The Bachelorette: Week 10 Recap

Week 10

This Monday began the two part finale of Desiree's season as The Bachelorette. ABC advertised and promised that this would be the most shocking, drama filled finale yet...and they did not disappoint. However, they did leave the drama until the very end of the episode. Standard.

Drew: Drew and Des spend the day tooling around the island of Antigua in a sporty Jeep, stopping along the way to kiss. A lot. Drew is head over heels for this girl; he can't stop kissing her and saying 'I love you.' They attend a local festival with dancing, shopping, and awkward gestures from the locals. A local hands Des a heart made out of leaves or something weird and then proceeds to ask Drew and Des to kiss. Intensely. And then, he just sits there and watches. Creepy. The couple has dinner in their fantasy suite that Drew gladly accepted the invitation to. Drew talks of how excited he is to finally be able to say "good morning" instead of "good night." This kid really is precious.

Chris: Private island date. I knew it was coming. Although, this private island looked a little less than impressive. There was just lots of sand and not very many trees. As Des and Chris talked on the beach, I noticed that they were both squinting at the sun, but neither had sunglasses. Apparently, sunglasses are not allowed. That officially puts me out of the running for ever being on the show. At dinner, Chris presents Des with...another poem. I think this is poem number eight or nine. Enough is enough, buddy. Des couldn't care less though, at least it seems that way. She looks at him all wide-eyed as usual as he reads it aloud to her. They talk of where they would live if this whole thing were to work out, and Chris asks Desiree if she would be comfortable moving to Seattle. This is the first concrete discussion of plans after the show that I have ever heard. Some redeeming points to Chris to counteract his cheesiness. Just a few. Chris also accepts his invitation to the fantasy suite and the two spend the remainder of their evening in the hot tub, kissing and stuff. Eew.

Brooks: Here's where things get really interesting. Prior to flying out to Antigua, Brooks revisits his family to discuss some feelings and hesitations that he is having. Uh oh. Not a good sign. During his discussion with his mother and sister, he comes to the conclusion that he is not in love with Desiree, despite how much he wants to be, and will be breaking up with her when he arrives in Antigua. As we know, Desiree is in love with Brooks, (breaking protocol by telling us) so this is going to absolutely devastate her. Brooks talks with Chris Harrison and confirms his decision, though he was a wreck while discussing it. If he was this shaky and nervous while talking to Chris, talking to Desiree is going to be an absolute disaster.

And it was. As Brooks greeted Des, she immediately sensed that something was wrong. He led her to a bench where he began to try to explain what he was feeling, though he never said the words "I don't love you" or anything with the word "break up" in it. However, Des quickly put together the pieces and was crushed. As she should've been. The breakup itself took way longer than necessary and eventually got boring, in my opinion. I wanted to scream at Brooks to just leave already! Leave Desiree to cry and grieve. She needs to be alone and away from you to start the whole grieving and healing process. Having been in this almost exact same situation, I know how hard it was for both Desiree and Brooks. Many people just empathized with Desiree (which is fine and needed), but forget how hard it is to leave someone that you so desperately want to love, but just don't. Brooks made the mistake of staying with Desiree for way too long, trying to comfort her. That is not your place, bud! After what seemed like an eternity, Brooks and Des finally went their separate ways. Whew, that was exhausting.

So now what? Des was very much in love with Brooks, but he didn't feel the same way and left. In my opinion, after watching her get so torn up by Brooks' departure, there is no way that she can pick either Drew or Chris. It just wouldn't make any sense. So, for the first time in Bachelorette history, I think she chooses no one. If Brooks decides to come back for whatever reason, I think she would accept his proposal and they would both be making a huge mistake. I feel for this girl, I really do. Crossing my fingers for everything to turn out okay for her, at some point down the road.

The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All (Week 9)

Welcome to The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All. Let's put all of the men that have been cast off this season in one room and watch them confront each other. That is, if their egos can all fit in the same room. Honestly, I was not looking forward to this episode. Two hours of drama is just not up my alley. That being said...

