By Beverly Murry, Business Manager
Its hometown week, meaning the final girls get to take their beloved Nick home, parade him around her parents and act like he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. Raven is the first to go home to middle-of-nowhere Arkansas, where she greets Nick on an ATV and takes him mudding. After they get coated in mud, they make-out in giant puddles of mud. How romantic, I mean I am just swooning. Once they are cleaned up the two meet Raven’s parents, who reveal to her that her father is finally cancer free, triggering a rush of emotion. What a way to spring that on her.
Raven’s parents talk about their obvious hesitations with her dating Nick and potentially marrying him. When they say their goodbye, Raven struggles with saying that horrendous phrase (I love you) and ultimately can’t bring herself to utter the words.
Up next is Rachel who takes Nick to her church in Dallas. Nick looks so uncomfortable I felt it secondhand through the screen. When Nick meets Rachel’s family he is presented with a whole slue of interracial issues since he is the first white guy she has ever brought home. Nick keeps his composure while talking about the elephant in the room, and for a moment he seems like an okay person.
In Florida, Nick meets the devil herself: Corinne. The match made in heaven (or hell for that matter) go on a date to the mall to show him a “day in the life of Corinne.” Corinne has Nick try on the ugliest, most expensive clothing possible and rings up a bill of $3000 of her father’s money. I know this couple could never work out simply because Nick can’t afford her. Before they meet Corinne’s parents, she admits to Nick that she is in fact in love with him.
At the Olympios house we finally meet Raquel. This poor woman must be paid well or she would’ve definitely run away a long time ago. While talking with her father Corinne claims that Nick sees her differently than anyone else. Yeah, right. He just likes her because he’s seen her naked. Corinne’s father expresses his concerns that Nick could not support her lifestyle, which is more than true.
Nick meets Vanessa in Montreal, Canada who takes him to meet her special needs students. Vanessa then has them create a scrapbook full of moments spent by the “couple” which is actually super cute. Since her parents are divorced, Vanessa arranges two separate meetings. On the mom’s side, a group of 15 assorted family members and friends welcome Nick; and one after another they barrade Nick with real life questions. Nick is so underprepared it’s almost embarrassing, this is one family that he can’t immediately win over. At Vanessa’s dad’s house, Nick asks if he would give his blessing. To Nick’s surprise her father said no. It’s safe to say this hometown was not successful.
For whatever reason Nick decides to meet the final four in New York for yet another dramatic rose ceremony. Vanessa has a hard time accepting that he may also have feelings for other women. Out of nowhere, Andi, the “woman he first fell in love with” knocks on his door and we are once again faced with a to be continued sign.
Junior Beverly Murry can be reached at murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.
