Emily: Well, somehow we managed to stay awake during this boring hometowns episode, and we have a recap for you! Hooray! But before we get to that, we need to acknowledge the most important news to come out of Bachelor Nation this past week: former Bachelorette Gabby Windey has a girlfriend! And she’s writer and comedian Robby Hoffman! We are so happy for Gabby!

Bonnie: So happy for Gabby!!!! She’s one of the few people from this franchise that I follow on social media, and she continues to just be such a joy and delight. Love, love, love this news!!!

Emily: And now onto the recap? Let’s see what happens in these hometown dates. 

We start in Houston, TX. Just a quick thought: if I were the Bachelorette and I knew who my winner was going to be, I would definitely just pick my other three finalists based on cities I wanted to visit. With that being said, Houston would not be on my list. But here we are with Aaron.

Bonnie: Agree. That is such a smart approach. If I have to go in and lie to some families, let me at least do it somewhere cool. Somewhere that’s not Houston. Charity somehow has the energy to go in for a huju (5 points). In that heat? With Aaron? Pass.

Emily: I noticed they kinda match on this date, which isn’t the first time Charity has been color-coordinated. It’s making me wonder if production is a little involved in this? That’s my clothing conspiracy theory.

Charity and Aaron had their one on one at the beginning of the season, and connections have grown since then, and now she’s trying to see if they can play catch up. Meanwhile, Aaron says he wants to be able to say that “L word” before she meets his parents but maybe by the end of the day they can take that leap. It’s so weird to me to hear these contestants put these arbitrary deadlines on their feelings so openly. Like… you’re planning on falling in love by the end of this date? Is that how that works? Either way, Aaron seems super nervous on this whole date, which is not how he was on their first date at all. Probably because he’s putting all this pressure on himself to suddenly be in love with someone. 

Normally, these hometowns start with a little one on one time, but this time, Aaron jumps right into meeting the family. Aaron’s mom is making a ton of southern-style food. 

Bonnie: I was shocked that they actually showed them eating. That was one of my biggest takeaways from this date. I had to laugh when Aaron and Charity were pretending that Lauren Elaina (or however you spell her name) is someone anyone has heard of. 

Emily: Yeah, I’d already forgotten who that was. Charity talks to Aaron’s mom, and Aaron’s mom asks if she would be ready to say yes to a proposal today. Charity says probably not, but that’s not a reflection of who Aaron is and where she stands with him.

Bonnie: I’m convinced that Aaron’s mom knows Charity is not picking her son.

Emily: I think you’re right.

Bonnie: I found it really weird that Aaron says his parents didn’t want to remember any of his girlfriend’s names unless it was SERIOUS. That felt kind of gross to me. Also, as a parent, wouldn’t you want to create an environment where your kids can talk to you about anything including whoever they are dating? No matter how “serious” the relationship is? I don’t know, ick.

Emily: Perhaps this is where Aaron’s toxicity comes from. Who can say?

Bonnie: I can’t tell if Aaron’s dad is crying because he also knows Charity isn’t picking his son or if he’s crying because he thinks Aaron’s found a good one??? 

Aaron calls his hometown date the “COOP de grace.” I cannot.

Emily: Next, Aaron takes Charity to his high school football stadium and Charity says it’s giving Friday Night Lights, so now we know Charity has good taste in television as well as fashion. Aaron gives Charity a letterman jacket with her name on it, which I love, because this is something she’ll actually be able to wear, unlike one that said “Future Mrs. Bryant” or whatever. So 2 points to Aaron for not giving Charity a bullshit patriarchal gift here. And here’s where Aaron tells Charity he’s falling in love with her.

Bonnie: The scrunch face she makes when Aaron tells her he’s falling in love with her (10 points). I DIED. A scrunch face, and ooooh, and then she just kisses him. Yikes.

Emily: Yeah, it felt like Aaron gave himself a timeline (because he did), and he was just saying this because it was time to say it.

Bonnie: Charity is crying. Probably because she knows he’s getting sent home.

Emily: They dance to that dumb song they listened to on their first date, and that’s a wrap. 

