‘Bachelorette’ Week 8: After fantasy suites, Jenn has a big decision to make about Marcus

This story has been updated. What happened in the second part of the fantasy suites week? Read here.

The latest season of “The Bachelorette” is coming to a close with only a few weeks left to see if Raleigh’s Marcus Shoberg takes the final rose and has a happily ever after with Jenn Tran.

Following his hometown date (that wasn’t in North Carolina), the local military veteran and the other two remaining men, Devin Strader and Jonathon Johnson, went to Hawaii for their first and only overnight dates on the show.

So how did it go for Marcus when he got that extra one-on-one time with Jenn?

Spoiler alert: Here’s a recap of what happened on Monday and Tuesday night’s episodes and where things stand between the two.

‘A pivotal week’

Upon arriving in Hawaii, Jenn met up with Molly Mesnick from Season 13 of “The Bachelor” to get relationship advice heading into the week with three guys that she admitted she’s falling for, including how to get closer with Marcus.

“With Marcus, he’s always been someone that I saw a future with very early in the beginning. He is very reliable. He’s stable. He’s just there for me, but he has expressed that it takes him a while to lean into love and to fall in love because he’s been so hurt in the past before,” she explained.

“In the past couple of weeks, I just feel like I’ve been putting so much more effort in the relationship and investing so much more of my feelings into him. Going into this week, I need him to be able to envision us at the end of this together.”

Before the two had their fantasy suite date — the last one of the week after her time with Devin and Jonathon — Marcus also discussed his feelings with Jesse Palmer while the two were on a golf course.

“I think I have a lot on my heart,” he said. “I think I have a lot on my mind and … there’s a lot of things I still need to figure out. She definitely said that she’s falling. I think she’s a bit ahead of me right now.

“I think it would be wrong for me to get down on a knee right now with how much uncertainty I have. I think that’s why this kind of date coming up is going to be super important.”

Jenn’s feelings for Marcus

Though Marcus was feeling unsure, Jenn confidently told producers that she was in love with him and had been feeling that way for weeks.

“Marcus and I just have this connection and this natural comfortability to us. We have that physical chemistry, that banter,” Jenn said. “When I’m with him, I feel fun and flirty. It’s so easy to be myself with him and to have fun and laugh about anything and everything.”

Though Marcus was feeling conflicted before the date, those uneasy feelings were wiped away during their one-on-one date on a boat.

“After hometowns, I was kind of on a high and I was feeling really good about Jenn and I but I kind of get in my head and I start to doubt a little bit so I just don’t want any of my inner conflict to get in the way of having an amazing day with her,” he said. “Every time I’m not with her, I think I have all these conflictions between my mind and my heart and then when we kind of get into our dates, it’s like all that stuff goes out the window.”

Though they had a great time snorkeling, Marcus tells Jenn about where he stands with their relationship. He’s just not in love with her at the moment.

“Why I’m worried is because I feel unsure, and you deserve someone that is sure about you,” he told her. “It’s been hard for me to get to a point where I feel comfortable that I’m, like, in love.”

It’s a heartbreaking moment to watch after she was prepared to tell him just how strongly she felt. Given that Jenn has said that she could see a future with Marcus, there was no doubt a lot of tension and uncertainty.

Would Marcus stay for the fantasy suites? Would he decide to go home? Would a heartbroken Jenn send him packing?

The awkwardness of the whole situation could be felt through the TV screen.

But ultimately, after talking about not wanting to give up on their relationship, the two decided to go forward with spending the night together in the fantasy suite.

“I am in love with him…and I think we just had a really good night together,” Jenn said the next morning. “But it’s terrifying to be in love with someone who isn’t there yet. I do have hope for Marcus and I but I need him to get there because meeting the family is next week and a proposal is next week and I want to be able to be confident in the person standing across from me.”

Devin tells Jenn his doubts

Though Jenn finished up all her fantasy suite dates with Marcus, Jonathon and Devin, there was no rose ceremony on Monday’s episode. Instead, viewers were left with another cliffhanger as Devin was seen confronting Jenn about his doubts about their relationship.

Tuesday night picked up with the drama.

Though Devin spoke with Jenn to learn more about her feelings, all was right between the two after she reassured him that she does love him. “I love you, you freaking idiot,” she said.

Then, it was time for Jenn to make what she called a “nearly impossible decision” of who to send home during the rose ceremony after having great dates with Marcus, Devin and Jonathon.

Who does Jenn give roses to for final 2?

After giving out the first rose to Devin, tension was building for Marcus as he waited to hear if Jenn would be taking their relationship to the next level.

Ultimately, despite a week of heavy conversations — and some doubts — he did get a rose, a decision that brought out several gasps from shocked fans in the “Men Tell All” audience.

Who got eliminated during the rose ceremony?

A sad Jonathon was eliminated, leading to a very emotional breakup.

The “Men Tell All”

Get ready Tuesday for some awkward roasting/interrogating of the previous contestants who were sent home. (Yes, Sam M., we’re talking about you.)

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.

This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 10:23 PM with the headline "‘Bachelorette’ Week 8: After fantasy suites, Jenn has a big decision to make about Marcus."

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription