The Bachelorette Recap: Goodbye to Two (Season 13 Episode 7)

This week’s episode of The Bachelorette begins in Geneva, Switzerland, where Rachel anxiously awaits the arrival of her suitors from atop a balcony overlooking the beautiful city.

It’s the week before hometowns, so she’s ready to focus on which relationships have progressed beyond the rest. Those who receive a rose this week will introduce her to their families, after all. A big step Rachel wants to take seriously.

Once the men arrive, Rachel pays them a visit at their hotel and explains that this week’s dates will go a bit differently. Most importantly, there will be no rose ceremony. Instead, there will be three one-on-ones and a three-contestant group date. On each date, a rose may or may not be handed out.

First to be selected for a one-on-one is Bryan, and the other men are vocal about their frustration. Apparently, none of them are very fond of Bryan (who knew?), and they thus cannot understand what Rachel sees in him.

Rachel, on the other hand, is clearly very into the studly chiropractor. She gleefully takes his hand and leads him out of the hotel and off to their date.

Kissed by a Rose-Seeker

Rachel refers to her plans with Bryan as a “high end date.” First on the itinerary is a visit to a watch shop, where the couple selects a matching pair. When Rachel declares that she is going to buy them, Bryan is thrilled and thanks her with a passionate kiss. Doesn’t he realize Rachel buying him a gift means the show is buying him a gift? Better to give Mike Fleiss a smooch.

After a fun and carefree day together, things finally get serious when Bryan confesses to Rachel that his last serious girlfriend broke up with him because she didn’t get along with his mom. He also shares his concern that his current relationship with Rach is eerily similar to his last — hot and heavy and progressing very fast.

Lucky for Bryan, Rachel is unconcerned with his past. She tells him that every date with him makes her feelings for him grow deeper, and she would love to visit his home and meet his family.

And with that, Bryan is the first contestant confirmed for a hometown date!

Family Matters

When the second date card arrives and Dean’s name is read aloud, he immediately turns to the others and says: “Don’t punch me in the face.”

While the men — namely Matt and Adam, who have yet to go on one-on-one dates with Rachel — are openly angry, no one can blame poor Dean. He has his own reasons for wanting this date, as he still isn’t sure about introducing Rachel to his family due to his strained relationship with them.

Over the course of their day together, Rachel and Dean have a ton of fun. Rachel grows more and more concerned, however, because she feels like Dean is unable to open up. She loves that they can be playful and silly together, but still needs him to be honest and vulnerable with her when it comes to his feelings.

During their dinner together, Rachel presses Dean to tell her why things have been slightly awkward between them. She insists there is a side to him he hasn’t let her see.

Upon being pushed, Dean confesses that he has been worrying all week about introducing Rachel to his father, with whom he’s had a strained relationship since his mother passed away. His fear all along was that Rachel would meet his family and see a dysfunctional future with him.

Of course, Rachel is touched and assures Dean that, while family is important to her, she isn’t looking for her husband to have a perfect one. Feeling completely reassured in what they have, she gives Dean the second rose of the week, assuring him a hometown date.

A Future That’s Up in the Air

The third one-on-one goes to Peter (sorry, Matt and Adam!), and he and Rachel kick things off with a romantic helicopter ride over the Swiss Alps.

Unlike Dean, Peter is vocal and honest with Rachel from the start. He confesses to her that there have been times over the past few weeks when he contemplated leaving because the situation has been so stressful and emotionally draining.

Rachel, though pleased to hear Peter opening up to her, finds this difficult to hear. Things between them get further muddled later in the evening, when Peter tells Rachel about a traumatic breakup he had with his ex.

Apparently, he once left a woman he loved because he couldn’t commit to her. This, of course, scares Rachel, who needs the man she chooses in the end to commit to being with her forever.

Still, her feelings for Peter are so strong that she is willing to take a chance with him. She gives him the rose, telling the cameras that she believes he is “worth the risk.” Let’s hope she’s right!

Three’s a Crowd

On his way to the week’s final group date, Adam tells the cameras that his connection with Rachel is “probably stronger than anyone else’s in the house.” Color him embarrassed as he watches back and sees that he couldn’t be more wrong.

The trio of Adam, Matt, and Eric meet up with Rach and they climb aboard a boat together, as all three men awkwardly scramble to assist Rachel. They continue to fight for her attention while on board, each of them hugging and leaning on her in what turns into an uncomfortable group-cuddle sesh.

The biggest shock of the date comes early, as Rachel breaks down crying while chatting privately with Matt. (This is the first of their conversations we’ve ever seen on screen, mind you.) Apparently, these two have developed a great connection beyond the story viewers have seen, and Rachel is crushed to have to tell him that, unfortunately, her other relationships have progressed beyond theirs, and she therefore can’t rationalize meeting his family.

Sadly, this means Matt’s headed home. And after deep conversations with both Adam and Eric, it’s Eric who receives Rachel’s final rose of the week — shocking absolutely no one but Adam.

So, after a full two-hour episode with zero surprises, the final four men are officially Bryan, Dean, Peter, and Eric.

Who will continue to shine during next week’s hometown dates, and whose family drama will lead to heartbreak? Share your predictions in the comments and be sure to tune into ABC next Monday at 8/7c when The Bachelorette returns. 

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