“The Golden Bachelor” hometown dates recap: Meet your new stepdad
This week's hometown dates episode of The Golden Bachelor had everything: Adorable kids! Emotional mother-and-child reunions! And a brutal rose ceremony cliffhanger!
Let's recap, folks.
Before we get to the first date, can we just take a moment to appreciate Gerry's effortless travel-day cool?
ABC Gerry slips on some shades.
This man is something else.
Hometown Date No. 1: Theresa
Location: Shrewsbury, N.J.
Relatives present: Theresa's sisters Mary and Charlotte, her daughter Jen, her son-in-law Matt, and her three grandkids.
Gerry and Theresa meet up in a local park. I was a little worried that producers would make Theresa attempt a huju, but thankfully, her feet stayed on the ground during their reunion hug.
Theresa says she hasn't brought a man home to meet her family since her husband died, and Gerry is appropriately honored. All right, let's do this, people. Gather in the living room — Nana and her new boyfriend are here!
ABC Gerry meets Theresa's family on 'The Golden Bachelor.'
Theresa breaks the ice by regaling everyone with the story of her "birthday suit" limo exit, and then she sits down with her sisters for some girl talk. "I really felt this connection from the very beginning," says Theresa. Still, she's worried: "I'm 70! I'm competing with 60-year-olds!" (Oof, age-based insecurities never truly go away for women, I guess.) Charlotte and Mary assure their sister that she and Gerry seem like a "perfect fit" for each other.
Meanwhile, Gerry heads outside to face a serious interrogation.
ABC Gerry and Theresa's grandsons on 'The Golden Bachelor'
Let him have it, boys! Don't hold back! Actually, never mind. Gerry is the one asking most of the questions. He wants to know what the boys think about him dating their Nana, and the boy in the maroon shirt gives an answer that's kind of heartbreaking. "She comes over a lot because she's always lonely," he says. "It would mean a lot to her if you guys get married."
When Gerry asks the boys to share something interesting about their Nana, they immediately launch into an imitation of Theresa taking selfies. "She would do this weird face…" says one boy. "Duck lips, I think it's called?" another chimes in.
ABC Kids are savage.
For the record, I did a quick scan of Theresa's Instagram and saw no evidence of "duck lips," but who am I to call these adorable little boys liars?
From there, it's time for Gerry to sit down with Theresa's daughter, Jen. The Golden Bachelor raves about how sweet Theresa is, and says he really loves the way she looks at him. But when Jen asks if he's in love with her mom, Gerry isn't sure how to answer. "That's such a hard question," he says. "I'm not even sure I know what it feels like to fall in love again… I don't know right now." Jen does NOT love it.
ABC Jen has concerns
To be clear, Jen professes to be a big fan of Gerry's. She's just worried that her mom will get hurt, which is understandable. Jen gets emotional thinking about the possibility that her mom could find love again so many years after losing her first husband. "It doesn't really feel that weird for some reason," she says, wiping away tears. "It doesn't change how much love we have for my dad."
Welp, I'm crying. But I made it 20 minutes this time. It's a new record, rose lovers!
As for Mary and Charlotte, they're just happy to see Theresa with a man who seems so kind. "You're a very genuine man, and I see that you have brought Theresa happiness," says Charlotte. "She's found her guy." The Golden Bachelor gets a little emotional hearing this. "They saw how genuinely happy Theresa is," he says, adding that the conversation made him realize "it's certainly possible that I could be having these feelings of love for Theresa."
The date ends on a romantic note, with Theresa confessing her love to Gerry on the Casino Pier Ferris wheel. "Oh Theresa, that makes me feels so special," gushes the Golden Bachelor. (He doesn't say "I love you" back, but he admits in his confessional that he's in love with Theresa.) Then they smooch as fireworks go off in the distance.
ABC Gerry and Theresa share a smooch on the Ferris wheel on 'The Golden Bachelor'
Hometown Date No. 2: Faith
Location: Benton City, Wash.
