-Then the double gut punch on the Tyler/Rachel hometown was Rachel knowing she had to pull him aside and send him home, yet, he tells her loved her. Ugh. Brutal. Rachel’s head popped up like someone’s parents walking in on them. The visual was kinda funny, but her basically stopping him mid sentence was tough to hear. She friend zoned him and he didn’t see it coming at all. Like, not even close. He was blindsided since, well, he just told her he was in love with her and he didn’t see where she was at. Now for those who asked on social media last night “Was that Tyler’s Bachelor audition,” the answer would be no. In the BIP spoilers, you’ll see that Tyler left with Brittany Galvin from Matt’s season, and they are still together. So no worries about Tyler. He recovered two months later and he’s fine. Was it necessary to bring the film crew to Tyler’s home even though he didn’t have a night portion? No. But they weren’t gonna pass up that opportunity. Sucks, but it is what it is. That’s what this show does. Fuck your feelings. What makes more interesting TV? Ending the date with Rachel leaving at Wildwood, or, having the cameras at his parents house and having him walk in alone?
-So following Tyler’s hometown, they showed us Erich’s. And if you thought it was tough watching Tyler’s hometown, Erich’s took the take. Seeing the story of his dad being 3 years in to battling cancer, admitting he should’ve died after a year and watching that knowing he’d passed in early July. I’m glad the show gave the In Memoriam at the end by dedicating the episode to him. That was a tough one to watch for sure, just because the father’s health is what dominated the whole date – as it should’ve. I’m guessing most fans watching didn’t even know he had passed a couple months later, so, to them it was probably difficult to see then have that thrown at you at the end of the episode. The biggest thing to me was how clearly invested Gabby was to his family and her uttering at the end of the date, “This hometown could’ve changed my life.” Ding ding. We have a winner. Claim your prize.
-Tino’s date was shown last, and probably because it was the one that had the most “conflict.” We see this every season. There’s always a family that is super skeptical of the whole process, questions whether it’s too soon to get married, and just doubts the whole process. Granted, they’re right for reasons we’ve gone over numerous times. But it’s just funny as some families don’t even bring that up once during hometowns, are so enamored by the lead and the process, and it’s a non factor to them. Whereas Tino’s mom and dad, especially dad, were basically laying Rachel down on their George Foreman grill and going to town. To say she was being skewered like a kabob would be an understatement. It was pretty clear Tino’s dad had some things he wanted to get off his chest. And by God he did. Numerous times. It actually became uncomfortable to watch.
-Lets face it, everything he said was based in truth. And there’s nothing Rachel can really do but sit there, smile, and answer best she can about how utterly ridiculous it is to get engaged to someone after 8 weeks that you barely know. She knows it. Gabby knows it. The show knows it. But on the rare occasions it works out in the end, that’s what makes it all worth it. I don’t think Tino’s parents skepticism has any bearing on whether or not Rachel and Tino last long term. We’ve seen this time and time again where a family is skeptical, and by the time the ATFR rolls around, it’s been 4 months since the proposal, clearly things have happened behind the scenes, and everything turns out fine. Ashley Hebert’s sister skewered JP during the hometown. Like, it was bad. Then ATFR rolled around and everything was fine. And they were married 8 years with 2 kids. So I don’t really put too much stock into parents on this show being skeptical and what bearing it has on the couple. It rarely plays a role. Well, unless you’re Sweetnums.
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