Reality Island

[pika]

The Bachelor 10: After the Final Rose
by Ashley Lundy -- 05/23/2007

The Bachelor is over. Andy proposed to Tessa and left Bevin hung out to dry. How does Bevin feel about it all? What does she have to ask Andy? What does Amber think of her elimination? What are Andy and Tessa’s future plans? Let’s find out in this special reunion episode!

We all watched it last night. Andy proposed to Tessa. If you read my recap, you know I picked Bevin as the lucky winner. It stinks being wrong, but I wonder if Bevin is torn up over it still. Only one way to find out. Let’s get to it, shall we?

The show begins with several recaps of last night’s finale. We’ve seen it.

To answer many questions we all have about the relationship status of past Bachelor couples, they show us the four lucky couples who are still together.

There’s Charlie and Sarah. They are still in love and live together in Los Angeles. Byron and Mary are still going strong. They have a home in Texas and are planning a big fall wedding. Trista and Ryan are still happily wed and Trista is six months pregnant! Finally, there’s Andy and Tessa. I notice the absence of Lorenzo and Jennifer. I said he should have picked Sadie.

Look, I think it’s great that there are happy couples who have come from this show. That’s marvelous. I just don’t think that’s the greatest track record of couples out of nine seasons. I mean, Andy and Tessa have just started and I don’t count Trista and Ryan because, like I’ve said before, that couple was made on The Bachelorette, not The Bachelor. Really, as far as past seasons go, I am only counting Charlie and Sarah and Byron and Mary. That being said, congratulations couples! I really do hope one of you gets married soon and ends the bad track record. [Editor’s Note: Heck, at this point Survivor has a better marriage track record than this show does!]

Chris welcomes Danielle, Amber and Stephanie “T” to the show. We’ll call her “T” for now, since I don’t know if Stephanie “W” will be here tonight. We get a video replay of their journeys on the show.

Chris tells Amber that she was the most shocked at being eliminated. What does she think of that? She thinks she was misled. She thought she was a lock for the final three, no offense to Danielle though. Danielle laughs. Amber goes on to say that she had a guard up every rose ceremony, except that night.

Chris mentions how Amber was so upset elimination night that it’s still hard to watch. No regrets. If it the problem was her age, then it’s almost a compliment. It’s the one thing she can’t change. She thinks she was very mature. Andy told her aunt that she was the most mature 23-year-old he had ever met.

Now, Chris moves to “T” and she is actually looking much less smug than I ever remember her. She looks pretty. Chris mentions her amazing start with the first impression rose, the first individual date, and the first kiss. What happened? She’s not really sure. When she watched the show, she saw connections Andy had with other girls that she didn’t even know about. Maybe her connection with him wasn’t as strong as she thought. She did get off to a great start, but it sort of hindered her. She was shocked when she got thrown into a group date.

Chris asks “T” if there was one specific thing where she felt like she when she went from hero to zero. She thinks it was in Tahoe when Andy asked her about the other girls. She told him the other girls were frustrated and upset with him. She thinks it came across as harsh. She could have said it in a more gentle way. She came at him and he was taken aback.

Does she regret that? Yes, it was her downfall, and she does regret it.

Chris moves over to Danielle. He mentions how she had so much in common with Andy. In her mind, what does she think happened? It was a timing thing for her. By the time they got to Hawaii and had the great fantasy date, things were great in her eyes. Although, she thinks that Andy had a better connection with Tessa and Bevin all along. It was a “confidence thing” when he had to make his decision. Is she saying that Andy wanted someone with confidence and she didn’t have enough of it?

Chris says Danielle had this amazing date with Andy on the catamarans, the whales and dolphins, but then she didn’t get a rose. She had to be shocked by that. Danielle says yes, she was shocked that she got a rose and Amber didn’t. Then she went to Hawaii, let her guard down, but in her mind, it went great.

Chris brings up Danielle believing in fate “even with the psychic readings and what not,” so what’s next for her. Was that a horrible segue way or was that just me? Danielle says she is going to focus on her career and moving out of her parents’ house. Basically, moving on. She is absolutely still looking for that guy. Andy did set the bar for her.

Now Chris brings in Bevin. She is wearing a pink cast because her ankle is apparently still broken from bachelorette boot camp. Wasn’t she wearing heels at the finale? Well, either way, it’s broken.

They play a video on Bevin’s journey. Back in the studio, Chris sees tears in Bevin’s eyes. He asks her what she thinks when she watches that. It’s hard. She definitely had a lot of feelings for Andy. It still hurts sometimes. Andy’s a smart guy. She knows, in the end, he picked someone he thought he could build a life with.

