‘The Bachelor’ Season 28, Episode 7 Recap: Who Went Home? And Who’s Headed To Hometown Week?

With Hometown Dates on the horizon, The Bachelor Season 28 took Joey Graziadei and his six remaining women to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada to experience nature, wildlife, and next-level emotions.

Last week, Joey said a heartbreaking farewell to one of his strongest connections, Lexi Young, and this week he’ll say goodbye to two more women before he meets the families of his final four contestants.

With the stakes higher than ever before, Joey set out on his most purposeful week yet, with two romantic one-on-one dates, the final group date of the season, and a series of tough conversations with Daisy, Kelsey A, Kelsey T, Jenn, Maria, and Rachel that hopefully brought him closer to his happily ever after.

So who went home during The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 7? And who secured a Hometown Date?

Decider’s recap breaks down The Bachelor‘s biggest week yet.

Joey Graziadei and Daisy Kent’s One-On-One Date Recap: “Let’s Ride Off Into The Sunset Together”

Daisy Kent got Joey’s first one-on-one date, so it made sense that he’d want to spend some quality time with her ahead of Hometowns to see if their connection stood the test of time. Ahead of their outdoorsy date, Joey told cameras that Daisy was the first real connection he created on the show and he was falling for her, but she was the only woman who hadn’t expressed those feelings for him.

The two hopped on horseback to explore the trails and share a day of intimate conversation, laughs, and a steamy hot tub soak. Joey gave Daisy his coat (yeah, I noticed!) and between the festivities they took breaks to adorably gush over each other in confessionals. “I get impressed by her all the time,” Joey told cameras. “He just keeps surprising me,” Daisy explained. They opened up about what they want in a relationship, with Daisy searching for unconditional love and Joey craving someone he can’t see a life without. And after uttering one of my favorite lines of the franchise (Daisy realizing, “I guess either way, I’m going home” re: a Hometown Date/elimination, then exploding into giggles), the two met for dinner and things got serious.

Unlike the majority of women on what could be their final one-on-one date, Daisy wore a badass fit — pants and boots, not a dress and heels — ahead of another unconventional, but earnest, move. “I’m not in love with him yet,” she told cameras. “It’s not what most people would do, but I’m going to be honest… I’m not in love, but I can see myself getting to that point.”

Daisy vowed to stay true to herself, even if it meant sacrificing a rose, so she started by telling Joey that one of the most important, telling steps in their relationship would be seeing how he interacts with her family. She said her sickness brought her and her family closer together and made them more protective of her, so they’d come prepared with tough questions to ensure he would be there for her in sickness and health. “If it is us at the end, it doesn’t matter what it is. I’m accepting all sides of you,” Joey replied. “I know this is a part of you and you’ve had issues in the past. And I know they can come back again in some shape or form in the future, but I don’t want you to doubt that I can be that person fully and I can sit in front of your family and confidently explain that I can be that person if it was us.” (Sobbing!)

“If I’m being 100% honest, I really, really like you. But am I there yet? No. I can see us being so great together and I can see myself falling in love with you and if for any reason that ever becomes a worry in my mind, I’ll let you know,” Daisy said. Joey was admittedly fearful, but he gave Daisy a rose and said, “I really want to meet your family. I’m hoping this is something that can grow.” His words brought Daisy to tears, and the two got in the Canadian spirit by ending the date with some ice hockey. By the end of the night, Daisy felt she was already starting to fall for Joey. So next time we see them, they’ll be in Minnesota, hopefully headed to the Kent family Christmas tree farm.

The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 7 Group Date Recap: Joey’s Ultimate Lumberjill Competition

For Joey’s final group date of the season he invited Kelsey T, Maria, Rachel, and Jenn to a…Lumberjill training. (Yes, Maria — a self-proclaimed glamper — was dead inside.) “Certified Badass” Anita, a five-time Canadian champion, taught the women how to chop wood, use saws, and throw axes before they changed into flannels to compete in Joey’s Ultimate Lumberjill Competition.

After competing in a log roll, log flip, single buck cut, and gag-worthy elk milk chug contests, Kelsey T. emerged victorious, but it was Jenn who sent the women spiraling by stealing Joey for “a good luck kiss” as he was filming a confessional. (“Did they forget that I have an axe?!” – Maria, in a perfect reality TV moment.)

