Wednesday’s The Golden Bachelorette finale kicked off with tears from the inaugural season’s lead, Joan Vassos, and the tears continued throughout the show’s hour and a half runtime.
The golden star, still reeling from potential suitor Pascal deciding to leave the show because he wasn’t in love, questioned right at the top of the episode, “Will anyone ever love me again?” Vassos explained Pascal’s decision made her feel “unlovable.” Former The Golden Bachelor cast member Nancy was there to calm her down and provide some sage advice: “You’re not unlovable, Joan.”
Vassos also said that she felt she got lucky with her late husband John, and was wondering why she would “get to have it twice.” The 60-year-old school administrator went into the finale set to choose between Chock Chapple, an insurance executive, and Guy Gansert, an emergency room doctor.
Vassos’ tears disappeared during her family’s visit with Chapple, who immediately kissed Vassos to let everyone know how serious he is. Chapple described the date as, “a perfect day.”
The family introduction with Chapple made enough of an impression on Vassos, that she felt compelled to make her final decision even before The Final Rose, explaining to the camera that she realized she had found love and needed to end things with Gansert.
After pulling him aside, the reality star explained what she was feeling. “My heart belongs to somebody else now, and instead of putting you through meeting my family and showing up on the last day, I wanted to spare you all of that because I care so much about you,” she explained to a teary Gansert. “I’m so sorry. I do not want to hurt you. I swear I didn’t. This is the last thing I wanted.”
“I felt so good today. I fell in love with you. I was ready to let it all out,” Gansert told Vassos. “It’s not what I was expecting at all.”
Appearing at the After The Final Rose live special, Gansert told the show’s host Jesse Palmer that watching the breakup again “heartbreaking” for him, but that he loved the experience and that he was able to experience love again.
Chapple explained that the last time he proposed was to his late partner Kathy. “I never thought I’d have to do this again,” he said, adding how incredible it was to meet someone he wants to spend his life with at this point in his life.
Vassos and Chapple had a sweet, beachside proposal, with the show’s leading lady, who had said she wouldn’t say she loved someone until she was ready for the proposal, finally able to share her love. “I never in a million years thought, I feel love like this again,” she said. “I finally got to say, I love you. It feels so good.”
The couple’s engagement segment ended with a FaceTime call to Vassos’ mother and shouting to the camera, “We’re engaged.” At the After The Final Rose live special, the newly-engaged couple were all smiles, telling the viewers that they hoped their love story inspired others and gave them hope. “You have to take action. I’m saying take the leap of faith, go out and find your person out there. It just makes your life so much better,” Vassos said.
In a callback to the couple’s first date at Disneyland, where they expressed wanting to bring their children and grandchildren to the theme, the show gifted the couple and their families a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Palmer told the couple that finding love in their “golden years” is more than just about the two of them, but also about blending their families.
Keeping on theme with fairytale love, ABC offered Bachelor fans a look ahead at upcoming leading man Grant Ellis’ season, set to premiere in January 2025. Several of the women vying for Ellis’ heart described him as a prince throughout the promo, with some tears added in to keep things fresh.