Spoilers ahead for the latest episode of The Bachelorette Season 17 on ABC.
The Bachelorette is picking up steam as the hometowns stage of the journey approaches, and Katie Thurston had to narrow down her remaining bachelors to just four. She had two one-on-one dates to distribute, and in giving Mike Planeta his first, Mike gave viewers one of the more awkward scenarios of the season by comparing cuddling with her to his mom. Repeatedly. It was super weird, and of course fans have thoughts.
I will say that the date got off to a weird start, as Mike Planeta discovered that the long-awaited one-on-one was going to be a cuddle session in the woods, which he clearly wasn't comfortable with. I know that I wouldn't have been comfortable changing into all-white clothes like they did, because that is not the most practical color to wear to do anything in the woods!
As they got snugglier, Mike Planeta started talking about Katie Thurston reminding him of his mom, and considering the intimate positions they were in, it was pretty strange. Honestly, I'm just glad Katie couldn't hear what he was saying in his talking head interview, because he elaborated on how and why he got the mom vibes from her! As bizarre as the sequence was, fans dropping all manner of jokes really makes the whole mom tangent worth the weird. Take a look!
I really hope that Mike Planeta gets some time during the Men Tell All special next week to talk about him whispering to Katie Thurston that she reminds him of his mom as his version of a sweet nothing! Katie took it in stride, but as that tweet with the image proves, he couldn't have chosen a much stranger time to tell her that. Should we really be surprised that Katie sent him home without even finishing the one-on-one date?
Mike Planeta really went far in redeeming himself with his final speech about rooting for Katie Thurston before leaving the show, but there's really no ignoring that he compared cuddling with her to cuddling with his mom. And honestly, I hope Katie addresses the mom comparisons at some point. Maybe the After the Final Rose episode when the season comes to an end?
Katie Thurston didn't hear most of what Mike Planeta said about his mom, but viewers witnessed him calling his mom the "best woman" he knows and that his mom is going to "hate me for saying that" Katie is a better cuddler. He did follow by saying that "every boy has to move on," so... that's something?
The biggest issue with Mike Planeta talking about his mom might be more that he actually vocalized those thoughts to Katie Thurston. I was initially thinking that he'd play it cool in their conversation and save the mom talk for opening up to the cameras, but nope! He came right out and said it to Katie. At least that's a sign that he felt comfortable on their date.
Obviously Bachelor Nation viewers haven't gotten to meet Mike Planeta's mom since he didn't make it as far as hometowns, but it's easy to imagine some pretty funny scenarios for what happened when they reunited. Unlikely? Sure, but also funny. And speaking of Bachelor Nation moms...
How could we not watch Mike Planeta go on about his close relationship with his mom without flashing back to Barb Weber's appearances on The Bachelor when Peter Weber was searching for love? She arguably stole the show at his lackluster After the Final Rose special and had some pretty firm opinions about the right woman for him. Mike wasn't my favorite of Katie Thurston's suitors, but I'm really finding myself wishing that he'd lasted to hometowns so his mom could appear.
Katie Thurston's final four suitors are Blake Moynes, Greg Grippo, Justin Glaze, and Michael Allio, although some spoilers have already indicated who Katie chooses at the end of the season, and it's going to get ugly before she has a shot at her happily-ever-after. For now, you can look forward to new episodes of The Bachelorette on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
