Hometowns and Heartbreak

As a long-time fan of The Bachelorette (and previous recaper), I’ve taken it upon myself to recap Tayshia Adam's season. So here it is: my Rose Recap of Season 16 Episode 11.

During a normal season, when the lead gets to their top 4, that lead travels to meet everyone's family in their respective hometowns. In everyone's best interest, hometowns get a makeover this year where the boys' families are flown in and quarantined at La Quina. As for the date, the boys are in charge of recreating what their hometown would be within the confines of the resort. And for an extra fun twist, the boys are still living together.

Brendan gets the first date and takes Tayshia to a makeshift carnival because that’s The Thing to do in his hometown in Massachusetts. Brendan’s niece makes an appearance and I thought that bringing her on the date would make the date feel more like a babysitting outing but Tayshia and Alyhia got along so well. While Brendan is pretty forgettable to me I like him paired with Tayshia and this date reminded me of that, especially with how well this group of three worked.

Brendan's brother and sister-in-law meet Tayshia and because there weren't any parents there it felt pretty casual; much more like a double date than an interview, like this typically would. I don't feel like there was anything too significant that we learned from Brendan's family, but I always feel like meeting the family has no narrative value for the show and is just used to show the family posturing about their adult child's love life.

Zac is from New Jersey so he plans such an elaborate date for Tayshia to experience what NYC is like, and honestly, it felt a little a high school theatre's production of a show about New York. Zac ends the date by taking them back to the fountain where he and Tayshia made a wish on night one and there’s something so tender about that to me.

Either Zac’s family is just hanging out in Tayshia’s suite or else there has to be an identical suite at La Quinta it is currently unclear and occupies most of my brain during this date. But I do tune in enough to know that Zac’s parents gush about how good they think Tayshia is for Zac, while his brother grills Tayshia about where Zac is ranked in her final four. Pretty typical hometowns stuff.

Ivan doesn’t try to do anything Dallas-themed which might be for the best(I love my friends from Dallas, but please know that every time I think of your city I think about the JFK assassination). Instead, Ivan shows Tayshia what a day at home with him could look like by cooking together and Ivan reveals that he’s only brought one other girl to meet his parents.

We meet Ivan’s parents in the same suite where we left Zac’s family so my personal investigation of how many identical El Presidente suites continues. Ivan’s parents were the biggest sweeties on this whole episode, except for whoever coordinated for Ivan’s brother to make a surprise appearance.

Ben takes Tayshia roller-skating around the resort pretending that they’re in Venice Beach; it's the west coast version of the date with Zac. Tayshia talks to Ben's sister and his family friend and the family friend is apparently pretty close to the family because she tells Ben that he's in love before Ben had come to that realization on this own. Ben doesn't pass this revelation onto Tayshia and honestly, I think being closed off with his feelings is what does him in.

Roses go to:

• Ivan

• Zac

• Brendan

And we say our goodbyes to Ben. Fingers have never been so crossed that Paradise happens.

I'll be back next Monday and Tuesday because Chris Harrison is doing his best to make sure I don't rest. The Bachelor production works hard, but I work harder, I guess.

xoxo,

Cyber Claire