The night starts with Michelle ("Mich") and Tayshia ("Tay") walking together for a 'girl chat' about the 4 remaining guys and what Mich needs to look for, the timing is a bit awkward when news has just recently broken that Tay and Zack broke up. Tay is excited for Mich to see the guys in their "true authentic self, you cant hide."
Kaitlyn tells the guys the most important peeps in their lives are here to see them.
Brandon is up first; his mom, dad and brother Noah are there; Noah delayed going to the Navy for this...guess the nation's security can wait.
Brandon's "home town":
Want to be that run and jump into the arms is going to be a thing?
He takes Mich to a makeshift skate park..."do I look like I am 14 again?" I expect my friend to text me "yes."
Brandon is looking very awkward skating for Mich, Mich is kind "he just needs to knock the rust off."
Family:
Noah takes Mich aside first and raises the generic concern that she is with 3 others...at this point you know what the show is!
Brandon's parents ask him why Mich - he says "the way she carries herself" and her strength. Do we talk about the prevalence of interracial families here with Black Dad white mom? This has flowed straight from Matt's season.
Brandon's family likes Mich. Mich tells Brandon that "after today it is very clear that I am falling for you." Obligatory make out session.
Rodney's "home town":
Ahem -
Rodney and Mich go apple picking to find the 'first kiss' apple.
"I truly think that Mich and I have really strong chemistry" they do, but there is more of a fun vibe than the same type of sexual energy that i see with her and the others.
Family:
GUYS - white momma, black poppa - did the show seek this out? Granted here it is a step dad but ahem, no way Rodney's biological dad was not black, mom's has a type, you go girl.
Rodney's mom is in tears Carrie says "Rodney and I are close to being best friends."
It all went well.
Joe's home town:
As the guy remaining who is actually from Minnesota he can actually take her to his hometown and he first takes her to his high school, sounds like Joe was not strong on academics.
Joe 'surprises' Mich with a prom theme and the decorations have them listed as prom King and Queen.
The couple is having fun they both have a dance move I recognize as the "generic music is playing because of licensing rights so I cannot let loose to any song that I know while being watched by millions so I will just do small movements to convey that I have some hidden energy."
Family:
White mom, Black dad, but by now you knew that was coming.
Joe and his dad have a talk that might be the most stilted we have seen on this show. Joe's dad took him aside to talk and this must have been producer driven where they said "you two MUST TALK" so they went to do it but they have NOTHING to say to each other after exchanging pleasantries.
With his bro and sister in law ("SIL")who I have to also note, is white, I love this show - Joe opens up and says he is ready to propose, the sister in law is driving the conversation "I hope this works out because we will see her in the grocery store" since as she notes Mich lives close to them. With Mich and Joe both present the SIL still is the dominant personality, Joe's bro might as well have just been a picture on the wall.
I now really want to know how tall the bro is, while seated he did not seem that large but once unfurled he is massive.
Nayte's "home town":
The producers must be happy that Nayte claims he loves to paddleboard since doing that activity means that 2 attractive fit people will be stripped down to swimwear.
Mich and Nayte are giggly around each other and Nayte name drops Zilker park SHOUT OUT TO ATX!
Family:
And you might be shocked but Nayte's family is A BLACK DAD AND A WHITE MOM (step dad again here) Step Dad is rocking some swag, is that a silk shirt?
Look I don't want you to think my harping on racial makeup is some level of racial animus or resentment I am the product of interracial love my black grandfather married my white grandmother during a time that Jamaica was STILL a British colony (let that sink in) so I enjoy and celebrate interracial love. It just feels weird that somehow the Bach casting committee found so many examples of this specific type of family and it shows my level of mistrust of this show that I feel like someone somewhere in casting said "get me Mulatto".
Before meeting the parents Mich tells us that Nayte never talking to his parents about women and introducing them "are red flags" but we know after Martin and Jamie Mich does not always stop at the first few red flags she sees, she might need red banners.
Nayte's mom is worried that the couple is just swept up in the moment and not ready for the struggles of everyday couples. Nayte tells his mom that things are "moving at a different cadence, a different speed" and the mom says "that is what worries me" completely reasonable.
And here we go, finally some tension; Nayte's dad in answering Mich's question "can Nayte get there?" to an engagement at the end of the show admits "I am not sure he can."
Nayte to his stepdad says everything is great and new and the stepdad says "then how do you know it is real?" Nayte chuckles "You and I never just talk about stuff" his stepdad corrects him "emotions" and Nayte chuckles.
The stepdad says "never ever doubt that I love you, and that I care for you." Nayte "I love my dad to death but I want to be who you are to me for them." "First time I ever told Charles I love him" Nayte and his stepdad are opening up more on this show than any of the couples have to each other all season. The stepdad says out loud what I have been thinking all season "she is definitely more mature than him...but he will get there."
Post the dates:
Bri and Serena come to visit Mich and this was slightly spoiled for me (shout out Lindsay) even her 'best friends' are the products of interracial relationships. Turns out going into the season Mich told the ladies she didn't think the process would work so she is eating her words.
Rose ceremony:
Mich says she was hoping for more clarity coming out of the hometown dates. Mich is scared that her heart could get broken by picking someone at the end who is not there for her...feels like a Nayte reference.
This is a good looking final 4, and feels like it will be a strong example of "black don't crack" Rodney looks 'old' by comparison to this line up and he is not old looking at all.
The roses: Brandon, Nayte then Joe, which means that Rodney has to leave, keep your chin up homie, you are going to get a million DM slides from women who love apples.
The teacher in Mich slides out as she lets Rodney go "I know we had conversations about you being the underdog you are not the underdog...just relationships with others grew quicker." For a half second I thought Rodney was going in for a kiss on the goodbye.
Also, this is how the show is trying to portray Clayton for next season:
Bloopers:
Rodney showing his goofy side that makes him fun to be around but I wonder if it hurt him overall with Mich because he would just be the goofy fun side kick as they play around with making a joke cooking show - "How bout them apples."
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