There are things about Emily Maynard that are annoying, not the least of which is that she won’t admit she likes money and the limelight. But I’ll say this for her: she’s not playing the forlorn damsel acting like “The Bachelorette” is doing her a favor. She knows what she wants and needs for her daughter, and any men who show signs of hesitation are being cut down instantly. It’s a contrast with last summer, when Ashley Hebert, who was about to finish dental school, was nonetheless a self-loathing drip who practically courted disrespect.

Emily’s first solo date this week was with the overly eager Chris. He got the traditional “danger date,” where the show sets up a superficially scary challenge (this time, it was having to climb a building while safely attached to a rope) so that the woman can coo about how So-and-So “made me feel protected,” blah blah blah. Chris did fine with that phase, and Emily seemed charmed by his uncomplicated blandness. But she was obviously surprised when he mentioned he was 25 – younger than the Bachelorette. You could see her mental wheels turning: is this guy far enough along in his career to, um, maintain my current lifestyle?

For the group date at a Charlotte park, Emily gathered several soccer-mommy types that she referred to as her best friends, who took turns grilling twelve of the men on pertinent issues: “Have you ever dated a woman with children? What do you have in common with Emily? And could you please take your shirt off?” That last one was addressed to blond Sean, who was a clear favorite among the gathered gals. Later, some kids were turned loose in the park (from a local kid pound?) so that Emily and company could get an idea of how the men would interact with them.

With Kalon not involved in this date, there was a minimum of backbiting at the post-park party, but there was still some drama courtesy of single dad Tony, who had spent the entire episode to this point whining about being away from his 5-year-old son. Observing his weepiness, Emily said that she would have wanted to be sent back to little Ricki during her “Bachelor” season had Brad Womack not been pretty certain about her as a possible wife – so she suggested he leave right then and there.  Nice trick, Emily: get them to think they eliminated themselves!

Sean got this date’s rose. Like I said after the premiere, he and Emily just look like they belong together, and he’s moving right up there alongside Jef With One F.

But possibly blowing right by both, in a vehicle with lots of corporate decals on the side, is Arie, who had the second solo date at Dollywood – with Miss Dolly Parton herself providing some welcome accompaniment. Emily was obviously into him in a manner well beyond her previous solo dates, his racing occupation is proving to be a plus, and he has a past as a quasi-stepfather (it sounded like he ended the relationship when his girlfriend balked at having more kids). He’s not smarmy or trying too hard. Can it be this obvious already?

The cocktail party saw the end of three increasingly gross weeks with Travis’s egg, as he agreed to let Emily smash it before she realized he’s too weird for words. It also featured the reemergence of Kalon, who had to tell Emily to stop interrupting him when he tried to explain his attitude towards dating a woman with children. She was obviously offended, but his inevitable comeuppance must wait for another night.

No, the big flameout prior to the Rose Ceremony came from Alessandro, the only man in franchise history with worse hair than Ben Flajnik. He let Emily know that while he could accept Ricki, he would consider it a “compromise” of his go-go gypsy lifestyle – because what could be jet-settier than a Brazilian grain merchant? Understandably unwilling to keep considering a guy who would liken her own daughter to a necessary evil, Emily ushered him to the Limo of Rejection on the spot.

After two unscheduled departures, that left only “Party MC” Stevie to get bounced during the Rose Ceremony, so he’s free now to return to his life as the poor man’s Pauly D. The major plot development from the late minutes of the show came when blowhard Ryan, who earlier had informed Emily that he wouldn’t put up with a wife who gained weight, noticed she and Arie sharing kisses during the party. His sense of honor was offended that this “dainty man” had usurped his rightful place, and he seems primed to be continue being a jerk in the weeks ahead. Aren’t we lucky.

Next week: Making short work of Bermuda. See what I did there?