Watching: The Bachelorette (Recap)

By Emily Hochberg
Fancast.com

First, a confession: I’m not recapping the “Deanna tells all” special that was on before last night’s main attraction. I watched the special and didn’t feel it offered all that much in terms of new or interesting content. It basically reintroduced us to the six guys remaining, re-aired an old interview with former Bachelorette Trista about her life now (which aired at the beginning of this season too) and then had a staged interview with Deanna and Chris Harrison the host where she didn’t actually reveal anything. Got it?

Now to the main dish: This episode of The Bachelorette is the last before the big hometown dates with potential in laws and the pressure is on to choose the right guys. So what better way to decide than on an exotic trip! Deanna and the guys pack their bags for Palm Springs and trade in one mansion for another. Only this week, no date roses are given out. So fellas, it’s time to turn on the charm, whip out your abs, and swoop in for as much one on one time as possible! [check out this video of Deanna looking good]

After the guys get settled in their new digs, a date box arrives with a one on one for Sean. He and Deanna [lots of photos of her here] take a tram ride up a mountain and Sean uses Deanna’s fear of heights to his advantage to hold her closer. Smooth. At the top a romantic dinner is waiting. Did you expect anything less? Sean opens up about his prior misgivings but still assures he’ll give 100 percent. They bond over their country roots and Deanna invites him back to her suite for some dessert. No, really, just cake. Deanna tells us if she were giving out date roses this week, Sean would have it in the bag. Something tells me Sean is going to wish that were the case. They move the date to the hammock and share an awkward angle kiss that only a hammock can achieve, and by the end, Sean is planning his proposal, and possibly nursing a sore neck.

The next day the date box is a group one for Jesse, Jason, Graham, and poor Twilly, who hasn’t had any alone time. Instead, he gets to ride a helicopter alone with Deanna while the others ride behind. Um, doesn’t Twilly realize not only was he screwed out of a real one on one but this is a recycled date? She already did this with Jason! Ouch. To make matters worse, this second go round is hardly romantic when a motion sick Twilly fights to urge to vomit all over Deanna the entire ride. They land without incident and meet the others for some ATV racing. Twilly rides in back, Jason rides the straight and narrow, Graham is just hot, and Jesse pops wheelies and stunts and sufficiently impresses Deanna who sees him in a new light.

Afterwards they clean up with a pool party. Jason feels lost in the shuffle and seeks out Deanna to discuss his eagerness for her to meet his son Ty. Until Jesse swoops in that is. It turns out that up through now Deanna was the least “physically connected” to Jesse (read: attracted) but after his ATV showcase she’s revved up and hoping for a kiss. But he doesn’t and soon Graham is whisking her away. Did Jesse just blow it? Meanwhile the guys label Graham as the one to watch. Their connection is clear and he and Deanna discuss going to his home and his excitement because this time everyone will be on his team for once. Then they flirt and make out on a hammock. Only this time, it’s not awkward. At all.

After the fun and games it’s time for the last date with Jeremy. Deanna picks him up in a vintage convertible and they spend the night at Frank Sinatra’s old house. They turn on records and sing bad karaoke and dance to the tunes of old blue eyes. Then they move their date into the pool and talk about some things. I’m sorry; I’m not exactly sure about what. I was too distracted by Jeremy’s six pack abs. Deanna confesses to us that she couldn’t ask for anything more and may be falling in love with Jeremy. Me too…

Soon it’s the inevitable Rose Ceremony. The guys arrive and for the first time aren’t greeted by Deanna for the pre-ceremony cocktail party otherwise known as time for last ditch efforts. Instead, she gazes at her wall of suitor pictures, which in no way looks staged, and Chris Harrison emerges to tell the guys it’s straight to the elimination as Deanna’s mind is made up. The roses are handed out and the first three are obvious - Jeremy, Jason, and Graham. But the fourth is the wild card and in a surprising move, goes to Jesse, and not Sean, who she wanted to give it to only a day or so before. I bet Sean wishes they gave out date roses this week! Leaving with him is Twilly, who let’s be honest here, saw this coming just as much as we did. There was no romantic connection or even real time together. I think he’ll miss the guys more than Deanna. And so, he and Sean walk off into the sunset. Another week, another heartbreak. Until next week when it’s time to hit the road and meet the in laws. Every man’s dream for the 5th week of dating, I’m sure!