Rachel’s Finale

Alright, we’re doing something we’ve never done before, we’re going to have the live show with Chris Harrison walking us through what’s going on our screens with a special guest….we have Rachel and her boobs! Her girls are on full display and look like they aren’t being held in by anything. She’s in a skin-tight dress that doesn’t look like it’ll be comfortable to sit in, let alone sit there for 3 hours.

Before we can jump in, we hear that our old douchebag Bachelor Juan Pablo is now married, so that gives me hope, if he can get married, there has to be a guy out there for me, as JP says “Ettttss oooookay”

Finally, we’re getting back to where we were 2 weeks ago. Remember how we were left with a “To be Continued” before the Finale…this is the first finale we’ve had with 3 guys going into it an will have 2 rose ceremonies.

We have Rachel and Peter that are at the crossroads of him not knowing if he’s ready to propose at the end of this or not. She cries, he’s in a way happy to see her cry because it shows she cares for him. They are going to just keep forgetting the fact that neither of them are going to bend on this very important topic, and will go ahead and forgo their individual rooms and go to the fantasy suite. We see them the next morning and they’re happy and cheesy and talk about how their night together made everything better and after seeing Peter shirtless, I could see why.

Dear Lord, I forgot that Bryan still has his overnight date to go….he greets Rachel and has his button down shirt basically only covering his naval and that’s about it. He’s pulling a full David Hasselhoff here. They get to do a winery thing like Peter & her did. They are sitting there, and Bryan is attempting to talk to her and he is such a player. He’s saying all the right things, but she’s not giving him a whole lot to go off of, so it just shows that he knows what to say and how to say it, but I still don’t buy it.

We know have Chris & Rach talking in real time and Rach is talking about how Peter has a way of getting in her mind that the other guys don’t have. She’s not able to compartmentalize her relationship with him, like she can with the other guys. That my dear, tells me all I need to know…you should choose Peter, but we all know you’re going to go with the attractive, player safe pick Bryan.

Believe it or not, Bryan and Rachel decide to forgo their individual rooms and go to the fantasy suite.

Rachel tells Chris Harrison on the “live” show that the overnight dates were so important because she had a list of questions in true lawyer fashion that she wanted to ask the guys. Questions she still had, questions her family had, thanks to Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher she was asking about credit scores and background checks, which I’m sure Mila & Ashton are so thankful that she took their advice, for those of you that don’t remember they told us that the guy who Rachel ends up with, is not on their group date and they were correct! Here are the guys who were on that date, non of our final 3

1. Dean—smiley guy (once you go black you never go back)
2. Jack—Jack Stock lawyer
3. Jon—tickle monster
4. Blake—aspiring drummer who talked about all the sex he gets and how “BIG” he is
5. Iggy—the running commentator of the season
6. Kenny—-pro-wrestler who has the adorable daughter
7. Fred—she was his camp counselor
8. Lucas—-WaBooom

Alright, Rose Ceremony time and dear Lord this is a real unfortunate choice of an outfit for Rachel. The orange dress is fine, but then there are large sequins or clips or something all down the arms that do not look comfortable at all.

1. Bryan gets the first rose and no one should be shocked by that
2. Peter gets the second rose, the guy that Rachel thinks is ready for marriage even though he doesn’t think he is

She says that Eric is not ready for marriage even though he says he is. Eric is such a gentleman and my heart breaks for him. He has grown up so much on this show and has opened up to all the experiences that life is offering him. He is going to make some girl a very lucky lady and is going to have a better life and give his future kids a better life than he ever had. There is no bitterness or hate at all in his goodbye. Also, there’s not really tears from either of them. Eric is sad, but still Eric about it.

Harrison tells us that everyone in the room was shocked that Eric went home, were people really shocked by this?!? I think you could always tell it was going to be Peter & Bryan as the final 2, you know it from the lazy editing job this season.

Since Eric wasn’t able to be on the Men Tell All, we get him to come out now and talk with Rachel on the couch with Harrison now. He has grown out a full beard. He asks how she’s doing, how her heart is, if her heart is happy. He talks about how tough it was to hear that Rachel loved him, but then he had to leave right away. He was locked in and ready to propose and was ready. Their progression was good, but there was her relationships with the other guys. Goodbye Eric, I enjoyed watching you dance into our hearts during the Bachelor finale and here you are on the Bachelorette finale, you did it!

Bryan gets the first final date. Him & Rach are going to go on a hot air balloon ride where they can look at scenery and make out. During their night portion of the date, Rach talks about how he’s been the most constant/consistent guy and he says all the right things at the right time, but I STILL do not believe him. What meaningful conversation have they had?!? Is he movin to Dallas? What are they gonna do? He gave her a Spanish/English dictionary, that’s just words for them, pretty sure we have wine, bikini, hot-tub, rose and kiss in there and  that’s all they need.

Peter gets the first one-on-one date of the season as well as the last one-on-one date of the season. Rachel & Peter are going to explore a monastery for their final date in the mountains and just enjoy the beauty. This is something that they are both enjoying and I really do not think Bryan would enjoy this at all, it’s not flashy enough for him.

They have a conversation with a monk, where he is trying to reassure them that they shouldn’t break up over a little thing. Peter talks about how engagement and marriage are forever.

We have to have the engagement talk again and Peter talks about their future and what their life could look like. Peter has no fear of marriage and looks forward to in life. Marriage doesn’t scare him, but multiple marriages or proposals scares him. He’s willing to give you a commitment Rach, but he wants you to give him a commitment too. You’re the one holding all the cards here, and he has no idea where he stands with you.

I think it’s commendable for Peter to be so honest and refreshing in his views and values. He’s not going to propose because ABC and Neil Lane want him to, he wants to know that the girl he’s proposing to is only dating him and they’ve been together for longer than what 72 hours total over a 7 week process with 29 other guys and I love him for this!

Rachel tells us in her interview that she was very vocal about needing a proposal….so basically she wants to bully him into a proposal though she knows where he stands. I’m confused, he’s been very open and honest in his thoughts, so I don’t know why she thinks he’ll just change his mind here when you haven’t gotten rid of Bryan and given him a reason to change his mind.

Peter tells her that he loves her, and that has been reaffirmed today, he does love her and wants to stay with her and not say goodbye, but he’s not ready to propose to her tomorrow. She is angry and confused at him, because he’ll fantasize their life together, but she is angry he won’t take the steps right now. At this point, she’s selling out for everything just to get the proposal. She doesn’t care how she feels about someone, as long as she leaves here with a ring. Without a ring, she “lost” and it would be a failure. Peter is laying it all out there and being so honest and holding onto his values and she wants him to compromise them.

Peter throws it back at her and asks if right here right now can she answer the question that he’s the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with. She’s crying and looks over to the side where the camera/producers/interns are all at and tells him she can’t answer that right now. He asks why not and is cryin and she says she can’t….and that ladies and gentleman is where I’m on #TeamPeter, why does he have to lay it all out there and not get anything back…and with my favorite Bachelor Ben Higgins breaking the rules and telling 2 girls he loves them during the show, I know Rachel could break the rules, but she is choosing not to do so.

Peter tells her that he wants to propose when it is the correct time, however he would sacrifice that and propose to her tomorrow, if she chooses him, he’ll choose her! That’s what she wants….but now she’s all mad and saying that she doesn’t want him to feel pressured into doing this, yet that’s exactly what she’s been doing all day and there’s no way to come back from this, so they end up breaking up, though you can tell neither one of them wants to do this and they’re both devastated by it.

My favorite line that he threw out was that she can find someone else and “enjoy a mediocre life.” He will give her the world. Peter also tells her that she thinks they are both going to regret their decisions, and she knows where she can find him if that is the case. He helps her with her coat and they hold hands to the door, hug it out, kiss it out and both are very distraught over this…..the way she kisses him goodbye tells me she loves him, she keeps kissing him, says she can’t say goodbye and runs into his arms again. This my friends is the love she’s looking for, but she’s going for the safe choice in Bryan and in a season that I’ve loved every move Rachel has made, this is her biggest mistake and one I saw coming for weeks and it still breaks my heart it came to this….she’s sobbing walking away, Peter rips off his sweatshirt and is sitting on a dresser in a white tee, also crying, and whispers to himself “what’s wrong with me” and I’m done….that is a heartbreaker. NOTHING is wrong with you Peter!!!!

Harrison is now live with Rachel in the studio and Harrison tells us that he’s seen lots of breakups in the last 16 years, but that was a doozy. She gets pretty defensive and angry at Peter for not wanting to build a future with her. Harrison points out that they didn’t actually say goodbye and he isn’t sure it was a breakup. The kiss, the tears and she cried her eyelashes off and Peter has been watching this backstage and they are going to talk.

Rachel tells us she’s not ready to talk to him, which again points out to me that he’s the one she should’ve ended up with, but then again how often have they chosen who I’d choose, but maybe that’s why they break up so often!

Peter comes out to a big ovation, he hugs Rachel and looks real uncomfortable. You can tell that she has shut down her emotions and has her guard WAY up. Peter is emotional and honest yet again. Rachel is in lawyer mode and is going in for the kill by telling us how confused she was, and we’re rehashing everything that we just saw on our television screen that ended with both of them in tears and breaking up.

Rachel talks about how the editing made it seem that everything was about them not proposing, since she rehashed that part the first time she sees him in 3 months, it makes me think that is the focal point of their relationship. Rachel seems bitter and scorned about this all even now.

Peter really points out how little time they had together. They had their first one-on-one, then he got the last one-on-one before hometowns, then it was hometowns, then it was meeting her family and this overnight date and then the last date they broke up on, when it’s actually spelled out like that, dear Lord no wonder he wasn’t ready to propose!

He wishes he could’ve gotten out of his head more. Rachel argues that and how he thinks and talks about how great it was for him to go at his own pace and then she tries to ruin his chances to be the Bachelor because she doesn’t want to have to watch him on her television screen courting 30 girls and dating 30 girls, and if you don’t think that’s why she’s trying to shut it down, then I’d love to know your thoughts.

