Season 28, Episode 2 recap has you covered.
The Bachelor Group Date 1 Recap: Here Comes The Brides
The first date card of the season instructed Rachel, Taylor, Kelsey T., Lexi, Evalin, Erika, Maria, Lauren, and Jess to choose dresses for their “special day,” which turned out to be their wedding reception.
On the way to the date, Lauren (Allison’s older sister) got emotional after overhearing Maria talk about her dad back home, because Lauren’s dad recently passed away. “I’m realizing what my wedding would be like, and that my dad won’t be there,” she explained. “It just kind of hit me a little too hard. I think it’s just a little too soon and I’m still in the grieving process — being in the dress feels weird. I just need to deal with my feelings before I dump this shit on him.”
Despite the somber start, the ladies were all smiles once they met Joey, who escorted them to the reception, where tables full of people, a cake topped with 10 little bride and groom figures, his best man Jesse, and the promise of a special guest awaited. The group date twist? The ladies were competing for a first dance with Joey. After Evalin got some serious height by straight-up leaping over a table to try and win a game of Bridal Musical Chairs, Joey and his gals spent the day eating cake, mingling with guests, and getting to know each other.
Maria (who’s dad apparently owns a sprinkle company!) made another lasting impression. Evalin’s competitive spirit caught Joey’s eye. And much to Taylor’s dismay, Jess and Joey shared a kiss in front of everyone. After a bold, confident toast to her future with Joey, it was Rachel who won the first dance. The couple swayed and smooched as Grammy winner Michael Bolton performed “When A Man Loves A Woman” IN PERSON. What a get! The only one Joey didn’t talk to on the group date was Lauren, who was struggling with the grief of losing her dad.
The cocktail hour saw a seductive wardrobe change from Maria, along with several vulnerable conversations. Jess touched on drama in the house and shared that she lost herself in her last relationship, was cheated on, and felt triggered by people urging her to tone down excitement over Joey. Lauren said she was mentally withdrawn from the date because grief of losing her dad seven months earlier unexpectedly hit, and Joey was supportive again.
Who Got The Group Date Rose? Ultimately, Jess walked away with the special stem.
Joey Graziadei and Daisy Kent’s One-On-One Date Recap: Are You Real?!
Back at the house, Daisy learned she’d been chosen for the first one-on-one date of the season. When a car took her to meet Joey, Daisy had a momentary panic upon learning they’d be taking a helicopter ride on their date. She worried she might not be able to hear him in the air, but once that fear was behind her, the two took a romantic trip to Beach Life Ranch, where they had All Access passes to the festival.
Both Joey and Daisy expressed how natural the date — and their connection — felt, but when the two sat down to talk, Daisy didn’t feel it was the right moment to dive into her backstory. She vaguely discussed the nonprofit she started that “helps kids see what makes them different can be empowering,” then the two headed to the main stage for a Bahamas concert. Later at dinner, we saw one of the most intimate heart-to-hearts in Bachelor history.
Daisy told Joey that a life with her would look “a little different than any other girl in the house.” She explained she started having mysterious stroke-like seizures and getting severely ill at 11 years old. “When I was 17 I woke up to my dad waking me up. and I realized I couldn’t really hear that well,” she said. “My hearing kept getting worse. Communicating was really hard for me, and it got really isolating…then it got to the point where I didn’t feel good at all. I could barely walk a block.” Finally, doctors discovered Daisy had Lyme Disease and she went to Germany for a 30-day hospital treatment. The 25-year-old showed Joey a scar on her chest, said she lost a ton of hair, and explained that although treatment helped regain her health, her hearing loss continued. “The reason that I can communicate with you the way that I can is because I have a cochlear implant. And I’m still learning with it,” she explained. “If I cant see your face it’s probably gonna be really hard for me to understand what you’re saying.”
Joey listened to Daisy’s experience intently, offering support, asking follow-up questions, and effectively communicating his emotions. “It took me by surprise initially, but it takes a special type of person to be able to go through all these challenges in life and find a way to turn them into a positive. And she has done that in full force,” he told cameras. “I’m blown away, honestly.” Daisy showed him the cochlear implant, broke down how it helps her hear, and said, “It is something that’s always going to be a part of me. It’s always going to make me a little different.”
“That’s what’s most impressive about it, though, is you’re wearing it with pride. You have this confidence about it, and you want to make a job out of it and help other people,” Joey replied. “It’s extremely inspiring to me, and this has only made you seem more interesting, more impressive…” Daisy soaked in his words and acceptance, jokingly asking, “Are you real?!” The two kissed, and Joey said he could see them ending up together at the end of the journey.
Did Daisy Get The One-On-One Date Rose? You bet! Before she accepted, Joey said she continues to blow him away. Swoon!
The Bachelor Group Date 2 Recap: Bachelor Boot Camp
After one of the sweetest, most intimate moments in Bachelor history, we switched gears to Bachelor Boot Camp, where a shirtless Graziadei welcomed Katelyn, Allison, Marlena, Chrissa, Autumn, Madina, Starr, Edwina, Kelsey A., and Jenn to the final Week 2 group date. He also invited Bachelor Alums (Veteran) Jubilee Sharpe and Demi Burnett to help the girls get their “competitive juices flowing” with a paint battle to capture Joey’s heart. The group split into teams, and three rounds ended in special one-on-one time between Joey and Edwina, who laid it all out on the field.
The two met up for a quiet intimate chat, where Edwina shared she struggles with vulnerability because she grew up “the first girl child in an African household” and had to “be the mother of the house at a young age.” Originally from Liberia, Edwina’s parents “sacrificed so much” for her and her siblings, so she feels “failure is not an option” and wants to be a good role model for her family. Joey said he’s “sure she’s making them extremely proud all day,” then grabbed the rose.
Who Got The Group Date Rose? Joey asked, and Edwina accepted. “I’m thankful she’s opening up to me… all I felt tonight was vulnerability,” he said.
The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 2 Cocktail Party Recap: Cheers To Last-Minute Drama
Episode 2 was entertaining, eventful, and heartwarming. So naturally, The Bachelor had to shake things up during cocktail hour. A deeply confusing feud broke out after Madina told the girls she feels a lot of pressure as a 31-year-old, the oldest contestant in the house. (Reminder Not old!) Her comments confused Maria, 29, who said “a lot of us are older than Joey so it’s not something to be insecure about.” Sydney, who we barely know anything about yet, overheard Maria talking about Madina and told Madina, which resulted in a tri-feud that Maria called “the dumbest fight in bachelor history.”
Before the rose ceremony, we also saw a deeply anxious Lauren break down to her sister Allison, saying, “I hate it here…I’m gonna go home.” After a brief check-in with the man of the hour, she left the show, saying, “Maybe I’ll see you at Hometowns.”
The Bachelor Rose Ceremony Recap: Who Goes Home During Season 28, Episode 2?
So who joined Lauren in leaving the mansion? Here’s who went home on The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 2:
- Erika, 25, a leasing agent from North Bergen, N.J.
- Marlena, 26, a finance writer from West Palm Beach, Fla.
- Taylor, 23, a recruiter from Chicago, Ill.
- Lauren, 28, a registered nurse from Philadelphia, Penn.
New episodes of The Bachelor air Mondays from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu. And be sure to read our interview with Joey Graziadei for more exciting Bachelor insights.
