The Golden Bachelor Recap: Did Gerry’s Perfect Match Just Walk Out the Door?
The choices are getting tougher for Gerry on The Golden Bachelor… and one of his strongest connections just said goodbye.
Thursday’s episode opens with an ominous flash-forward to Gerry crying before we catch up with the ladies in the mansion. They’re all still cordial with each other, but cliques are starting to form. April, Susan, Kathy and Nancy are calling themselves ASKN, as in: “You’re askin’, we’re tellin’!” We’re also sensing some hints of jealousy towards Theresa — and her tiny clothes. Jesse tells them there will be a one-on-one date this week, and also a group date… which includes all of them! And it starts right now! They’ll be performing in a talent show, which instantly makes Joan nervous. She says she has no talents!
To make it even more nerve-wracking, the talent show takes place in a theater full of hooting fans, with former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe joining Gerry and Jesse on the judging panel. The winner gets a romantic dinner alone with Gerry, so the competition is fierce: Susan karate-kicks a block of wood in half (!), Faith plays guitar and sings for Gerry, and Kathy… does push-ups? Leslie, to no one’s surprise, shows off her Prince-approved dance moves, and the other ladies aren’t thrilled when she brings Gerry up on stage for a lap dance. “Maybe it was a little much,” Susan complains.
Finally, it’s Joan’s turn, and despite her nerves, she reads a poem she wrote for Gerry titled “I Hope I Don’t Vomit on Your Shoes.” She’s a little shaky, but it’s sweet, and Gerry is obviously impressed — because he picks her as the winner! They share a lovely candlelit dinner, and Joan reveals that her daughter went through a difficult birth just days before she left. Gerry is smitten, handing her a rose and telling her: “I’m as excited to be spending time with you as I’ve ever been with anyone.” But the next day, Joan has a tearful call with her daughter, who’s still not doing well, and she makes the tough decision to leave the show to go be with her. She pulls Gerry aside and tells him: “I think I need to go home and be a mom right now.” He understands, but he’s “so disappointed,” and they both get choked up as they say goodbye, with Gerry sobbing alone on a bench afterwards. Uh-oh… did his next true love just drive off?
Nonetheless, he has to pick himself up and head off on a one-on-one date with Ellen, who gets to choose from dozens of dresses from fashion designer Michael Costello. She picks a glamorous hot pink number and heads off with Gerry, as he tells us she’s “the one I can be most myself with,” but he’s still looking for that romantic spark with her. They drink Champagne on a hilltop, and he gives her sparkly earrings (from Neil Lane, of course) before they take a hot air balloon ride together. He gives her a rose, too, so maybe there is a bit of a spark there after all.
Back at the house, drama is beginning to brew: Kathy is tired of hearing Theresa go on and on about her date with Gerry. (“I think she thinks she’s got this.”) April even tells Theresa that if any of them share an intimate moment with Gerry, “keep your mouth shut.” Theresa is stunned, and when she asks April what she meant by that, April tells her to talk to Kathy. Speaking of Kathy, she’s telling Gerry that she’s had “a lot of daggers today… People aren’t very nice.” Gerry gives her an early rose to settle his nerves, but he’s concerned. Theresa approaches Kathy about what she said, and Kathy admits that Theresa’s enthusiasm made her feel like she didn’t have a chance with Gerry. Theresa profusely apologizes, but Kathy isn’t very gracious about it, and Theresa walks off in tears. Leslie, meanwhile, knows how to tune out the drama: “When I don’t want to hear about it, I just turn down my hearing aids.”
Gerry finds Theresa crying, and she tells him the whole story. He’s surprised that she’s the one at the center of the drama, and he worries it could be “a stumbling block” for them. Kathy feels vindicated: “She is not Mrs. Turner yet.” At the rose ceremony, Gerry hands roses to Faith, Sandra, Leslie, Nancy, Susan and April. (ASKN is still intact!) The last rose goes to Theresa, sending Edith and Christina home. Theresa hopes she can patch things up with Kathy… but then she immediately overshares with her about her latest chat with Gerry! Girl, stop! Kathy is confused: “I can’t figure out if she’s dumb as a rock or knows exactly what she’s doing.”
Did you think Joan was Gerry’s best match? And whose side are you taking in the Theresa/Kathy feud? Join us in the comments below to share your thoughts.
