Hello Hometowns

Howdy Hoxie
The first hometown is in Hoxie, Arkansas. Raven meets Nick on an ATV, wearing a pink helmet.. They they go visit a steel structure..not sure if that was  grainery and are stopped by a a police officer who asks them for ID..almost seemed like the trailer for Get Out (but wait this is Raven's date, not Rachel's)..but phew..it's her brother. haha. He meets the police officer bruh and it's all good. They ATV on..and then seem to take turns straddling each other in a  bog/marsh/reed-filled water.  Maybe how that's how things get hot in Hoxie..but I'd think that's how people get Lyme disease.

It goes from marshy to mushy when they meet her parents...where they announce that Raven's pa is now cancer free. (this was my first cry of the Bachelor)...Not sure why they'd share when Nick was around..but i'm super happy for Raven's dad. I don't think Raven's dad gives a whip about Nick..he just wants Raven to be happy..and straight up tells Nick "I didn't expect to like you". Awesome. But what wins on this episode is how Nick kinda asks for the dad's blessing in a way that is almost as clever as the phrase 'alternative facts'.  He says something like"if we both come of the end of this and decide together that we want to get engaged and your daughter is happy, would I have your blessing that we go through with this".  That is genius..he gets Raven's dad's kinda blessing for the kinda request.

Dallas
Disclosure. I'm white. So this might sound super white. What was the Rachel is black Nick is white theme. Was this to create drama??...and why is this suddenly an issue??
Rachel took him to church...and a church that is WAY more fun and energetic than the the one I go to...no swaying and stomping at my church. It was pointed out that it's a primarily black church(super obvs). Nick had fun....they got to lunch..don't eat and head to Rachel's family's house.  This might sound anti-white..however the most annoying person on that date was the white dude (not Nick)but Alex. And not sure why the race issue kept coming up because Rachel's sister married annoying Alex who said to Nick "I can't help but noticing you're white". Whah??? Alex..look at the Man in the Mirror..oops wrong Michael Jackson song..i don't know know any of the words to Black or White.
Yeeesh..i might break up with Rachel knowing that I'd have to have dinners with annoying Alex..her sister seemed very in your face and confrontational..i have a feeling those two just like attention. Rachel's mom seemed nice...but she did acknowledge the elephant in the room...but she always taught her daughters to look at people's heart first:)



Miami
Corinne is actually showing glimpses of vulnerability...and I like it. But first. The mall. Corinne meets Nick at the mall and they go shopping!!! and Corinne buys Nick a 3000.00 outfit:) Now I wonder if this influences whether he gives her the rose. And if he doesn't would he have to return the clothes? After the shopping they stop at the food court ..it's a perfect setting for Corinne to tell Nick she loves him. then they pick up their bags and head off the the family condo. We meet Raquel (who I just wanted to hug)...and Corinne's family. Corinne's dad looks he's from the northside.. They all have some marinated olives and then Nick and Jim go to chat. Nick asks for the 'alternative blessing'. Not it's not really the blessing, but in the event that it is Corinne, would he have a blessing.
Then Jim asks Corinne if she would be okay being the breadwinner. I mean, you can't just survive on olives. Corinne is okay with it. Corinne says that Nick wasn't the guy that she thought that she deserved to have then she thought she should start believing that she should. Nice work Corinne. You just go love yourself (I can't help myself with quoting aBieber :)

The date ends.they take the elevator ride down and the parents watch the couple make out from the window .

Bienvenu au (or Benvenuti?) Montreal
What the what was Vanessa wearing. Not who..but what. She was wearing everything. I didn't know what to look at..the pirate shirt, the furry vest, the leather pants with zippers on the knees. I think she tried to incorporate every trend..well except the pirate shirt..i think she meant the off the shouder white shirt that was very 2016 but is still being carried in 2017.
I thought there would be more Canadiana in this hometown. Mais non. Oh Quebec..always a touch difficult.
They go to her school..on a Sunday..where Nick meets her students and they make a scrap book for the couple...i'm sure there were a lot of waivers signed to make that happen. Then they go meet Vanessa's mom's side of the family complete with nono and nonna.  I kinda feel like I was visiting a friend on the northside. I guess the cement lion phenomena is not restricted to northside Edmonton Italian homes. Plenty of religious statues and rosaries.  It was a heavy date..and I"m not talking about all the carbs on the table. They were a gregarious but not a happy bunch. They were all SO WORRIED that Vanessa would be hurt again. Let's all just put our pasta fork and spoon down for a second and check ourselves. First , there are not guarantees in dating or life. Second this is a reality show that's been on for like 15 seasons. We know the drill. There are others. It's a little Sister Wives..but likely it goes down to 1 person at the end (well..nick has flunked out at this  twice..but maybe 3rd times a charm).
Vanessa's sister kinda reminded me of Celine Dion by her look and kinda like Jenny from the Block (early days) because or those super large hoops. She was a very confrontational. Vanessa's mom...not as in your face.but also so worried. Maybe Vanessa needs A LOT of support after a breakup.
They head over to Vanessa's dad..who made me laugh. He called Nick out on his 1/2 culo (that's ass in Italian) attempt to ask for a blessing. He's like "whaddya mean, there are 3 other women, did you ask them for their blessing". And Nick is called out on the 'alternative blessing request". Love it. They sit awkwardly and then Pat, the dad, relents.  Pat talks to Vanessa and she's encouraged that Nick asked for a blessing...then she has the smarts to ask if he asked other people and her dad has to break the news Yes he did. Ah. being a parent sounds hard.  Vanessa is flummoxed by this. I'm flummoxed by how she can be flummoxed by this. Basically we're both confused..and Vanessa leaves her hometown thinking she needs answers. Yeah sister, don't we all.

Rose ceremony.
The Bachelor is still on a budget. Yes the Rose Ceremony will be in NYC..but it's happening in Brooklyn..not Manhattan...
Each one of them seems to have their own room.and they all are out on their own terraces pondering what will be their fate.
Someone is shown walking to Nick's room..i was thinking it was Vanessa..but it's...gasp....Andi??
Whah??? Maybe she thinks Nick needs a lawyer? or maybe she wants to be a part of Nick's life again.

Ahhh..we have to wait...
Until Next Week...
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!