Buckle up, Bachelor Nation. Hometown Week was finally arrived! During The Bachelorette Season 21, Episode 7, Jenn Tran jetted to Texas, California, Washington, and Connecticut to meet the families, friends, and pets of her final four contestants: Devin Strader , Jeremy Simon , Jonathon Johnson , and Marcus Shoberg . Compared to Hometown Weeks past, Jenn’s visits were smooth and largely drama free — aside from a few skeptical family members and one contestant who’s clearly not ready to get engaged.
Yikes! There will be many Bachelorette Hometown recaps in this world, but if you’ve found yourself here, you’ve made it to the rare Hometown recap written with expert level knowledge of Jeremy’s hometown. Congrats and please forgive me as I bask in what I can only assume is one of the most exciting things to ever happen to Fairfield, Connecticut. Wondering who got a rose? Who went home after Hometown Dates? And who’s headed to Fantasy Suites? Without further ado, Decider’s The Bachelorette Season 21, Episode 7 recap has arrived.
Devin Strader ‘s Hometown Date Recap: Love Is A Relay Race Location: Houston, Texas Devin’s Entourage: Mom Jennifer, dad Temo, grandfather Gary, grandmother Phyllis, brother Pierce, stepfather Todd, dog Charlie, Run Club friends I was shocked to see fan-favorite Devin up first in the lineup, but that meant producers saved the most dramatic — not the best — for last. Jenn met up with “Dev Dog” in a beautiful park where they waited for his Run Club friends, who ran with him every Wednesday and were “a saving grace” that picked him up out of a funk. When the large group arrived in custom “Jenn & Devin Love Run” shirts, I knew it was clear sprinting ahead.
Jenn poked fun at Dev Dog, admitting she never would have believed he was getting a Hometown Date on Night 1, then greeted his friends with, “Do you guys call him Pete Davidson too or is that just me?” And as the Run Club set out to complete a mile, the two were effortlessly in their element, kissing, giggling, and literally kicking their heels together with glee. “This is probably the best feeling I’ve ever had,” Devin said. “I just feel nothing but pure bliss.
” Jenn said she could see her and Devin’s lives fitting together perfectly. And just when you thought the date couldn’t get any cuter, Devin introduced her to the one woman she could never get jealous of: his dog Charlie. After a precious pup reunion, the couple played fetch, relaxed on a picnic blanket, and chatted about the big night ahead, where Jenn would meet Devin’s family — including his dad, who popped in and out of his life when he was younger.
While Jenn was cool as a cucumber in the lead-up, Devin was visibly stressed because his family struggled to maintain healthy romantic relationships in the past. After excitedly recapping their Bachelorette journey — including some Thunder Down Under chatter — Devin met with his father and mother and admitted that although he was undoubtedly in love with Jenn, he was terrified to tell her for fear she’d tell another contestant the same three words. After Jenn told Devin’s mom she adored her son’s emotional intelligence, confidence, and resilience, Jennifer could see Jenn as part of the family and encouraged her son not to hold back.
Devin didn’t make it off the front porch before saying, “I fucking don’t care anymore, I love you! I love you, Jenn. I need you to know that.” Jenn assured him she’s falling hard and saw a future with him, and Devin ended the day saying, “I’ve never been this happy with a woman, and I feel like I could get everything I’ve ever wanted in my life.
” BRB, sobbing. Jeremy Simon’s Hometown Date Recap: We’re Avocados Location: Fairfield, Connecticut Jeremy’s Entourage: Mom Karen, stepfather Michael, sister Emily, sister Lindsey, Lindsey’s fiancé Alex, accidental aunt Debbie meet-cute, Stew Leonard’s animatronics Born and raised in Connecticut, I spent weekends shopping at Stew Leonard’s like the Simon fam and fell in love with Fairfield, Connecticut when I attended Fairfield University. It’s a charming town filled with cute shops, vibrant restaurants, a quaint Gilmore Girls -esque town square (complete with gazebo), and five gorgeous beaches — which is why I said “What the fuck?” out loud when I saw Jeremy had Jenn meet him at his “favorite park,” a mysterious section of woods so disheveled that it prompted Jenn to ask, “Did you take me here to kill me?” Producers even flashed a “*not Camp Crystal Lake” disclosure.
Jeremy, my guy. I just want to talk! After Jeremy announced they’d be doing something he used to do as a kid, The Bachelorette showed some exhilarating b-roll of the town featuring a clothing rack outside the store where I bought my favorite pair of black pants and the bench I once sat on with a college crush. Fairfield is famous! I thought.
But then I remembered we were headed to a grocery store in NORWALK, Connecticut, two towns over from Fairfield. Ugh. Though Jeremy technically didn’t understand the Hometown Date assignment, Stew Leonard’s is indeed a rom-com worthy date spot, and the fact that he wanted to keep their market date streak going shows he put effort into the selection.
The two rolled up to one of Connecticut’s most chaotic, extra (complimentary), eventful grocery stores. From dancing in front of animatronic avocados (the Avocado Girls) and do-si-doing beneath a band of singing milk cartons (the Farm Fresh Five!) to eating freshly made snacks, trying their hand in the kitchen, and mooing alongside cows, Jeremy and Jenn had the quintessential Stew Leonard’s experience. They sampled popcorn, donuts, and ice cream.
They hung with Clover the calf. They hopped behind the checkout and baggage counters to ring up some customers. And they ran into Jeremy’s Aunt Debbie while Lady And The Tramp -ing a lobster roll, as one genuinely does in Stew Leonard’s! Jenn called the experience “wild,” “kooky,” and “crazy,” but we in Connecticut (and some parts of New York and New Jersey) simply call it “grocery shopping.