As the men are introduced, the loudest applause goes to Juan Pablo and Zak W, and the loudest 'boo's went to Ben and James. No surprises there. After a brief recap of the drama highlights of the season, the floor is opened up for the guys to discuss their feelings. Here we go.

Jonathan was the first to catch a little bit of heat for his fantasy suite opener and he quickly apologized for that and we all moved on. Lucky break for him. Bryan was the next to be put in the hot seat, though he was not present for the grilling. Coward. The general consensus among the men was that Bryan was not there for the right reasons and had absolutely no business going on the show with a girlfriend back home (even if she was completely psychotic.) Once again, agreed. Let's move on to the more interesting stuff please, Chris!

With Ben in the hot seat, things heat up. But, only slightly. He explains his less than graceful exit with saying that he had just been dumped and battered about huge things in his life for eight hours straight. The guy was bound to crack at some point, right? However, I wish he could've cracked a little sooner and high-fived Michael G...in the face...with a chair. Ben was the classic snake of the season that none of the other housemates liked. One could compare him to Tierra of Sean's season, but not nearly as bad.

James was in the hot seat for way too long. Honestly, looking back, the drama of this season was rather disappointing. The main controversy with James surrounded a conversation between James and Mikey in a limo. For more on the whole James drama, feel free to read my recap of Week 6. As he is questioned by Chris and the other men, James gets defensive instantly and starts talking really fast and stuttering again. I'll give this guy some grace, but America certainly did not. Life goes on after the show. There was no master plan to become to the next Bachelor; this guy just said the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong place around the wrong people. Amidst all of the shouting, pointing, and yelling, poor Juan Pablo is caught sitting in between Mikey and Kasey. Somebody get this guy a seat change.

Juan Pablo was next to be put in the hot seat, but for different reasons. That man sent the hot seat up in flames. So America, and the other guys, all have a crush on Juan Pablo. Literally no one had anything negative to say about Juan Pablo. He is the clear fan favorite...next Bachelor anyone? I'd watch.

Zak W is wearing the same outfit tonight that he was wearing on the night he was let go. Wait a minute, did he just come from Des dumping him? One would think so by how torn up over Des he still is. In a very creepy conversation with Chris Harrison, Zak reveals that he wrote a secret in invisible ink in the back of the journal that he gave Des. Very National Treasure of you. When Desiree arrives and confronts the men, Zak decides it would be a good idea to break out his guitar and sing Des a song he wrote for her...How did ABC let this happen? Aside from this just being a disaster in general, his performance looked a lot more like an audition for The Voice than a heartbroken song for Desiree. It was clear that she felt incredibly uncomfortable, as did everyone else watching that. He lost a lot of points in my book for that. Too desperate, bud.


The show ended with a three minute compilation of hilarious bloopers. I wish we would've watched two hours of that! Next week will begin the dramatic two part finahhhhhle (as Chris Harrison pronounces it). My prediction: Brooks leaves due to cold feet, Des is torn up and chooses no one. But, Brooks then realizes he made a mistake and comes back and they get engaged. Honestly, I have NO CLUE. 

The Bachelorette: Hometown Recap (Week 8)

Though it is rather obvious, I feel the need to mention that my blog template has once again changed. The template that I was previously using malfunctioned and I reluctantly switched to this current one. Although it is not my favorite, it does have a few cool features: A poll (be sure to vote before next week), a link to follow me on Twitter, and links to popular posts if you are looking for something additional to read. Hopefully all the recent switching isn't too crazy for you; I promise I'm done for a while.

Week 8: Hometowns 

Hometowns! This week, Desiree got to meet the families of Zak, Drew, Chris, and Brooks. This was arguably the best week of hometowns this show has seen in a while, but it didn't go without its usual quirks and awkward moments.




Zak's Hometown: Zak was up first and he was visibly thrilled to be showing Des around his hometown of Dallas, Texas. Their date started with Zak telling Des about a dream that he had, a very confusing, strange dream involving Sno-Cones, children, and penguins. He then disappeared, leaving Des (and me) perplexed. Zak returned moments later in an ice cream truck...the family ice cream truck. He and Des would be serving Sno-Cones to an elementary school full of eager children. Absolutely precious. This date actually looked like a blast and Desiree was clearly enjoying herself and enjoying seeing Zak in his element.

As Desiree and Zak walked into his house, they were greeted enthusiastically by his family. His mom was adorable and I fell in love with her instantly. She was so welcoming to Desiree and so excited to meet her and get to know her. Definitely not the typical potential awful "mother-in-law" situation. The conversations between all of the family members and Desiree went seamlessly and the family concluded the evening with the performance of an original song written about welcoming Desiree into the family. With such a genuine family, I knew Desiree was going to have a terrible time sending Zak home, if it came to that.

As Zak said his goodbyes to Des, he presented her with a promise ring and told her that he loved her. Although Desiree couldn't say "I love you too" back, (or so we thought...) she expressed how touched she was by his gesture and kind words. Overall, this hometown date went as perfectly as possible, by the books.

Drew's Hometown: Welcome to Scottsdale, Arizona: home of one of the few men in the world that can rock a bright pink shirt. Drew and Desiree start the day off by picking up Drew's severely mentally handicapped sister and bringing her home to spend the day with her family. Drew's sister's reaction to seeing her brother is priceless. Though she cannot formulate words or much of anything, her screaming is clearly from excitement and she rushes over to give Drew a big hug. Desiree is touched by being a part of this experience and, with her loving reaction to meeting Drew's sister, she slips into the family perfectly from the very beginning. Upon meeting Drew's family, it's instantly clear that he comes from an incredibly loving family and they welcome Des with open arms. In her conversation with Drew's father, he shares with her that he has met an angel, his daughter. Des is brought to tears and tells the camera that she is "ready to move in."

Drew tells Desiree that he loves her, and boldly. Des' reaction is more passionate and receptive than when Zak told her, which places Drew in front of Zak for best hometown date.

Chris' Hometown: Remember earlier when I said despite the overall awesome hometown dates there were some awkward moments? Well, it's time. The time that Chris and Desiree spend alone is not awkward at all; it's perfect. They play baseball in his home field and have an absolute blast. The connection between the two of them is easy to see. Things don't get weird until Chris' dad takes Desiree into the basement for an adjustment. Whoa, back up. Even though Chris' dad is a chiropractor, I don't see any reason why showing Des his "skills" is necessary, especially on the first meeting. Strike one. It just gets stranger from here, as camera shots of Chris getting his nose adjusted, as if it's a daily occurrence, by his dad are shown. Strike two. Honestly, I just got some weird vibes from this family. There was nothing outwardly wrong with them, no fights broke out, but something just seemed off. I don't see Desiree fitting in as well with Chris' family as the others.

With a less than compelling exit, Chris slides into last place thus far.

Brooks' Hometown: There are few things that I really love about Brooks. Primarily, his sense of humor. He is incredibly witty, as shown on almost every episode this season. Des is really into him...really into him. Brooks and Des canoe in a local lake and despite taking water, they have an absolute blast. Brooks has had some reservations almost every week, and it's obvious that Desiree is ahead of him in the "feelings" category. He's hoping that talking with his family will ease some of his hesitance and help him move forward in the relationship. Upon walking through the doors of Brook's home, the two are greeted by an enormous amount of hugs, screams, and hellos. Also, everyone is wearing name tags. His whole family is hilarious; I love it. The conversations are very meaningful, but not many answers to the deep questions asked are shared with the viewers. Brooks seems to feel more confident after talking with his family. HOWEVER. He is the only one not to tell Desiree that he loves her this week. That's big. (Or at least in the past it has proved to be).

