The Bachelorette Season 17, Episode 7: Most cringeworthy moments

Rose lovers welcome to this week’s The Bachelorette Season 17 recap of the most cringeworthy moments ever!

You’ll be happy to know that Katie Thurston has narrowed down her suitors from seven to four, and has decided who she’s going to (home) town with! This week’s episode of The Bachelorette Season 17 featured plenty of applause-worthy moments!

There were also some really bizarre things that happened: from Katie slapping Greg Grippo with a fake fish to Brendan the firefighter applying chapstick before meeting Katie…only to be sent home.

The Bachelorette Season 17, Episode 7: Moment #1: Katie slaps Greg with a fish…unintentionally

With a week to go for hometown dates, Katie decides to take Greg on another one-on-one date. Before going to his hometown, the Bachelorette decides she wants to give him a taste of her own hometown–Seattle. The date features a recreation of the mini-Pike Place fish market, and Katie and Greg try to toss fish at each other.

During round 1, Greg miserably fails at catching fish, and during round 2, he gets slapped in the face by its tail. His expression is priceless and worth rewinding. Greg tries harder in the next round and almost succeeds, but not without bringing down the decor on them.

Seriously though, someone could’ve gotten hurt! After the grim fish tossing and flopping is over, the couple shuck oysters (and Katie nearly throws up) before they go to dinner and Greg leaves with a rose on his chest. Their weird day ends on a high note, they kiss in the rain and it’s all very romantic.

The Bachelorette Season 17, Episode 7: Moment #2: Brendan the firefighter applies chapstick

After Greg gets the rose, it’s one hometown down and three to go. The group date card arrives and naturally, no one wants to hear their name called out…especially Brendan the firefighter. Now we haven’t seen this dude do anything substantial in any episode…until now. Brendan’s name isn’t called out, he’s disappointed and wondering why he’s even on the show but doesn’t want to wait until the date to find out.

He waltzes out of the room and arrives outside Katie’s hotel suite, completely unannounced. He rings the bell, whips out a chapstick, and applies a fresh layer to his lips before she opens the door. Is Brendan being presumptuous? We think so.

Katie is, as always, the kindest person ever and appreciates his gesture–just not as well as he expected. Brendan is confident and assures the camera that “It’s going to go f***ing great.” It doesn’t, and after pouring his heart out by saying “When I’m with you we can take over the world,” Katie lets him down slowly.

The Bachelorette Season 17, Episode 7: Moment #3: Passion but with a twist

Katie has literally just sent Brendan home because she thought their “connection” couldn’t “get there” before hometown week. On the art exhibit group date now, Katie introduces the three suitors to Jacqueline Secor’s paintings which feature flowers–just not the ones you might expect. When the artist asks Blake Moynes to interpret one of her paintings, he uses words like “messy” and describes the colors as “aggressive”.

Now he isn’t an artist, but did he really have to say that? The men are asked to create their own works of art with Katie as their muse, bringing back the sex-positive™ theme once again. Michael uses clay to recreate his perception of Katie’s derriere, Andrew paints sushi like we’ve never seen before and Justin…creates well something. It’s really awkward and we’re sighing with relief that Mike P. wasn’t in attendance, for reasons you already know.

The Bachelorette Season 17, Episode 7: Moment #4: Mike, Katie, and a cuddling expert

The award for the most absurd one-on-one date of all time goes to this one. Mike and Katie are greeted by Jean the cuddle queen, who expects to help the couple by getting them to cuddle with each other. Katie and Mike find it hilarious (and painfully awkward)  but humor her, and continue to follow her directions.

They eventually find themselves in positions called the “oxytocin hug” and the “lap of luxury”, which by the way are the definition of cringe-worthy. Their first (and last) date is painstaking to watch, but Mike decides to make it worse by comparing Katie’s cuddles to his mom’s. You read that right, Mike tells the camera “She reminds me of my mom.”

Katie sends him home after informing them that she just had stronger connections with the other men. But I think it’s because she heard about that little comparison.

What did you think of Katie’s final four? Let us know in the comments!

The next episode of The Bachelorette Season 17 is Monday, July 26th, on ABC at 8 PM EST!