A Proposal, Twist and Disney Trip

Wednesday The Golden Bachelorette The finale opened with tears from the first season’s lead, Joan Vassos, and the tears continued throughout the show’s hour-and-a-half runtime.

The Gold Star, still reeling from potential suitor Pascal deciding to leave the show because he wasn’t in love, wondered at the top of the episode, “Will anyone ever love me again?” Vassos explained that Pascal’s decision made her feel unlovable. Former The golden bachelor cast member Nancy was there to calm her down and offer some sage advice: “You’re not unlovable, Joan.”

Vassos also said she felt like she had gotten lucky with her late husband John, and wondered why she would “get it twice.” The 60-year-old school director entered the finals having to choose between Chock Chapple, an insurance executive, and Guy Gansert, an emergency room doctor.

Vassos’ tears disappeared during her family’s visit to 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 impressed Vassos enough 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 find closure to the business with Gansert.

After pulling him aside, the reality star explained what she was feeling. “My heart belongs to someone else now, and instead of burdening you with meeting my family and showing up on the last day, I wanted to spare you all that because I care about you so much,” she explained to a tearful Gansert. ‘I’m so sorry. I don’t 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. “This is not at all what I expected.”

Appearing during the live special After The Final Rose, Gansert told host Jesse Palmer that watching the breakup again was “heartbreaking” for him, but that he loved the experience and was able to experience love again.

Chapple explained that the last time he proposed to his late partner Kathy. “I never thought I would 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 saying she wouldn’t say she loved anyone until she was ready for the proposal and could finally share her love. “I never in a million years thought, ‘I’m feeling love like that again,’” she said. ‘Finally I can say: I love you. It feels so good.”

The couple’s engagement segment ended with Vassos’ mother making a FaceTime call and shouting at the camera, “We’re engaged.” During the live special After The Final Rose, the newly engaged couple smiled and told viewers they hoped their love story would inspire others and give them hope. “You have to take action. I say: take the leap of faith, go out and find your person there. It just makes your life so much better,” Vassos said.

In a throwback to the couple’s first date at Disneyland, where they expressed their desire 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 joining their families together.

Staying on theme with fairytale love, ABC offered Bachelor fans a preview of the upcoming leading man Grant Ellis’ seasonwhich will premiere in January 2025. Several women vying for Ellis’ heart describe him as a prince during the promo, with some tears added to keep things fresh.