Moving on to Joey’s date in Collegeville, PA. I know I’m not the first person to say this, but bummer that this wasn’t in Hawaii, am I right? 

Bonnie: Here we are, in yet another boring hometown location.

Emily: They do their best to execute a run-and-jump, but Charity’s dress kind of hinders them a little in this situation. Still, A for effort (5 points). Charity tells the cameras that if all goes well on this date, she’ll be able to tell Joey she’s falling in love with him. Because again, that’s how love works. On deadlines. 

Of course, because Joey is a tennis pro, he takes her to the courts to teach her tennis. He even “got her” a tennis outfit. 

Bonnie: Love this purple tennis outfit and matching scrunchie. Their signature kissing style is just a series of mushy pecks. So strange. They do this over and over.

Why were they playing awkward music through this whole segment???? It didn’t seem that awkward. Was this just foreshadowing for the appearance of Joey’s uncle????

Emily: Perhaps! Joey’s uncle shows up on the tennis courts, and the vibes are off.

Bonnie: Joey’s uncle does not feel like Joey is being entirely himself and that something is off. I wish we had gotten more about this. What signs was he seeing? I don’t feel like we got a good explanation of this at any point during this date. TELL US MORE, JOEY’S UNCLE!!!!

Emily: Charity seems nervous AF about meeting Joey’s white ass family, and Joey’s uncle is not helping out here.

Bonnie: Charity mentions she’s never had to meet the family of someone who is a different race. I’m wondering if this means she didn’t meet her ex’s family. The ex who thought race didn’t matter or had zero effect on their relationship. Would have loved more information on this. 

Emily: I didn’t think about this. Good point. So… Charity meets the family. It’s mostly boring. When Charity sits down with Joey’s sister, Joey’s sister asks Charity what’s so special about Joey.

Bonnie: Charity tells Joey’s sister that she’s falling in love with him (5 points). I was kind of surprised she told his family before telling him.

Emily: She probably felt pressured to do it because they kept asking her SO MANY questions about what made Joey special. 

Bonnie: I wish we had gotten more of Joey’s dad. Joey’s mom cannot stop crying. I feel like she’s been crying this whole time.

Joey’s uncle thinks Joey is trying to be who Charity wants him to be. AGAIN, more details please!!! If you’re going to throw Joey under the bus to Charity, please give us more details!!! Joey needs to go have a chat with his uncle.

Emily: Yeah, he was really trying to blow it for Joey. 

Bonnie: Charity is crying (5 points) as she leaves, and notably does not tell him she’s falling in love with him.

Emily: So much for her timeline. Next up is Cleveland, OH to meet up with Xavier and his family. But first, Xavier is going to teach Charity how to knit. Xavier tells Charity when he feels stressed, he knits.

Bonnie: I thought it was so cute that their first stop is his knitting shop to meet the knitting circle!!! PRECIOUS.

Emily: I’m so in love with Xavier at this point. I really want him to be our next Bachelor, but I’m afraid his narrative of “not being ready” is going to ruin his chances. Charity is worried she’s falling in love with Xavier and he is not going to be able to get there. Meanwhile, Xavier says he wants to fall in love with Charity, but he’s not sure she’s the one. Not good.

On to meeting the family! Xavier’s mom asked what Charity initially liked about Xavier. She says his gentleness. Charity asks his mom if she thinks he’s truly ready, and she says he wants to be a dad and he wants to get married. The fear is coming from the short amount of time.

Bonnie: Xavier’s sister Chelsea asks Charity if she’s falling in love with Xavier. Charity says she’s between like, and falling in love…..so no. Possibly in an effort to change the subject, Charity asks if Xavier is ready to get down on one knee. Xavier’s sister backs him up and says he’s always been serious and committed in all his relationships. 

Charity is asking everyone if Xavier is ready to commit. She really does not seem convinced.

Emily: Chelsea tells Xavier that she LOVES Charity and sees her as a potential partner. Xavier says, “Low key I think she loves Charity more than me.” Here for it. Let’s see Charity ditch these men and just go for Chelsea. 

