'The Golden Bachelorette' recap: Who’s going to the fantasy suites with Joan Vassos — and who got sent home

Hey, rose buds! Did anyone feel a windy chill in the air last night? Must have been Joan Vassos’s two hometown dates in Chicago. With fantasy suites just around the corner, Week 6 is when things get serious

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What went down this week ??

This week’s hometowns revealed that two of Joan’s men were all in and two weren’t quite ready to commit. With fantasy suites set for next week, only one straggler prevailed.

Where the hometowns were: Jordan and Pascal made Bach history by giving us the first-ever hometowns week with two dates in the same city: Chicago. Guy took us to Reno, Nev., and nearby Lake Tahoe, while Chock brought us to Wichita, Kan. [People]

Who had the best date: Chock recently lost his mother to cancer, so his hometown was unusually poignant. Joan helped his family plant a tree in her honor in a moving ceremony that made her feel like part of the family. [Entertainment Weekly]

Who went home: After hometowns, Joan knew that Guy and Chock were all in, but she wasn’t sure if Pascal or Jordan would choose to stay with her if she proposed. Sadly, Jordan didn’t make the cut. [USA Today]

Senior superlatives ??

1?? Best Hair: Maxim

Fittingly for a stylist’s progeny, Pascal’s son — who wears the same stacked bracelets as his dad — has a perfect head of hair and, unlike most teen boys, he actually uses the right amount of product. [Entertainment Weekly]

2?? Class Clown: Pascal’s grandson Pryce

Impertinent kids are a priceless gift to TV, and the pint-sized Pryce came to play. First, he asked Pascal if he slept “in a bed that’s full of old other grandpas” at the mansion, and then he grilled Joan about their kissing. Classic! [USA Today]

3?? Sweetest Sisters: Greer and Gayle

I’ll be honest: Beyond being a nice ER doc who can’t zest lemons, Guy hasn’t made much of an impression on me this season. His sisters really sold him as a big-hearted, supportive teddy bear. Well done! [Deadline]

4?? Most Insightful Offspring: Ali

Ali easily predicted Jordan’s biggest limitation: Soon after sitting down with Joan, she asked if her dad had really opened up after going 10 years since his divorce without a serious relationship. Sadly, he hadn’t, which is why he went home. [People]

5?? Best Gift Givers: Chock’s family

We all have different love languages, but as someone who adores presents, Chock’s fam won me over by giving Joan some high-heeled “ruby slippers” for her trip to Kansas. There’s no place like home, indeed! [Wichita Eagle]

Can I steal you for a second? ??

A one-on-one with Kathryn VanArendonk

Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk is one of my favorite journalists covering reality TV, so of course I was thrilled to steal her for a second to gab about hometowns (and the upcoming fantasy suites).

Laura: What's your favorite hometown date trope?

Kathryn: It's hard to top One Skeptical Family Member. You don't want it to be a whole group siding against someone, but you definitely need that one dubious sister-in-law who keeps glaring in the background.

Laura: Do you have a favorite (or least favorite) Bachelor Nation parent?

Kathryn: I don’t have a favorite parent. I do have a favorite fake hometown location, however, which was when producers made Jason Mesnick pretend to live in a houseboat.

Laura: Whose fantasy suite date are you most eager to see next week, and why?

Kathryn: It seems like Joan is most excited for Chock, but I’m personally a little curious about what extremely French things Pascal is gonna say to explain what happens between two adults in a bedroom.

Go deeper: Here are a few more wild Bachelor hometown dates from over the years.

Can I go there? ??

If Pascal and Jordan’s hometown dates left you scrambling to book a plane to Chicago, rest assured that you can do everything we saw on those dates.

Lou Malnati’s, where Joan and Jordan shared some deep-dish, was founded in 1971 by Adolpho "Rudy" Malnati Sr. — who claims to have come up with the idea for Chicago’s famed deep-dish pizza.

The rainbow cake Jordan and Joan shared came from the local staple the Goddess & Grocer, and if you’re wondering what that liquor that grossed Joan out so much was, I’d bet the entire Chicago River that it was Mal?rt. [Food Republic/WGN/ABC 7]

?? This week's cry counter: We hit a whopping 10 — the highest since the premiere. My favorite was a double-whammy weep: Pascal cried over how much he loves his son, and then his son cried after seeing him cry.

The Golden Bachelorette airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

About In Reality: If Wednesday nights are for watching The Golden Bachelorette, then Thursday mornings are for diving into every detail with Laura Bradley, our Golden Bachelorette correspondent. Sign up.