This season of The Bachelor has certainly been nothing short of drama filled. As season 24 comes to an end, the emotions are running higher than ever. On this week’s episode of the Bachelor (episode 8), we see Peter and his four remaining women take on hometowns. One woman will go home and three will move on to next week, all trying to be the next Mrs. Weber. According to The Bachelor watcher, Megan Wilkinson, last week’s episode was “shocking.”  If you have not watched, I would not suggest that you continue reading, as there will be spoilers. 

If you are unaware of how The Bachelor works, it is basically a dating competition with one man and thirty women. The women will go on dates with Peter (the bachelor) in various places each week until he eliminates the women whom he does not see a future with at the end of that week. It is simple; the women he wishes to keep receive a rose at the end of the week, and the one’s he does not will not receive one and will go home.                            

Eventually, this process will allow him to choose just one woman to become engaged to and start a life with. This week’s “dates” were hometowns. Hometowns are when the final four women take Peter to their hometown to meet their family and friends. They will usually also go on some sort of a “day date” around their town just to show Peter around where they grew up. The four remaining women are Hannah Ann, Kelsey Weier, Victoria Fuller, and Madison Prewett. 

 Hannah Ann, a professional model from Knoxville, Tennessee, introduced Peter to her father, mother, sister, and brother. She takes Peter to go ax throwing to symbolize her father working in the lumber industry. In a previous episode, we saw Hannah’s gesture to Peter writing him a list of all the things she loves about him. This week, Peter melts America’s heart by returning to her a note that reads “things I love about you.” Watcher of The Bachelor, Rex Wilkinson, felt differently about this gesture. He felt that Peter, “simply wrote a letter in return to hers” and she “misinterpreted the letter to imply that he loves her.” At night, when it is time to have dinner with the family, the focus immediately turns to the father. Her father is very reluctant about Peter telling Hannah he is falling in love with her. He explains that he must be absolutely, without a doubt, sure that is how he truly feels. Peter was, however, very confident in how he feels for Hannah Ann and proceeds to tell her when saying goodbye that he is “falling in love with her.” Hannah Ann receives a rose at the end of the week and will be a member of the final three women on the show. 

 Madison Prewett, 24, from Auburn Alabama introduces Peter to her hometown in a way that is also unique to her father. She takes Peter to the Auburn University basketball stadium, which is her alma mater and where her father coaches basketball. They play around; Peter obviously being beaten by Madison for a couple hours. At night, when it is time to meet the family, Madison introduces Peter to her mother, father, and two sisters. Madison’s mother was very quick to pull her aside and talk about how she is fairing in this whole journey. Madison has recently been opening up about her faith and how much that really means to her. Her mom is extremely concerned that she has not talked to Peter about some “specific faith decisions.” This causes Madison to worry about having that conversation and being able to open up to Peter to tell him she is in love with him. However, as she said, the hometowns were a “harsh reality”. She never achieved the conversation of either her faith decisions or her feelings toward Peter, which leaves her seeming doubtful. Although, Madison still receives a rose at the end of the week and will move on to become part of the final three women. 

 Victoria Fuller, also a model, from Virginia Beach, has an interesting date with Peter, to say the least. During the day, Peter and Victoria walk along the boardwalk and stop in for some “old time” photos. The couple ended off the day with a personal concert from famous country singer, Hunter Hayes. Just before Peter was leaving the date to get ready for dinner, he was stopped by a familiar face. This woman tells him that Victoria is known to “break up relationships” in her hometown and warns him that he “deserves better” than the girl whom he is on a date with. Now, Peter must go to Victoria’s house and sort out the news that was just dropped on him. When it is time for dinner to introduce the family, Victoria introduces Peter to nobody, because they don’t even make it that far. Peter immediately talks to her about what he was told and she gets highly defensive, asking “what relationships,” several times. She starts lashing out at him and eventually walks away saying “I can’t do this right now,” and “I’m so done, I hate this!” She eventually comes back and Peter tries apologizing for coming off as believing a rumor over valuing meeting her family that night. The night ends with Peter hugging Victoria as she is crying and saying, “you deserve to be loved”. Peter then gets in his car and leaves her house while her family comes out to comfort her sobbing in the street. The next day, Victoria appears at his hotel room and apologizes for the way she acted. She leaves him with a picture of them from the boardwalk they visited on their date. 

 Kelsey Weier of De Moines, Iowa, introduces Peter to her hometown by taking him to a winery. The couple smashed grapes with their feet to make wine, while laughing and enjoying each other’s company. When it is time for dinner, Kelsey introduces Peter to her mother, stepfather, and two sisters. Her mother felt confident that Kelsey was “all in” with Peter. Her mother also warns Peter that Kesley is a fast and hard lover, and tells him to not break her heart. The dates concludes with Kelsey telling Peter that she is “definitely falling” for him. 

 After a week of eventful dates, Peter had a tough decision to make. He must send one girl home in order to have three left next week. Victoria explains before the ceremony that, since he did not meet her family, she didn’t feel that her and Peter would “move forward.” Peter not only surprises her, but the rest of America, by giving her the rose. Peter chose his final three, Hannah, Victoria, and Madison, while sending Kelsey back home. Although, we see Madison still doubtful due to her lack of conversation with Peter about some important things. The episode ends with Madison running up to Peter and asking to have a conversation. The previews for next episode show her getting very emotional and giving him an ultimatum that she will not compromise who she is for him. This leaves viewers more eager than ever for next week’s episode and to see what happens, not only with Madison, but Victoria and Hannah, too. Watcher of The Bachelor, Megan Wilkinson, explains that she is very eager to “hear about what happens with Victoria” and thinks, “Victoria will go home next week.” It will be interesting to see how these final episodes play out and to see if Peter can really find the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.