During the drinks portion of the evening, Jenn revealed her family is “complicated,” but Joey assured her that didn’t scare him or change the way he feels about her. Kelsey T. told Joey she felt uncomfortable watching him kiss Jenn, but realized it means that her feelings for him are strong. She shared that he wouldn’t be meeting her dad on a Hometown Date, since the two are still working on their relationship. And much to Joey’s delight, Rachel said she felt “100% comfortable and excited for next week.” Much to Joey’s dismay, however, his final group date gal, Maria, was getting cold feet and contemplating going home early.

Maria Walks Out On Joey. But Is She Gone For Good?

Following Lexi’s self-elimination, Joey repeatedly stressed his biggest fear was having someone he cares about not feel the same way and leave him behind. He was forced to confront that fear head-on for the second week in a row after Maria worried she wasn’t “cut out for” the journey.

Though she knew what she signed up for, Maria said seeing Joey’s strong connections with the other women really started to get to her. She also expressed a fear of going into Hometown Week and introducing him to her family without the exclusivity element of their relationship.

Joey told Maria that their one-on-one date last week was “special” and he felt like she always discredited what they have together. He asked Maria if her mind was made up, and after replying, “I think it is,” she left the room in tears. As Maria and Joey separately broke down in front of producers, Joey admitted he didn’t know what to say and would be terrified to get down on one knee with Maria standing across from him, unsure if she was going to say yes. “I don’t want him to think it’s him, cause it’s not,” Maria explained. I’ve only wanted to be with him. But I see how he feels about other girls and I don’t like not being able to say he’s mine.”

After Joey told a producer he wouldn’t keep letting his feelings build just to get his heart broken, Maria returned and said her insecurities got the best of her. “I accept that side of you. You’re here because I love that side of you — it makes you who you are,” Joey said, but he also acknowledged that her walking out scared him and made him want to hold back. “Whoever I choose at the end, I’m in. Nothing else I see or hear will change where I’m at, because that’s how I am and you need to start believing that can be you,” Joey told her.

Maria assured she wanted to stay and apologized for messing with his emotions before promptly…messing with them again. “I’m not kissing you tonight because I saw her kissing [Jenn]” she said. As Joey questioned that logic, Maria kissed him mid sentence, causing him to say, “You’re all over the place, woman!” (Maria, girl, we were rooting for you!) After the emotional roller coaster, Joey ended the night more confused than when it started. He told the four women he needed more time before he could give out the rose and left.

Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson’s One-On-One Date Recap: Polar Bear Plunge

I imagine any lead’s greatest hope after a bad group date is to have a one-on-one so good it helps them forget the doubts and restores hope in the process, and that’s exactly what Kelsey A’s one-on-one did for Joey.

The two spent a day exploring Jasper, hitting up a souvenir shop, trying on bucket hats and sunglasses, sipping hot cocoa, and visiting a local bar for some pool and beer. In casually chatting with Paul Hardy, a Typical Canadian, the two learned the Jasper Polar Plunge Palooza was happening, which deeply excited Kelsey A.

Wanting to make her happy, Joey (clearly terrified of submerging himself in 32 degree water) agreed to plunge despite not having “a lot of meat on these bones.” The couple donned Viking hats, held hands, and sprinted into the freezing cold water alongside a group of locals, impressively sticking it out until Joey screamed, “Let’s get the fuck out of here!” Following their flirtatious freeze, Joey and Kelsey headed to the sauna to heat things up, and Joey told cameras, “I don’t want to stop being next to her. My feelings for her have grown so much.”

During dinner, Joey and Kelsey’s connection grew stronger as Kelsey explained Joey would be meeting her dad (and hopefully some brothers) at Hometowns. She got emotional thinking about her mom, who passed away from cancer, and expressed deep admiration for her dad. Kelsey did share concerns about other women left on the journey, but Joey assured her the only way he could get down on one knee is if he had zero doubts about a person. He gave her the rose and she accepted, so next time we see them they’ll be in New Orleans.

The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 7 Rose Ceremony Recap: Who Went Home? And Who’s Headed To Hometown Week?

With two roses given to Kelsey A. and Daisy and two remaining, the women gathered for the most important cocktail party of the season, only to learn it was…canceled! Joey arrived with the intention of speaking to just one person: Maria. He pulled her aside and said it would have felt wrong to hand out roses without having a conversation. He asked where she was at and she said, “I like you a lot, to the point where I don’t like seeing you with these other girls. My insecurities got the best of me. I want to prove to you that I’m not running.”

So who went home? Back at the rose ceremony, Joey gave his third rose to Rachel and his final rose to Maria, saying goodbye to Kelsey T. and Jenn. “This is where it really starts to change,” he told the remaining women. Next stop? Hometown Dates!

New episodes of The Bachelor premiere on ABC Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET with next-day streaming on Hulu.