‘The Golden Bachelor’ Recap: Gerry Makes Tough Eliminations Ahead Of Hometowns

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details about who makes it to hometown dates on ABC‘s The Golden Bachelor.

Gerry Turner had some tough decisions to make on this week’s episode of The Golden Bachelor.

There is just one more round of dates before hometowns, and that decision is weighing on everyone. Some of the women are feeling more secure than others about where they stand with Gerry — and their fears are only heightened when Jesse Palmer reveals that only three women will be moving on, instead of the usual four contestants that make it to hometowns.

Faith, in particular, is seeking some clarity on her connection with Gerry. But, she quickly finds an opportunity to discuss it with him since she’s chosen for this week’s one-on-one date.

That means Teresa, Ellen, Susan, Sandra and Leslie will be departing on a group date with Gerry later in the episode.

It turns out, Faith isn’t alone in her confusion. Gerry refers to her as his “big question mark,” and he’s hoping their solo date will provide some much-needed understanding about their feelings for one another. He needs to know there’s plenty of room to grow with Faith.

After picking her up from the mansion, Gerry surprises Faith with a helicopter ride across Los Angeles. Though she claims to be afraid of heights, she handles the ride pretty well. Must have something to do with having her beau by her side! They, of course, make a quick flyover at the mansion before circling through downtown Los Angeles and then heading west to the coast. Just off the Santa Monica pier, Gerry and Faith land on a yacht, where they’ll be spending the rest of their day.

They make a champagne toast, and then they dive into the deep end. Faith opens up to Gerry about her childhood. She says she was homeless as a teen, and her parents weren’t around, which led her to dating a lot of people who weren’t “emotionally healthy.” She sees stability with Gerry, but she has a hard time being vulnerable. Gerry validates her emotions, encouraging her to feel safe with him and expressing that he does want to form a deep emotional connection with someone. He must see something promising in that conversation, because he offers her the first hometown rose.

Back at the mansion, the other women are having a bit of a rough time. Leslie and Ellen are feeling a bit insecure about where they stand with Gerry, and seeing someone else go on a date with him certainly isn’t helping. But, they have to put on a bit of a fake smile when Faith returns ready to divulge the details of her date. After hearing some of the more romantic details, most of the women seem like they regret asking how it went in the first place.

Good thing they don’t have to wallow in their insecurities for long. Gerry is taking the ladies out for a night at the Santa Monica pier.

It’s a nice, light-hearted way to break up some of the anxiety and push everyone to let loose a little. The group traipses around the pier playing whack-a-mole and ring toss, eating cotton candy, winning stuffed animals, and zooming around in bumper cars. Gerry also takes an opportunity to do a few solo activities with each of the women to give them time to chat.

Teresa is up first, and she’s excited to talk to Gerry because she wants to tell him she’s in love with him. Gerry seems very touched by her words, though he doesn’t say them back (a detail that Teresa definitely clocks). But, he does admit in a confessional that he has strong feelings for her, even if he’s not ready to say the “L” word just yet. Nothing wrong with taking it slow, Gerry!

Gerry and Leslie open up quite a bit to each other, as Leslie reveals she’s had a tough few days. In fact, each of the women have a heartfelt conversation with Gerry.

Despite an overall fun night, the mood is somber as Gerry picks up the group date rose. He ruminates over who to give it to, but ultimately decides that he needs more time to think. He announces he won’t be giving out a rose and, instead, will hand out two roses at the next rose ceremony. The women feel somewhat relieved by the gesture, since they had all convinced themselves they wouldn’t be the one to receive the rose that night. However, it just means another day of anxiety ahead before they’ll know their fate.

While the ladies might have had to sit with that anticipation, we do not. The episode skips right to the rose ceremony, where Gerry tells the women he hasn’t slept because he’s been so in his head about this decision. At least he wants them to know he’s taking it seriously.

Gerry offers roses to Leslie and Teresa. That means Ellen, Susan and Sandra are headed home (without Gerry).

Susan and Sandra seemed to expect their departure. Ellen is a bit blindsided, and Gerry takes the opportunity to walk her out. He tells her she was his most difficult decision, and he wishes her well. Ellen is clearly shook up, but she admits she would not have changed the experience.

Next week, hometowns! The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT.