The best moments from week three of The Bachelor.

Phew. What a week.

Things are progressing quickly on The Bachelor. Girls are getting dumped. Hearts are being broken. Lips are being kissed.

It’s brutal. It’s awesome.

So, what happened this week? Here’s our weekly round-up of The Bachelor’s top Diamond Grade Moments – the Cringe-worthy, the Cute, the Cunning, and the Charming.

1. Cringe-worthy.

You know what’s an awkward thing to do on a date? A forced, four-minute, spectated pash. You heard me correctly. Bachelor Sam chose Nina for a solo date, and took her up to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

His romantic idea (well, the producer’s romantic idea) was for Sam and Nina to break the Guinness World Record for longest on-screen pash, a three minute and 48 second challenge. So they did. They pashed for four minutes straight while Osher awkwardly commentated and bridge-climbers looked on.

It was intense. It was uncomfortable. It was kind of sweet… in a weird, scripted, cringe-y way.

2. Cute.

It’s possible (PROBABLE) that Heather – the sweet, nerdy, chilled out filmmaker – is actually a lot more intense than she’s letting on. Despite the fact that she and Sam have had more than their share of cute moments (including a big kiss on their superheroes date last week), Heather has been playing her cards close to her chest. She has lead the other girls to believe she and Sam have nothing but a chemistry-free friendship, but secretly, she’s a serious contender… and she’s really playing the game.

She and Sam had a cute moment this week where she confessed that she ‘missed’ him, because they hadn’t hung out in a while. Ignoring the fact that it was because he was busy kissing nine other girls… it was kind of adorable.

3. Cunning.

Groundhog Date. Huh? GROUNDHOG DATE.

“Sam” (aka, Channel Ten) invented the concept of having three girls go on the exact same date with him. Without realising, Ebru, Jacinda and Bec were put through a carbon copy date – from a limousine ride to an adventurous jet boat – to see how they measured up.

But the twist? The dates were set-up to test the girls’ temperament. First, the limousine SOMEHOW got a flat tyre. Then, they got their hair RUINED on a jet boat. And then, a strategically placed FLIRTY WAITRESS tried to make the girls crazy jealous.

They ate bugs and chicken feet. They touched and flirted with Sam. And they got plaaaaayed. Bec, Jacinda and Ebru were NOT happy when they got back to the girl mansion and discovered that their dates were recycled. So many tears. So much wasted mascara.

The girls confronted Sam at the cocktail party, but he managed to calm them down. Which brings me to…

4. Charming.

The powers of charm that Bachelor Sam possesses are almost freaky. Despite the fact that the girls were devastated to discover their dates were a set-up (were they really surprised? IT’S A TV SHOW), Sam apologised so nicely and listened with such sincerity that the girls were crawling over themselves to forgive him.

BUT WAIT.

Bachelor Sam even managed to charmingly dump Jacinda. Sam explained to Jacinda that, though he’d had so much fun with her on their (Groundhog) date, he wasn’t romantically interested in her. She cried a lot and poured her heart out, but she was so swept up in his charming, genuine compliments (“You are such an amazing person. You really are”) that she was laughing and hugging him and promising a life of friendship, even as he friendzoned her all the way into the limo.

Sam, I think I’m falling for you. But you still have nine girlfriends. So let’s wait and see, hey?

This week’s verdict: After week two, we’ve said goodbye to this season’s two loudest ladies, Sandra and Jacinda. Who’ll be next?

Next week: More drama, when one of the girls actually tries to steal a moment alone with the Bach. Whaaaa?

Want more? Try these:

The most awkward moments from week one of The Bachelor.

Rosie Recaps Episode 6: He couldn’t even wait for the rose ceremony to kick her out. Ouch.