Peter talks about watching their break-up and being upset backstage and he comes out and feels attacked, but doesn’t say it angrily, but Lawyer Rachel is out and wants to know why he feels attacked, she didn’t attack him….though everything is his fault and he should’ve known better than to waste her time. He said he doesn’t want to talk about how he feels attacked. He still has feelings for Rachel and he wouldn’t want to change anything about their break-up night because they each stayed true to what they were thinking and feeling.

Peter gets the final words by saying thank you and he was skeptical of the process but he could get feelings and wishes her nothing but the best, and wants happiness for her (and wants to be the next Bachelor 🙂 —- or maybe that wasn’t explicitly said, but was there in the subtext).

Alright, let’s finish this season! We have Neil Lane and Bryan the player picking out a ring. We got Rachel getting dressed up in the gown, and she’s still emotional about saying goodbye to Peter in her interview right before Bryan gets out of the limo by saying this may be too soon after the emotion of last night, exactly what every guy wants his fiance to say!

Bryan goes up on top of this hill to meet Rachel and pretty sure there is a tornado/hurricane winds that are greeting them. I don’t know if you believe in bad omens, but the way the winds are going makes it seem that this may not be the best thing. I don’t know why Rachel even did her hair because it’s too wind-swept. We’re not going to be able to hear what he’s saying to her in her proposal because of the wind…..except he did use the words “Chemistry bomb” in his proposal….dear future fiance, do NOT use the word Chemistry bomb when you’re proposing to me, unless you want to make me laugh at you, because there is no way I could hold it together. I also promise I will not use the words “my heart has never been as conflicted as it has this week” and that “I have to do some soul searching before saying yes.” How come the only thing we can hear clearly of this proposal is there lips smacking as they’re kissing?!? I hope that we don’t have to hear this on the Bachelor next season.

Bryan gets on his knee, she freaks, comments multiple times on how pretty the ring is and this just points out again how she was after the ring this whole time, not the man and then keeps yelling out “we’re engaged” Bryan got her first rose and will get her last rose.

Bryan re-proposes to her on the After the Final Rose. And now we get the cliche response of how tough it was for them to be apart these last 3 months but they’re both so happy to be able to be seen in public. They want to bring their lives together but they don’t know where they’re gonna live, you know there are 3 cities for them to choose from, Dallas, Miami and now we get to see Bryan craving the lime-light and wanting them to move to Los Angeles…..interesting…..and believe it or not no wedding date has been set. Rachel wants a winter wedding, they aren’t rushing which makes it seem it’s not gonna be this winter, but maybe winter 2019.

We’ve got Bachelor in Paradise starting next Monday, we’ll see if I end up blogging it or not, it looks like it will be quite dramatic!

Alright, we made it through Rachel’s season and while I’m happy with her, I wish she would’ve chosen Peter, but understand why she felt she needed to choose Bryan. Here’s hoping they prove me wrong and make it and that Peter will be our next Bachelor!

Until next time!
Lindsay

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Rachel’s final 3

How bizarre is this?!? We’re still in Dallas so the guys can meet Rachel’s family. I’m shocked though, because we have all 3 guys in a hotel suite with Rachel. Normally the guys wouldn’t see each other after it’s the final 4 for hometowns. They’re meeting the family now because Rachel’s sister is 8 months pregnant so she can’t travel to the exotic location.

Alright, so Peter is the first one to meet the family. Rachel & him go into a chic baby boutique and are going to pick out an outfit for Rachel’s new niece/nephew and the big brother who’s going to be 3 in July. I love Peter because he’s smart enough to ask the size of Alistar the gonna be 3 year old, and Rachel talks about how he’s a big guy, and he immediatly thinks that he’s in 3 or 4 T clothing. Peter gets it you all. And Peter falling in love with these baby clothes and outfits and shopping for baby things has me even more in love

Rachel asks with a onesie if it’s 1 size fits all and Peter laughs at her that it’s not how it works, but he doesn’t make her feel stupid about it. I feel you can tell that Peter knows more about kids than Rachel does.

We have Bryan and Eric in a hotel room talking about what Peter is feeling and how Peter may not propose at the end of this. How in the hell does Bryan know this? Is a producer feeding him this info? Did he see footage that no one else has seen because he knows more about this, than just a normal guy should know, especially since Peter & Bryan don’t seem like besties.

Peter stops Rachel and sits on the stoop of Rachel’s family house, by talking about how Peter is falling in love with Rachel, and she tells him she’s falling in love with him too. He also tells her that she means the world to him and he wants her to feel confident in bringing him home to her family before they go inside.

Peter is meeting Rachel’s sister, brother-in-law, mom, girl cousin and aunt & uncle. Rachel’s dad will still not be appearing on camera, he didn’t appear when Rachel had her hometown on Nick’s season either.

Rach’s family asks about Peter’s family life. He talks about how his parents met when they were 20 & 21, knew each other a month and were proposed and have been married now 36 years.

Peter is very eloquent when he’s talking to Rachel’s family, he tells them how skeptical he’s been about this process, about how even though he’s been skeptical, him and Rach hit it off the first night, and have built their relationship slowly, and it wasn’t until he saw her at the rose ceremony last night that he realized he missed her and is falling in love with her. He has won over the family with this declaration.

Rach’s mom asks Rach what her red flag is with Peter and she says that she’s worried he may not propose in the end. Rach’s mom talks with Peter and ends up leaving it by telling us the audience that she knows Rach came on this show to end up getting married, but she appreciates the honesty that Peter brings.

We have Bryan & Peter now in the hotel suite talking about how Eric hasn’t met a family in 6 or 7 years. Bryan talks to Peter about how he wants to show the family their chemistry….oh yeah and the bond that they have….oh and I’ve found out now that Peter didn’t ask for her hand in marriage, so now I want to do that as well.

Peter always the level-headed one talks about how Bryan is being ballsy and arrogant. What he tells Bryan is that there are things in all of their relationships that are different and unique and it’s weird to be sitting here with Rachel’s boyfriend while her other boyfriend is meeting the family.

And then Peter gets as real as you can on this show while still being a gentleman and polite and making me still really like him, by looking Bryan right in the eye and telling him something we’d all love to tell him.

I didn't think it was possible for me to like Peter any more than I already do AND YET—#TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/quBhAaCFrc

— Brett S. Vergara (@BrettSVergara) July 25, 2017

Eric & Rachel are on-top of a huge building and looking out and enjoying the sights of Dallas. Eric went home for Senior Prom and with a girl he dated in college. Rachel wants him to be himself and talk about how far he’s come.

Rachel’s family recognizes Eric from the finale when he was introduced to Rachel and they do his “HEY” dance with him. They ask about his family and you can tell that Eric’s family is completely different than Rachel’s family. Rachel’s family enjoys that he’s not a fairy tale person, he’s real and mature and understands he hasn’t been in love before, but he’s very upfront and knows how he’s thinking and where he’s coming from.

I have to say that Eric has grown on me this season. I’m surprised that he’s warmed his way into my heart. He ends up asking for Rachel’s mom’s permission to ask Rachel to marry him. She agrees, because I’m pretty sure she’s contractually obligated to do so. I like Eric, but am concerned that this guy is gonna get his heart broken. I want Eric to get married and have a family, I’m really rooting for this guy and it constantly surprises me!

Now we get Bryan to meet the family. I have to say that Peter & Eric in the hotel suite is the least awkward combination that we’ve had. And again Peter endears himself to me more when he admits to not being a Bryan fan, and talks about Bryan’s confident Miami swagger and in Miami there’s a lot of fake boobs, asses and cheeks and Eric thinks that he’s not gonna be as smooth after today.

Bryan is going to meet the 2 girls that signed Rachel up to go on the journey of Nick’s season. Bryan gets all cocky when he finds out that the other guys didn’t meet the friends. Bryan is way too smooth of an operator, he knows what people want to hear and he gives him the spiel, and does it all on his terms, so you think he’s opening up, but then realize he’s only telling you information he wants to share.

We now get Bryan with Rachel’s family. They start with the tell me about your family and again I notice how he’s not as open as Eric & Peter were. He talks about his parents being together almost 40 years and that he’s his mother’s only child…..that struck me as odd, does that mean his dad has another child?!?

The family sees thru slimey Bryan and his use of the word LOVE so quickly. They ask where the loyalty will lie if Bryan’s wife and mother bump heads. Bryan says with the wife, but that they’ll need to get along. Rach’s mom said sometimes that doesn’t happen, where does the loyalty lie? Bryan has a deep sigh and that says EVERYTHING, but while Bryan is deep in thought not answering, Rachel jumps in and says he already answered the question and answered the wife. Rachel’s mom is not impressed. Neither is Rachel’s sister…..actually everyone seems super uncomfortable, because the other 2 guys have talked about how it’s been a slow burn and have been a lil awkward, but have opened up and shared without needing to be pried open. Rach’s family notices that Bryan is a charmer and is insincere so they have to ask more questions and Rach is SUPER uncomfortable, which should tell her everyone she needs to know, but you know she’s going to ignore this.

The BEST tweet ever has to go to Tanner with this tweet:

So the lawyer #bachelorette likes the smooth talking guy from the southeast over the dude from Wisconsin? Feels like I've seen this one b4

— Tanner Tolbert (@ttolbert05) July 25, 2017

As we all know, this did not work well with Andi when she chose Josh over Nick. We know that Rachel is going to make the same mistake, but then here’s hoping that Peter will be the Bachelor 🙂

You can tell that Rachel’s family feels the same way, they like Peter and Eric way more than Bryan, but that’s not gonna matter to Rachel, I still think she’s gonna chose Bryan but that’s gonna be a big mistake.

We’re in Spain now with Rachel & her 3 guys. She’s hoping that when she leaves Spain she’ll be leaving as an engaged woman.

