The Bachelorette Recap: Homeward Bound (Season 13 Episode 8)

With just a few short weeks left in her journey to find love, Rachel Lindsay has narrowed it down to her four final suitors: Eric, Bryan, Peter, and Dean. On this week’s episode of The Bachelorette, she’s visiting each remaining man in their hometowns — catching a glimpse of their everyday lives and meeting their families.

Good Morning, Baltimore

First up is Eric, who hails from Baltimore, Maryland.

Eric kicks off his date with a casual game of one-on-one basketball. He and Rachel end up sitting court-side for a heart to heart, and Eric tells Rachel about how the hardships he faced in the past made him ready to be supported by a partner in a loving relationship.

Because Rachel will be the first girl Eric’s ever brought home, she’s feeling especially nervous for the night ahead. Her nerves are quickly relieved, however, when she enters a room full of Eric’s cheering relatives.

When the time comes for her to sit down with Eric’s mom, Rachel shares how much she loves that she and Eric challenge each other. Meanwhile, Eric and his father express their love for one another in a touching private moment.

At the end of the night, after a loving goodbye to his family, Eric tells Rachel that he has fallen in love with her. To him, this means that he really cares about her.

Rachel expresses mutual feelings to the camera, sharing how much it meant to her that Eric opened up in such a way and spilling that she has fallen for him too.

Miami Heat

Second to take Rach home is Bryan, who comes from Miami, Florida.

According to Rachel: “Miami just screams Bryan: hot, steamy, and something sexy about it.” She greets him with the exclamation “hey baby” and leaps into his arms, and its hard not to compare her obvious passion for Bryan to her less affectionate interactions with Eric in Baltimore.

Before introducing her to his family, Bryan describes his parents to her. He claims their relationship is a prime example of “opposites attract” — his dad is soft spoken while his mom is a “fireball.”

Upon meeting them, Bryan’s description is confirmed. His mom certainly has a strong personality, and she is quick to take her son aside to remind him of how little time he’s actually spent with Rachel thus far.

When she gets a chance to speak with Rachel, however, his mother soon realizes how genuine and caring she is. She is even brought to tears by the idea that Rachel could be the one to take care of her son — the love of her life.

This sweet moment and the overall success of the evening are enough to convince Bryan it’s time to confess his feelings to Rachel. He tells her that he is in love with her, and the ear-to-ear smile on her face seems to (wordlessly) say the same back to him.

Cheesy Romance

Our third hometown date brings Rachel to Madison, Wisconsin to visit Peter.

He tells the cameras he’s looking forward to introducing Rachel to his family to get an “outsider’s perspective” on her and their relationship. Rachel, on the other hand, hopes that being in Madison will help to break down the walls Peter has kept up.

Early in their day together, Peter surprises Rachel with a visit from his group of friends, who he considers an extension of his family. Coincidentally, the four friends who show up make up two interracial couples — each with one black and one white party. Very subtle, ABC producers…

Even after meeting Peter’s kind family, Rachel is still feeling uneasy about their relationship. She doesn’t want to leave this experience with a boyfriend — she wants a fiance and future husband — and she fears that Peter isn’t ready to make that commitment.

Peter, however, ends the night wanting things to move forward with Rachel. Still, he admits that he needs time to process his emotions before telling her how he feels. Could Peter’s inability to open up be enough to send him home this week?

Colorado’s Rockiest Relationship

Last but not least is Dean, whose hometown is Aspen, Colorado.

He and Rachel start the day with an ATV ride through the rolling green pastures and a champagne toast. As Rachel puts it, he is her “beautiful surprise” — always able to make her smile and laugh.

Dean’s entire family has not been in the same room for 8 years, so Rachel will inevitably be the first woman to meet them all together. As he’s previously mentioned, Dean again shares that the father he has today is not the same man who raised him. Now, his newfound faith and second wife are what shape his life. Dean, on the other hand, is not a part of his father’s life at all — they haven’t really kept in touch for a number of years.

The day is certainly a tense one. What starts off with a moment of awkward group-meditation led by Dean’s father soon turns into a series of familial dramatics.

Things come to a head when Dean sits down with his father in an attempt to work through the issues they have with each other. Unfortunately for poor Dean, his father is unable to speak openly with him about his mother’s death and the degradation of their relationship. Instead, he shuts down and refuses to continue the conversation.

Dean, the sweet angel he is, tells his dad that he still loves him, regardless, as he exits the room. The pain in his eyes proves he has much bigger fish to fry than Rachel’s perception of his family.

In an attempt to salvage the day, Rachel approaches Dean’s father outside their home and asks him to chat with her about Dean. He begins by telling her that Dean is a wonderful person, but is soon turned off by the presence of the cameras around them and tells her that he honors them and their relationship but cannot publicly discuss things further.

When she returns to a waiting Dean, Rachel lays down next to him and tells him she is falling in love with him. This confession feels quite momentous, as she’s yet to outwardly reciprocate the feelings of the other three contestants. Could this mean Dean is the one?

The Most Dramatic Elimination Yet

After opening up to Bachelor Nation’s designated therapist, Chris Harrison, about the week’s events and her feelings for each remaining man, Rachel comes to a decision. She must, after all, break the heart of one of these four fantastic guys.

Shockingly, it’s Dean who is sent home without a rose. He is rightfully hurt and confused, as Rachel just told him she reciprocated his feelings only to turn him down days later.

Dean’s sadness and frustration leave him feeling dejected and lied to — an ending he does not deserve. Here’s hoping Paradise (spoiler alert!!!) brings this fan-favorite the love story he deserves!

What do you think of Rachel’s decision to send Dean home after his emotional hometown visit? Share your thoughts in the comments and tune in next week when The Bachelorette heads to the fantasy suite, Monday at 8/7c on ABC.