Rose Ceremony: Once again, we are shown an incredibly confusing interview between Chris Harrison and Desiree. I refuse to discuss it because honestly, I'm upset. The editing these past couple of episodes is terrible and really making me frustrated. As I watched the episode with Morgan and Lindsey, we all agreed that these new pre-rose ceremony interviews need to go. Stat.

Brooks is called first, followed by Chris. Despite his two strikes, he slides in and is safe. "The final rose...when you're ready." It goes to Drew. BOOM. Spot on prediction on my part, though relatively unexpected. Zak is heartbroken, as was I. I was hoping that Chris would've packed his bags, but poor little Zak has to go home to his adorable mom and explain why Desiree let him go. And the hardest part will undoubtedly be coming up with that explanation. I feel for that guy, I really do.

Next Week:

"The Men Tell All" airs next week so there will be no elimination. Instead, we will have a reunion of 22 testosterone filled, protein packed, guys. There will be screaming, yelling, pointing, and most likely...crying. Get excited ladies and gentlemen.

The Bachelorette: Week 7 Recap

Week 7

This week, Des and her suitors traveled to the island of Madeira, well off the coast of Portugal. We are down to just five men, which means that next week is hometowns! My favorite week, personally. But, before we get there, one man needs to go and a few more dates need to be had. No sight of Chris Harrison at the beginning of the episode, and no personal delivery of the date card. (Turns out, Chris was supporting a friend at a charity golf tournament which is why he was late for filming. Fun fact.)

The episode began with a mini-reunion of a few of the girls from last season: Catherine (Sean's fiance), Leslie, and Jackie. Getting the girls' opinion on the guys seemed to really put Des' mind at ease after having it shaken last week with James. It was so good to see that the girls remained friends even after the show ended! I approve.

Brook's Second 1-on-1: The man who got the first one on one date of the season has gotten his second. Go Brooks. The two drive off in a super sexy...Smart Car and head for the mountains. They spent most of the day driving, not exactly my ideal date. When Brooks and Des finally made it to the top, they settled down on a rock in the clouds and shared a few kisses and good conversation. *Cue unnecessary amounts of metaphors to how "love is like being in the clouds."* I swear those lines are scripted. While atop the mountain and amongst the clouds, Des and Brooks create a few "adjectives" to describe the stages between like and love. They came up with "stepping", "skipping", "jogging", "running", and "finish line." Pardon me, but those are four verbs and a noun. Don't mind me, just the grammar police over here. As cheesy as these terms are, keep them in mind as they play into the show later on. Brooks and Des finish off the night with a private fireworks show, courtesy of ABC. First week without a private concert! I think ABC has been reading my blog...

Chris' Second 1-on-1: Chris, another front runner, and Des spend their day on a private yacht in the royal blue waters of Madeira. With an awkward send off from the guys atop the balcony, the date is underway. Chris and Des seems to have some really good chemistry and she is giddy when she's around him. He really is the dark horse of the season in my opinion. Des and Chris beach it on a private island (typical) and hike through beautiful trails and flowers. At dinner, Chris tells Des that he loves her...through yet another poem. I'm sorry, but I am over the poetry at this point and wish this guy could just talk to her not in Iambic pentameter. Des is still clearly touched by his expression of love and it's pretty clear that this guy will be getting a hometown date.

Michael's 1-on-1: Michael finally gets his first one on one date, seven weeks into the show. He was behind the eight ball from the very beginning of this episode and it was clear to the audience that he would be the one going home. Although, if I was Des, I would have sent him home a few weeks ago after his 2-on-1 date with Ben. But, alas. Desiree and Michael spend the day exploring Madeira, trying weird tropical fruits, and riding on a manpowered go-kart type thing. It was just strange, and boring. Michael does open up to Des, but it was just too little too late. It was clear that her relationships with other four guys had progressed much further than her's and Michael's and there was no time to catch up. Time to throw in the towel, bud.

