'The Golden Bachelorette' recap: Who’s in Joan Vassos's final 4 — and who's now a frontrunner to lead 'The Golden Bachelor'

Good morning, Bachelor Nation! How are we feeling after Joan Vassos’s fifth week? I, for one, am still scraping pieces of my heart off the tile floor, thanks for asking! Let’s get to it.

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What went down this week ??

We’re one week away from hometown visits, so Joan had to narrow her dating pool down to the four men whose loved ones she’d like to meet. (See who made the cut here.)

Who got one-on-ones: Keith got the classic helicopter-to-a-winery date, while Mark got a more creative concept: A boat-bound scavenger hunt. Shiver me timbers. ??[People]

Who hogged Joan on the group date: On the bowling group date, there wasn’t enough of Joan to spare (sorry). I love Chock, but he was all over Joan, mumbling in her ear and asking what side of the bed she sleeps on (?!) while everyone else awkwardly watched. [TheWrap]

Who went home: Last week was tough, but this one was devastating: Fan favorite Mark (aka Kelsey A.’s dad) went home, as did First Impression Rose winner Keith and my personal favorite, Jonathan. [USA Today/Yahoo Entertainment]

Senior superlatives ??

1?? Biggest Softie: Keith

Keith might’ve been determined to show Joan a different side of him this week, but in my opinion, his most obvious reveal was also the best one: of course he cries at dog movies. [People]

2?? Mr. Congeniality: Guy

Chock’s lovey-dovey routine with Joan at the bowling alley didn’t cause a scene, but Guy did lean over and quietly recommend that he let the other guys have their time — like a true mensch. [Deadline]

3?? Most Improved: Pascal

Pascal spent weeks letting his roomies do his laundry, but now that they’ve all gone home, he’s steaming his own shirts. You know what we call that? Growth! [Entertainment Weekly]

4?? Most Athletic: Jordan

Did anyone else peep at those biceps when Jordan was wandering the mansion in that sleeveless shirt? ?? We love a free ticket to the golden gun show! [Entertainment Weekly]

5?? Humanitarian of the Week: Jesse Palmer

Can gorgeous views conceal a total lack of chemistry? Those awkward silences on Mark’s boat date were a real buzzkill. Thank God Jesse gave him and Joan an activity to lighten the mood. [USA Today]

Bachelor trivia ??

Trista Sutter popped in on this week’s episode to give Joan some Bachelorette advice. Check out her sage wisdom here. How many Bachelor Nation TV programs has she appeared on as a guest?

Hint: We’re talking more guest spots than there are roses in a bouquet…

Can I steal you for a second? ??

A one-on-one with Sarah Hearon

We love insider gossip in this newsletter, so this week, I reached out to the person who hears it all: Sarah Hearon from Us Weekly. She’s interviewed countless Bachelor/ettes (including, most recently, Joan).

Laura: What did Joan tell you about her headspace right now?

Sarah: Joan seems to be in a really good place. When I asked how she feels about the ending in three words, she told me that she feels "healed,” “confident” and “hopeful."

Laura: Who’s currently your winner’s pick?

Sarah: Chock! I felt like I was watching their fourth or fifth date during their first date at Disneyland. What Joan told me sealed the deal: “I’ve had this feeling that I don’t feel as safe as I used to when John was alive. I thought, ‘[Chock’s] a person who would make you feel safe again.’”

Laura: You've interviewed practically every Bachelor franchise lead over the years. Do you have any favorite insider tidbits?

Sarah: Peter Weber once told me that producers gave him a signal when it was a good time to go in for a kiss. I'm also obsessed with the leads having to give their engagement rings back if they break up before the two-year mark. Ali Fedotowsky told me she refused to do so after her split from Roberto in 2011, and they let her keep it since she was so upset.

Go deeper: Read Sarah’s exclusive interview with Joan (which includes her major change to the fantasy suites).

Golden visibility ??

This show is all about showing us the specific challenges that come with looking for love in your golden years, and often, that means confronting big losses.

This week, Mark went home, and watching him tear up at the sight of a hummingbird that reminded him of his late wife had me in shambles. As Mark told the guys, the moment lifted a weight off his shoulders and validated his decision to open up again.

Joan might’ve decided he’s not quite healed enough to be her man, but with The Golden Bachelor on the horizon, Mark’s TV journey could be far from over. [Parade]

?? This week's cry counter: This week, all the guys got misty about Mark’s hummingbird, which brought our cry count up to eight.

? Trivia answer: Between the flagship series, the wedding specials and recap episodes, Trista has shown up around Bachelor Nation a whopping 14 times. (Anyone else remember Bachelor Pad? LOL.)

The Golden Bachelorette airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

About In Reality: If Wednesday nights are for watching The Golden Bachelorette, then Thursday mornings are for diving into every detail with Laura Bradley, our Golden Bachelorette correspondent. Sign up.