Relatives present: Faith's friend Joan, her sons Brenden and Nick, two unnamed women who I assume are her daughters-in-law, her sister Beth, and 3 grandkids
Gerry meets Faith on her farm, and she greets him with a half-huju.
ABC Faith and Gerry
Faith is a little worried that Gerry, who lives in "the country city," will be put off by her much more rural lifestyle. And how will he feel about horseback riding, which is one of her favorite pastimes? Oh, ye of little faith, Faith! Don't you know that our Golden Bachelor is up for anything?
ABC Gerry and Faith ride horses on 'The Golden Bachelor'
Not going to lie, I held my breath through this whole sequence. But Gerry is LOVING it. "A horse ride and a good talk with a pretty lady — how can you not feel good?"
After their ride, Faith and Gerry talk about the very real geographical challenge they'll face if they do end up together. He's got his lake house in Indiana, and she loves her ranch in Washington and feels strongly about being close to her sons. "I understand," says Gerry. "That's something that I'm not sure how we would reconcile." Still, he assures Faith that their relationship is so strong, he feels confident they could figure something out.
Alrightie, it's time. Bring on the relatives!
ABC Gerry meets Faith's family on 'The Golden Bachelor'
When Gerry reveals that Faith got the First Impression Rose, her son Brendan raises his arms in victory and screams, "I CALLED IT!" (It's funny, but also surprisingly sweet. If I'm ever a contestant on The Golden Bachelor season 22, or whatever, I hope my son has that much faith in my chances.) ((Also, in case my husband is reading this, I hope you live for another 40 years, honey.))
Faith goes to chat with her sister while Gerry sits down with Brendan and Nick. Like most relatives on hometown dates, they're worried that their loved one could get hurt if she's not the last woman standing. "It's not easy," admits Gerry. "I look at this thing as a huge responsibility."
Though Gerry told Theresa's daughter that he wasn't sure what it felt like to be in love at this point in his life, he's got a different answer when Brendan asks him point-blank if he's in love. "Yeah," says the Golden Bachelor. "I kind of think I am." Twist!
His conversation with Beth is even more emotional, because Beth can't help but tear up when she thinks about her sister's heart possibly being broken. "I love that you've made her feel safe," she says, choking up. "She's trusted you with her heart… and I would love for her to be happy." Gerry, always an empathetic softie, is moved, and they share a sweet hug.
The day ends with Gerry tossing the football with Faith's grandkids, and it's about as cute as it can be. When it's time to say goodbye, Gerry thanks the family for being so kind and welcoming. Beth jokes that Gerry should cancel his final hometown date, and then drops this bomb: "You're a very authentic person, and I can tell you're in love with Faith and want it to be her."
Faith is a little taken aback. "Did she just say that out loud?" she murmurs to Gerry. His response?
ABC MY MIND IS BLOWN
Holy crap! Our man went from "I'm not sure if I even know what love is anymore" to saying "I love you" to Faith in front of her whole family! Twist times two!!! Faith says it back, of course, and they smooch as her relatives look on, beaming.
"I love Faith. When she looked me in the eye, I had to say the words," Gerry tells us later. "I couldn't not. The feeling of love, it's a lot of confusion for me." You're not the only one who's confused, sir. You told us at the end of the last date that you were in love with Theresa, too! And you still have one more family to meet. On to Minneapolis!
Hometown Date No. 3: Leslie
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Relatives present: Leslie's sons Eli and Zack, her daughter, Chlo?, her brother Stuart, and her three grandkids
Oh snap, we have our first Golden Bachelor huju!
ABC Grandmas, don't try this at home.
Still, this date gets off on a sad note. Leslie says her brother Stuart, one of her four siblings, is very special to her, because he stepped in to raise her after a family tragedy. One day when she was 16, Leslie's father dropped her off at school and never came back. Eventually, Stuart came to get her. When Leslie asked about their dad, Stuart said, "I'm your dad now." Though she doesn't specify exactly what happened to her father, Leslie says he "passed away" that day — and Stuart "took over" as her father.
