‘The Bachelorette’ hometown dates recap: Jenn meets the families

Four states, four dates, and one heartbreak.

Let’s recap!

Hometown No. 1: Devin
Location: Houston, Tex.
Relatives present: Devin’s mom, Jennifer, his dad, Temo, his stepfather, Todd, his grandpa, Gary, and grandma, Phyllis, and his brother, Pierce.

“Dev-dog!” hollers Jenn, as she runs across a local park to meet him. Man, our Bachelorette really loves a nickname, doesn’t she? Last week, we learned she calls Jeremy “Jer-bear,” and now this. Can’t wait to find out what she calls Marcus and Jonathon. (Marky-Marc and Jonny Boy, perhaps?)

But I digress. Devin has brought Jenn to the park for an impromptu jog with his running club. I’m sorry, he’s making her go running? Immediately no. But the Bachelorette doesn’t mind. Maybe it’s because the club brought them cutesy t-shirts.

“Do you think love is a sprint or a marathon?” Devin asks Jenn as they jog through the park. “Love is a relay race!” she replies with a giggle. Sick burn, ma’am! Finally, they stop on a pedestrian bridge and share a smooch while the other runners cheer. After that, it’s time for Jenn to meet Devin’s pooch, Charlie:

Okay, now we’re talking. Running on a date? Dealbreaker. Dogs on a date? Yes, please.

Awww, how cute — when Jenn and Devin arrive at his family’s house that night, they get a very festive welcome before even stepping foot inside.

Once in the house, everyone greets Jenn warmly — even stepdad Todd, who Devin almost forgot about entirely. Devin tells his family about their “Thunder from Down Under” group date in Australia, and everyone shares a laugh.

Both mom and dad can see that their son is smitten with Jenn, but of course, they have concerns. Dad pulls him aside first — into a room decorated with a creepy, taxidermied fox (I think?) — for a heart-to-heart.

Devin says he is in love with Jenn, but he’s afraid to tell her. “We haven’t been the luckiest family with relationships,” he says. “I’ve seen mom struggle. I’ve seen you struggle… I want so hard for it to be different this time.” What can dad say other than, “I don’t want you to get hurt”? (Which is, essentially, what he says.)

In another room, mama Jennifer is grilling Jenn on what she finds special about Devin. The Bachelorette gushes about how Devin is “so emotionally intelligent, so himself,” and how they bonded over their nontraditional upbringings. Mom gets it. “It took me a while to get to my love story,” she admits. “And I didn’t always model the best relationships for Devin and Pierce.” Now, though, she’s happy with Todd, and she knows Devin appreciates how hard it was for her to find the right match.

Way to be refreshingly honest, Devin’s mom! I can’t remember the last time we heard a parent on this show be so frank about how their decisions had a negative impact on their child. I aspire to that kind of parental transparency!

Of course, mom is also still worried that her son will get hurt. “I love her,” he confesses. “And this, I think, is the first time that I’ve been in love for real.” Jennifer urges him to tell Jenn how he feels. “You’re not gonna be the one if you don’t,” she adds.

Cut to:

She does not say it back, but the Bachelorette assures us that she’s “so happy” about it. “I want you to know that I am falling so hard for you,” she informs Devin. “I feel like my feelings have grown exponentially… I do see a future with you.” 

Okay, then! Good luck topping that, next guy.

Hometown No. 2: Jeremy
Location: Fairfield, Conn.
Relatives present: Jeremy’s mom, Karen, his stepdad, Michael, his sisters, Lindsey and Emily, and Lindsey’s fiancé, Alex.

The Bachelorette meets Jer-bear in his “favorite park,” which looks, uh… we’ll just let the caption do the work here.

As someone from the Northeast, I can confirm that this is what most parks look like in the fall/winter. This is why so many of us prefer the indoors. In fact, Jeremy informs Jenn that they’ll be going shopping for their date instead of hanging out in the creepy woods.

What follows, rose lovers, is perhaps the most realistic, relatable, and epically down-to-earth date on this franchise since Chris Soules took Kaitlyn to Costco.  

That’s right, folks. To give Jenn the true, suburban Connecticut experience, he took her to a grocery store. And not just any grocery store — a Stew Leonard’s, home of the Wow the Cow mascot. Jeremy, my man, I’m so sorry for underestimating you.

“This place is very nostalgic to me,” Jeremy explains. Just as he’s feeding Jenn a lobster roll, Jeremy looks up and cries, “Oh my God! That’s my aunt!”

You guys know how cynical I am about this franchise, rose lovers, but Jeremy’s surprise seems genuine. I wonder if Aunt Debbie was doing a big shop for the hometown-date meal that no one will eat.

Speaking of, it’s time for Jenn to meet the family! After the hugs, they all sit down at the table, and one of them — maybe Alex the fiancé? — breaks the ice with a joke. “How did you guys meet?”