Eric gets the first one-on-one date in Spain. Eric gets to go on his first helicopter ride. They get to walk up to some castle, look out and see the sea and old buildings and they keep laughing and really do enjoy one another. It is pretty easy and relaxing for the 2 of them. You can tell that Eric & Rachel are equal partners in this, they challenge one another. Eric is more serious, and Rachel challenges him to be honest about his feelings. Eric challenges Rachel to not take herself so seriously and lighten up. Eric tells her that he’s in love with her, and he’s tried to run but she wouldn’t let him and he’s super happy right now and has never been this happy with a girl before. She’s smitten and they make-out and get the forego their individual rooms and go to the fantasy suite card. They have a wonderful night, and get coffee in the morning. Now that Eric has told Rachel he loves her, he can’t stop saying it and dangit if I don’t believe him!

Peter gets the 2nd one-on-one date. They are going to explore a vineyard together. They get to go into a cave and see all the great wines that are around. Rachel admits that Peter is reserved but he can read her and gets her unlike anyone else on this journey. Raquel & Pedro have their own locker with all this wine in the cellar that this cute old Spanish guy gives them.

Peter & Rachel talk about how they are a good balance for one another and how that is what their family saw in one another as well. Peter talks about how engagement is a direct correlation of marriage. Basically Peter admits he wants to be engaged once. They are in the middle of a conversation and believe it or not, another adorable child comes and talks to them and then they end up stomping grapes and living out one of my favorite childhood scenes in one of my all-time favorite tv shows:

At the night portion of the date, Rachel & Peter are talking about where they stand on the engagement and end of this whole journey. Rachel talks about how she didn’t come this far and put her life on-hold just to walk away with a boyfriend. She needs a proposal. At what cost, it doesn’t matter. The fact that the guy is insincere and they’ll be broken up within 6 weeks because Bryan’s Mama doesn’t like her anymore, won’t matter because she got her engagement. Even though she could have a loving boyfriend in Peter.

Twitter was on a roll last night, because this Tweet was also spot-on:

Peter is Becca from Chris Soules season… oh. #TheBachelorette

— Becca Tilley (@beccatilley5) July 25, 2017

This is another very true tweet. Becca was the one Chris wanted to choose, but she wasn’t ready for a proposal and wasn’t a sure-bet, so Chris went with Whitney who was the sure bet, and where are they now?!?

We end with them talking about how they are on polar end of the spectrum of this whole engagement thing, but neither know where they’re going to go and they don’t know where to go….and we end up with a “TO BE CONTINUED” does this mean that’s a way for us to think that Eric will be in the final 2, but he won’t. I can’t believe we have a To Be Continued to lead us into the final 2 and the engagement, how crazy is that?!?

Next week is the Men Tell All, it’s going to be a train wreck, that I do not see myself bloggin about, because it’s gonna be the same old, same old I believe.

We’re 2 weeks until the finale! We’ve ALMOST made it!

Lindsay

Rachel’s Hometown Dates

We’ve made it to Hometown dates and how wonderful has Rachel been but how disappointing has the editing been on this season? As someone who avoids spoilers, I feel the editors have just phoned it in and have spoiled the season for us. You could’ve guessed after week 2 or 3 that 3 of the top 4 were going to be Bryan, Dean & Peter.

Eric, our surprise top 4th is Eric. He gets the first hometown date and we’re in Baltimore and we get to see that Eric is not from the nicest parts of the city, but he shows us that he doesn’t take anything for granted and has such a positive attitude. He takes her to a basketball court and they play around and she is introduced to his cousin and they joke that the last girl Eric brought home was for prom. He was a “cool square” growing up that got straight As.

He didn’t have a role model growing up, but took care of his friends who sold drugs and was the one who was always there for people. He has such strong admiration and love for the women in his family. Eric has really grown on me and dang if he’s not the sweetest and I hope he either ends up in Paradise or is up for the Bachelor, because he’s not ending up with Rachel, but dang do I love him!

Rachel is flipping out right before they go into meet Eric’s family as she is the only girl he’s brought home. We’re going to his aunt’s apartment and there are about 15 people sitting on a long sectional couch, Eric & Rachel walk in and they all start yelling and happy to see them. There is such love that comes from their family. They are so loud and awesome, that I find myself smiling for no reason, I’m not there, but I feel welcomed by this family.

Eric’s aunt starts asking her about how she’s handling the race card and being the first Black Bachelorette and she’s able to be a confidant almost for Rachel. She talks about how it’s harder than she ever thought it’d be because she’s being judged by black people and then is being judged by everyone else.

Eric has an interesting relationship with his mom. It seems that maybe she wasn’t as open and loving as she could’ve been. She tells him that it’s because all the men in their family didn’t reach their potential because they hid behind their moms and she didn’t want that, and he’s reached his potential. You can tell there have been many a conversation/argument about this, but it appears that they aren’t going to air their dirty laundry on tv (which I do appreciate) and are going to be adults, and I think Eric must be closer to his aunt than his mom and that’s alright.

Eric’s dad gets emotional as he’s talking to Eric and dang Eric must’ve had a crappy home life growing up. Again Eric shows his positive attitude and the stuff that his dad, uncles and cousins took him through when he was younger brought him to where he is today and it drove him to be a better man. Even though he lives on the West Coast and they’re on the East coast, there is love and support in that family and I’m going to be sad to see this family leave my screen because I think this is going to be the best/most genuine family hometown visit of the episode.

Bryan’s hometown is next and we’re in Miami. She greets him with a “Hi Baby” which I think tells us all we need to know about how this date is going to go. Is there a point in watching? We know he’s a rose.

The theme of this episode is Will Smith if you didn’t pick up on it, here’s your clue:

Instead of taking her to a beach since that’s all they’ve been doing, they go out and play dominoes with world-wide famous players. They lose horribly. We go into a Salsa dancing place and they dance and make out (shocking, I know ;)) Somehow Bryan thinks that they will take to Rachel as the daughter they’ve never had. Bryan is an only child and his parents are opposites attract. Dad is charming and charismatic and mom is a ball of energy and he admits to basically being a mama’s boy and remember the last girl he brought home after dating for 3 weeks, once that girl met Mama, they broke up, so good luck to you Rach!

Bryan’s mom loves him and talks about how he’s her everything and can’t believe that in all the girl’s he’s met he hasn’t found one yet, and then found the one on the show to fall in love with. I’m a little confused and feel like Mama is talking in circles, or maybe it’s just I don’t really care all that much, because I know that this doesn’t matter, Bryan is in the top 2.

There’s a young girl talking to Rachel and I have no clue who she is, I’m assuming a cousin since we know Rachel will be the daughter Mama never had. Girl cousin tells us that ex-girlfriend was threatened by the relationship that Bryan has with Mama, which again reiterates how much of a Mama’s boy he is. Which is sweet to some extent, but depending on how dependent he is on Mama gets a tad concerning since he is 37 years old. Bryan seems less mature right now to me than Eric and Dean though Bryan is older (significantly more so than Dean!)

Mama tells Rachel if Bryan’s happy, Mama’s happy. If Bryan isn’t happy, Mama will kill you, Rachel laughs, Mama not so much, I’m thinking she’s not joking, especially after girl cousin used the phrase “that was her demise” a couple times when talking about the ex-girlfriend.

Bryan tells her that he loves her and she melts and it shocks me that she doesn’t pull a Ben Higgins and tell him she loves him too….and the way she acts I guess this is the first time he’s said that, but I swear he told her that like 2 weeks ago, but it must’ve been the whole “I’m falling in love with you” and not the official “I love you”

Peter’s hometown is next in Madison, Wisconsin! We have to see the Wisconsin capitol or we’d have no idea we were in Madison, I guess. Peter greets her with a “welcome home” and while she’s excited to see him there is no “hi baby.”

They walk around the Farmer’s Market and he explains that he does this every Saturday when he’s back home. We get to meet Peter’s friends at their local watering hole. You can tell they have a close group. He had told Rachel he has 10 close friends and 8 outta the 10 are black. Peter’s now mortified and his friends jump all over it askin if he pulled out his black friend card too. They talk about how goofy he is and they’re sure she’s seen it. She admits that he’s been a little reserved. I like Peter because he’s so normal and keeps talking about how weird and bizarre this situation is and that he’s happy to see her out of their bubble and get to know her around his friends and not see her in their alternate universe that’s nothing like normal life. Peter talks about how basically 3 weeks from today he should be getting down on a knee and proposing to her and that’s terrifying to him because he only wants to propose once in his life.

Rachel melts when he sees Peter with his niece and she talks to Peter’s sister about would he be ready for marriage and kids someday because she’s a little concerned since he goes at his own speed, however that’s how she handled it when she was on the show as well. His sister assures him that he’s ready. Peter’s family is great, but they’re just a normal family that loves and supports one another, but don’t have the drama that goes with it.

Peter’s mom talks about how he could be ready for a commitment but not for a ring and proposal. I think my big argument is wouldn’t you rather have a commitment from Peter which you know will actually be worth something, than a proposal from Bryan which will basically be a tiny commitment, but who knows how long the commitment will actually last?

Peter is saying encouraging things, but has not dropped the “l” word yet, but has told her that he’s very happy and wants to keep getting to know her and hanging out with her. I’m glad he’s not saying things, just because that’s what your supposed to do.

Dean is the last hometown in Aspen, CO. I think before I talk about his date it’s important to point out this Instagram post he made over the weekend:

Hometowns are 2 days away! ..and I'm asking for a favor: when I said my father was eccentric, I was not referring to his Sikh faith or the turban he wears on his head. I'm not asking you to spare his feelings (or mine) but instead to be cognizant and accepting of the millions of people that belong to the Sikh community. Although he and I are not close, I respect my father’s decision to follow his heart and pursue the life he has chosen. Let us not criticize him for his appearance or his beliefs because by doing so we are disparaging an entire faith and culture that includes millions of people. And I know we are all better than that. That is all (for now) #endrant HAPPY SATURDAY PEOPLE 💜

A post shared by Dean Michael Unglert 🌹 (@deanie_babies) on Jul 15, 2017 at 1:04pm PDT

Dean meets Rach and he’s nervous bu excited to see her, my question is which of the two of them has the tightest pants on?!?

They’re riding ATVs instead of riding horses today, she’s scared because she’s never driven one before but has riden on the back. She’s worried she’s going to flip it but she ends up surviving and not flipping it.

