The Bachelor Season 17 Episode Eight Recap: The Hometown Dates Part Two

February 19, 2013 by Coco Liberty

Sean heads to Fort Leonard Wood to visit with Lindsay and her family. Her father is a general in the Army, which is one of the highest military positions there is. My Army boyfriend was watching the show with me (sorry I ratted you out… it’s not like he enjoys it!) and made hilarious comments especially when Lindsay decided to put Sean through her own “boot camp.” (She dresses Sean up in an Army outfit, makes him do push ups and crunches while kissing her. Let’s just say she wouldn’t be a good drill sergeant.) Sean and Lindsay wander around this small town in Missouri. I can’t help but wonder how a Dallas boy would trade having a large city driving distance and his large family minutes away for a small town in the middle of nowhere? I know that they’re living in a fantasy, but this is what Sean should be thinking about. Lindsay, at 24, has decided that she wants to get married and have a family while staying in this small town that is driven by the military. If you aren’t in the military, then what other job would Sean be able to have in Fort Leonard Wood?  Sean asks Lindsay what she should call her dad, Mr or General? My Army boyfriend is laughing at Sean because no one calls someone a General if they aren’t in the military. It’s awkward and my boyfriend knows that Generals are like everyone else especially when they’re meeting their daughter’s boyfriend.

He finally meets the parents and Lindsay is exactly like her mother. They laugh the same and have the same type of bubbly personality. Sean and Lindsay tell them about the wedding dress first impression fiasco and her mother is shocked, but laughing at her daughter. She says she looks very happy, peaceful, and content. Sean gets his one-on-one with the General. Lindsay’s dad asks if he’s falling in love with her? Sean repeats the answer of the night for every girl, “I’m crazy about your daughter.” He says, that he isn’t going to say I love you before he knows he wants to spend the rest of his life with someone. He asks for the general’s blessing and after a long pause he gives Sean the go ahead. Her dad compares it to the military saying that “I don’t have an answer, in 31 years in the army managing risks and being decisive. You and the folks you’re with jump into it and have the authority to make the decision. So I’m giving you the authority to figure out if it’s going to work.” He gives Sean dog tags as a memento of the family. Lindsay says, “it was the best day.”

Desiree’s hometown is Los Angeles and she shows off the beautiful Runyon Canyon, which I’m very familiar with. It has the best views of the city and the Hollywood sign. They both like doing outdoor things so this date was perfect and comfortable without all the glitz and glamour of Bachelor ABC dates. They go over to her house to make dinner for her family, which is unrealistic because there is no way a Bridal consultant can afford a Hollywood hills home. Maybe she’s Carrie Bradshaw and makes NYC affordable on a shoestring. She opens the door and a man starts saying he loves her and wants to talk. Sean gets his fists ready (the camera focuses in on them) and the man wants to talk. Luckily, Desiree hired an actor and was just pranking Sean for pranking her on their first date. Sean is happy that Desiree has a sense of humor. Her family arrives and her parents are very nice. They talk with Sean and are very happy for their daughter whereas her brother isn’t as convinced. He talks with Desiree about how this isn’t going to work out and doesn’t think it’s right. He says “you don’t fall for nobody, lots of guys make you happy. You think that’s your best friend?” Her brother has no evidence of it not working out, but is firm in his decision. They sit down for steaks and in the middle of dinner, her brother takes Sean aside to talk. He tells Sean he is just a pretty boy and thinks he’s playing his sister for a fool. Sean is upset for the character assassination, but again where is her brother coming up with this stuff? Is this set up by ABC, is he jealous, or really concerned? These girls’ siblings are out of control and not the typical family that goes along with it for the show. This date ends on a sad note and Desiree is worried that her brother ruined her future with Sean.

The rose ceremony is especially hard for Sean. He felt a deep connection with AshLee and Lindsay whereas Desiree and Catherine family’s made him skeptical. He stresses over the decision, but eventually decides on Desiree. She is upset that her brother ruined her chances for her. She tries to plead with Sean to let her stay, but he was left with a bad taste in his mouth. Sean struggled with the decision but, because it’s The Bachelor and polygamy is illegal, he had to let her go.