” She happily described the day as “the most Jeremy Date ever,” but like their one-on-one, she wanted to enssure they could do more than have fun. After assembling a bouquet for Jeremy’s mom, they headed to meet the people who gave Jere Bear his sense of humor. Aside from a joke about Jeremy having balls for dropping “the p-word” as a first impression, however, the night was largely serious as Jeremy’s family was the most skeptical of the season.
Jeremy’s mom Karen thought Jenn was nice, but after hearing her describe what she was looking for in a guy, she told herself, “That is not Jeremy.” (Savage!) The fam grilled Jenn on her feelings for Jeremy and the guys, and when Jenn shared concerns that Jeremy had walls up, they suggested he might not be ready to get engaged on The Bachelorette ’s timeline. After learning Jeremy wasn’t even in love with Jenn yet, his mom reminded him, “This is not a game.
This is not a show. It’s your life.” (It’s very much a show, too, but we get it!) In the face of his family’s doubt, Jeremy remained confident and told Jenn he was falling for her.
She was happy to hear it, but she still left discouraged. Jonathon Johnson’s Hometown Date Recap: When You Know, You Know Location: San Diego, California Jonathon’s Entourage: Mom Lisa, dad Mitch, brother Zach, sister-in-law Emily, and sister Kristy Next stop? San Diego to meet up with Jonathon, another man with emotional walls up who had yet to express his feelings for Jenn. When the two reunited, Jonathon told Jenn they had unfinished business and escorted her to a field to don matching jerseys and finish their game of lacrosse from earlier in the season.
In between tossing the ball and doing cartwheels, Jenn said she felt like she was back in high school and could see them recreating the date one Saturday with their kids. Despite the playful energy, Jonathon realized he needed to be more vulnerable and told Jenn he would keep trying to open up. After meeting the Johnson fam, Jonathon and Jenn recapped their Bachelorette adventures and received a reassuring amount of support in regards to the sped-up process — the complete opposite of Jeremy’s Hometown date.
Jonathon’s brother and sister-in-law shared that they met on Tinder, moved in after two weeks, and have been together for seven years, so they could relate to the accelerated timeline. “When it’s the right person, time doesn’t really matter,” Jonathon’s sister-in-law said. “When you know, you know.
” While Jonathon’s family genuinely enjoyed Jenn, they were openly concerned about his heart after “his last relationship went from happy and healthy to toxic.” Jonathon’s sister said that even though he was scared of getting hurt he had to “play big to win big,” so he told Jenn he was 100% falling for her, and she reciprocated, telling cameras, “I feel that we really are on the right track for something real..
. He could be my husband at the end of all of this.” Marcus Shoberg’s Hometown Date Recap: Reservations For One Location: Tacoma, Washington Marcus’ Entourage: Younger sister Gabriella, mentors Scott and Sue, friends Then.
..there was Marcus.
The Army Ranger Veteran from Raleigh, North Carolina became a fan-favorite this season, but recent viral allegations of toxic past behavior in relationships left Bachelor Nation concerned. We’ll have to wait to see if the online chatter will be addressed in some way during the live finale, but for now, let’s break down what I feel was Jenn’s most damning, disappointing Hometown Date. While Jenn didn’t meet Marcus’ adoptive parents, he introduced her to his little sister, his mentors/parental figures Scott and Sue, and a big group of friends and fellow Rangers.
Jenn revealed that she could definitely see a future with Marcus, but was worried because she didn’t know where his feelings were at. She got emotional chatting with Marcus’ sister and echoed the concern again. Meanwhile, Marcus told Scott that he wasn’t in love with Jenn yet and was terrified because he “doesn’t have answers” and worried he’d struggle “to get there fully with her.
” You’re already home, dude! Just self-eliminate and stay there. “Engagement is a big deal to me. I want to make sure I’m doing it with the right person,” Marcus said, acknowledging that “Speed is what’s making it hard for me to get out of my own way.
” When asked what he’d do if he made it to the end of the show, Marcus admitted it was hard for him to picture but that he wanted to be a father more than anything else in life. Despite all the reservations, he left the meet-and-greet and told Jenn he’s falling for her. Jenn said she could truly envision a future with Marcus and his family, but little did she know, he was having serious doubts.
The Bachelorette Season 21, Episode 7 Rose Ceremony Recap: Who Went Home During Hometown Week? After the final Hometown Date, The Bachelorette headed back to the Season 21 mansion in Los Angeles, California for “one of the hardest nights” of Jenn’s life. Before the Final Four suited up for the rose ceremony, they met up at a bar in a refreshing franchise shakeup where they recapped their own Hometown Dates, shared a beer, and compared notes and feelings ahead of the big night. Marcus got majorly spooked seeing his pals on Cloud Nine, and told cameras,“Everyone’s feeling very confident about their hometown.
It seem like if given the opportunity, they would all get down on one knee and not have any reservations about that...
Going in this rose ceremony, there’s no reason I should be feeling the way I’m feeling. Jenn deserves to have guys here that are certain.” So why didn’t he tell Jenn that instead of accepting a rose in what felt like a selfish, majorly irresponsibly move? After the fellas assembled under the stars for one of the season’s last rose ceremonies, Jeremy said, “It’s a beautiful night for some heartbreak, boys,” and Jenn handed out roses to Devin, Jonathon, and Marcus.
She walked a heartbroken Jeremy to his car and ultimately didn’t fully see a future with Jeremy. The doubts definitely came from the Meet The Fam portion of the date, not the great state of CT. Though that murder park sure didn’t help our case, Jeremy! Next week it’s back-to-back Fantasy Suite Week and Men Tell All episodes, so see you back here for double the recap fun.
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