In the final episode of the ABC series, the retired restaurateur will reveal whether he will choose one of the finalists, Theresa and Leslie, at the end of his journey finding new love.
- Dec 1, 2023
AceShowbiz - Gerry Turner made his final decision in "The Golden Bachelor" finale, which aired on Thursday, November 30. The retired restaurateur would reveal whether he would choose one of the finalists, Theresa and Leslie, at the end of his journey finding new love.
For the finale, Bachelor Nation members Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko as well as Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar were in the live audience. Joey Graziadei and some "The Golden Bachelor" alums like Susan, Joan, Faith and Sandra were also among the audience members.
Kicking off the episode, Gerry could be seen reuniting with his two daughters and two granddaughters in Costa Rica. Gerry brought his family to meet Theresa first. Gerry said that the last 24 hours with Theresa have been "truly transformational."
The two then shared some champagne after she met his family. During an intimate conversation, Theresa told Gerry to choose her only when he's completely sure. While noting that she would be heartbroken if he didn't choose her, she made sure to tell Gerry that all she wanted was for him to be happy.
It was then time for Leslie to meet Gerry's family. She told his granddaughters, "I'm crazy about your grandfather. He's just a very good person." Later, Gerry admitted to Leslie that he felt the "stress and pressure" ahead of the final Rose Ceremony. "It's kind of getting to me."
Before their date ended, Leslie handed Gerry a gift, which was a book full of memories that the pair had made together. She told Gerry that she loved him "very, very much," to which Gerry responded, "That's a very special sentiment."
Following the date, Leslie shared that she didn't feel as confident as before. Her feelings were apparently valid because Gerry returned only to tell her that he's made a decision. "I have fallen in love with Theresa, and that's the direction I'm going to take," he said, prompting Leslie to question, "So everything you told me the other night was a lie?"
She further asked, "Where did it go wrong?" adding, "You made it sound like you chose me. You led me down a path and then you took a turn and left me there. And that's how I feel." Gerry, meanwhile, sobbed as he said that he would never forget Leslie's heartbroken face.
Leslie then joined host Jesse Palmer in the live event. She shared that she was "devastated." She revealed that it was especially "hard" for her because "[she hasn't] fallen in love with someone for a very long time." Leslie and Gerry then hugged after meeting face-to-face for the first time since the dramatic breakup.
"It didn't really go wrong, Leslie," Gerry explained when asked where their relationship went wrong, "It was just better with someone else." As for Leslie, she noted that she's not sure if she accepted Gerry's apology, but she understood.
Back to Costa Rica, Gerry got emotional when he prepared his proposal to Theresa. As for Theresa, she looked gorgeous in a light purple sequined gown. She told Gerry that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and she unsurprisingly accepted Gerry's proposal. "It doesn't seem real - it's like every dream I had come true," Theresa said after receiving the final, golden rose from Gerry.
As if the engagement wasn't enough, Theresa and Gerry announced other happy news. They revealed that they're getting married on January 4, 2024 in Italy and the wedding will be broadcast live.
