For what age: 11+
How many episodes in 8 season: 12 episodes
Season 8 premiere: Emily Maynard begins her quest for love in her hometown, Charlotte, where her 25 suitors are predictably charmed by Emily. And Emily is charmed by a letter written by one man's 11-year-old son. But not all contestants charm each other (most notably, the guy who arrives by helicopter) and, not surprisingly, the opening cocktail party has its share of contention. At the rose ceremony later, Emily pares the field to 19.
After the 19 remaining competitors for Emily's heart move into a Charlotte mansion, one of them gets the first one-on-one date: a concert by the country band Gloriana. Thirteen others perform with "Sesame Street" Muppets and Emily to raise funds for a local hospital. There's also an altercation between two of the guys that almost comes to blows, and a one-on-one date at a resort Emily remembers from her childhood. After the rose ceremony, 16 contestants are left.
Sixteen bachelors remain, and one of them scores a one-on-one date with Emily that includes a private concert by country singer Luke Bryan while another escorts her to Dollywood in Tennessee, where they're serenaded by Dolly Parton herself. But 12 others face a grilling on parenting from friends of Emily, and are then put to the test by a bunch of rambunctious kids. Following an evening that includes a particularly volatile cocktail party, 13 guys are still standing.
Emily and her 13 remaining suitors visit Bermuda, where one tours the historic town of St. George with her, and eight others compete at a Yacht Club of Bermuda regatta. (Emily parties with the winners.) For two others, there's a dreaded two-on-one date that includes a visit to a cliff-diving spot and dinner in a cave. One man gets a rose and the other his walking papers. Following the cocktail party and rose ceremony, 10 are left to accompany Emily to London.
Emily and her 10 remaining suitors visit London, where one-on-one dates include a double-decker bus tour (with a buss in front of Buckingham Palace) and an etiquette lesson. Eight others go to Stratford-upon-Avon for "Romeo and Juliet"-performed by them. But only one guy can be Romeo. There's also a controversy involving one man's remark about Emily's daughter. Following the rose ceremony, Emily and the eight survivors head to Croatia.
Emily and her eight remaining suitors visit Dubrovnik, Croatia, where one gets to enjoy a picturesque dinner with her in an ancient fort. On the group date, the guys attend a screening of the Disney/Pixar film "Brave". Later, the men compete for Emily's attention in their own Highland games, and in the rose ceremony, Emily makes some surprising moves.
Emily arrives in Prague with her six remaining bachelors, two of whom will be sent home. One-on-one dates include a romantic tour of the city and a playful visit to a marionette shop. Emily then takes three suitors to an idyllic castle on the outskirts of the city. Later, one of the guys becomes upset for not getting an individual date, while another takes it upon himself to sneak out of the hotel for some forbidden alone time with Emily.
Emily travels to the hometowns of her four remaining suitors, but intimidating siblings and parents prove to be a harsh indicator of which guys could be potential step-fathers to Ricki; Emily looks for honest opinions of family members.
Emily arrives in Curaçao with her three remaining suitors, each of whom will have a chance at an intimate, overnight date in the fantasy suite. Adventures include a helicopter tour of the island, a sail aboard a swanky ship and swimming with dolphins in Fuik Bay. Later, she gives roses to two of the men, who will get the chance to meet Emily's family, and possibly her daughter, Ricki.
Seventeen of the rejected bachelors dish about Emily and each other, and Emily dishes about them as she looks back at the season. The hour also includes a sneak peek of the finale and the upcoming third season of "Bachelor Pad.
In Curacao, Emily must choose between her final two suitors in the Season 8 conclusion. Both men meet Emily's family and win their approval, making Emily's decision much more difficult as she struggles to decide if she should introduce them both to her daughter, Ricki.
After the final rose has been handed to either Jef or Arie, Emily sits down live with Chris Harrison to discuss how she ultimately made her gut-wrenching decision; both men return to the stage to discuss how the final rose ceremony played out.
