The Bachelorette Desiree - Episode 9 - Recap

Desiree is down to only three men at the beginning of Episode 9 of The Bachelorette Season 9, but unlike normal penultimate Bachelorette episodes, this one ends very awry. Read on.

For the past several episodes, we've seen Des declare her love of Brooks to host Chris Harrison and America, but we've also seen Brooks lag emotionally behind. She loves him, but it seems like he still doesn't love her yet. Chris said the L word. Drew said it. Hell, even Brandon said it back in Week 3 or sometime early like that.

Des and her three final men—Drew, Chris, and Brooks—are in Antigua for the Hometown Dates this week. Drew's date with Des goes well; so well,  that he admits to the camera and then even Des, that he is ready to propose to Des right on the spot. After exploring the island and dancing with locals in a festival, they head off to the fantasy suite.

Meanwhile, Brooks STILL isn't sure if he loves Des or not. He's so conflicted that he ships off back to the States to ask his mom and sister what he should do. When he's asked if he's in love with Des, he can't answer back. Yikes! His mom and sister tell him that if he's not ready to propose to her, he should let her know that.

Chris' date with Des goes even smoother than Drew's. If Brooks weren't in the picture, the pair of them would be so good together. They take a helicopter ride over the Caribbean, swim in the water around their private deserted island, and talk about their potential future together. When asked, Des said she would be willing to move to Seattle if necessary. And off to the fantasy suite they go!

Later, Chris Harrison sits down with Brooks to help talk out his feelings. Though Brooks says he loves being around her, his heart isn't completely there, and he often questions their relationship when they're not together. He admits that Des ISN'T the love of his life. And he can't force it.

Meanwhile, we the viewers are left to watch the impending trainwreck as Brooks heads over for his one-on-one date. We know Brooks is going to break Des' heart while Des is eagerly anticipating their time together. When they meet up, things are already starting off bad. He wraps her in a hug that feels off to her, and she knows things aren't as happy-go-lucky as normal. He delves into the emotional struggle he's been having; he feels that he loses his connection to her when they're away from each other, and he wants to love her but just isn't feeling it. They both cry. He tells her that he thought his feelings would build up with more time, but they haven't progressed as he had hoped, and he isn't sure if their engagement would last after the show ends.

Then, here's the part that a lot of people might not have seen coming: she tells him that she loves him. Yes, we all knew it from her confessionals and interviews with Chris Harrison, but when was the last time a lead has admitted his or her love to a contestant BEFORE the proposal at the very end? I don't remember that happening before. And here she is, saying it with two other guys still in the game! She loves him so much that she's breaking Bachelor/Bachelorette code to do so. As you can imagine, she's devastated that he can't reciprocate that love.

They hug and hug for a long time. She wanted him to meet her family, and she says that Brooks was always her #1. Just tears. Everywhere. From both of them! He's conflicted; they walk for a long time down the pier, and when they finally leave, he finds himself missing her already. Man, love—or lack thereof—is a complicated thing. He still wants the best for her, but he knows that he isn't the one to provide it.

We're left with a cliffhanger at the end of episode. Des admits that she just wants to go home. She isn't able to give her heart to two men who love her, and she feels terrible about it. It sure doesn't help that the man who has her heart just broke it. "It's over," Des says. And the episode ends.

Well, that sure was a dramatic one! We still have an entire episode next week though, and it's definitely going to be interesting. What will Des do without Brooks? Will she leave? Will Brooks come back? We don't even get to see previews, so you know ABC wants us to be surprised. Hopefully it'll be a happy surprise.

I wonder what Drew and Chris think about all of this while watching it back. They're probably upset that Des has been acting like she's  in love with them even though she's had her mind made up all along. But hopefully they've moved on by now.

What do you all think will happen in next week's Finale Part 2? Will the love finally click for Brooks? Is there any inkling of a chance that Des will choose another guy? Let me know in comments.