The Bachelorette Recap That No One Asked For: Episode 7, Men Tell All, & Hometowns

NIGHT ONE

Ahhh okay here it is. Week ? of The Bachelorette, and now it’s the Men Tell All. I am exhausted from this rollercoaster of a season, but here is a recap.

Chris COMIN IN HOT like the Papa we all needed. He’s giving Tayshia a good dose of reality; next week is hometowns and we all know how important family is to Tayshia.

ONE-ON-ONE DATE: Blake and Tayshia

This is the weirdest couple pairing on this season; maybe Blake was right for Clare in the moment, but I don’t see Blake and Tayshia. I see Tayshia with a man like Ben, Riley, Ivan, or even Bennett—but Blake is eh. I see him on Paradise, and I only think he’s made it this far because the producers are trying to make him out to be a favorite. Heck, I don’t even know if Blake is into this relationship. If he isn’t, he needs to stop wasting Tayshia’s time.

This date with chakra is … rubbing me the wrong way? It’s a little weird. But setting aside personal beliefs, I just think this date is exposing the lack of chemistry between the two. “We do have attraction towards each other … but I don’t think he’s my guy,” Tayshia says. I love Blake, I really do, but I just think that Tayshia being honest with him is the right move. She has to think about meeting these guys’ families in addition to them meeting her own.

And … Blake has left the La Quinta.

TAYSHIA CONFRONTS THE REMAINING FIVE MEN

Tayshia walks into the men’s room and starts bawling. She tells them that she sent Blake home. She says she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Then she pulls Riley aside. STOP. (My exact words.) Pulling Riley and sending him home would leave the guys to four, excluding Bennett. Riley, sweet sweet Riley, is absolutely shocked and heartbroken. The conversation between Tayshia and Riley that’s happening right now is incredibly mature. Both are admitting their feelings and vulnerabilities in this breakup conversation, and Riley is expressing his feelings (like a man) and not yelling at her. He could be yelling at her—accusing her of keeping him for so long if her heart wasn’t in it. But that’s not Riley, and that’s not Tayshia. Their relationship was progressing, and Tayshia felt safe with Riley. But ultimately, Tayshia has to make a decision between some incredible men of who she’s going to end up with for the rest of her life.

ROSE CEREMONY: THE REMAINING “FIVE” MEN

The five men walk into the rose ceremony; then as if on cue, Bennett walks in. Apparently he doesn’t want to be known as the “Harvard douchebag.” HA.

Can I just say … Tayshia looks like her own Disney princess in that dress. Kk.

Chris comes in, announces that Tayshia wants to go straight to the rose ceremony. Ben already has a rose; Ivan and Zac are talking as if they respect Tayshia’s decision and feel secure in their relationships. Noah looks a bit nervous, but trying not to show it. Bennett appears nervous but in his confessional, thinks that he’s going to get the rose because Tayshia asked him back. Um….Tayshia is making some hard decisions this week so I wouldn’t feel so comfortable, Bennett.

Noah, Bennett, Ben, Ivan, Riley, Brendan, and Zac are all left standing.

Down to six men, here’s the rose ceremony: Zac, Ivan, Brendan (+ Ben). THE FINAL FOUR THAT WE ALL DESERVED. I am disappointed about Riley, but I couldn’t be happier about this final four group of men. Tayshia chose well.

MEN TELL ALL

Noticing the men all around, I do notice that Eazy isn’t there, probably due to his allegations. Same with Chasen.

There’s some Bennett and Noah drama, in which Chris has to clap and cut to commercial. Somehow Kenny inserts himself into the drama but all we want to hear from is Riley and Demar, with a little bit of Jason in there too.

Is it just me, or does this men tell all just seem less exciting? Like honestly, I like the whole intimate setting, but I think there was less drama. Sure, there was the whole Ed-Chasen drama but we didn’t get Chasen’s perspective. And then the whole rest of the “drama” was focused on Noah and Bennett in which some select people got their voices in. Some people I’d like to see come back for the reunion: Joe. WHERE IS HE?!

Yosef coming on the screen … literally I forgot that he existed. Can he leave? He basically said he has no regrets about talking to Clare like that, calling her classless and rude. I’m not even going to recap what he said, but the rest of the men stuck up for Clare (even though she left them in the dust for Dale) so maturely. And then Chris even spoke up—something he hasn’t done in 20 years—for Clare, saying that Yosef is actually the worst.

