With only four women remaining, season 29’s Grant Ellis traveled the country to meet their families on the last episode of The Bachelor. Throughout the week he was faced with religious parents, second cousins and a new modeling career.
Juliana
The first destination was Juliana’s hometown of Newton, Massachusetts. Before meeting her family, she took Grant around the city where the pair made pizza and filled cannolis — to remind the viewers that she is Italian.
Juliana warned Grant that her family might be apprehensive of their situation because she had not brought a boy home in six years. That previous relationship did not end well, leaving her loved ones a little protective.
What she really should have been preparing him for was the sheer size of her family.
“I come in the door and there’s at least 30 people there,” Grant said. “I’m seriously nervous.”
This included her dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and a dog.
Despite the chaos, Grant formed a special bond with Juliana’s dad, and Juliana told her sister that Grant was her person.
Zoe
Despite never getting a one-on-one date, Zoe somehow snuck into hometown week and brought Grant to New York City. While the city isn’t where she was raised, she considers it home.
The pair had an extravagant date, to make up for Zoe’s lack of one previously in the season, modeling for a proposal, engagement and wedding photoshoot.
Last week, Zoe mentioned that her family life isn’t traditional, and that she recently cut ties with her adoptive parents. Instead, she introduced Grant to her “chosen family” which included her aunt and uncle, her sister and her best friends.
Litia
For Litia’s hometown, Grant stepped away from the city and into rural Star Valley, Wyoming. Before the date began, Grant expressed that he was a little out of his element. Not only does he consider himself a city person, but he was also worried about the fact that Litia and her family are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
“I don’t know a lot about the Mormon faith and I’m going in here with an open mindset,” he said, “but Litia hasn’t brought a man outside of the Mormon faith home. So, will they accept me?”
Before meeting her family the pair went horseback riding, and Litia admitted she was nervous about the religious aspect as well.
All worries were squashed when Litia’s stepdad told Grant that it didn’t matter what religion he was a part of, as long as he treats Latia well.
Litia told her family that she “thinks” she is in love with Grant.
Dina
While Grant, and many viewers, were looking forward to meeting all 11 of Dina’s siblings in her hometown Chicago, Illinois, her family unfortunately opted out of participating in hometowns. Despite their best efforts, this turn of events put a damper on the rest of the date.
The couple met Dina’s friends at a pumpkin patch with carnival games. The friends did a good job of reassuring Grant that this does not reflect poorly on Dina’s connection with him, but was it enough?
Joey?!?!
Back in L.A. previous bachelor Joey Graziadei paid Grant a visit and shared some advice.
“Take a beat when you feel something. You have to give it time,” he said. “I knew a lot about Kelsey in the beginning, that was great, but I didn’t know enough about her until we got that alone time on fantasy suites.”
He also implored Grant to follow his gut feelings, because that is what led him to his fiancé, Kelsey.
Next week
At the rose ceremony Grant sent Dina home, though he said it wasn’t because he wasn’t able to meet her family.
This means Juliana, Litia and Zoe will be flying to the Dominican Republic for their Fantasy Suites — overnight dates — with Grant.
My predictions for the rest of
the season go as follows: Zoe gets sent home next week and in the end Grant will choose Juliana over Litia.
However, that’s not going to be seen for another couple of weeks, because the next episode is the women-tell-all. Stay tuned for my recap of the women’s recap of this season’s drama.
Author: Heather Turner
Editor: Anna Mower
Photos courtesy of ABC Entertainment
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