Dean hasn’t talked to his dad in 2 years, and I want to know why in the hell ABC is making him do this. I feel like the producers are manipulating this and forcing this reunion that let’s be honest all of America doesn’t need to see. He doesn’t appear to be wanting to do this.

We’re gonna meet Dean’s father Parumrup (which is his self-given name as of 6 years ago meaning “divinely beautiful”) his 2 brothers and his sister and his dad’s new wife. The first time that all of them have been under the same roof in 8 years.

Rachel wants to know why he hasn’t talked to his dad, and Dean asks if the responsibility is all on him to make sure there’s a relationship. So it appears that his dad isn’t reaching out to him either. Rach also wants to force Dean to say that his dad wasn’t there for him when he needed him the most, and idk if that’s the right advice to give or not. I mean it sounds like a good idea, but as someone who’s never gone through that before, I don’t think I could tell someone to do that.

Dean is FREAKING out as they’re walking up to the door. He’s not nervous, he’s terrified and I’m afraid he’s going to break down in tears and isn’t ready for this and I don’t want him to have to do this, and I really don’t want tv cameras to capture this, this seems like a real intrusion of privacy.

Dean walks in and the whole family is on the floor and he asks where the table is and Dad says there is no table. Dean does call him Pops….Pops says they were all waiting for King Dean to arrive, can’t tell if it’s sarcasm or not….some girl jumps up to hug Rachel and welcome her and attempt to stop the awkwardness.

They are now on the ground and poor Dean is surpressing every emotion and is saying the right things, but wants to be anywhere but where he is, and God love him. Dad plays a gong and they all have to lay down to listen to the gong and just let yourself go and experience it.

Dean’s father gives Dean & Rachel a gift that has feathers with it, because before Dean’s mom passed away she said that anytime they saw a feather it was a gift from her. Dean’s dad breaks down in tears, and his new wife handles it gracefully.

Then dinner comes out and Dean isn’t eating anything, he just wants this night to be over. Dean talks about his concern is going to be that the family is going to put on a front of being a big and happy family, when in reality when his mom passed they all grew apart and away from one another, especially Dean and his dad.

We now get an awkward conversation with Dean & his dad. Dean’s sister is talking with Rachel and Rachel is all hopeful that Dean & his dad will have the talk tonight to talk about how angry they are with each other. Dean’s sister starts to cry because of all the crap Dean’s been through, he’s always been so strong and she admires that because she’s been weak. She also admits that dad wasn’t there for Dean at all.

Dean’s dad tries to talk about the leaps and bounds and new energy he senses in Dean and then throws out the nail in coffin phrase of “I must be a good dad because look how great my son is.” Dean was able to bit his tongue through most of it. But that was the straw that broke Dean. They get into it about how Dean’s mom was awesome and created this great life, and Dean’s dad was angry that his wife died and left them, but instead of rallying the kids around one another, and learning to do the things she had done, he just kept doing the things he knew, he made money and supported Dean financially through school, but wasn’t there emotionally for him. Dean wants his dad to talk about how angry he was and actually get to that point where they can bond over their shared grief, but Dad shuts down.

Dad then says that in his faith they believe that whatever you believe about me is what you actually believe about you. Dean wants to work things out with his dad, but his dad is shutting things off and Dean’s dad argues that he has honored Dean and opened his house to this new experience. Dean’s dad gets up with a “Good blessings Dean and I wish you well even if you don’t believe it.” Dean tells his dad he loves him, and no matter what he loves him regardless, and it breaks my heart that Dad never says he loves him, he responds with “well whatever”

Rachel has to talk to Dean’s dad now and he says he’s done unless she has something specific. Rachel wants to talk to him because he welcomed her into his home and she wanted to meet Dean’s family. Dean’s dad is talking and then notices the camera, shuts down and gives blessings to her.

Dean asks Rachel about her night. She talks about the conversation with his sister. Dean tells her about how heartbreaking it was that his dad walked away mid-conversation. And he’s falling in love with her. They kiss.

Rachel talks about how amazing Dean is, and I just want to give Dean a giant hug for having to go through this hell on camera, I hope you’re freaking happy ABC because I am not.

We get the sit-down with Chris Harrison so he can get his money for coming in and recapping the episode we all just watched.

Rose ceremony time and dang do the 4 fellas look dapper!

1. Bryan—Mama’s happy and the rest of us are not shocked at all
2. Eric—-I’m shocked he’s in the Final 3 as I thought this would’ve been his week to go, but I will be happy to keep him on my screen for another week
3. Peter—I want Peter to be the final one standing!

 

Oh Dean, Dean, Dean………….Bachelor Nation loves you Dean. We support you and you’re not abandoned and we all want the best for you! You deserve happiness and all the love in the world.

She basically tells him in his goodbye that the reason she’s dumping him is because he’s young and she thinks the age is going to get in the way. And DANG IT DEAN! You’re so classy! He tells her she’s a great girl with 3 incredible guys and he hopes she finds what she’s looking for. He is hurt because he told her he’s falling in love and she had said the same thing and she tells him that everything she told him is true.

We have the final 3 next week. We’re in Spain and meeting Rachel’s family! We’ll see what happens! I’m thinking poor Eric is going home next week and it’s between Peter & Bryan, but then again I thought Dean was top 3, let’s see if Eric can keep sneaking in there.

Until next week!
Lindsay

Rachel & her guys are in Switzerland

Hi friends,

Sorry for the delay in my blog, WordPress wouldn’t open last night, so it was not emotionally prepared for me to watch and blog about the show last night, so here you go, a day late!

We are going to be in Switzerland this week and believe it or not, it’s a PERFECT place to fall in love. We see the Swiss Alps from the hotel with the guys and all I can think of is this:

And dang, if I don’t LOVE the Sound of Music. Though I gotta be honest, I had no idea half of what was going on in that movie when I was a child. I knew the had to get to Switzerland because they were running away from bad people, didn’t realize until much later that it was Nazis, but you know, I digress.

The guys remind us that we have hometowns coming up next week, so this is a HUGE week. All the guys want the 1 on 1 dates.

DANG we are NOT doing a rose ceremony this week! Rachel is making up rules! We have 3 one-on-one dates and then a 3 on 1 date. The first 1 on 1 date is Bryan, shocking! All the guys know that Bryan is the front-runner.

They are dressed up and it’s a luxury date. They’re gonna be driving in a Bentley. Rachel talks about how she likes to treat her guy well, but she’s really going to treat her man well now, Bryan this is not Rachel paying a dime for this, this is ABC paying for it. They go to a watch store and Bryan gets a fancy watch. He’s getting Pretty Woman’ed here and getting all the fancy items, because you know she’ll be your sugar mama when you get home and she’ll keep buying you things.

They have chemistry, I cannot deny that. And I don’t think he’s a horrible person. I just don’t see them talking much and he inhales her face when they kiss, but I guess she likes that kinda thing.

She talks about how he’s too good to be true, and I agree. I like him, but I’m suspicious and Rachel, you’re a lawyer and smart girl, you gotta follow your gut here! If you think he’s too good to be true, he has to be.

I saw this tweet and I’m not that shocked by it.

LITERALLY NEVER FORGET ABOUT BRYAN BEING A CONTESTANT ON "THE PLAYER." #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/SfgoPHGOuF

— Brett S. Vergara (@BrettSVergara) July 11, 2017

He manages to steer conversation away from him, she’s trying to get to know him, but he talks about how he grew up in a loving household, and the only rebellious thing that he had going for him is he wanted an earring. He seems like such a player, I don’t trust him Rachel!!!! Especially when they start talking about her school experience in a private school, which had a uniform and he starts getting pervy about it and trying to figure out if it’s the Catholic school girl uniform. Well Bryan, hate to break it to you, but when I was in high school, my Catholic uniform was a polo shirt (rolled, to appear to be tucked so I didn’t get a demerit) and pleated shorts or if I felt real fancy, a skort, not the sexiest image in the world.

He talks about how his last relationship was a fling, and when the girl met his mom they ended up breaking up, so of course he’s nervous to introduce her to his mom, but she’s willing to take the risk and shockingly gives him a rose. They make out as they’re serenaded by a string quartet, and I could handle more music and less kissing noises. If you’re going to swallow her, you gotta give her a chance to breath, or she may die!

We’ve got Dean and Rachel on the next 1 on 1 date. They are dressed in their Sunday best. They’re going to a Catholic Mass, and it’s going to be in French. She’s never been to a Catholic mass before and she says if it’s horrible they can just leave, and he looks horrified and said they can’t do that. She proves she hasn’t been to a Catholic mass before because she’s talking out loud in the pews and during mass, and I’m really tryin to get a grasp on if Dean is Catholic or not, he seems to know the etiquette a little better. She does say that faith is very important to her and it’s going to be a big thing for whoever she’s with to respect that and her faith, but they don’t have to worship the same way….but then she talks about how today isn’t a day for religious belief talk, church is about tradition and community, which I get, but I’m sorry, when I get engaged the guy will know that I’m Catholic, that’s not a conversation we’ll hold over until after the engagement.

After church, Dean has Rachel waltzing in the square. Rachel talks about how she wants to challenge and deepen her relationship with Dean, but I have to say that it seems their relationship is deeper than hers and Bryans, but what do I know.

Peter & Eric are back at the hotel talking about how it’s a surprise Dean & Bryan got the 2 dates so far and is it because she had questions still for them? They’re freaking out wondering if they’re gonna be chosen or not. This is the last time we get the guys to have conversations and hash it out together, after this week, they’re separated and won’t see each other again, until they go on trips together.

What I appreciate about Dean is that he’s not putting on a show saying he has this wonderful family environment. He’s saying that it’s going to be awkward. And while I’m sad for him, that’s a reality that in all the years of this show, we haven’t really seen. We’ve seen everyone sweeping things under the rug, and introducing the Stepford families. And God Bless Dean, he’s honest and genuine and isn’t going to play that game.

Rachel puts Dean on the spot and wants him to open up to her and is getting frustrated, and humor is his defense mechanism and he doesn’t like attention on him.  He’s endearing, because he doesn’t want to be the center of attention. He likes this girl and doesn’t want to share all of his deep and dark scary thoughts on the 2nd date they’ve been on. It’s refreshing! I love Dean, I know she’s not gonna choose him, but I love him!

Peter is getting the last one on one date, and bless Eric when he finds out, he says if Dean comes home tonight, he will now think that Dean, Peter & Bryan are the top 3, and you all thought Eric was just a pretty face! See he’s able to put 2 and 2 together.

OH DEAN!!!! I love you man!!! He finally opens up to Rachel and talks about how his dad when he was growing up was always the fun, let’s go and do this type of dad. More of a buddy than someone looking out for his well-being. And after his mom passed, his dad didn’t fill that role. He stayed a buddy and that took a beating on their relationship and I guess Dean’s dad has become more eccentric.

And then Dean says the most heartbreaking thing, about how he wishes Rachel could meet the family he had in his most fundamental years of -0-15 and not the family that abandoned him in the most vulnerable stage of his life. And all I wanna do is give him a big hug so he knows he’s not alone and people care!

Dean gets the rose and tells her that Aspen will be weird, but she said she’s ready for it. He has to now stay until the Final 3 because you can’t send him home after his crazy family!

Peter & Rachel get a helicopter ride to go to the Alps. They’re able to see everything as they are flying above and keep pointing items out to one another. Rachel asks him if he realizes that he had the very first 1 on 1 and the very last 1 on 1, he points out that yes, he is aware and has been in his head plenty. Rachel tells us that it’s something that Peter has been able to not only keep her attention this whole journey but has grown their relationship even with the delay in dates.

They got to go dog sledding and are now sitting in the snow having a talk, and I have to tell you that it seems like that is the most uncomfortable place ever to have a conversation! This is where I would want Bryan’s tongue to attempt to keep me warm. Or at least give me some alcohol, I know it’d actually end up making you colder, but the burn would be worth it initially making you feel warmer. Poor Peter doesn’t even get a hat and has the salt & pepper look working from the snow.

Peter talks to Rachel about how he went through dark days that he had thought about leaving, because he saw Rachel dating other guys and he was scared, but wanted to stay because he trusted their connection. And now they start making out by lying down in the snow, which is probably not what I’d do, but tomato/tomato I guess.

Peter gets chocked up when he’s talking about how his last relationship ended with him driving away from his ex, and it was an amicable break-up, but she waved goodbye to him as he drove off, and was crying. Peter has held onto the guilt of hurting that girl because he couldn’t love her the way she loved him. He basically tells Rach, that if he’s the last one standing, he’ll propose if he’s in love with her, but isn’t gonna propose just for the sake of proposing and now all of a sudden she’s scared that he may not choose her, even though she hasn’t chosen him. Rachel ends up giving him the rose and ready to take him to hometowns.

This always confuses me each season. Love is a true partnership, right?!? Give and take. So just because one person chooses to love you, that doesn’t automatically mean you have to love them. You have free will and intellect. Whenever on the show, a chance comes up where someone shows some hesitancy, the lead normally goes with the “sure-thing” though the “sure-thing” is just the person who knows what to say, and very rarely do they end up together and the lead would most likely be in a better position if they chose the person who is honest about their feelings and having doubts, as any sane person would in this situation!

Alright, now we have the awkward 3 on 1 date. She’s going to have to say 2 hard goodbyes today. They are going on a boat to France and Eric is so stinking cute, he starts jumpin up and down because he’s so excited.

Eric is so sweet when he gets his chance to talk. He tells her he knows this is a difficult journey and it’s been taxing, but she deserves it and has earned the right to be selfish. He says all these phrases, but I believe him! I don’t think he’s telling her how strong she is so he can get a rose, I think he’s saying it because he honestly believes it. Eric has such a youthful/genuine quality about him, that I can’t help but smile when I see him and Rachel interact because he’s so smiley and realizes how cool this experience is.

Matt’s one on one is cut short when she decides to send him home. She’s really broken up about it and in tears as they say goodbye. She can’t say anything bad about him, and he seemed like a really sweet guy, but there just wasn’t that connection and passion there with them, that was present in her other relationships, but you can tell she cared for him as she really breaks down watching him leave.

The night portion of the date has turned into a 2 on 1 date, with Adam, Eric & Rachel. Adam has been confident this whole episode and I don’t know if it’s so we as an audience member can remember who in the world he is, as he has certainly been flying under the radar this season. Or the have made him confident this episode, so when he doesn’t get chosen we feel more sympathy for him.

Eric tells Rachel he’s never brought a girl home ever, and at 29 that’s a huge red flag for her and could be his final nail in his coffin.

Eric gets the final rose and he’s overcome with emotion. Let’s be honest, between Adam & Eric, they’re just fighting between 4th and 5th place. I think it means more to Eric though, so I’m glad he got the rose. Adam’s pissed in the limo and doesn’t have the most grateful exit, he thinks she made a massive mistake. Rachel cries, but not to the extent as when she told Matt goodbye, so I don’t think she made a mistake.

Alright, next week’s hometowns look like they could more interesting than normal, poor poor Dean! I’ll see you all back next Monday!

Lindsay

Rachel’s Vikings!

Here we go Night 2 of our Bachelorette Extravaganza!

We’re going to start off with Lee & Kenny show-down. Kenny tells Lee he knows he lied to Rachel about Kenny dragging Lee outta a van….then Lee says he never said that….PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE, why do you insist on lying when there are VIDEO CAMERAS surrounding you 24/7! You’re on a reality television show, what do you think is going to happen? You’re going to be shown to be a liar!

Rachel comes back to the guys and talks about how informative today was and how honesty is great, but trust is the most important thing. Rachel tells Lee that she doesn’t trust him and is sending him home. Rachel told Kenny that they had a really good conversation, but she’s not quite ready to hand out the rose yet, and wants more time with Kenny.

As Lee is leaving he throws out another condescending “sweetheart” and decides if he’s going down he’s going to take Kenny with him. I don’t know if the producers are making Kenny go and talk to Lee or if he decided to go himself, but he walks her to the helicopter and rolls her eyes and can’t believe that Kenny is giving Lee more attention after he “won.” Rachel isn’t impressed and I think Kenny nailed his own coffin with that whole exchange.

The guys are excited to see Lee’s bags leaving, but I was disappointed it was nowhere NEAR this level….this is by far the best reaction ever to a 2 on 1 date reaction of people leaving—-goodbye Kelsey!

Best celebration ever! #TheBachelor 🎉🍷 https://t.co/ruJxe2buOr

— The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) February 10, 2015

Kenny & Rachel are talking in the evening and Kenny talks about how he has a very long fuse, but he knows to not bottle up his emotions up. I will give Kenny credit, you know exactly where he stands in any situation, I don’t know if that is the case for all the guys left, but it’s what Rachel wants and needs. As a result of Kenny’s sincerity, he gets the rose for the night. They have a good friendship, let’s see where the romance is, because I don’t know if it’s up to the same level as some of the other guys. Kenny cries again when he talks to his daughter, and he’s fallen hard for Rachel and has her high on a pedestal, which you know isn’t going to end well, but for tonight, let’s act like all is right and Kenny will be happy for a long period of time 🙂

No cocktail party, we’re going straight to rose ceremony! Rachel gets to be super blunt by saying that they’re all great guys, but if you don’t get a rose tonight it’s because she honestly doesn’t see you as her husband

1. Bryan—got the 1 on 1 date rose
2. Will-Group date rose
3. Kenny—2 on 1 rose
4. Dean—still love Young smiley Dean
5. Eric—I like Eric, especially since he laid low after Lee went after him, I hope he opens up some more
6. Peter—I’m shocked he was the 3rd one listed for the rose, but I guess he can’t be the first one all the time
7. Alex—-Russia
8. Adam—-really the guy with the puppet keeps making it this far?!?!?
9. Final rose—-MATT?!?! WTH?!?! PENGUIN GUY!??!?!

That means going home is Anthony & Josiah. I thought for sure Anthony was going to get the final rose, I mean I knew he wasn’t going super far because we didn’t really see a whole of his Rodeo drive date or much after that, but we’ve seen more of him than we have of  freaking Adam, Matt or Alex.

Josiah, you had your chance buddy. I liked you at the beginning, but your ego got in the way. You’re a smooth operator, but don’t know how to woo an intelligent lady. There’s nothing wrong with Josiah, there’s something wrong with Rachel’s brain according to her.

We’re now in Copenhagen, Denmark for our journey. Eric gets the first one-on-one date and Rachel is “cOPEN to love.” Eric is PUMPED to be on a date with her just the 2 of them. He does have some positive energy. They get to go on a boat and tour Copenhagen. He makes her smile and laugh pretty much the whole time on the boat. They start talking about how many kids they want, Rachel says 4 and Eric acts like it’s a lot then comes back and says he wants 10! This is such a positive, happy date. I find myself smiling back at them because of how much they’re smiling, and their smiles come in a close second to my favorite smile that’s on my television screen (Lorenzo Cain from the Royals)

Group date card arrives:

1. Dean
2. Kenny
3. Bryan
4. Alex
5. Matt
6. Peter
7. Adam

Which means Will gets the second 1 on 1 date of the week.

Who knew that Denmark had the 2nd most popular amusement park in the world. They’re laughing and giggling and having a great time, believe it or not. They bring their inner child side out in one another. They act like high school sweethearts with no cares in the world.

Eric tells us about how he was a good kid, good grades, no smoke, drugs didn’t do anything bad. As he was growing up, he didn’t get love from his mom. Didn’t get love and attention so he would run away from it, because he never had it before. He knows he’s falling for her and feels out of control but in a good way. He is willing to keep opening up and learn more and do whatever it takes….Eric won me over a little bit more tonight, and Rachel as well, he gets the rose tonight!

Group date is going on a Viking boat, not quite the Viking Voyager from Worlds of Fun but close. They are sitting in the midst of other gentleman and are rowing, it looks like it’s actually some difficult work. It is not surprising to me that Rachel is sitting next to Bryan on this part of the trip.