Chris asks her if loves Andy. Yes. She definitely fell in love with Andy. How shocked was she when she realized that Andy did not pick her? She was in complete shock. Duh. She was hurt. Chris says that the shock may have worn off, but the feelings have not. When did she fall in love with Andy? She knew there was something there when they were in the pool on the very first group date. From that point on, there was always a sparkle in his eye when they were together.

Chris says that Bevin and Andy had crazy chemistry between them. Bevin laughs. He goes on to say they did the entire season. It was unlike with any other woman. So, as a woman, she knew that. Bevin says yes, she can’t deny it. When she and Andy got together, they couldn’t stop touching and kissing. She doesn’t get that way with a lot of guys. It was really special.

So, she’s madly in love with this guy, when did she realize it was not going to be her? She thought it was going to be her until she got into that limo. In the limo, she knew something was wrong. She gets a little weepy. She is legitimately crushed.

Chris asks her what happened in her heart to go from love to and then that feeling. Was it intuition? Yeah. He wonders if she was just trying to protect herself or did she truly feel something? Bevin says that in the limo she said, “I can’t believe this is happening.” She was referring to the fact that she couldn’t believe she was going to get rejected right then. She just had a feeling. Chris says, yet, she still walked up with a smile on her face and just had to listen to it. Yep. As soon as she heard the “but,” she got the gist of it. It was really hard. She knows it was hard on Andy too.

Chris says, even though she had that moment of intuition, actually hearing the rejection had to be a whole different hurt. It was. It was like the walls closed in. They had such a wonderful thing going. She saw a future with him. To hear that, it was heartbreaking.

Chris tells Bevin that she hasn’t seen Andy since he told her that he was in love with another woman. Is she ready to see him now? As ready as she will ever be.

Out comes our no-longer-a-bachelor, Lt. Andy Baldwin. He looks even more cute with a new haircut. He hugs Bevin and takes a seat. He tells Chris that this is tough.

Chris asks Andy what he has to say to this girl. Andy turns to Bevin and asks her how her ankle is doing. Great. She asks him if he wants to give her a check-up. He doesn’t answer that, but says he likes the cute pink cast.

Chris points out all the emotions between them. Their chemistry was always undeniable. Obviously, they didn’t get a chance to speak that day. Andy says that it’s not every day that you find yourself with feelings that are so strong for two women. You have to dig down deep and find out who is the right one for you. The day he said goodbye to Bevin was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do.

Andy says there is a reason that Bevin made it to the final two. She is a fantastic woman in so many ways. Whatever man ends up with her is going to be one very lucky man.

Chris asks Bevin what she has to say to Andy. She never got a chance to tell him thank you for a wonderful experience. She had so much fun. She will never forget the time they spent together. She doesn’t feel any regret, because she put herself out there. He taught her how to take a risk. All the hurt was worth it in the end. Andy hugs her.

Andy says it was an experience of a lifetime. He watched their scenes together in the helicopter and jumping off the waterfall. It was spectacular. He will never forget it. She will always occupy a piece of his heart.

Chris asks Bevin if she has any questions for Andy. Sometimes, she thinks things are better left unsaid. She knows Andy was there for a purpose – to choose the woman he wants to spend his life with – and she respects his decision. It was a gift he gave her, because now she can go find the guy that’s right for her.

Chris pushes Bevin and asks if, in the back of her mind, she wonders what was it? What was that one thing? She’ll always wonder. Chris chimes in to say she can ask him, he’s right here. Andy decides to ask himself on Bevin’s behalf. He answers himself with a “you know what, Bevin.” The audience laughs.

Seriously though, it took until those final dates in Hawaii, but when Tessa opened up to him and told him that she loved him, that was what he needed. It wasn’t something that Bevin didn’t have. He felt strongest with Tessa. He adds, “That’s the reason, to answer your question.” Ha!

Chris turns to the live audience for some questions. A lady asks Bevin why things are better left unsaid. Her fans really want to know what she wants to say to Andy. Bevin says that because she felt so deeply for Andy and needs to heal, she doesn’t really want to know why she was rejected. She had a great experience and she has no regret or harsh feelings. Tessa was a dear friend of hers in the house and she holds her very close to her heart. She thinks it’s wonderful to see two people so in love and happy. That’s what she wants for herself. Andy says that Bevin deserves it.

Time to reunite the couple. Chris welcomes Tessa to the show. They have a big hug and kiss. Chris tells them it’s only an hour show, so they can’t kiss too much.