After the date, however, Xavier does tell Charity that he’s falling in love with her (10 points). 

Bonnie: We get another priceless reaction from Charity to hearing someone is falling in love with her. This time it’s “Oh goodness!” and then kissing so she doesn’t have to say more. LOL.

Emily: Charity says, “I want this so much with Xavier, and to hear those words is so reassuring for me. Feelings now have intensified times 100 and I’m now conflicted with where I stand with everyone.” I think she was really planning on Xavier not saying this, which would make her elimination choice easier. But here we are.

And now on to the guy who is obviously going to win this season…  Dotun. Let’s be real. We know. And for this date, we’re going to Fresno, CA. 

Bonnie: Wow. None of these men are from places I want to go. Charity is nervous about meeting Dotun’s family. After hearing from Joey’s uncle, Charity is now questioning the strength of all her connections. What if she doesn’t know the real Dotun??? 

We’re set up with the premise that Dotun’s parents are away in Nigeria. This does not last long as they miraculously appear. I’m not really sure what the point of this fake-out was. Did the producers do this? Was this his family’s idea as a joke? Questions.

Emily: Yeah, as soon as Dotun said his parents weren’t going to be there, I thought, oh, okay, so they will be there. These producers can’t fool us.

Bonnie: Dotun tells his mom he is falling in love with Charity. (5pts) Dotun’s mom looks younger than me. How does she have a full-grown adult child????

Things seem to go really well with his family. This was my favorite home town. I mean…..I was half paying attention throughout this episode, but from what I saw ... it was my fav.

They go outside and get in an old car. The first time this season we don’t see Charity driving. They go to a drive-in movie, and of course the “movie” playing is all about Dotun and Charity. 

Emily: Yeah, I think once you’re showing each other baby pictures, it’s over. Y’all are getting married. You don’t exchange baby pictures with random dudes. This is a true love activity.

Back in LA, Charity is looking for clarity. She says all of her relationships got stronger which is making her decision a lot harder. 

Bonnie: Charity tells Jesse she’s falling in love with Aaron………uhmmmmmmmmmmm……are you???

Emily: Maybe not, but she says it, so that’s 5 points. She also says she’s falling in love with Xavier (5 points) and Dotun (5 points). So I guess she’s falling in love with all four of them. Joey tells Jesse he is IN LOVE with Charity (10 points). So love is in the air, but still someone must go home. Charity says, “The one person that I say goodbye to is not going to see this coming.” 

As an aside, I have to say Xavier is having another fashion moment in this white suit. 

Bonnie: Roses go to Dotun (3 points), Xavier, and Joey (3 points). 

Emily: So Aaron is going home. He cries (2 points). They sit down to talk. Charity says, “I don’t even know what to say. And nothing I say right now is going to make you feel better. I need you to understand how difficult of a decision this was for me. And the reality is I still don’t know if I’m making the right one.” I feel like this is such a cruel thing to say. But Bachelor(ette)s say it all the time.

Aaron says he’s really just trying to hold it in. He says, “I hate that it wasn’t me because I really thought… I can truly say that I felt feelings that I never felt before. I Thank God for you.” Charity cries (5 points).

Bonnie: The ending credits give us a great clip of Dotun’s mom giving Charity some gifts from Africa including waist beads…..for the bedroom. Dotun’s family seems fun. Here for it. We love sex positive parents!

This episode was such a chore. I don’t even have an update for the fashion corner, because I kept zoning out. Ready for next week.

Emily: Yeah, hometowns are SO BORING. I’ll give the fashion corner moment to Aaron’s white suit because he looked hot. 2 points to our fashion king.

Emily - Team Double-Sided Coin

Xavier - 17
Aaron B. - 29
Joey - 28

This Week’s Points: 74

Previous Points: 231

Total Points: 305

Bonnie - Team Drama Queenz

Dotun - 13

This Week’s Points: 13

Previous Points: 245

Total Points: 258

Team Double-Sided Coin pulls ahead, but Team Drama Queenz still holds strong with our frontrunner Dotun. What will happen next week?