We now have Tom & Morton who are going to show our guys how to be Vikings. Poor Dean & Peter just appear so outta their element it’s almost humorous. These games are very violent and physical. The 2 that are the best and have to fight for it are Kenny & Adam. We have both Kenny & Adam that duel it out and the shields hit each of them in the face, they probably each need stitches and Kenny wins the Viking King of the day. Rachel appears more uncomfortable by all of this and I think that she likes team sport and strategy more than the brute strength of challenges and kicking the crap outta one another.

Bryan steals Rachel first away from the group. They gotta make out and talk about how they missed one another, and attempt to talk in the middle of making out. Bryan is an optimist and then Rachel talks about being a pessimist and talks about how bad things could be and they could break up. Bryan tries to reassure her, but doesn’t have concrete plans in how to reassure her. He doesn’t talk about how what a plan is for them living in 2 different cities or states, just that he’s there and in it.

Peter is our next guy up. Rachel talks about how handsome he is and what attracted her the most when they first met was how nervous he was. She talked about how she’s not good at vocalizing her emotions, she thinks about it and analysis them and since she does that and knows she doesn’t have a poker face, she assumes they know where she is. Peter I think can read her and does pay enough attention to be on the same page as her. She inspires him to look into the future, and she is his muse and then she asks for him to kiss her and I’m falling even more for him

Now we’re to the quick portion of the montage of conversations with the guys. We get Dean and her kissing and joking. Then Alex and Adam. Matt and her talk about Kenny’s eye and that Kenny is hurting physically but maybe also emotionally.

Kenny talks about how he’s fighting his ass of to prove himself and missing his daughter. He admits the last couple weeks haven’t been wonderful and if their relationship has been growing the way he’d like it to. She’s asking him what he’s lacking from her. Kenny actually endears him to me even more because he’s the one who’s able to put his daughter first and talks about he doesn’t want to introduce his daughter to her if he’s not gonna be in the finals. They have a real honest conversation, and you can tell that she respects his relationship with McKenzie and says that he’s going to be real sad to see him go, but they both admit that they aren’t where they should be and I’m so glad that Kenny gets to go out on his own term and go out with his head held high. She cries as he leaves because he’s such a great guy but this is how Kenny’s journey should end. Go home to Vegas, be with your daughter and find a nice girl because you deserve it Kenny! We’re all cheering for you!

The group date rose for the night is going to Peter because he deserves it from last week but he couldn’t get it last week, so there’s your reassurance Peter.

We’ve got Rachel & Will’s one-on-one date. Rachel talks about how there’s something missing with Will, all he’s done is hold her hand. He’s not as physical as she would like. She thinks Will is just holding back and that’s disappointing her, she wants more from him. You can tell that it’s pretty superficial and you can tell that they both feel somewhat uncomfortable.

You know what stinks is that I feel like this is one of those situations that doesn’t happen all that often on this show, but is happening here. The contestants are trying to see if there’s a connection with the lead just as much as the lead is with the contestants. We’ve all been on dates before where you’re just not feeling it. Of course most of us, just have to endure those awkward dates with only the waiter/waitress as our witnesses and our besties as we drive home talking about the date. Instead Will & Rachel get all of America critiquing their date. You can’t force something that’s not there, so I’m not going to say Will should’ve done this or that…..good for him to not succumb to the pressure of this is what I should do because I’m on TV. I don’t know if I like that the storyline the producers are tryin to spin here that Will isn’t attracted to Rachel because she’s a black woman. The guys back at the hotel have an interesting conversation about it, and I do like that they are showing these types of conversations and will hopefully open up dialogues that need to be spoken more frequently. It’s not a good look for him when he says as a boyfriend he would be more passionate and didn’t show any passion towards her at all. She says they’d be good friends, but she’s not looking for a friendship here, so Will is going home without the rose.

2 ROSE CEREMONIES in 1 episode?!?! Rachel walks in and starts crying and talks about how she doesn’t like to show emotion, and saw the castle that Shakespeare saw that inspired Hamlet and she thought of the quote “To thine own self be true” and she breaks down and walks away and leaves the guys standing there. They are uncomfortable and you can tell a few want to follow her, but they have to hang out on the stinkin risers

1. Eric—got the rose on the first 1 on 1 date
2. Peter—got the date on the group date
3. Bryan—not a shocker
4. MATT?!?!? PENGUIN GUY AGAIN?!!?
5. Dean—-love his smile 🙂
6. Final Rose—-Adam, glad he’s not going home the same week he got stitches

That means going home is Alex. He was comedic relief when he was around, but I don’t feel like we really really got to know him. Rachel walks him out and is crying saying this is the hardest goodbye she’s done yet. She cries as she watches him drive off.

In the previews we see more tears and it’s trying to tell us that it’s going to be the most dramatic season ever. I have to say that I don’t know if I’ve liked a Bachelorette or heck any lead besides Ben Higgins as much as I like Rachel, especially with only 6 guys left. We know her top 3, but she hasn’t gotten rid of anyone I truly love or kept any of the other guys around longer than the producers deemed necessary. Her top 3 are Dean, Peter and Bryan, and they are mine as well, with Peter being my #1.

We have next week off for the 4th of July holiday, but we’ll be back July 10, it’s hard to believe we’re beginning to wind down her journey!

Until then, practice your Viking games and have a safe/happy/healthy 4th of July!
Lindsay

Rachel & her guys head to Norway!

Welcome back friends!

Let’s start off by talking about how Bachelor in Paradise is back on. Now who knows how it’s going to air and what will happen with the 3 days they were down there before and the whole DeMario/Corrine drama, but the investigation showed no wrong doing. Let’s hope that’s true and that everyone else behaves themselves while they’re done there. We know Raven will be there as she tweeted this out:

Back to Paradise! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9WyizwMZPm

— Raven (@ravengates09) June 20, 2017

So have no fear, we will have something to watch in mid August to get us to when Fall TV returns in September (Hello THIS IS US :))

I am really hoping with this whole 2 day Bachelorette escapade we’re going on, we’ll finally get away from the “To be Continued” and get back to the rose ceremonies at the end of the episodes because it’s hard to remember exactly where we’re jumping into.

We luckily have the previews that remind us that Lee was being a douche and egging Kenny on. Kenny grabbed Lee for a conversation outside. The rest of the guys just watch them go outside and talk about the drama of it. What really proves that Lee is a douche is now Peter saying that Lee is “a royal pain in the ass”

And instead of going with Lee & Kenny we have Bryan in a sail boat with Rachel that is on land and they aren’t moving anywhere. Bryan is a smooth operator and talks about how she thinks he’s too good for her and he thinks she’s too good for him. I don’t know, I like Bryan, but I don’t know if I trust him completely, if he’s watched this show before, he knows exactly what to say, especially about how he doesn’t care about the drama in the house. He’s attractive as hell, but is he in it for Rachel or the fame?!?! I do know I’ve seen more of his tongue than I’d ever like to, he’s a poor man’s Arie from Emily Maynard’s season a million years ago:

Arie gets $10 any Bachelorette contestant does the "push up against a wall kiss". @ariejr pic.twitter.com/cwc43xQtzF

— Bachelor Interns (@BachelorInterns) June 21, 2016

Alright now we have Lee & Kenny talking and Lee just rolling his eyes and not listening and letting Kenny talk. Kenny is keeping his voice very calm and low, it’s actually more terrifying them him yelling, you can tell Lee is shaking in his boots and is trying to talk and get Kenny riled up and start yelling. He’s trying to twist words around and provoke Kenny and we’re all hoping that Kenny holds it together. Lee is terrified, so he has to walk away and go into the room with the rest of the guys.

Rachel hands the group date out to Bryan and I don’t think any of us are all that shocked, you can tell she’s a fan. The guys actually congratulate Bryan and talk about how he’s a classy guy, Kenny is the one who leads the toast and Lee tries and talks to him and get him to fight but Kenny has the guys cracking up.

What I find actually the most interesting is as the guys are leaving to go to their car to go back to the hotel, Lee & Kenny are still jawing at one another, but you can tell Bryan is trying to talk to a Producer. I don’t know if it’s to give them the rose, or if he’s trying to get something to get the rose to stick to his shirt, but I am payin way more attention to that and want to know about that interaction instead of whatever is going on with Lee & Kenny.

Poor Jack Stone gets his first date and they are dancing and Jack Stone & Rachel are not on the same page at all….it’s awkward, not as bad as it was with Fred, but still awkward, when the girl is giggling as they kiss, because she’s sick and he’s going to get sick…..it’s so sad because he’s feeling her and she’s not feeling him and I need her to let him down quickly and gently because this is SO AWKWARD!

Lee is talking to Will and trying to get his side of the story and Kenny being aggressive and is whining. Will tries to steer Lee away from using the word “aggressive” because there is a negative connotation with that word and African American men and that is not something Will wants to go down…..and of course because Lee is a douche he’s trying to talk about Kenny playing the race card as an excuse for his behavior. And Will tells him that the word “aggressive” is a trigger word and Lee should find another word. Of course Lee doesn’t see it that way and doesn’t understand why he needs to change.

We’re back to Rachel & Jack Stone and you know it’s not going to end well when they come into dinner and she’s in a sweater cardigan and jeans and is way too casual for a date. You can tell she has the sniffles and is just not feeling it. Jack Stone is the worst attorney ever if he’s not picking up the signs that the “X-Factor” isn’t there.  I feel horrible for him, because he has a great smile and great personality, but he is not getting the rose and is going home on his one-on-one date.

What sucks is a great guy like Jack Stone is going home and getting his heart broken on National TV and didn’t get all the air-time that freakin Lee is getting who’s a scum bag and that makes me really sad. I also am to blame for this, I haven’t said really anything about Jack Stone in my blog but have typed more about the douche than I should.