Then Tayshia joins us. She confronts the men, talking to Noah, Bennett, Blake, and Riley. Out of all these four men, Riley was the most heartbreaking. I wish Noah talked more about his faith, Bennett needs to get off the screen, and Blake, well Blake, is just Blake. But Riley … he deserves the world. (Same with Tayshia, but still.) We need to hear his truth.

NIGHT TWO

Alright, alright, alright. We have hometowns! At the La Quinta resort! We’re down to the final four and I’m ready to meet these guys families. The question is … is Tayshia?

She sure is! Now, are the guys ready? Maybe not so much. My question is, is Ben’s sister the whole family? And then Brendan talking about his family is the sweetest. The way he tears up at his family coming makes me think that he’s nervous about them meeting Tayshia, and that makes me think that their relationship is real and true.

FIRST HOMETOWN: BRENDAN

I’m excited to see Brendan’s hometown. The carnival, his smile, and his niece Aleyah are all totally adorable. I’m loving this date, seeing all three of them play carnival games and just having fun together really shows that Brendan is absolutely amazing and could be a suitable match for Tayshia. But seeing Tayshia with Brendan compared to Tayshia with Zac or Ivan or even Ben just isn’t enough.

And now we’re headed to meet the rest of the family! Brendan’s brother is 100 percent Team Brendan and Tayshia. I’m pretty sure that his brother wants him to propose more than Brendan actually wants to propose.

SECOND HOMETOWN: ZAC

I’m already feeling off about this date. I totally forgot Zac was from New York. Zac is trying to be playful, I get what he’s doing, but it’s coming across as ragging on Tayshia. Like every chance he gets he’s teasing her. And not in a good way.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Zac. I love his vulnerability and honesty about his whole life. And he’s very close with his family, so I can get behind that. Man, I do see the connection between these two while they’re literally making out in the fountain. I can see it being Zac at the end … of the final two.

The fact that Tayshia is VERY nervous about meeting Zac’s parents just shows how much she cares for him.

Zac’s brother is realistic, let’s be real. And he is asking the tough questions on how Zac and Tayshia’s relationship is compared to her other relationships. Zac’s dad on the other hand really surprised me. Starting out with the small town bit, I thought he was going to play the devil’s advocate. But no! He seems to be really happy that Zac is happy. Zac’s mom and how Zac is opening up to his mom about her strength saving his life—my heart is breaking. Ah. I hate to say it then when I don’t like them together. But does Tayshia like her and Zac together? That’s the real question.

THIRD HOMETOWN DATE: IVAN

What is not to love about Ivan?! NOTHING. Literally nothing. Ivan is just perfection. And this date? I’m literally obsessed. Seeing Ivan and Tayshia together just makes sense. Their connection just seems natural and fun. Them playing on their little cooking date, cooking one of Ivan’s family recipes, just kind of reinforces the natural connection that they have.

Meeting the parents! I love Ivan’s mom, she’s a fierce woman, much like Tayshia. She definitely has some walls up, which I completely understand. She has to look out for her son. But honestly—I love Ivan’s dad. I love his quietness and wisdom that he offers. Clarence, you are a winner tonight.

Ivan and Tayshia, man oh man, are so dang cute. And all of a sudden, Ivan’s brother appears! Interesting enough, Ivan never says “I love you.” He even tells his mom that he doesn’t know if he’s proposing, let alone love. But everyone who says that when they make it to the final four, three, two…they always show to have their head on their shoulders.

I’ll say it again: Tayshia and Ivan are so dang cute together.

FOURTH HOMETOWN DATE: BEN

As much as I love Ben, I don’t really like this date. Roller blading, fun. But it’s a little boring. But, I do still love him.

Meeting Ben’s family! His parents couldn’t be there, obviously because of COVID, but his sister and his family friend seems like a close second.

Talking to his sister, Tayshia seems excited. Like more excited than talking to other family members. And now Ben, talking to his family friend, realizes that he’s in love with Tayshia. But can he actually say the three magic words?

ROSE CEREMONY:

I’m extremely nervous. All four of these men are extremely nervous, Tayshia’s nervous, I’m nervous.

Ivan, Zac, Brendan.

My heart is crushed. My heart is broken. Ben is just hiding his feelings, putting his walls up even more. And Tayshia? “Don’t shut down on me.” He had his walls up to begin with! I am heartbroken. Tayshia is looking for love. But Ben … I have a feeling her journey with Ben isn’t over yet.

And that’s the ending! As always.