"You have gone out with so many girls. And you go [on a] show, and you fall in love with the girl of the show... Hahaha! I'm in shock. Completely shocked!" —Olga, Bryan's mother, who has evidently underestimated the Cupid-like powers of the Bachelor bubble

ERIC'S HOMETOWN

As a longtime viewer I've always loved Hometowns week, and as a recapper I've discovered I love it just as much. Something about the way the episode is broken up and compartmentalized really works from an analysis perspective.

Rachel starts off in Baltimore to visit Eric and his clan, and we quickly discover the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and his family is every bit as endearing as he is...

The one person who didn't seem to emanate warm fuzzies was Eric's own mother, Karen, even in a conversation about not having emanated warm fuzzies during his upbringing. But it was clear that though she's a cooler personality, she seriously cared (and cares) about him.

Rachel sat down with Eric's aunt Verna, who I have to imagine is the "cool aunt", and they had a fantastic heart-to-heart about "the R-A-C-E card". I have to say, I love Rachel's ability to talk about race in both a casual, joking way (like when Bryan said he likes black when referring to his watch strap and she exclaimed, "Really?!"), but she can also discuss it in a serious and real way.

The way she talks about this is great combination of her fully recognizing the gravity and pressure that comes with being the first black lead, yet with a consistent confidence and true sense of self. Yes, it's hard and she'd probably like to appease all parties, but her priority is clear: to make the right choice for herself.

Afterwards, Eric finally (in a roundabout way) drops the L-word, but what makes it noteworthy (in addition to him never having been in love) is that he follows it up with WHY he knows he loves her...

Rachel, too, picked up on this follow-up and appreciated it. I still doubt Eric will be the chosen man at the end of all this—just look at how she receives this information. She appears touched, but not over the moon happy. I realize this is partially due to the fact that he didn't come out and SAY, "Rachel, I love you" but the sentiment was nonetheless there, and I for one am wasn't feeling reciprocation from Rachel in this moment.

BRYAN'S HOMETOWN

In Miami, right off the bat, Rachel almost seems to address the concerns so many viewers have voiced (including many of you in the comments): That Bryan seems too good to be true, too smooth, too charming...

What I love about her addressing this is that she's showing no one is more attuned to those concerns than she is and has been, and even with her skeptic nature she's been proven wrong. The way I see it, Rachel is easily the most pragmatic, realistic, almost cynical lead we've had in a long time (if not ever), in addition to being hyper perceptive and intelligent. I respect the counter arguments, but based on all these traits and what an obviously deeply confident person she is, I personally trust her to make good choices for herself when it comes to men.

Soon after meeting Bryan's family, his mother, Olga, gives a toast but I'm distracted by the fact that I'm 100% POSITIVE her glass is completely empty...

Seriously... am I crazy? Or blind? And it's not like it really matters, I guess, except that it makes her lengthy sip a strange choice...

I do think Bryan's mother absolutely redeemed herself by the end of the Hometown (she really did seem sincere in wanting Bryan to find happiness with a partner, whether or not that partner is Rachel), but lines like the following always leave me scratching my head...

I get that this is likely a reference to the ex-girlfriend, and it was possibly taken out of context and made to sound focused towards Rachel, but context notwithstanding, the mother vs girlfriend stance is such a strange one to take, in my opinion. Apples and oranges!

PETER'S HOMETOWN

As lovely as Peter's entire Madison, WI Hometown was, there was only one .GIF to be made, and that is of the following statement by him...

I love this line so much because I see myself in it. I see Andy in it. I see many people I respect and relate to in it. What I don't see in it, however, is a frontrunner who, in Week 8, is going to be able to get to the point where he's engaged to the lead in 2 or so weeks' time. Obviously this is just my opinion and I'm the first to admit I could be projecting because, again, within this experience, I see myself in Peter...

Oh, also, I've said for years that one of my biggest fears is regret. It stuck out to me that this was one of the things he listed as a result of rash decisions and "going off emotions".

In my Flare recap I shared that Andy is 100% convinced Peter is not that into Rachel. Since then, Maddie wrote me asking if I could get Andy to elaborate a bit on why he feels that way. His answer:

"Of course I can only base this on the little we get to see, and it's mostly in the subtleties and nuances. But, as a man, I think the way he kisses and looks at her... none of it is very passionate, like he can't live without her. The palpable imbalance of power in his favor suggests he's in the driver's seat—a result of the fact that's she's clearly more into him—and that's a big deal considering how the show inherently puts all power on her side. From what I've seen he lacks any intense emotion towards her. Of course, all that aside, much of my opinion is based on 6th sense."

As I said over at Flare, I don't feel quite as strongly as Andy does. I think Peter is as into Rachel as he is capable of being into any lead 7 weeks in and given the circumstances. I just don't see him being capable of blindly giving himself entirely to the process the way Rachel would need to feel confident choosing him. But, as I also said over at Flare, I don't think any of this will matter anyway.

DEAN'S HOMETOWN

Rachel meets Dean in his hometown of Aspen. I confess I laughed at his introduction of his father's name. Not at the name itself, but its meaning given the fact that it was self-given...

