It has been an emotional season for Bachelor Nick Viall and his three remaining contestants, and the March 6 episode was no exception. Here, The Knot recaps the highly-anticipated fantasy suite dates ahead of next week’s season 21 finale.
Raven’s Reflections
After her overnight date with Nick in Finland, Raven reflects on the experience. “To be alone physically with him was just so nice and relaxing,” she says in the confessional. “I will say this: Nick is really good at what he does, so I’m pretty satisfied today.”
Before leaving Europe, Raven skips down the street, high fives fellow pedestrians, and makes snow angels–all with a huge smile on her face.
Rachel’s Arrival
When Rachel arrives for her overnight date, the pair go cross-country skiing. They feed reindeer at a nearby safari before getting cozy by a fire. During a deep conversation, Rachel admits that her biggest fear is rejection.
Later that night, Rachel admits that she finds it difficult to open up to Nick. “If you were to check your ego at the door, what would your heart say?” Nick asks.
“That’s I’m falling in love with you,” Rachel blurts out, and gives Nick a kiss.
“Rachel, I am falling for you 100%. That’s easy to say,” Nick says.
After reading the fantasy suite card, Rachel is feeling confident. Nick takes her to the romantic suite for a night with no cameras. The next morning, Rachel describes the night as “perfect.” She struggles with saying goodbye to Nick, as she “longs for him” when she’s not with him.
“Hopefully we can seal the deal,” Rachel says in the confessional. “I’m looking to seal the deal.”
Vanessa’s Unanswered Questions
Nick is looking forward to having fun with Vanessa after his tense visit to her hometown. He tells Vanessa that they’ll be “embracing the Finnish culture” by taking an ice bath together. After changing into swimsuits, the pair take a dip in the cold water before returning to the sauna. In the confessional, Nick admits that he enjoys pushing Vanessa out of her comfort zone.
During a heated talk in the hot tub, Nick points out that Vanessa’s family is traditional, and family involvement negatively impacted one of his previous relationships.
“In order for any relationship to work, you need to know what the other person’s core values are,” Vanessa tells him. “That’s where I become hard-headed; my core values are things that I don’t want to compromise on.”
Nick is surprised that Vanessa isn’t willing to make compromises, and he voices concern that their stubbornness may cause problems in their relationship.
Later, Nick admits that it would be difficult for him to leave America, and Vanessa is intent on staying in Canada. She tells Nick she loves him, and he hands her the fantasy suite card. It doesn’t take long for Vanessa to decide to spend the night with him.
And Then There Were Two
At the rose ceremony, Nick is emotional as he thanks the women for being there. Raven and Vanessa receive roses, and Rachel is visibly disappointed. “I can’t believe I thought we had a really, really good thing,” Rachel tells him. She’s in tears as Nick attempts to comfort her.
The Bachelor finale airs Monday, March 13, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
