It’s Tuesday which can only mean one thing — we’ve got 120 minutes of The Bachelorette to discuss! ICYMI: We are recapping every episode in season 20 of The Bachelorette and rooting for Carrboro’s Xavier Bonner as he competes for Charity Lawson’s heart.
Luckily, as one would expect from a knitting ukulele player from Carrboro, Xavier is downright wonderful. Can you imagine if Brayden was the person representing our hometown? This recap would have exactly one article because I would’ve thrown my laptop in Jordan Lake.
This is officially my favorite episode so far because not only do we get to hang out with three sassy Girl Scouts (Did anyone bring any Thin Mints?) but my top two from last week’s power rankings each got a one-on-one date this week! Not to mention, fans of “Twilight” will love this episode because we’ve moved our journey to find love to the rainy + romantic Stevenson, Washington.
After we learn that Dotun gets the first one-on-one date, we must first suffer through a few minutes of Brayden being Brayden. I hate that I’m going to admit this, but we should all actually be grateful for Brayden. Honestly, none of these other guys could play this satisfying of a villain. The closest thing we have is Sean, and all it took was one “act like you’ve been here before” and he retreated back to his previously planned personality. So, while I hope he leaves this week and we can be Bray-done with the nonsense, I appreciate his service.
Can we take a moment to all collectively swoon over Dotun? He’s so kind and so focused on Charity and I really appreciate his genuine & gentle nature. Plus, he’s so scared of bungee jumping that he said one of his “biggest heights is fears” which is officially the most wholesome thing I’ve ever seen on reality TV in a long time. (Note to anyone interested in reality TV — when producers ask your biggest fear, lie.) I said after Dotun got out of the limo in the first episode that he and Charity had really authentic chemistry, and I’m glad to continue to be proven right. I definitely see him at the end of this thing.
The group date featuring Michael, Sean, Brayden, Aaron B., Tanner, Cowboy Caleb, John and Joey features an adventure in the woods with Charity and three girl scouts who immediately steal the show – no matter how hard Brayden tries. The guys are asked to forage through the forest for something edible and present it to Charity. I really hope no one ate those mushrooms. Since he fell in the water and no one said they would eat him first, Aaron B. is declared the winner and gets to go to the kissing tree with Charity. Finally, something he can do with his mouth other than talk about Brayden!
I’m guessing the kissing wasn’t so great though, because Joey gets the group date rose pinned to his lapel. Oh, and Brayden self-eliminates, which was not on my Bachelorette Bingo card. Finally, this is over! Unrelated, I didn’t watch the preview for this week so I feel pretty good about any and all declarations I’m making.
Let’s get to the good stuff – we FINALLY have a one-on-one date with Xavier and Charity! They go on the most Carrboro date possible featuring a local fruit festival where they smell fresh lavender, taste pepper jelly, and bob for apples before they enjoy a scenic ride on a train. I’m almost jealous of this date — except for the fact that it’s their first and they may be getting engaged in three weeks.
Charity shares some concerns that Xavier reminds her of an ex-boyfriend from her past. I was a glass of wine deep by this point, but I couldn’t tell if she was referring to looks, or behavior, or the way their conversations flow, or all of it. She’s very eager to clear this up, and Xavier passes her inquisition with flying colors. He mentions how important it is to care for his partner the way his father has always cared for his mother, and that he learned the value of commitment from them. Between his honesty & emotional maturity and Charity’s high-level listening, this is a great moment for them. I really appreciate when the Bachelor/Bachelorette is a great listener and isn’t wrapped up in just talking about themselves all season.
Important question: is Charity the best dressed bachelorette we’ve ever had?
I’ll be quick with this next bit — Brayden is back. Apparently as his earrings grow larger, so does his audacity, because after self-eliminating earlier in the episode, he walks back in the house and wants Charity to know she didn’t do anything wrong, which she was already very certain of. I think he hoped she’d invite him back to the house, but as a week four gift to all of us, that didn’t happen.