Drew and Zak's 2-on-1: I know what you're thinking. Another two one one date?! With two of my favorite people?! Don't worry. Although there is a rose on this date, no one will be going home until the rose ceremony. So, there's not as much pressure and Des admits that it feels more like hanging out with two of her guys friends...both of which she's romantically involved with. Interesting. Drew and Zak race real go-karts around an amazing track as Des waves the checkered flag in her high heels just like in the arcade racing games. Zak wins by a mile, not even looking back to see Drew, let alone letting up on the gas. His first place in the race earns him the first one on one session with Desiree. He shares a bunch of drawings depicting the progression of their relationship and Des clearly enjoys that he is artistic and creative. Zak really has a way of making Desiree laugh, and it's fun to watch. Drew's time with Desiree is once again, impecable. She spends most of the day trying to get Drew to "let go" and he talks of how he makes sure the people he lets in are trusting. Drew also shares with Desiree his excitement for her potentially meeting his entire family, and Desiree can't help from smiling. Drew's kindness and caring personality is almost contagious it seems. Drew gets the rose, which really indicates him as the front runner, in my opinion. Overall, it was probably the coolest two on one date in Bachelor history.

Also, I would like to point out that both of these men wore Converses to this date. Major bonus points in my book.

Rose Ceremony: Prior to the rose ceremony, Des and Chris (thanks for finally showing up) have a really bizarre interview. Chris gets Des to admit that she is at the "finish line" with Brooks, which means that she loves him. Hold your horses. I could've sworn the Bachelor/ette were in a contract to where they couldn't say they were in love with a specific person until the final episode! I am so confused. At that point, it seemed as if she was ready to just end the rest of the show and choose Brooks. But then she tells Chris she's also falling for Chris (the other one) and he's confused as well. Basically, this entire interview was a waste of my time and hurt my brain. Des sends Michael home at the rose ceremony. His exit is very graceful and he makes it clear that he has nothing but good things to say about Des and respects her decision. He also wishes her luck and comments that she has four great guys. True, but a weird comment from the guy that was just eliminated.

So, Brooks, Chris, Zak, and Drew will each take Desiree to their hometown next week to meet their family. This coming week is really the make it or break it week. Things can change so quickly and front runners can go home in the blink of an eye depending on how their family reacts to Desiree. Because of this, I don't feel completely confident in my prediction for who will be going home next week, but I'll give it a shot anyways.

Elimination Prediction:

 Zak W.

The Bachelorette: Week 6 Recap

Week 6

HOLA. Bienvenidos a Barcelona para esta episodio! (Welcome to Barcelona for this episode). We are six weeks into Desiree's journey to find love and this week Spain is the "perfect place to fall in love", as is every other place they have and will visit. Chris meets the boys in a local plaza and hands out the first date card; it's for Drew. Holla.

Drew AKA Jay Gatsby AKA perfect. 

Drew's 1-on-1: Finally. My man Drew gets his well deserved one on one date. Drew meets Desiree in the streets of Barcelona looking gorgeous as always and Desiree reveals that they will be spending the day exploring Spain. Drew couldn't be more pleased and it's obvious that he is so genuinely excited to be here with Des and spend any time possible with her. Love him. Over tapas and wine, Drew reveals some of his family history with Des. His hero is his recovered alcoholic father, and this story really touches Des. She is appreciative of how open Drew is, as if he had a choice. I'm not sure what it is about Drew, but he just radiates on camera. There is just something about this kid, and I'm a fan. Before the two can enjoy their dinner, Drew spontaneously grabs Des by the hand and leads her into a dark alley...(stay tuned)...for a super romantic kiss. Des loves it, oh girl. Of course, she offers him the rose, and he accepts. What happens next is probably one of the smartest plays in Bachelorette history. After securing the rose, Drew decides to bring up the house drama with James. Smart move, homie. He gives her the option of hearing what he has to say, and she chooses to listen. Des seems very appreciative of Drew's information, though obviously hurt. Almost perfect date; I just wish Drew would have held his tongue for a week or two longer.

