The Bachelorette episode 6 recap: Virginia is for lovers!

Last we saw our favorite girl-next-door, Becca, she was leaving Chicken Guy to roast in the desert and declining to view Jordan’s portfolio, if you know what I mean. Chris received a last-minute reprieve,  and, unfortunately, Lincoln was still with us.

Who gets a rose tonight and why in the world are we in Richmond, Virginia?

We start with sweeping views of Virginia. Becca tries to convince us that since “Virginia is for Lovers,” it’s the perfect place for them to visit. She comments on how different it is than Vegas. Yes, it is not filled with cigarette smoke and broken dreams. Becca is working hard to convince us that this location makes any sense and that it’s not just because production needed to save money.

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The guys are trying hard to sell Richmond for us in their interviews. What does the mayor of this town have on everyone? Should we drink every time someone says, “Richmond, Virginia!”

Chris acknowledges that he had a rough time last week, but without mentioning his own responsibility in his situation. This seems like a theme for him. A date card arrives and Jason’s excited to learn he’s finally getting his first one-on-one with Becca. This baby Wolf of Wall Street has really grown on me.

Chris tells the other guys that he wants a one-on-one or a two-on-one this week. They’re shocked that he would volunteer for a two-on-one. Chris and Lincoln start bickering. Chris tries to argue logic with the flat earther, but is still coming up short. The other guys are embarrassed to be in the same room as this display of pettiness.

Chris says Lincoln body-shamed him after making light of his weight loss. Apparently, Chris lost more than 100 pounds. I think we just discovered an explanation for his raging insecurity. Chris must be pretty immature if he’s coming across worse than Lincoln.

But most importantly, Wills continues to have the best reaction shots to the petty nonsense around him.

Give me liberty, or give me Becca!

Jason and Becca hop on a trolley with some champagne. They stop off at the historic spot where Paul Henry gave his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” speech. Becca could moonlight as a Richmond tour guide. They stop at a bakery and decorate donuts together. I’m appalled that we are not spending more time here. Is there a better date than donut making? I think not.

Now it’s off to the Edgar Allen Poe museum where some goth kids are throwing an Un-Happy Hour. Jason hasn’t seen a goth since sophomore year.

Back at the hotel, the guys are gossiping about Chris. Colton fears he’s going to blow up again and ruin another cocktail party or group date. Chris rocks some skinny jeans while he looks off in the distance forlornly. I almost miss the Pensive Gentleman.

Becca is blushing in her interview and it turns out Jason is a very good kisser. She’s demanded several smooches during their date.

They arrive at a bar and surprise, his best friends are there! There is very sweet reunion between the friends that would make you think Jason’s just come back from war. The psychological damage for contestants on this show must be intense. The struggle is real.

Jason confesses that Becca has everything he needs in a life partner. His friends talk him up and they’ve won me over on him. You guys, let’s keep Jason. Bring on the Hometowns! Becca mauls him at the end of the day-portion of their date. She’s got it bad.

Things get surprisingly emotional

Then they head to an intimate dinner where they will eat nothing. Jason says that usually he runs away from tough conversations, but he doesn’t do that with Becca. He shares how he and his father went to visit his grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. Jason’s dad realized that she didn’t recognize him and Jason could tell it was heartbreaking. He saw his dad try so hard to jog her memory and hide his tears. It made Jason realize how important it is to not take anything for granted.

Becca shares how her father got sick when she was fourteen. They thought they’d only get six months with him, but they got five more years together. She was able to take care of her dad with her mom and they watched him take his breath. It makes her appreciate her relationships.

I have no snark, I’m impressed by their ability to share so emotionally. And I’m thrilled we’re not talking about Arie anymore.

Becca hands Jason the date rose and they eat each other’s faces. This sleeper relationship just heated up big time!

Time for the Group Date

Group Date Card: Colton, Garrett, Wills, Connor, Blake, Lincoln, Chris

Chris sees this date as a “do or die” situation. Or maybe it’s just a date?

The guys are wearing their sharpest suits as they approach Becca at the Capitol building, and she is rocking a pantsuit herself. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington meet them inside and I think there is a problem in the space-time continuum. Lincoln (the contestant) is thrilled to meet the other Lincoln and even borrows his hat.

The bro-testants learn that they are all here to campaign for the affections of Becca. They must debate each other to win Becca’s hand.

Becca-lection 2018 begins!

With all due respect to Bachelor Nation, a country I proudly reside in, I come to the Bach to escape politics, not be reminded of them.

The bro-testants stand on the steps of the capitol in front of podiums while Chris Harrison, Becca, President Lincoln, and some constituents ask questions. The Governor of Virginia asks for Colton’s views on the perfect date with Becca. Colton says he wants to go to a dog park with his labrador, the cutest dog ever. I was hoping for something a little more hard-hitting. Someone ask Garrett about his Instagram likes!

We montage some answers from the other bro-testants. Becca looks swoony over Wills. But not as swoony as I look at home. #teamwills

When it comes time for bro-testant Lincoln to answer a question, he talks about Chris’s bad behavior. I really do not know who is worse. Actually, I do. It’s almost 100% Lincoln, but not the way they’re editing this.

Chris Not-Harrison starts trash-talking the other bro-testants. He says there is a malicious and aggressive side to Lincoln. I mean, Lincoln may be a very bad person, but Chris Not-Harrison doesn’t seem much better. He is quick to throw Lincoln under the bus.

Meanwhile, Colton has the smile of someone who just watched Lincoln and Chris dig their own graves. Chris Not-Harrison continues to vent to Blake who is looking for a way to escape this conversation.

They arrive at an estate where Becca is frustrated by the behavior of the bro-testants. She’s over it and wants to enjoy the night.

