‘Bachelorette’ Week 6: Marcus gets a date with Jenn, but did he get a rose for hometown week?
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Read more about Raleigh veteran on ‘The Bachelorette’
Marcus Shoberg, an Army veteran who lives in Raleigh, has been in the national spotlight as he pursues Jenn Tran’s heart in the 21st season of ABC’s hit reality show, “The Bachelorette.” Here’s The News & Observer’s coverage of the season.
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If you’ve been tuned into the newest season of ‘The Bachelorette’ on ABC, you know that a Raleigh military man has been a standout on the hit reality show.
From the first limo entrance to the first one-on-one date, 31-year-old Marcus Shoberg has slowly become a frontrunner among the group of guys vying for the heart of 26-year-old Jenn Tran.
Heading into the final stretch of the season, he scored a second solo date — the first of the guys to get that extra alone time.
To continue our weekly recaps, here’s what happened during the latest episode and which guys will be introducing their families to Jenn next week during hometown dates.
And of course, spoilers ahead.
‘The magical road to love’
After spending time in Australia and New Zealand, the group returned to the United States to spend time in Seattle. That’s where Marcus got to have his special date with Jenn.
“This is huge for us. Like I have so many feelings for him and we have a strong connection but Marcus tends to hold back a little bit,” Jenn shared in a private interview before the date. “Next week is hometowns and if we can’t push past that, I think it would be detrimental to our relationship. I want to keep growing and moving forward, so the stakes are high today.”
The two had a “Wicked”-inspired date hosted by Kelsey Anderson and Daisy Kent, who appeared on the previous season of “The Bachelor.” (Yes, this was the same season that Jenn appeared on, where they all competed for the heart of Joey.)
“You know, I think this is the perfect date for Jenn and I because life is a journey and it’s full of difficult choices and I think that we’re definitely off to a strong start,” Marcus said.
While taking part in a game along the yellow brick road, the two got to open up and connect with each other — starting with choosing between sweet and spicy, followed with surprise messages from their families and ending with a hot air balloon ride over the Emerald City.
Marcus opens up to Jenn
Going into the date, Jenn expressed that she was a little worried that her feelings might be stronger than Marcus’, but those doubts were put to rest later in their date.
Throughout the season, the local veteran has been vocal about struggling to be vulnerable.
During dinner, Jenn expressed to Marcus how he’s become a safe space for her to be emotional and how she wants to be the same for him. This led him to open up more about his childhood and how he grew up in foster care alongside his sister. He confessed that he rarely shares this personal side of him, even with friends.
“I do not come from a perfect family. Far from it,” he told Jenn. “We had parents who couldn’t, like, really take care of us … They, like, brought us to daycare one day and just, like, never came back for us… and that was the start of, like, you know like a rough chapter of my childhood.”
After hearing more about Marcus’ experience in and out of foster homes, Jenn felt like she understood him even more as a person and why he may have struggled to let his guard down.
“I hope you know how strong you are,” she told him. “I hope you truly believe that and you see that and, like, sharing your story doesn’t show weakness. It doesn’t show that you’re broken. It doesn’t show that you’re not worth anything. It shows how incredible of a person that you are to overcome all of that.
“I see you and I want you to know how happy I am that you’re here because I can’t imagine this journey without you.”
In the end, Jenn gave Marcus a rose, explaining just how worthy he is to her.
“This is the love story that I’ve always wanted when I was a kid. A little story I never thought I was worthy of, and it’s happening,” she said. “I feel like I’m living in a dream.”
Who got eliminated during the rose ceremony?
After handing out the first rose to Marcus, Jenn went on another solo date with Jeremy through Seattle’s Pike Place Market. They bonded over discussions of their faith, and Jeremy got a rose.
A dramatic group date followed at a local radio station to see who else would secure their spot for hometown week. Previous Bachelor Jason Mesnick, his wife, Molly, and the radio hosts grilled the guys about their feelings for Jenn.
All but Sam gave her the answers she was seeking, leaving her more frustrated and confused about their relationship.
A few hours before the rose ceremony, Jenn confronted Sam again to ask why he loved her. Failing to get answers, she broke up with him with the feeling that he just wasn’t being genuine.
Here’s who else was sent home and did not receive a rose:
- Spencer
- Grant
Who is getting a hometown date with Jenn?
Beginning next week, Marcus, Jeremy, Devin and Jonathon will be hosting solo dates in their hometowns for Jenn to meet their families and friends — with “The Men Tell All” and the season finale just around the corner.
How to watch “The Bachelorette”
You can watch “The Bachelorette” every Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC and on Hulu the day following their premieres.
Who is going to be the next Bachelor?
Though he didn’t find a happy ending with Jenn, Grant is getting a second shot at love.
In a surprise announcement at the end of the episode, ABC said Grant Ellis would be the next Bachelor, the second Black male lead in the franchise’s history. The first was Matt James, who was raised in Raleigh, who made history during Season 25 in 2021.
The announcement of the next lead typically happens as a season ends.
“The former pro basketball player is passionate about his career as a day trader, but when he’s not immersed in the fast-paced world of finance, you can find him cheering on the Lakers, hitting strikes at the bowling alley, or belting out tunes at karaoke nights,” ABC said in a news release.
Ellis, 30, is a day trader who lives in Houston. He and Jenn found common ground when discussing their struggles with their fathers. Grant told Jenn that he was falling in love with her.
“As the Bachelor, Ellis is eager to embark on a journey filled with romance, adventure, and genuine connections. He hopes to find a partner who shares his values of loyalty, humor and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.”
An official premiere date hasn’t been announced, but the upcoming 29th season will be released next year.
This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 8:52 PM with the headline "‘Bachelorette’ Week 6: Marcus gets a date with Jenn, but did he get a rose for hometown week?."
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