Chris tells Tessa not to hide the ring. Show it! Tessa says it’s beautiful. She’s happy to not be the secret keeper anymore and just be with Andy. Chris says it’s all out in the open. They must be referring to her not being able to wear the ring and tell people that she is the one Andy chose.

They play a video of Tessa’s journey. They play the muffin joke once more. Ah, good times, good times.

After the video, Andy is crying. Chris asks if those are good tears. Yes. Chris then points out that Andy must be head over heels in love with Tessa. Andy says that it was really that last date when she opened up, made him the collage, and wrote him that note. He knew that she was the one. The audience goes “aahhhh.” The couple have a kiss.

Chris reminds Tessa that she was skeptical during the process and considered leaving. She says that, at the time, it didn’t feel right to her. Now, looking back, if she had walked away, it would have been the biggest mistake of her life.

He asks her what kept her around. Was it something in the back of her mind saying it was real? Tessa says that Andy kept her there. The whole thing was really stressful for her. She saw other girls having really strong feelings for Andy early on. She knew she couldn’t work like that. She can’t have feelings after two days. She was shocked that she fell in love. Andy says that he had to work for it and that’s what made it so real. On their diamond date, he says he was sweating. He really liked her.

Chris points out that men love the chase. Andy says that she deserves to be chased. Just look at her. They kiss again. Chris tries to break them up.

Chris says he still can’t believe Andy picked the girl with the muffin joke! Everyone in the audience laughs and so do I.

Chris congratulates them on their engagement. Did they ever, in their wildest dreams, think it would turn out like this? Tessa says no, but that’s why she did this – in the hopes it was possible. Andy says when he agreed to come on the show, he was hoping to find a girl like Tessa. A woman who is a gem. It was work every ounce of work he put into it.

Chris says that one of the hardest parts of this experience is the couple has to keep a major secret from everyone they know and care about. Who was the toughest to keep the secret from? Tessa says it was her sister. She and her sister have been through ever milestone together. Not sharing this was tough.

When did Tessa feel comfortable enough to pull out the ring? She says right now! It was really hard, but it brought her and Andy closer. They had each other during that. She could talk to him. He was her confidante. Andy says the times they could see each other, maybe they were having a bad day, but they would be there for each other. Chris says every Tuesday morning must have been bad day. Lots of audience laughter.

What is the next step for Andy and Tessa? They are going back to Pennsylvania to see their parents. Then back to Hawaii for Memorial Day weekend. Then in a few months, Tessa says she will move to Hawaii. Chris is impressed. Andy and Tessa kiss. Again. Those two lovebirds.

So, is Tessa ready for military life? She doesn’t know much about it, but she respects Andy’s commitment to it. So she is going into it with an open mind.

Chris tells them that everyone was moved by the date at Pearl Harbor. First, because Andy was in his uniform for the first time. Also, because we saw inside Andy’s heart and head to see his feelings about the military. Tessa got to see that different side of Andy – a more serious and sentimental side. He has an amazing respect for the history, and it’s also a part of his daily life.

Have they talked about wedding plans or wedding dates? They giggle. Andy reminds Chris that Tessa takes baby steps and they just took a big step. They are both pragmatic enough to know they need to spend some time together in the real world. They will spend time together in Hawaii and go from there. They are optimistic. Tessa says that the first part of their relationship went so quick, so it’ll be good to take their time.

Chris says something about the in-laws getting to hammer the couple about kids. Andy says that Tessa is pregnant. She starts pushing him and saying, “psyche, just kidding.”

Time for another audience question. A young lady asks what the dog tag thing is all about. Andy and Tessa pull out their dog tags. Tessa tells the lady that they made the dog tags during her hometown visit in Washington D.C. Andy made hers and they say “T-Bone” and “don’t mess with Tess.” She made Andy’s and they say “batch man” and “sizzlin’ hot.” Tessa says that last one was lame. Chris reminds her that she did come up with the muffin joke.

Another lady asks the couple if they have any plans for a marathon together. Tessa says that she doesn’t want to beat him and make him look slow. The audience likes that.

Chris asks Andy and Tessa if they have any advice for future contestants. Andy says to get lots of rest. Tessa says to take a chance and stay true to themselves.

Before they leave, Chris has a special surprise for them. Since Tessa took a risk on this show, the same way her mother took a risk so many years ago in Peru, they are sending them on a trip back to the Inca trail! He gives them the trip tickets. The couple seems to love it. I must say, that is thoughtful of the producers.