Lincoln steals Becca away. He tells her how disrespectful Chris is and right on schedule, Chris interrupts them and takes her away to chat.

Becca tells Chris that according to Lincoln, the guys are uncomfortable living with Chris. She interrogates him — are the guys feeling threatened? She says she heard Connor didn’t want to room with him. Chris gaslights her immediately. Run, girl.

Garrett interrupts and she is thrilled for the excuse to ditch Chris. She asks Garrett for five minutes to herself.

Becca is tired of the B.S.

The guys are arguing downstairs. Chris wants to know, did Connor ever say he didn’t want to share a room with him? Is he scared for his life? Connor and his coif look perplexed by this. Chris and Lincoln start arguing about who is the pathological liar. Both of them? Garrett comes down and reveals that Becca is in a bad head space after her conversation with Lincoln and Chris. He’s frustrated that he isn’t getting quality one-on-one time with her, and he knows the other guys feel the same.

Finally, Becca comes down to get Garrett. He reads her his “closing statement” that he didn’t get to share at the debate earlier. Colton and Becca then get some one-on-one date. She’s got it bad for this one.

Wills declares that he’s not a robot, and he does have emotions. He’s falling for her. That’s Bachelorette speak for, “I’m falling in love with you, but it’s been like four days, so that would be a crazy thing to say.” She answers with a kiss.

Becca gives the date rose to Colton, a man she feels is true to his word (but will this prove to be true?).

Chris is all about the competition, but we’ve never heard him say what he loves about Becca. Does he actually know or is he just trying to win against the other guys?

Leo gets his one-on-one date card. I forgot Leo was on the show.

One-on-one with Leo. And his hair.

We come back the next day with Becca looking pensively out the window. It makes me almost miss Jordan. She is frustrated by the drama on the group date, but wants to focus on her time with Leo.

Leo and his hair meet Becca at a small airport. They get on a puddle jumper to see Virginia from the sky. Does it get better from up high?

Becca acknowledges that she couldn’t get out of her head and be the best version of herself. She tells Leo that she’s emotionally drained from last night’s nastiness. He sweetly says they can just spend time together and do nothing.

Becca says she doesn’t need an engagement at the end of this process, she just wants to find her forever person. Leo demonstrates some surprising self-reflection as he admits to Becca that while he can come across as a caricature sometimes, he cares for her and would want to be with her in the real world. I feel like the subtext was: I might be a goofy character with Fabio-esque hair, but I’m not just here to be on television.

Leo and Becca put on put on waders and hop in the water to shuck oysters. She looks miserably cold. They kiss post-oyster slurping and it is not sexy, but it is cute. Earlier, I was certain Leo would not earn a date rose, that she just wasn’t feeling it, but now I’m not so sure.

Nothing says romance like City Hall!

Leo and Becca have dinner in the cavernous government building. Becca claims Leo just saw her at his worst. Leo thinks if that’s her worst, that’s nothing.

Leo opens up about his family. His parents are still married, forty years and counting. His father was always a larger than life figure when he was growing up. Leo idolized him, but he felt that he failed in the eyes of his dad. He and his dad connected about sports, but Leo didn’t wind up playing professionally. He feels like his dad thinks he wasted his time trying to train him. Leo says it carried over into other parts of his life. He feels like he’s never good enough.

All this time, Becca thought he was this big loveable guy with the hair. She now sees him as much more. Becca loves them vulnerable. If he’s not near tears, he’s not getting a rose! She hands Leo the date rose. Leo and his hair survive!

Back at the hotel, Connor and Jason talk about Chris and his explosive nature. Jason thinks he’s volatile and we cut to Chris furiously writing in a dark room with harsh lighting. Is this turning into a film noir?

Leo and Becca leave City Hall and head to a theater where Morgan Evans (?) is playing. They feign excitement at the Bachelorette staple, an unrecognizable country band singing about kissing.

Chris is his own worst enemy

Chris knows that if Leo comes home, it means he’s now the weak link in the cast. Chris, there’s always Lincoln too! Chris storms off in his suede boots and matching coat. Will he and his skinny jeans confront Becca tonight?

Chris is oddly obsessed with Lincoln’s egg intake. According to Chris, Lincoln consumes 12 eggs a day! His cholesterol!

Chris heads to Becca’s hotel. She’s in shock to see him. He tells her he can see himself proposing at the end of this. She thinks it’s quite a leap from him wanting to leave the week before to wanting to propose. Girl, you should have gone to law school! I’m living for her cross-examinations of these shady bro-testants!

Chris tells her what she should think and feel. Gosh, what a catch! She expresses her frustration with the drama this week. He claims it’s adversity created by outside forces, again skirting responsibility. Becca was hoping things would turn around with them, but all she sees with him are red flags.

When Becca looks at her other relationships, some are very solid, and she doesn’t think she and Chris are at that level, nor will ever get there. She knows it’s not going to work out. Byyyyeeee.

Chris doesn’t want her to walk him out, but she insists. It’s a classic Bach Nation trope, after all. He does not handle the elimination well. He storms out of the hotel cursing, and Becca rightly interviews that Chris is an angry person and she does not want him in her life.

The guys arrive for the cocktail hour and rose ceremony. Connor is concerned that he once again did not get a one-on-one date. Chris Harrison arrives and breaks the news…

Next: Is Ben Higgins a top contender for The Bachelor 2019?

Straight to the Rose Ceremony!

Roses go to: Garrett, Blake, Wills
Eliminated: Lincoln (finally!), Connor

I can’t wait to see these Connor in Bachelor in Paradise! Connor and his coif did not reach full potential on The Bachelorette, but I think he has more to give to Bach Nation. Next week they head to the Bahamas! I bet Wills is going to rock some amazing ensembles.

This episode receives two out of five Meghan Markles for how much it made me believe in true love.