The Bachelor

Get ready for romance, roses and, of course, drama! In the season premiere of The Bachelor, Sean Lowe, 29, the successful Dallas businessman and entrepreneur who charmed fans while wooing Bachelorette Emily Maynard, meets 26 potential soul mates and gets another shot at love as the Bachelor. Sean was devastated by Emily's decision in Curaçao not to give him a rose, but the six-foot-three Bachelor has not given up on finding love. Sean shakes things up in the season premiere, deciding to give out roses whenever he chooses. Plus, a mystery bachelorette stirs things up and ARIE LUYENDYK JR. — who was also rejected by Emily — arrives to offer some help. But Sean is on his own as the Bachelor and he is ready to risk it all for another chance at love. Here, he begins the search for his soul mate, choosing from among 26 beautiful bachelorettes.

The 19 remaining bachelorettes move into the mansion with hopes that they will end up as Sean's soul mate and future wife. But first our Bachelor has a few tricks up his sleeve, as he takes Sarah on a jolting one-on-one adrenaline date, while Desiree gets the hidden-camera prank treatment to see if she has a sense of humor. The group date will give 13 lucky ladies the chance to compete in a photo shoot challenge to win a deal to appear on the cover of several famed romance novels. But it doesn't take long for the drama to ramp up, and an intense rose ceremony lies ahead.

A potential record-breaking date for the longest on-screen kiss gets Lesley M.'s heart all aflutter, while the claws come out at a very competitive volleyball group date that reveals some of the women's true colors. Sean's magical date with AshLee at an amusement park is shared with two girls who suffer from a chronic illness, and the Bachelor has one more surprise for his date and the girls: a private concert by his favorite country group, ELI YOUNG BAND. However, at the mansion, one bachelorette takes a nasty fall down the stairs — or is it just her way of getting Sean's attention? Finally, just before the rose ceremony, Sean stirs up a shocking finish to the night.

A challenging week is ahead for the 13 remaining bachelorettes: Selma learns that what she thought would be an opulent date will actually be a rock climbing adventure, and eight women join Sean for a "rock'em and sock'em" roller derby match, which ends with a trip to the hospital. Leslie H. is the stunning bachelorette that is surprised by Sean with a Rodeo Drive shopping spree à la the movie Pretty Woman — and an elegant romantic date that ends with the couple treated to a private concert from folk-rock-pop artist Ben Taylor. But the controversy continues to swirl around one disruptive woman even as the others try to deepen their connection with Sean.

Sean whisks the remaining 11 bachelorettes away to picturesque Whitefish, Montana, to explore his romantic connections. But the outspoken Tierra and sweet-natured Jackie face off in the dramatic two-on-one date, and one of them will be sent home immediately. The Bachelor attempts to escalate his relationship with Lindsay to new heights when the couple takes an astounding helicopter ride over the gorgeous mountains of Montana's Glacier National Park. Eight women get to compete in a Montana relay race, including milking goats, with the winning team getting to spend more time with Sean. And one controversial bachelorette continues to cause a firestorm in the house, leaving Sean to worry if he will ever find his wife here.

Sean and the nine remaining bachelorettes travel to spectacular Alberta, Canada. Catherine gets the first one-on-one date in Canada, meeting Sean on a remote glacier at Jasper National Park, followed by a fairytale dinner in a magnificent ice castle. On the group date, Sean implores the seven women to strip down to their bathing suits and take a polar bear plunge in icy cold Lake Louise, but there are a few women who cause problems. The evening ends with Sean supplying an unexpected surprise. Plus, Desiree receives a terrifying individual date -- the couple needs to rappel 400 feet down a cliff in Banff National Park. Nerves are at an all-time high, and Sean's feelings are growing for all of the women -- but just six will remain at the end of the night.

The pressure mounts as the crucial hometown dates loom, but before returning stateside, Sean takes the remaining six bachelorettes to romantic St. Croix. AshLee not only risks revealing a secret about her past, but also decides to go on the attack when it comes to Tierra. Tierra, feeling anxious about her relationship with Sean and how the drama with the other women will influence his decision, desperately discloses something that will shock him. Lesley's individual date has her re-thinking her strategy. Sean, confused over whom he should send home, invites his sister to St. Croix to help him sort through his feelings. When huge drama erupts at the hotel, Sean knows what he must do, dropping two bombshells. At the end, four women remain who will take Sean home to meet their families.

After a whirlwind trip with stops in Los Angeles, Montana, Canada and St. Croix, Sean is back in the U.S. and the stakes are high as he crisscrosses the country on an exciting, emotionally charged journey to visit the final four women's hometowns. In Houston, AshLee and Sean enjoy an emotional afternoon with her family. In Seattle, the Bachelor isn't received with open arms by all of Catherine's family. Sean meets Lindsay's intimidating father on his turf: Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he is a two-star general. And when Sean hits Los Angeles, he is blindsided by Desiree's ex-boyfriend. The rollercoaster ride ends when he must make a gut-wrenching decision to narrow the field to three women — one of whom he believes will be his wife.

In a revealing new one-hour special, Bachelor Sean Lowe joins Chris Harrison to sit down and discuss the most recent woman who left brokenhearted after the hometown dates. Viewers will also hear the Bachelor's thoughts about some of the most unforgettable women that he sent home in tears, as well as his thoughts about this season's most controversial bachelorette, Tierra. Never-before-seen footage and a sneak peek at the rest of Sean's journey will also be featured, as he discusses his feelings about the final three women who will fight to the finish for the final rose — and his heart.

Romantic adventures await Sean and the final three women — AshLee, Catherine and Lindsay — as they travel to spectacular Si Kao, Thailand. From an authentic Thai market with unusual foods to a secluded beach surrounded by a rain forest to a sexy afternoon boat ride on Thailand's sparkling waters, the dates are filled with passion and excitement as Sean continues to explore what his future would be like with each of these potential mates. At the end of the evening, Sean will present each bachelorette with an invitation to spend an intimate night together in a "fantasy suite," with the hope that she will accept. But will she? This week finishes with Sean making his most painful decision yet and leaving one devastated and inconsolable bachelorette not talking to him at all.

Sean faces the women he rejected, Tierra confronts the other bachelorettes and a scorned AshLee goes ballistic. Viewers will be shocked by an off-screen moment with her and Sean.

In the dramatic season finale, Sean prepares to make one of the most difficult choices of his life. His search for love is now narrowed down to two very different women — Catherine and Lindsay — and he is falling in love with both of them. Has Sean now found the love he had hoped to find last season on The Bachelorette with Emily Maynard? Under immense pressure, and after having his family meet both women in spectacular Chiang Rai, Thailand, Sean must make one final, heart-wrenching decision that could change his life forever. But one shocking twist may jeopardize his happy ending. After much soul-searching, who — if anyone — does a confused Sean see as his future wife? Who will get his final rose? And will he leave single or with the love on his life? Find out in the dramatic season finale.