No cocktail party, we’re going straight to the rose ceremony:

1. Bryan- group date
2. Dean-one-on-one date rose
3. Eric—good for him to stay away from Lee & the drama this week, I think he’s a good guy who has a lil growing up to do, but could get there
4. Peter—I think Peter is actually my #1, I’m a huge fan of him
5. Adam—-the guy who has Adam Jr. the puppet
6. Will—he dressed up as Urkel
7. Matt—-the guy who was the penguin
8. Alex—-Russian guy
9. Josiah—he’s had a rough childhood and go of things
10. Anthony—the guy who went on the 1 on 1 with the horses on Rodeo drive
11. Kenny—-pro-wrestler with the daughter
12. Lee gets the FINAL ROSE because of course he does

That means going home is Iggy—the pot stirrer who never had a real conversation with Rachel other than to tattle on the other guys and Jonathan the tickle-monster who was well liked and the comic relief in the house. He goes in and hugs her and then tickles her one last time on the road and all the guys loved it and were laughing and clapping for him, he’s gonna be on Paradise isn’t he?!?

Rachel and the guys are leaving the country, they’re heading to Norway!

Little known fact, I do know some items about Norway, from the last Winter Olympics where we had Office Olympics and my department’s country was Norway. We knew facts about the country and speed skating.

There is no date card, Rachel just grabs Bryan and takes him on a date. Dean decides to be the one to bet against everyone and say there’s a chance Bryan couldn’t come back. I appreciate Dean’s try, sometimes you gotta place a bet against everyone else. They admit they have the physical, but both want to get to know the basics about each other.

Bryan and Rachel are going to repel down and Rachel is FREAKING out. She is hysterically laughing and can’t handle it she wants down, but Bryan is calming her down the best he can and walking her through this, though he’s breathing heavily and freaking out. I do have to say ABC I don’t need to hear the kissing noises, we know they like each other and are kissing. They make it down and she needs to kiss him and hug him and be on solid ground. Bryan talks about how he can stay positive in this whole experience because they’ve made good forward progress. Rachel admits she’s trying to sabotage this because she doesn’t want to be be played. I want them to talk to one another more because I don’t think they’re having the conversations that Dean and Peter and her have had, that’s what concerns me.

Anthony & Eric are having a conversation in the hotel about how there is 5 one-on-one dates and that Anthony is the only Black guy who’s gone on a date. Anthony shows how articulate he is by talking about how Rachel sees past the race and is looking at the personalities and Anthony points out that you could put him, Eric, DeMario, Kenny and any of the other guys and you wouldn’t think they were the same guy.

Rachel when talking about Bryan and the night portion of their date is definitely sounding like Bryan is the lead character, she’s worried about putting herself out there and talking to him and being rejected, not something you hear very often. She talks about how growing up she was a tomboy and she had an attractive older sister and all the guys would pay attention to her sister, so she doesn’t know how to accept a compliment or know if it’s genuine. Bryan talks about his past relationship which was 4 years ago and anytime any serious topics came up he would deflect, but he’s decided to grow up and be a man, and he’s gonna open up and he’s the first one to utter the phrase “I’m truly falling in love with you” and gets the date rose. She is SMITTEN and I want to trust him but don’t know if I can.

 

Alright group date time:

1. Adam
2. Dean
3. Anthony
4. Peter
5. Matt
6. Will
7. Alex
8. Eric
9. Josiah

Which leaves Kenny & Lee for the 2 on 1, obviously.

Rachel and the group date guys are going to be playing a popular European game of handball. You can see that they are intimidated and scared by what they’re watching guys do.  Coach Tom is here to teach them how to play Handball. A combo of football, basketball and water polo….Coach Tom gives us all a valuable life lesson “HandBall is LIFE!”

This looks like some dodgeball thrown in there as well. The guys are wearing wrestling singlets basically. Rachel is playing on the red team as well. Peter is flirting with her very obviously and then we also see Dean flirting and tying her shoe that came untied.

Kenny gets to FaceTime his daughter and you can tell he is an active father and he is a good father who loves his daughter. He cries and is a big teddy bear who misses her and it breaks your heart a little bit, because you know it’s genuine and real.

Group date night portion of the date. Rachel takes Will “the champ” who scored the most points. He has an amazing laugh! He tells her he’s guarded and put the foot on the peddle because he doesn’t want to have regrets and needs to speed things up. He talks about how he was also hurt and his ex chose a different guy. He realized he gave it his all and it wasn’t him. They talk about how they’re feeling each other and like each other, and he takes her to the side and kisses her not right in-front of the cameras which I appreciate.

Alex decides to read her a letter he wrote and she loved it.

Dang, Adam ended up stiching lyrics of a song onto a blanket or something to that equivalent.

Josiah knows all the correct phrases to say and the compliments to give. He says she’s the woman of his dreams. Rachel calls him out about not asking her questions when they’re together and not just saying things because he read them. He’s not even listening when she says to ask her questions. He just keeps using the player phrases and I don’t trust him, but dang I wanted to like Josiah because of his crazy backstory.

Peter & Rachel are talking and there’s the romantic music playing before we even see the 2 of them on the screen. He talks about how he enjoyed seeing her in her element earlier today. She admits she’s an open book and very easy to read and he cracks me up because he asks why is he the only one who picks up on that, and I do not know Peter, I do not know! Rachel said what she loves about Peter is that he notices things about her that others don’t notice, he’s lazered into her. They go out onto the patio and take in the view and make-out. He said that he just wants to keep kissing her and she tells him to do it then, but I love him even more because he says no they have a ton of ground to cover, which shows he’s not just in it for the physical connection, but also the emotional one. Of course, she suggests they cover the ground in the hot tub, they change and make-out in there, but Peter you get an A for effort buddy! They were all talking about how long Peter had been gone and give him hell when he gets back in.

Rachel comes in and grabs the group date rose and she gives it Will and I’m sure Peter is disappointed, but we all know that Peter and Bryan are the front-runners she can’t give all the group date roses to them. Don’t get in your head Peter, she likes you! But dang I do like Will’s laugh!

Rachel shows up in a helicopter to get Lee & Kenny. They go out to the Norwegian wilderness and if this date isn’t bringing flashbacks to this 2 on 1 you’re not a real fan 😉

Kenny is fighting for the relationship with Rachel and that he actually wants to be there for her, and she feels a sense of sincerity and that she can trust him. For some reason the producers leave the 2 guys just the 2 of them before Lee has talked to her. Lee is talking about how he can be calculating and is gonna stir the pot.

Lee is talking about how aggressive Kenny is and Kenny tried to take him out of the van aggressively. Lee is talking just about Kenny and not about his relationship with Rachel. He also talks about how Kenny has a dark place when he drinks. He doesn’t mention Rachel whatsoever or their relationship.

Rachel talks about how she doesn’t know who to trust or what sides are exaggerating and to what extent. She was going to leave Lawyer Rach at home, but screw that….she grabs Kenny and talks to him again and tells him that Lee said he was violent, aggressive and pulled him from the van. Kenny looks SHOCKED by the news especially of the news of the van, and I’m believing him. She wanted to be honest with him because he was honest with her. She leaves him to go think about things.

Kenny is walking back down the hill and is PISSED. I think Lee purposely lied, so Kenny would smack him and then they’d both go home. Lee knows he isn’t gonna get Rachel, but I think he wants to make sure Kenny doesn’t get him either. Stay strong Kenny!!!!

We get a TO BE CONTINUED and there are LOTS of tears….luckily we just have to wait until tomorrow!

See you then!
Lindsay

Rachel & her guys leave the Mansion!

Let me start by talking about the controversy that is going on for Bachelor in Paradise and say that it makes me sick to my stomach, that people will put aside helping out someone (or someones as the case may be) and just let them make stupid mistakes and not put them in harms way all for the sake of a good television show. I don’t know all the details in the DeMario & Corrine situation, and honestly, don’t really wanna know it, but shame on the people who watched it all go down and didn’t step in. At first I was selfishly sad that I wasn’t going to watch the train-wreck this summer and wondered why someone would agree to be a producer of a show like this if they were going to blow a whistle on the whole thing, but as more disturbing things are coming out, I’m realizing how wrong my first impression was and how warped my sense of reality tv is and how I should’ve applauded the producer who had the guts to speak up when no one else would.

I watched the first season of the LifeTime show UnReal and it honestly made me sick to watch, I think they’ve had at least 1 more season if not 2, but I couldn’t watch because it made me feel horrible to think of the manipulation that occurs. Yes, I often talk about a person sticking around because a producer is making them, but to know the extent that they are puppet masters and some people have no idea the strings that are being pulled, is what makes me sad.

Okay, so I have no other thoughts on the DeMario/Corrine thing at this time, other than saying we should pray for both of them and the other people who were witnesses to it, because it sounds like they could all use our prayers.

On a lighter subject, last week we didn’t have the Bachelorette because the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to become NBA champions & who happened to be in the house watching and cheering on her ex-boyfriend, Kevin Durant who played the game/series of his life? Why yes, our Bachelorette Rachel was in attendance and tweeted out this photo, showing she was cheering for the Warriors….interesting! Read into that, whatever you want, I’m just saying, if I’m her fiance sitting at home last Monday, I’m pissed I’m not at game 5 and am pissed she’s sitting front-row watching an ex-flame who happens to be one of the best basketball players in the world.

Game 5…Let's go!!!! pic.twitter.com/pu7sG6VpA4

— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) June 13, 2017

Alright, let’s get into this episode. Remember where we left off a couple weeks ago….Lee was stirring the pot and getting under poor Eric’s skin and getting him to freak out. Eric manages to keep his cool and just asks Lee to mind his own business and he’ll do the same.

Lee shows he wants to be the villain, because he goes up to interrupt poor Kenny the wrestler’s time with Rachel just as they sit down. He asks for 60 seconds, Lee pretends he said 16 seconds and counts the 16 seconds, and Rachel & Kenny are trying to have a real life convo, but Lee is hovering and making it awkward for everyone. Kenny cracked me up though, because as he’s leaving he looks at the camera and cocks his eyebrow like he doesn’t believe it.

Lee tries to say he’s here to pull Rachel’s heart strings and I don’t know if that’s supposed to be romantic but it sounds like he’s just trying to manipulate her and it pisses me off.