The cocktail party is cut short… again. As quickly as I could fill up a second glass of wine, Charity has narrowed the field down to six men. We have to say goodbye to Michael, Cowboy Caleb, and John, who chalks his departure up to having his time with Charity cut short that evening. I personally think it was Sean’s time to exit and there could’ve been more to explore with John, but double denim can leave an impression on a girl, y’know?
Only having six people left standing at the end of week four is a crazy pace to set. Although, Clare got engaged to Dale in episode four of her season, so it’s not like there’s any real rules here. This probably means things are just going to be harder for Charity because she’ll spend more time with less men (because showbiz states that ABC is going to get their full season) and this will make her choice more difficult in the end because she’ll actually get to know them. That’s a problem in this universe y’all, keep up.
Contestant Power Rankings
Because there are only six men left, I’m going to go down to the top 3 in my power rankings. We are still on this journey with Joey, Dotun, Sean, Aaron B., Tanner and Xavier.
Tanner gets an honorable mention this week for making the coveted top six despite us not knowing a single thing about him.
3. Joey, because he was appropriately afraid of the Girl Scouts and I respect that about him. He also doesn’t seem to be involved in any of the drama that pops up and keeps his focus completely on Charity.
2. Dotun, because he conquered a fear for Charity, twice, and he can’t do anything wrong. I love that Charity showed him a baby picture of herself – what a sweet, vulnerable moment to let someone in. Could that be foreshadowing that we’ll see where Dotun’s roots are in the form of a hometown date?
1. Xavier gets the number one spot again because he’s making it easy to write this column that was created to highlight how awesome he is. I noticed he was nowhere to be found during the Brayden-returning-to-the-house-in-yesterday’s-clothes-and-earrings debacle, and I’m hoping that means he had the sense to go find and comfort Charity rather than arguing with a guy who has a flight home in 45 minutes.
X Marks the Spot
I really loved all of the dates and their locations in this episode! Call me crazy, but woodsy, rainy, flannel shirts & s’mores weather is much more romantic to me than sweaty dodgeball on the beach. For Dotun’s date, I’d head to Eno River State Park for a hike with gorgeous views. While there may not be bungee jumping, there’s plenty to enjoy there and you’ll get your fill of outdoorsy things.
Speaking of the outdoors, the group date continued on the same path and pretty much just hung out in the woods. I really enjoy Umstead Park in Chapel Hill to get my outdoor fix. This hidden gem is tucked right into the middle of town, so grab take out from your favorite spot and head there for some quality time. There are covered tables for lunch, or you could even set up your own picnic by the creek. However, I wouldn’t eat anything I found in the woods there, and I’m not sure there’s an official kissing tree. Feel free to create your own with your date, but don’t tell them I sent you!
Finally to the best date so far this season – Xavier’s! You could head to the Carrboro Farmer’s Market and stroll for veggies, flowers and handmade goodies. For those of you who don’t know, the NC Amtrak runs between Raleigh to Charlotte several times a day. While they don’t serve an official meal on the train, this is a great option for a date to just enjoy the views while riding the train, or take a day trip to explore another town in North Carolina. If you’ve already logged onto NCbyTrain.org to explore, I highly recommend a day in Salisbury!
We’ll see you next week for more drama, less Brayden, and a lot of confusing feelings! Now, does anyone want to discuss the Golden Bachelor for the next 4-14 hours?
Ali Evans is a three-decade Chapel Hill resident currently living in Mebane with her husband Brian, dogs Cameron & Macaroni, and cats Brooke & Dexter. Ali is a Marketing professional in Durham, and a reluctant reality TV expert. She currently serves as President of Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro through The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill Carrboro. Ali loves all things local – food, drinks, people and places and is a really big fan of trains. You can find Ali on twitter @helloalievans, or get in touch via email – helloalievans@gmail.com.