Good one! Jeremy tells his family about his night-one entrance, when he made the joke about having a “really big, like a really big [bleep]” — and mom’s jaw drops. Little sister Emily is also visibly displeased by the story.

“Well, I knew that if she wouldn’t take that seriously, then that’s a great start,” Jeremy says in his defense. Mom admits the two are “cute together,” but she still has some concerns, which she shares in her confessional: “When she was named the Bachelorette, she described what she looks for in a guy, and I said to myself, ‘That is not Jeremy.’”

Hmmm… that doesn’t sound promising. Emily sits down with Jenn first and asks her why Jeremy is special, “as opposed to all the other guys that you’re seeing?” (LOL, love the trolling.) The Bachelorette says she can be herself with Jeremy, but she worries that he’s “holding back” when it comes to his emotions. Little sis says she isn’t sure Jeremy would be ready to get engaged in such a short time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to get married eventually.

When Emily reports back to Jeremy that Jenn thinks he’s a bit “guarded,” he is shocked (shocked!). “Even though I’ve been trying to be my vulnerable self, it takes me time,” he admits in his confessional. “I’m not going to sit here right now and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to propose to her tomorrow.’”

Mom treads lightly when she sits down with Jeremy. “So, you’ve had fun together,” she begins. “Have you talked about anything else seriously?” Her son says he doesn’t feel the need to “rush into deep stuff” — which is a bit dismaying. Jer-bear, you’ve seen this show before, correct? You ARE expected to propose at the end of this, so a little rushing is in order. Karen says as much. “It’s one thing to have fun,” she says. “It’s not a game, it’s not a show. It’s your life.” Oh, and don’t forget, “She’s dating three other guys!” Jeremy deflects with humor, as he is wont to do. “She was dating 24 other guys in the beginning,” he jokes.

Mom is understandably skeptical, and she brings that caution into her sit-down with Jenn. “You’re dating four guys, which has to be crazy — like, keeping everything in order,” she says. “Do you think you and Jeremy have a bond that really goes beyond the fun part of it?”

Jenn admits that she does worry that they’re “too comfortable” with the goofy, joking-around side of their relationship. She asks Karen if she thinks Jeremy is ready to be engaged, and mom’s answer is hilariously frank: “I just met you.” AMEN TO THAT, MOM!

The Bachelorette picks up on her doubts, and she does NOT love it. “It scares me that she doesn’t seem super hopeful about the relationship,” she says. Before bidding farewell to Jeremy, Jenn asks him point-blank if he is ready. He reiterates that he’s “ready for it with the right person.” Perhaps sensing that he’s falling behind in the feelings race, Jeremy adds this extra flourish: “I am falling for you. I just love being with you.”

Welp, it’s a start. Will it be enough, rose lovers? Hold that thought while we move on to the next date.

Hometown No. 3: Jonathon
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Relatives present: Jonathon’s mom, Lisa, his dad, Mitch, his brother, Zach, his sister, Kristy, and Zach’s wife, Emily.

Like Jeremy, Jonathan hasn’t “expressed his feelings” to the Bachelorette yet, and that’s what Jenn hopes will happen during this hometown visit. She clearly really likes him — because he gets the season’s first official #huju!

To be fair, Jenn hasn’t worn many #huju-friendly outfits this season, so maybe Jonathon just got lucky. Anyhoo, today’s date activity is something Jenn and Jonathon both enjoyed in college: Lacrosse!

They run around a bit, and then sit on the field for some real talk. Jonathon knows the biggest obstacle in their relationship is his reluctance to Open Up™, but he’s also not going to force it. “I don’t want to say ‘love’ if I’m not fully there,” he says. The Bachelorette understands, but she’s still worried. If Jonathon can’t give her the “emotional intimacy” she needs ASAP, how could he possibly propose?

Perhaps Jonathon’s family can help. (Side note: THANK YOU to whichever producer decided to identify each family member before Jenn and her suitor goes inside. It’s always SO frustrating when we don’t know someone’s name until halfway through the hometown date.)

Jonathon’s sister-in-law kicks things off with her endorsement for rapid-fire love. “We met online,” she says. “And we said ‘I love you’ on the third date. We’ve been together seven years, married for four… If it’s the right person, time doesn’t really matter.”

Still, Zach is a little wary, given how upset his little brother was when his last relationship imploded.

“Do you feel like you’re falling for any of the other guys?’ he asks Jenn. She doesn’t lie — “Yeah, I have very strong relationships here” — and that only makes Zach feel more “protective” of Jonathon.

Similarly, Jonathon’s mom wants to know if he’s really a “contender” for the final rose, and Jenn reiterates what she’s said to some of the other parents: “I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t.” Lisa agrees that Jenn seems “smitten” with her son, but like Zach, she remains a little reserved in her enthusiasm.

Outside, Jonathon is talking to his sister, Kristy, who urges him, “Don’t hold back if this is what you want.” But before he can decide whether or not to take Kristy’s advice and drop the l-bomb on Jenn, he’s got to check in with mom.