Sweet Dean is talking about how Lee is pissing him off, and Dean endears himself to me some more. Especially when he’s part of a conversation about quirks/corks/quarts….it reminds me of this exchange from Friends, and we’ve all been there before trying to figure out exactly what the cultural phrase is:

Dean is giving his interview with the producers and you can tell they’re trying to lead him down a path of questioning and he answers it up to a point. He hints at the idea that Lee is racist and is only going after certain guys in the house that maybe he doesn’t have as much in common with culturally, yet he’s brilliant because he never actually says Lee is racist, because that is not an accusation you want to make lightly or be the one to say and he’s smart enough to know that not give the producers the sound-bite they really want.

We get the romance with Bryan & Rachel. He asks her to be vulnerable with him and she tells him that she has a fear that he’s so charming that it it’s too good to be true. He tells her it’s a fairy tale and she doesn’t believe it and then throws it back at him, showing that she’s still the girl we loved on Nick’s season and keeping it real by still being skeptical of this whole process and asks him what’s going to happen when they get back to real life, and Bryan assures her that’s it’s real and genuine and she has nothing to worry about, and dang girl, I’m swooning on my living room couch over this guy so good luck to you! They giggle and she is a smitten kitten, Bryan is our front-runner ladies & gentleman, they do seem to be in their own little world.

Kenny pulls Lee aside from the group to call him out on pulling aside Rachel twice. He’s trying to stay calm, but Lee again is stirring the pot and trying to get him upset and it’s working. I feel for Kenny and we need Lee off our tv, he doesn’t give a crap about Rachel he is wanting to be on TV and be the “villain”

Rachel breaks down in tears in her interview talking about the pressures of being the first black Bachelorette and dealing with people second guessing all of her thoughts and choices and trying to make her choices of handing guys roses into a bigger deal then most of our Bachelorettes have to deal with. She again handles this with class & grace though and is so articulate and knows what to say and when to be quiet and not get herself in trouble, I am again impressed by her.

It’s ROSE CEREMONY TIME!

1. Eric—-got the group date rose
2. Anthony—Mr. Clean, one-on-one date with the horses on Rodeo drive, I still don’t understand
3. Alex—-the Russian who was a great stripper and very honest in his questions and answers with Ellen DeGeneres
4. Will—-Urkel
5. Dean—-the best smile in the house, my 3rd favorite guy
6. Jonathan—how the hell does the tickle monster keep makin it?
7. Peter—-my 2nd favorite guy, gap between teeth, first one-on-one date
8. Adam—-the guy who had the mini puppet the first night
9. Bryan—my favorite guy, first impression rose, chiropractor
10. Matt—-dressed up as a penguin the first night
11. Josiah—-great smile, attorney with the saddest family story
12. Jack—Jack Stone, attorney that I don’t know anything else about
13. Iggy—-he just annoys me, he is trying to interject at the weirdest times it seems like
14. Kenny—wrestler, single dad, good for you Kenny!
15. Final Rose—-Lee because the producers are making her choose him for another week 😦

 

Going home:

1.Diggy—stylish glasses and 500 pairs of shoes

2. Bryce—firefighter

3. Male model—Brady

 

Alright people, we’re saying goodbye to these fellas and we’re going to say goodbye to the mansion for awhile. We’re going to SC!

Dean gets the 1 on 1, their love is about to take off! It’s been driving me crazy the last couple weeks, trying to figure out who Dean reminded me of, and it finally hit me, he reminds me of Scott Wolf from Party of 5! Here’s my proof, do you kinda see it?!?

 

They take off in a jeep and are able to go off-roading a little bit. They’re also gonna go on a picnic on the front of the jeep. There’s lots of giggling and cuddling. Dean points out the Goodyear blimp and then realization starts to sink in when he sees it coming over. Rachel has a fascination with blimps and have since she was a kid, so she is PUMPED! She spills champagne on herself, but Dean doesn’t notice, because he’s now laying down on the hood of the jeep, seeing his life flash before his eyes because he’s terrified of heights and doesn’t wanna do this. Rachel promises to hold his hand the whole time and my love of Dean is growing!

He is worried, freaking out, trying to smile but you can tell he’s freaking. He also rambles when he’s nervous and can’t look out the window. Rachel is loving it and sitting in the drivers seat and flying the blimp. Dean stands up and watches her and then she makes him get in the drivers seat. He is driving it and asks the pilot if there’s anything he could do to destroy them and then all of a sudden he’s enjoying it and yells out “I’m a BLIMP PILOT!” and there is more giggling.

Rachel tells us that she’s a dare-devil and they talk about how they need someone to push them a little bit, but you have to have the trust factor and someone you feel comfortable with and they have that. And he cracks me up by admitting that the champagne helps take the edge off a lil bit.

The guys at the resort see the blimp drive by with the sign that say that Rachel & Dean are in the blimp. The guys point out that Rachel is going to be 32 and Dean is 25, so the age difference could be a real thing and he needs to bring his A game to dinner tonight.

Group date card:

1. Alex
2. Anthony
3. Peter
4. Bryan
5. Jonathan
6. Adam
7. Matt
8. Kenny
9. Lee
10. Iggy
11. Eric
12. Will
13. Josiah

Which means Jack Stone gets a 1 on 1 date, so maybe we’ll know something about Jack now!

Back to Dean & Rachel! They’re in an enchanted forest eating dinner with all of these lights off of the trees. Dean has an unfortunate wardrobe choice with some tighty whitey pants but luckily he’s sitting down now so I don’t have to see them.

Dean asked about Rachel’s up-bringing. Rachel mentions her parents are still together and she was raised in a strict religious upbringing, but her parents let her be her.

Dean talks about a strict religious upbringing. Religion and being outdoors were the foundation of his childhood. He casually mentions that when he was 15 his mother passed away and that’s when things began to fall apart. His mom had breast cancer, she was diagnosed at 9, and he found a book about dealing with breast cancer in the car when she went to pick him up from school. She was in remission for awhile. Then when he was 14 she was re-diagnosed and he talks about how she was admitted to hospice and since she had been in remission before he assumed she’d go thru remission again. He said he’d leaned over and asked her when she’d come back home and she told him never and that was the hardest moment of his life. He remembers it was a Tuesday, October 21, 2006, his dad came into his room and told him that his mom passed away. Dad was crying but Dean was stoic. He talked about his brothers and sister moved out of the house, his dad wasn’t around a lot, so he basically had the house to himself from 15-18, which was challenging. You can tell he loves his mom, and was a mama’s boy.

He cries a little bit, Rachel cries a little bit. He talks about how he hadn’t opened up like that to anyone else. He wants to be a family man some-day. That experience helped open him up and he wants to be married and have a close family. Rachel wanted to be strong for him and didn’t cry until she was in her interview with her producer.

Dean gets the rose and I don’t know, there is something about the 2 of them. I really am a fan of Dean, he’s slowly growing on me! And this date wouldn’t be complete without a random concert where Dean & Rachel get to dance on a make-shift stage with all of these people standing around with their phones and Russel Dickerson is singing to them, they’re dancing and kissing.

Group date time! We’re going on a boat and by boat we mean yacht for the group date. We have a dance party where all the guys have to dance in the middle of a circle. We limbo. We have a push-up competition where Rachel sits on their back and they do a push-up. Then a rap competition, where Kenny does a great job an then poor Pete decides to try and rap and he gets points for trying, but bless his heart he’s not an awesome rapper.

We now are off the yacht and the boys are very upset because we have a Spelling Bee. Harrison is our host and there is a poor audience that needs to witness this, for who knows what reason. It came down to Josiah & Will for our spelling bee champions and Josiah is the one who won. Some of the guys were not impressed with him and his cocky attitude, but I think they were just jealous they couldn’t spell.

Alright, night portion of the date is here!

Peter talks about how with the large group of guys that were around, he had an unexpectedly good time with her. She comments that his freestyle was something that she absolutely loved and that he was perceptive. I like that he’s still getting to know her and asking her questions, like barefoot or socks and they both agreed barefoot. Peter said he’d leave Madison for the right reason, and Rachel just casually mentions she is licensed to practice in Wisconsin and that excited him.

Eric talks about how today loosened him up and she was excited for that and can tell he’s having a better day and wants him to have fun and be loose. He asks her what her typical day is. Picking up food, cleaning is a stress reliever and watching trashy tv.

Iggy grabs Rachel and is going to stir the pot and not talk about their relationship at all, but wants to mention the other guys. And you can tell Rachel isn’t feeling him, she is asking him about the house drama, when she’s told all the guys she’s interested in that she doesn’t wanna deal with that and doesn’t wanna talk about it. Iggy says he questions Josiah’s motives, which means he feels threatened by Josiah. Iggy is the gossip of the house.

Lee is talking to Rachel and you can tell that she is not feeling him and doesn’t believe a word that is coming out of his mouth. He talks about how positive he is and how that can come across as disingenuous and how Lee was scared of Kenny because he was very aggressive and berated him for 30 minutes. Lee makes it appear that he was the good guy and that he didn’t do anything and Kenny is the bad guy. He’s just a sweet southern gentleman

Rachel and Kenny are now talking and Kenny free-styles for her and they giggle. Rachel wants to keep it real, and talks about what’s been bothering her with him yelling at Lee as she was trying to have a conversation. She talked about how she hadn’t seen that side of Kenny before and she was concerned. Kenny admits he didn’t handle the situation correctly and wishes he could do it better and that they’d shaken hands and made up. Kenny points out that Lee is charming, and his hand-shake doesn’t match his smile and he doesn’t always tell the truth. Lee also randomly tells Peter & Alex that he could talk about the things he hates about these 2 guys, but just chooses not to. Peter talks about how he can’t stand Lee. Kenny is now in his head and is upset and letting Lee get the best of him, which I can’t blame him, Lee knows what he’s doing.

We get the dreaded “TO BE CONTINUED” when Kenny comes back inside and grabs Lee to have a private conversation with him.

We get 2 nights of the Bachelorette next week, both Monday & Tuesday night and we get a 2 on 1 with both Kenny & Lee…..until next week, try and be nice to one another and leave the gossiping and complaining to the guys on the Bachelorette 🙂