Group Date: Gooooooooooooooal! Looks like the boys will be facing off in a soccer game this week. Juan Pablo's dream date. As a former pro soccer player, it was clear that Juan Pablo was in his element and loving every second of it. Brooks made a hilarious comment that "Juan Pablo's name is directly translated to 'You have no chance. And I am going after Desiree at this moment in the soccer field.'" Kid has jokes. The boys face off against Desiree and a team of seemingly harmless girls. But to the boy's surprise, a combination of these girls hidden soccer talents and James' terrible goalie skills caused them to lose the game 10-2. I could see all of their egos deflating on the field.

The men ready to play soccer, and James. Terrified
of anything that comes near his overly sculpted body.

It was clear from the moment the group date "cocktail hour" started that the drama with James was going to come up. And quick. It wasn't long before Kasey pulled Des aside to back up Drew's story and the other men confronted James. Though his facial expressions showed surprise at the allegations of him "positioning himself to be the next Bachelor", his excessive cursing, sweating, and rambling said otherwise. Des decides not to give out the group rose and sends all of the men home, expect James. Duh duh duh. She confronts him about everything that has been said and it's clear (to me) that James is a big fat liar and needs to pack his bags, protein, and 'roids, and head home to the Jersey Shore. Despite it being clear to the audience of James' intentions, Desiree gives him the benefit of the doubt and decides that they both need to "sleep on it." Not my favorite choice of hers, but as long as she got rid of him by the end of the episode, I would be pleased.

Zak's 1-on-1: Zak was filled in by the men in the house about the James' situation and he knows that Desiree is probably emotionally exhausted from last night, and makes it a point to put that all aside for the day and just let her smile and be herself. Precious. The two head to a local art studio and sketch a couple of models. We have known from the beginning of the season that Des loves to draw and be artistic, and she is clearly in her element, and Zak loves that about her. He's actually not too bad of an artist himself and impresses both Desiree and me with his sketches. After the first sketch of a man in a trenchcoat, a male model walks in in a robe, drops it, and poses nude for the two. I was dying laughing at this point. Zak's facial expression is priceless, poor guy. He sucks it up though, and that is commendable. Zak and Des draw each other and I have absolutely no words for Zak's drawing of Desiree. She literally falls to the floor dying laughing in one of my favorite moments of the season. Zak ends the excursion by walking into the room in a robe and dramatically dropping it to pose for Desiree in his underwear. Once again, hilarious.

Dinner is perfect, and Zak reveals to the camera that he is in love with Desiree. 100%. Uh oh. I love this guy, I really do, but I have a bad feeling that he is going to end up getting his heart completely broken and I'm not looking forward to watching that. Zak gets the rose and ends the date with another dark alley/cave romantic kiss with Desiree. Boy, the guys have really stepped up their game this week.

Let's just all take a second to appreciate three of the guys
spying on Des and James' intense conversation from
the balcony. Perfect.

Rose Ceremony: Woah woah woah Chris. Why are there only three roses on the plate?! Apparently, three men will be going home tonight. I freaked out a little, because I really only wanted James and Michael G. to go home. Who else would she send home? Not Juan Pablo. He's freaking adorable, hilarious, and really sweet. And definitely not Kasey...well, maybe Kasey. Turns out, this girl decides to keep litigator Michael G (for whatever reason) and send Juan Pablo, Kasey, and James home. Despite James' rather unattractive plea to stay on the show, Des makes the right decision and sends him home. Drew makes the perfect comment that she had a really tough choice tonight sending home two great guys, Juan Pablo and Kasey, but that justice was done in sending home James and that is most important. Agreed.

I refuse to address the preview for the rest of the season because I can't even handle what's going on in it and...well yeah, I just can't. Sorry.

Predictions for Hometowns:

1. Drew
2. Brooks
3. Zak
4. Chris

Michael G. goes home.