Anyone who says you can't go home again never read The Bachelor spoilers. Or watched the show for the past 15 years.
Indeed, on The Bachelor this week, Peter Weber went home again... and again... and again... and again.
How did Weber's hometown date episode go?
Who did he send packing before it was all said and done? And how did an ex-girlfriend play an unexpected role?!?
Obviously, there's a lot to unpack here.
Let's get down to busuiness and begin this recap with a trip to Hannah Ann Sluss' native Knoxville, Tennessee.
Before their date had even begun, this member of the final four made a point to warn Peter about her father, Rick, describing him as an old-school, protective dad who works in the lumber industry.
It was important that she prove to her parent “that this California guy is tough,” yet getting Rick’s approval was far easier said than done.
What a shock, right? It's typically a breeze for any Bachelor to win over the father of his potential wife.
After spending the day together, Hannah Ann and her handsome pilot headed to her home to meet her family -- and it was apparent from the outset that Rick was skeptical about the whole process.
“The biggest question on my mind is how Peter feels about Hannah,” he said.
“I mean, can you honestly sit here and tell me tonight that it’s not just a flash in the pan? Because right now, that’s the way I look at it.”
“What I can tell you is there is something real here,” Peter said in defense of his feelings for Hannah Ann, adding:
“I’m actually hoping to tell her this tonight, that I am falling in love with her and I don’t want her to have any doubt about that.”
Rick was all like, dude, do NOT say that big-time word to my child unless you mean it... which, naturally, prompted Peter to go ahead and say it.
“I know how I’m feeling about you, and I can honestly say that I am falling in love with you,” he told Hannah Ann. “Just being here with you tonight with your family, it feels so right. And it makes me so happy.”
Her response?
“I am in love with you,” Hannah Ann replied. “I’m devoted and I’m committed and I’m in it.”
From there, Peter reunited with Kelsey Weir in Des Moines, Iowa.
They also spent the day - stomping grapes to create their own blend of wine - and Kelsey even dropped the L-word herself for the first time.
While Peter seemed genuinely happy to hear that, he didn’t reciprocate, merely telling her that his heart was “definitely falling.”
That evening, he met Kelsey’s mom Beth, stepdad Mike and a few other family members.
During a one-on-one conversation with Beth, Peter said he and Kelsey “connected on a such a deep and emotional level” early on.
“As a mom of three having gone through a divorce, I am concerned,” the protective parent responded. “Nobody wants to have their child’s heartbroken. So, don’t break my girl’s heart.”
Seems like a fair requst, right?
That was really all there was to the visit with Kesley, as Peter next went to Auburn, Alabama to play some basketball with Madison Prewett ... whose dad coaches this fun sport.
That night, he went to her house for dinner to meet the while family, where the topic of intimacy came up during a private discussion between Madison and her mom, Tonya.
How fun!
“I haven’t fully talked to him yet about how I view intimacy, and how I feel that is something that I have saved for marriage,” Madison confessed. “I don’t know how he’s going to respond to that.”
This was a potential issue because, well, Peter Weber really loves to have the sex.
Cut to yet another emotional chat with yet another emotional father, who said his daughter is "pure" and who feared Peter would corrupt or hurt her, and Peter replying as follows:
“I just can’t give you an answer right now [about who I’m going to pick], and I’m sorry about that."
This trip didn't conclude with any huge feelings shared between the occasional couple.
“I think I was hoping to be there,” Madison said.
“I was hoping to tell Peter that I’m in love with him, but I’m still trying to figure out if our spirits and our souls are compatible and I think a lot is weighing on that.”
If you've read any Bachelor spoilers pertaining to this, you know just how true that is.
Finally, Peter flew to Virginia Beach, Virginia, for his hometown date with Victoria Fuller.
They spent the day exploring the beach and boardwalk before she surprised him with a Hunter Hayes concert, where a group of fans formed to watch the performance unfold.
(No, you guys, Victoria did not also date Hayes.)
And then, in a total shocker that Peter couldn't possibly have known was coming and was definitely not scripted by producers... an ex-girlfriend showed up!
Her face was hilariously blurred on air, but she's since been identified as Merissa Pence.
“Just be careful,” she warned Peter about Victoria, explaining:
“I’m from here, and I just know what a good guy you are, and I would hate for who you are to be affected by somebody else. So that’s really all I’ll say."
"I know that you’re a great guy and I don’t think that you deserve what you’re on a date with right now.”
Merissa then claimed that she actually knew Victoria sort of well. What a coincidence that we totally believe is true!
“I actually used to be friends with her and things happened, probably a few months ago,” she continued.
“We’re just not friends anymore. I’ve tried to mend the relationship, just because we have mutual friends."
"But I just feel like I want to say this to you, because I know who you are and it’s a good person and I don’t think that you deserve that."
"There has been many relationships broken up because of her, and I don’t think it’s a good relationship for you to be in.”
Peter was taken aback by this bombshell and brought it up later with Fuller.
“You know how on our first date at that concert, you had an ex there? Today I had an ex there, too. Her name is Merissa,” he began.
“We just kind of chatted for a little bit, and then she just brought some stuff to my attention that she thought I should know."
She told me that you’ve caused a lot of other relationships to end ... I don’t know what she could be referring to, but those are her words.”
Victoria responded in anger, storming off in tears because, in her view, Peter had just immedately taken the side of an ex over her.
“I adore you,” she told him later, choking back sobs.
“I literally wanted to tell you tonight that I was falling in love with you. And how am I supposed to do that? … I had such high hopes for you to meet my family and I’m just so disappointed.”
The two then said an emotional goodbye... only for Victoria to show up the next morning at Peter's hotel.
“For some reason, I just can’t walk away from you,” she said. “You can make this decision. If you don’t want to continue with me, then I understand. But I can’t let you leave without letting you know that I’m falling in love with you.”
Yup, there it is, folks. Again.
Everyone then met back up in Los Angeles for a rose ceremony, despite Peter never meeting Victoria's family.
Peter gave the first flower to Hannah Ann and the second to Madison, saving the final rose for ... Victoria.
Kelsey Weir was thus eliminated in the process, narrowing the field to three striking brunettes.
“I’m so sorry, and I know you probably didn’t see that coming at all,” he said as he walked her out the door.
“Believe me, when you told me that you loved me, that meant the world to me. But I just - I wasn’t there.”
Will he go there next week in the Fantasy Suites with the remaining three women, however? (D'uh)
Check out the promo below!