I found Dean's Hometown frustrating. Not towards the show, because you can't blame them for orchestrating this dreadfully unnatural family reunion for the sake of good TV. My frustration was towards Dean's father, who certainly seems to strive to be an intuitive, perceptive, understanding, spiritual individual, but who—from what little we saw of him, at least—succumbs to defensiveness and retaliation...

I don't want to sound too harsh as it's clear he had good intentions in agreeing to do the show in the first place. His EPIC Direct-Look-Into-Camera™ and subsequent anger showed just how uncomfortable the cameras made him, even if that didn't come across in the beginning...

... but, again, my issue is how he responded to his son's (fairly gentle) criticism. Of course, I'm sure it wasn't an easy thing to hear, let alone while being filmed for national television, but his response showed a distinct lack of willingness to take responsibility. He just deflected blame (immediately stating Dean had one foot in the past), leaving the whole Hometown feeling like a wasted opportunity. There was potential for a beautiful resolution there.

ROSE CEREMONY

As I said on The Morning After, I was somehow shocked Dean was sent home. It's not that I saw him and Rachel together at the end, but that I didn't think he'd get axed right after such a traumatic Hometown date.

It's been pretty evident all season that Dean and Peter became good friends. Note Dean's elbow to Peter when Eric's name is called...

It stuck out to me as a somewhat sad "It's you or me" moment.

As always, my predictions for Episode 9 are over at Flare.

BEST DRESSED

While Peter did wear an impossibly perfect heather grey T-shirt this week, Best Dressed belonged to Dean in his Rose Ceremony suit...

That color, the fit, the perfect printed handkerchief, the bowtie... Oh my goodness, this man knows how to dress. And he's been one of the two best dressed men all season. This section will also miss you, Dean.

WORST DRESSED

While I liked Bryan's Miami Hometown, I did not like his choice of attire...

Andy's comment when Bryan appeared in this shirt was, "It's like the Time Machine broke mid-journey."

At least one of you disagreed with me, however, as I got a request to ID this shirt! (It's by Calvin Klein and sells HERE.)

RACHEL'S LOOKS

I'm sorry to say that, fashion-wise, this was a bit of a weak week for me.

For Eric's Hometown...

While I liked the easy wearability of this look, I don't know how many of us would be stacking double finger druzy rings to play basketball. That said, I would stack double finger druzy rings to go out at night as it looks damn cool. Rachel's plaid shirt is by Rails and sells HERE, but there's a good look-for-less selling HERE. Her Paul Green (a brand which really reminds me of living in Germany) peep-toe booties sell HERE. Her Kendra Scott rings sell HERE.

For her Hometown with Bryan...

I like each piece individually but am not wild about the outfit as a whole. The top just seemed to eat her, so I think I would've preferred it with fitted shorts and a daintier shoe. (Or gone with the jeans and wedges, but with a less overwhelming top.) Rachel's Nicholas tank is sold out (HERE). I wasn't able to find an available look-for-less in black but there's a cute cream version HERE (or a dress version in black HERE). Her Paige jeans sell HERE.

When visiting Peter in Madison...

This was easily my favorite look of the week. I love the simplicity but how there are subtle details with the jewelry and asymmetrical hemline of that tank. All the looks this week are accessible (as Hometown outfits usually are), but this is the only one that is also sleek. Rachel's 360 Cashmere tank is sadly sold out (HERE) but there's a similar one in black selling HERE. Her jet black Fidelity jeans (which I'm considering for myself) sell HERE. Rachel's booties are by Frye and sell (on sale) HERE. You've seen her earrings and rings in past episodes; they're by Robyn Rhodes and sell HERE, HERE, and HERE (20% off with code PANDA20).

For her Hometown with Dean...

This look is fine but I wasn't in love. I usually love duster-length cardigans (I have about 4 at this point) but the stripes on this one feel a bit 90s to me, and not in a cute, vintage way. I might not have felt this way had it been paired with something more slick, like a simple camisole dress or over-the-knee boots. If you loved the cardigan, Rachel's is by Tart and it sells HERE. It was hard to find anything quite like it but there two decent looks-for-less HERE and HERE. Her exact Three Dots "Lena" henley is sold out but there's a very similar style by the same brand HERE. Her Frye booties, easily my favorite piece in this outfit, are the same that she wore in the previous outfit, and sell HERE. Her Peggy Li necklace sells HERE.

Even the Rose Ceremony look was a miss for me...

I get that beaded gowns are a rite of Bachelorette passage, but—particularly in this bronze color—this one feels dated. Her makeup felt way too heavy as well (glittery green shadow, glossy red lipstick, and heavy contouring—one of these is great, two is acceptable, three is overkill). Rachel's naturally so beautiful, she just doesn't need it. If you disagree with me and love this gown, it's by Theia—a brand I'll forgive as it's near and dear to my heart right now; my bridesmaids will be wearing their pieces—and sells (on sale) HERE.

Until next week, fellow pandas!