"He is a mensch. That means, just a good person," she tells Gerry, adding that he is a mensch, too. "You're a mensch on a bench!" (Fun fact: That's a real thing!)
Leslie and Gerry meet the family at a coworking/event space called Brick & Mortar. (Why aren't they at someone's house? We'll never know!) Chlo? jumps right into it, asking how many "girls" are left. Eli is all, "Mom, doesn't it bug you that Gerry's dating other girls?" and Leslie is all, "Well, duh." (I'm paraphrasing.)
Even though they're going in hard, Leslie's children seem to approve of Gerry. "This could be somebody that my mom's, like, finally settling down with, and that's so great," says Chlo?. "I think they're perfect together."
Sorry, Chlo?, we're going to have to move on because it's time for a Cute Kid Interlude?.
ABC Cute kid alert!
"Is it true, do you actually love my glamma and are you actually a couple?" asks the blonde cherub. Gerry says it is true, and the little girl approves: "I think you would be a very good couple!" Meanwhile, Leslie is chatting with her sons, both of whom agree that their mom and Gerry have good chemistry. "Hopefully, Gerry's the one," says Eli.
Stuart, who looks a little like Marc Maron and who I want to hug because he's clearly been through so much in his life, sits down with Gerry next. "I think it's very strange talking to a guy that's dating my sister, but he's also dating two other women," he says. The Golden Bachelor gets why it's weird and adds that it's hard for him to be "in a situation where I have to severely hurt feelings." He goes on to say that his connection with Leslie "really feels good" and that "she could be the one person that completes the years that I have left on this earth."
ABC The meeting of the mensches.
Perhaps because he knows Stuart served as a father figure to Leslie, old-fashioned Gerry asks him for his blessing — should Leslie be the one, of course. Blessing granted! "It will be good to have another mensch in the family!" jokes Stuart. Gerry LOVES it.
After this hometown date, Gerry realizes he also loves Leslie. "A wise man told me, 'Don't walk by an opportunity to tell someone you love them when you love them,'" he says. "And Leslie, I love you." Then they make out up against the wall, Arie Luyendyk-style.
ABC Leslie smooches Gerry on 'The Golden Bachelor'
Leslie is understandably "ecstatic" and "hopeful." Of course, she doesn't know that Gerry is in love with the other two women as well. Turns out, seniors can be as messy as twentysomethings, rose lovers.
The next night, Gerry arrives at the mansion, and he is feeling the weight of his decision. "I am in an impossible situation right now," he frets. "I honestly have no idea how I'm going to decide."
Better figure it out quick, sir, because your three potential wives are pulling up at the mansion as we speak. Host Jesse Palmer greets each one, and he's clearly rooting for all of them. He looks at them with such (platonic) adoration:
ABC He is so invested in this "journey"
Once all the women are lined up in the rose ceremony room, Gerry enters, and he looks like he's about to pass out from the stress. "Ladies, tonight, I recognize that I have developed a bond and a connection with all three of you," he begins. "Now families are involved, and that makes it all that much harder." Deep breaths, sir! You can do it.
The first rose goes to Leslie, and the second goes to… Hey, Gerry, are you ok?
ABC SOMEBODY HUG THIS MAN IMMEDIATELY
Crying, Gerry walks out of the mansion and stands on the front steps, bent over with his hands on his knees. "I feel like I'm going to throw up," he groans. "Having to send someone home is gut-wrenching. I'm dying inside a little bit right at this moment."
Wait, WHAT? The episode's over? We're going to have to wait until next week — the Women Tell All episode, by the way — to find out who gets that second rose? Very rude, Team Golden Bachelor. Very rude.
Welp, rose lovers, we're (almost) down to the final two. Who do you think will get that second rose? Did anyone's hometown visit surprise you? And is "glamma" cute or cringey? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @KristenGBaldwin.
The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
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