Joan is awkward 'Golden Bachelorette' guest at Chock's mother's memorial: Hometown Dates

After last week's shocking dismissals (including Mark "Hot Dad" Anderson"), "The Golden Bachelorette" takes a big emotional dive into Hometown Dates in Wednesday's Episode 6 (now streaming on Hulu).

It gets real as Joan Vassos, 61, meets the assembled families of the four remaining senior suitors, two of whom conveniently live around Chicago — salon owner Pascal, 69, and sales manager Jordan, 61. And it often turns really awkward, as when Joan meets the Wichita, Kansas family of Chock, 60, at the remembrance ceremony of his dearly departed mother.

Viewer warning: ABC's reality dating show doesn't shy away from the definitely-not-sure-we-need-to-see-this moments. Episode 6 even opens with Pascal's grinning, gap-toothed grandson asking Joan, "Have you kissed my grandpa?"

Joan handles this ― and pretty much every other sticky situation ― flawlessly, by being real.

"OK, I did," Joan says, blushing and laughing with her head in her hand. "It's embarrassing, I know."

It could've been a lot worse. Here's what happened.

Spoiler warnings ahead! Stop reading if you don't want to know Joan's Episode 6 journey!

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Pascal brings va-va-voom and introduces a new emotion: Reluctance

Like a Formula One driver, French-born Pascal zips right to the front of the competition with a dazzling, Champagne-filled visit. He even brings Joan on a high-speed sports car romp, zipping through a leafy neighborhood that no doubt led to viral NextDoor rants about speeders. But Joan loves it and everything about the debonaire and handsome (but high-maintenance) Pascal. He's finally in the driver's seat, literally and figuratively. (Pascal grumbled when Joan drove the sports car on their first date).

His Pascal pour Elle salon is impressive, with adoring employees who click right back to work when he claps his hands. Yet he brings out the Champagne for Joan. His family is beautiful, with his one adoring son brandishing Johnny Depp's lost "21 Jump Street" hairstyle. And the charcuterie board alone screams, "Marry Me!"

But Pascal starts rolling his emotional issues and explaining that his perceived aloofness is more than just being Parisian. He has built "a little wall" after being hurt recently by a relationship. Joan starts connecting the dots. What if her dynamic Frenchman isn't all that into her?

Joan frets what we're all thinking; this could turn into a nightmare replay of Jenn Tran's "Bachelorette" final debacle: "My biggest fear is that I will pick him and he won't pick me too," she says to Pascal's daughter.

Jordan opens up, and gets 'Golden Bachelorette' shut down

Jordan, too, is reserved for other reasons. He rightfully senses he doesn't have a chance with Joan. But the crosstown rival takes the party route, bringing local food faves and making bold Chicago proclamations, declaring Lou Malnati's is the best deep-dish pizza. It's a cheesily nostalgic choice, just like the "Chicago Handshake," which involves downing Chicago Jeppson's Mal?rt with an Old Style lager.

At home, Jordan's delightful family pushes their father to open his heart to Joan. Don't blow it, Dad, by being scared. Joan tells him to open up, too, sitting on his Chicago stoop. OK, he's opening! But their goodbye kiss says it all: Jordan unlocks lips first to pull away.

Of course, it's the end of the line. But Joan has set up a face-saving excuse: Jordan can't open up. "Time was not our friend," Joan says to Jordan at the episode's end.

Guy shows off the blue waters of Lake Tahoe

Emergency room doctor Guy, 66, shows off his hometown Reno, Nevada, with a beautiful motorboat trip at nearby Lake Tahoe over churning blue water. Talking to his sisters at his home, Guy gets emotional, "Never in a million years would I think I'm saying this, 'I can love again, and be loved again."

This reflects on the disturbing news earlier this month that Guy's now-ex-wife sought a restraining order in 2021 after their divorce was finalized. His ex withdrew the application, so a judge denied the restraining order. His big family is fully supportive of Guy moving forward with the potential for new love. Joan is cool, using terms like "sweet," "good listener," and "slow burn." Guy still earns a rose.

Chock takes Joan to his mom's remembrance, but he's talking wedding

There is no etiquette guide for meeting a potential life partner's family on TV at his beloved mother's outdoor memorial service. This is groundbreaking stuff, literally. Jill's death caused Chock to briefly leave the Bachelor Mansion in Episode 4. Somehow, teary speeches about the lost matriarch veer wildly into welcome-to-the-family speeches to Joan. No amount of TV editing can make this bridge graceful. But Joan handles it all with poise, and even gamely places a shovel of dirt around Mom's remembrance tree.

The father of Chock's deceased fiancée (who died in 2022) rights the reality ship, telling Joan endearingly, "You're family if you want to be." And Chock wants it more than he wants one of his dream Chevy Camaros. The couple's greetings have more buzz than the cicadas and feature mutual "I missed you" declarations. Their prolonged goodbye kisses will have the Wichita Chamber of Commerce chattering. "I'm falling in love with you," Chock says.

"These are all things I want to hear," Joan says.

Chock even makes a rom-com return kiss (which she reciprocates) after ushering Joan into the car.

Who got a rose and will head to Tahiti for Fantasy Suites?

Joan has never looked more stunning at the rose ceremony in her sparkling Randi Rahm burnt-orange dress and dangling Dena Kemp diamond earrings. Pascal wears a black suit with a smile like the cat who's about to get the rose. He does. Josh and Chock accept theirs as well. Roseless Jordan looks heartbroken, but Joan walks him to his SUV.

She comes back ready to party. Next stop: the South Pacific island of Tahiti, for Fantasy Suites. "They speak French there," Pascal announces. Chock is already thinking big prize, predicting, "Joan better say yes to my proposal."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Golden Bachelorette' recap Episode 6: Joan hits Hometowns, memorial