Awwww, I love that they’re holding hands. Jonathon admits he’s still worried that he doesn’t know the real Jenn — he’s still got PTSD from what happened with his ex — so he asks mom for her opinion. Does she think he and Jenn could work? “Absolutely,” says Lisa. She really loves that Jenn never once mentioned how freaking handsome Jonathon is. Like Kristy, she encourages Jonathon to “put it all out there.” Cut to:

“Jonathon Johnson, I’m also falling for you,” she replies shyly, and they smooch.

Three down, just one to go, rose lovers.

Hometown No. 4: Marcus
Location: Tacoma, Wash.
Relatives present: Marcus’ sister, Gabriella, and his close family friends/mentors Scott and Sue.

Marcus and Jenn meet on a rocky beach and walk along the water. Once again, Jenn is going into this hometown date hoping that Marcus can be more vocal about his feelings for her — because she’s certain her feelings “are further along” than his are.

There’s no real day portion of the date. Jenn and Marcus head right to a party where several of his friends — including Sue and Scott — and his sister, Gabriella, are waiting. (Marcus’ adoptive parents aren’t there, but we’re not told why.)

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After the hugs and the opening chit-chat, Marcus sits down with Scott for a private chat. “I think I’m stuck between really, really, liking someone and loving them,” he admits. “Maybe I’m beating myself up because I’m not in love with her yet.”

Ugh, that’s the problem with this “process.” It puts impressionable, usually insecure people in a position where they feel pressured to fall in love on a schedule — when we all know that’s the worst possible way to build a lasting relationship. AND YET I’VE WATCHED EVERY SEASON FOR 22 YEARS! I forfeited the right to complain about a decade ago, right rose lovers? Thanks for letting me vent, though.

Scott offers a sympathetic ear but not much actionable advice — because there isn’t any. Meanwhile, Jenn sits down with Gabriella, who is understandably reserved. She explains that Marcus struggles to be vulnerable because of all the trauma he went through growing up, but she can tell that Jenn cares a lot for her brother. “Do you love him?” she asks with a smile. Jenn starts tearing up. “I’ve been holding back a little bit because I’m scared,” she says, her voice breaking. “I’m definitely falling in love with him.”

Pretty soon, Gabriella is crying too. “I genuinely think that he’s happy,” she says. Hug it out, you two!

The visit ends with Marcus having a heart-to-heart with his sister. Gabriella tells him she likes Jenn a lot and wants to know if her brother thinks he’s in love. “I know that I like her a lot, and I want to connect with her on a deeper level before I start professing those feelings of love,” he says. Gabriella offers some advice: “Love is scary, but it’s definitely worthy at the end of the day.”

Okay — we know where this is going.

That’s four for four, rose lovers. Jenn lets Marcus knows she’s falling for him, too, and then they share a smooch goodbye.

With that, we’re back in Los Angeles. Hmmm… there’s too much time left in the episode for us to go straight to the rose ceremony, so what’s going on?

Uh… okay. So, producers are making the final four go to a local sports bar for beer and a friendly chat before someone gets their heart crushed? Cool, cool, cool.

After the guys raise a glass, there’s a brief, awkward silence. Jeremy breaks it with a joke. “So… which one of you’s going home?” It doesn’t get much of a laugh, but it does allow the guys to address the proverbial elephant in the room. Devin, as usual, says what everyone’s thinking.

Marcus shares his “reservations” about getting engaged so quickly, but the other men claim that they’re doubt-free. (LOLOLOL.) No, Marcus, it’s not because there’s something wrong with you — it’s because you’ve only known her for a handful of weeks.

Let’s get to the rose ceremony, shall we? Oh fun, we’re back at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch. I didn’t spot any rats, but I’ll admit my eyesight isn’t great. The lead-up to the rose ceremony is SUPER drawn out — they make us watch each guy get out of an SUV and walk slowly to the staging area — but this is the point in the season where we have to put up with extra filler.

“It’s a beautiful night for some heartbreak,” murmurs Jeremy as he and the other men wait for Jenn to arrive. At long last, it’s time. Rose ceremony roll call!  

And Jenn’s final three are… Devin, Jonathon, and Marcus. Aw, man. Sorry, Jer-bear, but it’s the end of the road for you. Would you like to pause for a moment with Jenn on the Bye-Bye Bench before saying farewell?

He handles his final moments with grace and class. “Like, obviously, it sucks, but I had the best time,” Jeremy says. “I’m at peace with it, because I know that whoever is in there will take care of you.” He assures the Bachelorette that she’ll always have a place in his heart, and they part with a hug.

What a whirlwind, rose lovers. Were you surprised to see Jeremy go? Who are you rooting for going into next week’s double-header? (Gah, I hate two-episode weeks.) And have you ever gone on a date to a grocery store? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @KristenGBaldwin or on Bluesky at @kristengbaldwin.bsky.social.