What a gong show

Literally there was a gong show.
Besides that I'm spent...
I might have teared up 3 times. What's happening to me.

Eric
So we head up to the hood for Eric's date. Rachel keeps saying she's so nervous..really Rachel...now was she nervous about meeting the family...or the 'hood? Eric did point out a drug deal going down. Straight outta Baltimore. After the two play some bball and see one of  Eric's friends, they head out for some family time.
They are off to Eric's aunt's house. Verna. Verna is lively, engaged, eloquent and attractive. She's fabulous....She brings up the R word. That would be race..asking Rachel how's she deaing with pressure.
Then we meet Eric's mom who is unintelligble and placid. Not sure if she's calm due to chemicals or indifference. I didn't get her tough love speech. Eric's dad was even more distant..and had some tough talk with his son. Eric ends up toasting everyone and thanking everyone for the good and bad experiences because that made him attract Rachel. Talk about making Lemonade...not the album..that was Beyonce...(and the reason to avoid the jungle....because there are too many cheat-ahs. I'm talkin' about you Jay-Z.)



Bryan
So Bryan is not my fave. Not because he wore sweatpants on his date or that he threw a Mr. Worldwide reference into the Miami introduction. He seems more milquetoast than caliente.
He took Rachel to play dominoes with some latino men..and spoke Spanish to them without translating to her. Rude. Thankfully the dominos were green and white...I was sure that there was going to be a black/white reference but thankfully there was not.
They go to a little club and dance a bit...Bryan accidentally crashes her face.  He introduces her to arepas...that's where it ended. They didn't eat them. So many calories left unconsumed on the show.He says he's obsessed with her smile. YAWWWWWN.
Off they go to meet the family. Is Bryan the only child? was the dim brunette girl his sister. WHy did she keep saying demise? So dramatic.
Mama Olga seemed intense...but I loved her...she lists love, respect, trust, understanding as being the most important qualities...she doubts that he can love Rachel after he's met SO MANY girls. Do people really think he's all that and a bag of el papas fritas???
Olga seems to want someone for her son so he can be with someone when she dies (water works for me for that sentiment)
Joe the dad is mainly mute.
Rachel looks like she's in love with him. She coos when she kisses him. Like a pigeon.


Peter
Rachel races toward Peter. They go the farmers market. Personally, I never get that thrilled to be at a farmer's market. Sephora or Artizia however...now that's exciting. Buying some home processed food that might be contaminated with E. coli doesn't give me a thrill. Peter says he's there every week. Likely buying over priced Swiss chard.
Then they head to see his friends. His friends seem nice...and one guy tells Peter not to be afraid of the future.
Off to see the family. Rachel is thrilled when she sees Peter and his niece together. Seeing men with kids is very endearing for women but the reverse isn't true for me according to Esther Perel (who kinds looks like Olga now that I think of it).
Peter's sister and mom say Peter may not be ready for marriage but is for commitment.
This bugs Rachel.
But she's got major love-y eyes for Peter.

Dean
Dean is the cutest and he has the shortest pants ever.I teared up twice during this visit.
They ride on ATVs, then have wine, then head off to see Dean's dad who has converted to the Kundalini (sp?) Sikh faith.
Rachel's arrival has brought the family together. Dean's dad welcomes them and does some special goinging..which sounds soothing...dean is anything but soothed. I think Dean wants to smash the gong. Rachel was mature, respectful and open during this whole date. She was so lovely.
Dean's dad seems like he's got some emotional blocks. I might have cried when the feather came out and Dean's dad talked about Deans' mom. The current wife was very open during that.
I cried a second time when Dean's sister talked about how amazing Dean was.
I nearly cried a 3rd time when I saw how much pain Dean was in when he was trying to talk to his dad. For such a surreal surrounding, this perhaps was the most real the Bachelor has been in years.
Rachel tried to talk to the dad after...but he just gave blessings and didn't want to talk.
Dean then tells Rachel he loves her..and Rachel loves him too!!Whah???!!

Rose Ceremony
Who is Rachel going to choose?? Chris comes in and does a recap of the dates with Rachel...Chris H looks like he's growing more hair..maybe this is such a stress-free job that he's gaining instead of losing hair.
Rachel makes up her mind..and in front of the guys she apologizes to the one who she will let go..and that is.......
DEAN.
whah?? she said she loved him...
Dean asks her why..and she said she didn't say anything she didn't mean..Dean leaves...and says she made a mistake..and those feelings weren't reciprocated.

Dean..you are fabulous..get some help..talk it out..and you'll be better than evah!! xx Dean.

They are all off to Spain.
Yay. Bryan can use his Spanish. And Eric gets to travel more...
The family meetings look super stressful.

Until next week
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!