HOLLYWOOD—This week’s episode of “The Bachelorette” trailed the efforts of the remaining six bachelors battling for JoJo’s commitment and presented them with four dates: three one-on-ones and a group date.
Tensions were especially high this episode, going into hometowns next week, where only four of the six remaining bachelors would be invited to take JoJo back to their hometowns to meet family and friends.
The first date card arrives and invites Alex to join JoJo on the first one-on-one date of the episode. Perfect timing if he wants to convince her to meet his family. Alex arrives to the date longing for some much needed validation in their connection.
They embark towards the Argentinian countryside where they spend the day picnicking and horseback riding. The two even get to witness horse whispering, an Argentinian time-honored tradition between the gaucho and his horse.
A date filled with passion and new experiences dispels Alex’s doubts in his relationship with JoJo and prompts him to open up; he tells her, “I’m falling in love with you.” But JoJo’s hesitation was visible; she replies, “I don’t feel as excited as I should be hearing that.” Knowing that Alex isn’t the man she wants to marry, JoJo spares him another week of mixed signals and sends him home on the spot, before the rose ceremony.
With now only five bachelors remaining, JoJo invites Jordan on the next one-on-one date of the episode, where the two make their way towards a picturesque Argentinian vineyard; they spend the day squashing grapes and romping about the countryside. The date takes on a more serious tone when Jordan opens up about his family and estranged brother, NFL superstar and Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Not to mention Jordan tells JoJo he loves her, for the first time ever; she’s outwardly thrilled and seemingly trying to suppress saying it back. She replies with. an enthusiastic, “that makes me so happy, you know that?” and cuddles up close to Jordan; the camera pans out amidst the two kissing beneath the Argentinian moonlight.
The next date is the first and only group date of the episode. The date card invites Chase, James Taylor and Robby to accompany JoJo on an outdoor excursion, but bad weather cancels those plans and instead, the four spend the day ordering room service and playing games.
Per usual, after the group date, JoJo spends some one-on-one time with each of the guys; she confronts Robby about his past relationships and he spills some details; she provides James Taylor with what he calls, “some serious validation,”; and Chase, for the first time, professes to JoJo that he wants to be with her “forever.” Still, tensions run rampant as the three group date bachelors ultimately battle one another for the group date rose, which JoJo gives to Robby, verifying that he’ll be moving on to week seven and greeting JoJo in his hometown.
The final one-one-one date invites Luke to a ranch where the two of them spend the day in what Luke describes as, “my element;” he wows JoJo with his calm demeanor while horseback riding and his skeet shooting techniques. The two share conversation about the future and JoJo is noticeably swooning at Luke’s charm.
After the final date, JoJo ultimately decides a cocktail party won’t be necessary – she knows who she needs to send home. JoJo endures a wide range of emotions at a critical rose ceremony, as she looks to join the final four men in their hometowns.
With four roseless bachelors and three roses, James Taylor is the one who ends up heartbroken; sending Jordan, Luke, Robby and Chase into the final four, granting them the opportunity to introduce JoJo to their families and connect with her on an entirely new level.
