*Warning: Spoilers ahead*
Last week on The Bachelor, Colton Underwood tried (and failed) to address his ever-present fear of getting rejected. And tonight, the 26-year-old came face-to-face with not one, not two, but three one-on-one dates, along with an intimate group date that is (almost) too awkward for words.
Which four contestants will make it to next week’s highly anticipated hometown dates? Here’s what went down in season 23, episode seven of The Bachelor.
The episode opens on Underwood reminding himself how important this week’s dates are, considering Katie warned him that not everyone is ready for marriage when she left during last week’s episode. To top it off, he’s supposed to choose the four women whose families he wants to meet during next week’s installment, so yeah, pressure’s on.
To kick things off, Underwood invites the seven remaining contestants to travel back to the U.S. to visit his hometown of Denver, Colorado. Foolproof, right?
Since all signs point to “no,” Underwood sits down with former Bachelor Ben Higgins, who wastes no time offering advice to the self-proclaimed virgin. When Underwood reveals his fear of getting rejected, Higgins tells him to trust his gut and encourages him to be honest with the ladies.
When Underwood meets up with the women, he invites Tayshia on the first one-on-one date. Since they’re visiting his hometown, he shows her what he’d do on a “casual Saturday.” This includes walking his dog, Sniper, around the city, shooting oysters, drinking wine, shopping for groceries and stopping for ice cream (natch).
While the date seems to be going well, things take an interesting turn when Underwood asks for Tayshia’s opinion on what Katie said. Tayshia says that Katie was referring to Cassie and Caelynn, since they previously said they’re not ready to get engaged.
“That’s f****** terrifying for me,” Underwood says.
Tayshia reassures him, saying there are other contestants who are here for the “right reasons.”
Although Underwood seems uneasy, that doesn’t stop him from inviting her over his place later that night, where they cook salmon, eat dinner and discuss their expectations for next week’s hometown dates. After warning him that her dad is “a little apprehensive,” Tayshia reveals that her family is very protective of her after her last relationship. However, they’re ready for her to be happy again.
Underwood eats up her honesty and gives her the rose.
The next one-on-one date goes to Caelynn, and Underwood is tasked with teaching her how to snowboard. Of course, this is no easy mission. Although Underwood does his best to coach her down the slope, poor Caelynn is just trying to make it out alive.
“You make it look so easy,” she says before faceplanting in the snow.
To no surprise, all Underwood can think about is his conversation with Tayshia. When he confronts Caelynn, she’s quick to defend herself, claiming it “doesn’t make any sense.” To make her point, she proceeds to confess her love for Underwood, saying she can’t lose him over something that is “completely fabricated.”
Underwood presses her, asking why Tayshia would name her if there’s no truth to it. While Caelynn doesn’t have an answer, she says, “I am 100 percent ready to be engaged and be married.”
Later that night, the tension is real. “There are just too many distractions going on,” Underwood tells the producers. “I don’t know what to make of them.”
At dinner, Underwood reveals the hardest part about this “distraction” is that it’s happening right before the hometown dates. Caelynn reminds him that she has been nothing but herself since the first night, and although he’s hearing false rumors about her, she wants him to remember that she loves him. Awww.
Despite his hesitations, Underwood gives Caelynn the rose before leading her to a private concert by country music star Brett Young.
Up next, Underwood invites Hannah B. to meet the family. No, really. The couple stops by his parents’ house for a surprise visit, and Hannah B. immediately turns on the charm. When she sits down with his mom, Hannah B. reassures her that she’s ready for marriage, though she doesn’t know if the feelings are reciprocated.
When Underwood pulls his dad aside, he reveals that he’s “not quite there” with Hannah B., who confessed her feelings in episode five. While his dad encourages him to trust his gut, Underwood couldn’t be more unsure.
It’s important to point out that the couple’s interactions from this point on are hard to watch. Not only are there loads of awkward silences, but Hannah B. is convinced that it’s going well.
“I mean, it’s pretty cool that I got a hometown before hometowns,” she says.
Later that night, Underwood demands to know why she loves him, and Hannah B. wastes no time giving him a well-rehearsed response about how she dates to marry.
Unfortunately, Underwood isn’t on the same page. He say he can’t meet her parents knowing that he has doubts in their relationship before sending her home.
For the final date, Underwood takes Cassie, Hannah G., Heather and Kirpa to explore the Rocky Mountains. The problem? There are only two roses.
“As much as a rose means, it’s a lot more than just giving somebody a rose. It’s an open invitation to meeting their family,” Underwood tells the producers. “The biggest question that I need answered is who is ready and who isn’t?”
When they arrive at a train station, Underwood stresses the importance of today’s date, which prompts Heather to pull him aside.
“Right now, I just don’t think that it’s fair to you to take you to my hometown,” she says, claiming that she doesn’t know if she’s “ready for that.” And then there were three…
Meanwhile, Kirpa is willing to do whatever it takes to hurt Cassie’s reputation. Kirpa says that she not only heard Katie talking about her, but that she also agrees that she’s not ready.
When Cassie sits down with Underwood, he immediately addresses the elephant in the room. Cassie breaks down in tears, claiming she feels helpless and doesn’t know why someone would make something up like that. She firmly reminds him that she wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him.
When Kirpa pulls him aside, she dives right in, saying Cassie isn’t ready to get engaged. Although she provides “evidence” in the form of hearsay, Underwood seems unsure.
Later on, Underwood joins the group at dinner and immediately asks to speak with Hannah G. in private, where he gives her the rose.
After Hannah G. leaves, Caelynn appears out of nowhere and seeks out Underwood. She tells him the drama is “all bulls***,” and that she doesn’t want him to send home someone that he truly cares for. When he returns, he gives the rose to Cassie.
Whose family will ruin their chances at finding love? Guess we’ll have to wait until The Bachelor returns to ABC next Monday, February 25, at 8 p.m.
