-Nick arrives in Dallas (damn, another hometown here and I missed it) and Rachel has their date planned. She’s gonna make like Hozier and take Nick to church. Get it? See what I did there? That really takes talent I tell ya’. I really see these two’s relationship blossoming on this date and they are headed for an engagement! I can just sense it. Oh wait. Nick reiterates that Rachel is the easiest person for him to feel like he can be himself around, but tells her although he’s nervous, he’s very comfortable at a place of worship. Yes, we can totally see that. Nick just fits right in at that church. Didn’t seem a tad out of place and really somewhere I know he would’ve absolutely been every Sunday with her. Got it, Nick. Right on. I feel ya’. I don’t know about you, but something tells me it was during that visit that Nick made his decision he wasn’t picking Rachel. Oh I’m sure he knew before that his connection with Vanessa was stronger, but I think being in that environment for a guy who self-admittedly had never seriously dated a black woman, I just don’t think he ever saw himself with her long term. That’s ok. Her next group of dudes might wanna get on board with that though.
-Rachel then informs Nick that her dad was unable to make this date due to work obligations. However according to Chris Harrison, he says “Rachel’s father is a federal judge and so could not appear on our television show.” To me, that means we shouldn’t expect to see him on the “Bachelorette” either, but whatever guy does propose to Rachel will most likely get to speak with him off camera somehow, just like Nick did. Although as the “Bachelorette,” her family doesn’t meet the men until it’s down to two when the family is flown to the site of the final rose ceremony location. Do we think the dad will be flown out, not get shown, but meet both men? I don’t know. I guess we won’t know until next season is over. But based on what Chris Harrison said, I wouldn’t expect to see Dad the Judge on next season either. Probably a good idea, pops. You don’t need to be appearing on this silliness anyway. Stick with being Judgey McJudgerson and don’t worry about the “Bachelor.” There are more important things in this world than your daughter getting to date 25 dbags.
-As Rachel and Nick approach her house, she makes it known again what they’re walking into. “Nick has never seriously dated a black girl, and I’ve never seriously dated a white guy and never brought one home.” No, that may be true. But big sis has. She married one. We get to meet Rachel’s family sans bid daddy, and it’s her mom Kathy, younger sister Heather, cousin Andrea, older sister Constance and her husband Alex. The white guy. Rachel: “In this family, you don’t need to have black skin, you need to have thick skin.” Preach. However, I’m a little concerned that the first 10 minutes of this date has focused on nothing but the fact that Nick is white and Rachel is black. I get that it’s a major talking point in their relationship, and I’m not so much concerned for them. We already know how their relationship turns out. I’m more concerned about what’s upcoming. It’s almost like they are planting the seed for next season that there will be some guy(s) in the house who won’t be down with dating a black girl. It’s just too easy of a storyline for them to pass up, and knowing how this show can manipulate situations, I can totally see this happening.
-Constance and her husband Alex sit down with Rachel and Nick and Alex wastes no time pointing out the obvious: He and Nick are both white. Nick says that Rachel is the first serious relationship he’s had with a black woman. They don’t show too much else of the conversation, other than by the end of it, everyone seems happy with everyone else’s answers. I think. Nick then goes and talks to Rachel’s mom and, whaddya’ know, guess what they talk about? Mom: “Have you ever dated a black woman before?” Nick: “I’ve gone on dates with black women before,” which might be the new “I’m not racist because I have black friends” line. One thing I think Nick did do to ease the public’s mind and make everyone feel comfortable was drop this well-rehearsed line on Rachel: “I’m not color blind. I know you’re black. But the reason I gave you the first impression rose was because of how easy we connected, my attraction to you physically, that you were just a very beautiful, impressive woman.” Very well done. And he’s right. Again, I can only pray that next season we get more of that and not the opposite.
-When Rachel talks to her mom, she tells her that she absolutely can see herself falling in love with Nick. She’s attracted to a lot of qualities about him and isn’t worried about his skin color. At this point, and even throughout the course of this whole date, it was more or less a foreshadow of what we can expect to see on her season. I mean, was anyone last night watching that night the least bit interested in Rachel and Nick knowing they don’t end up together? They didn’t HAVE to spoil Rachel last week, but they did. And now that everyone knows Nick doesn’t pick her, I think last night’s date with him would’ve been more powerful if people thought she actually had a chance. Forget the spoilers for a second that still would’ve been out there by me, but now that the show did it, I feel it took away from Nick and Rachel’s hometown date. Felt like none of it mattered between them, but I did feel we got a better sense of who Rachel was heading in to next season.
