We made it! Welcome to our recap of The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 11: The Finale and After the Final Rose. This week, Joey Graziadei introduces his final two women to his family, goes on his last two dates, and picks out a ring. But will he actually get down on one knee? And even though Kelsey threw Joey for a loop with her “we need to talk” note, she’s still one of the final two women standing. Who will get the proposal? Here are the highlights from The Bachelor Season 28, Episode 11.
Daisy meets Joey’s family
At the top of the show, Jesse Palmer promises us “the most surprising, the most dramatic, and the most heart wrenching ending ever.” Uh oh. I don’t like the sound of that. Does that mean Joey picks nobody? Have I wasted hours and hours recapping all of this, just for him to pick no one? I won’t be happy.
Still in Tulum, Daisy is the first to meet Joey’s family. Joey’s sister Carly asks if Daisy wants to come talk to her and Joey’s other sister Ellie. Carly wants to know if Daisy has told Joey she loves him yet.
“I told him at my hometown that I was falling in love with him,” Daisy admits. “And at our last date, [Joey] said, ‘I’m falling in love with you, too.’ If he were to get down on one knee today, I would say yes, because I am in love with him, [but] I haven’t told him yet.”
She assures Joey’s sisters that if he chooses her, she’ll choose him every day for the rest of her life. They love her. Who doesn’t love Daisy? She’s adorable.
Next, Ellie and Carly sit with Joey. Joey tells them his biggest fear is that Daisy’s “holding back” because of there still being another woman involved. How could she not be? I think any woman would be terrified of having her heart broken when there’s only a 50/50 chance that she’ll get the guy.
Daisy ends up as much in love with Joey’s family as she is with Joey. “You don’t think it’s going to feel like this until it does,” she says. “And then … you’re, like, falling in love with this person, and you see a future with them, and you feel like they’re your person. But right now, they’re also somebody else’s.”
Is Kelsey really ready?
Next up is Kelsey. “Every time I leave Kelsey,” Joey says, “I just miss her. I feel so much better when she’s there.” Joey hopes his family will see what he sees and why he feels so strongly about Kelsey.
Again, Carly and Ellie whisk Kelsey away for a chat. Kelsey tells them that she and Joey “just make sense” and are “on the same level about a lot of things.”
Kelsey says she knows she loves Joey because she wants Joey “to feel loved and special.” Almost identical to Daisy, she says that she wants to choose him every day.
His sisters tell Joey that Kelsey is “amazing” and “a bright light.” But Carly says that while Daisy was 100% ready to accept a proposal, when they asked Kelsey the same question, she said, “I think so.”
“That’s scary to hear that,” Joey says in a confessional. “I need to talk to Kelsey more about that, cause it is my biggest fear.” Really, Joey? I don’t think we’ve heard that before.
Meanwhile, Joey’s dad Nick asks her, “Do you think it’s just an infatuation or do you think this is something you want for the future?”
“I told him that I loved him,” Kelsey says, “and it’s not just the way he makes me feel, but it’s the way that I want to make him feel … I want him to feel loved and appreciated.” It’s almost like she’s memorized talking points.
Back in the studio, Jesse Palmer says, “So how is Joey … finally going to make a decision? Maybe, he won’t.” I feel like Jesse’s either trying to prepare us for a disappointing ending or misdirect us so we’re relieved to see a happy ending…
A sweat lodge is not romantic
Joey’s looking for clarity on today’s date with Daisy. “This is either my last date with Daisy ever,” he says, “or it’s our last date until we’re engaged.”
For her part, Daisy says, “Today’s my last date with Joey before he could potentially get down on a knee for me … It’s the most anxiety I’ve ever experienced. I really want it to be me.”
“We’re gonna do something really special today,” Joey says. It’s some kind of a cleansing ceremony with a shaman, and Daisy says she loves “stuff like this.”
The shaman says they’re going to “heal our minds and our hearts,” which Daisy could really use, cause she’s stressing. Daisy wishes she could just talk to Joey. She wants to tell him that she loves him. She’s totally in her head.
When they have to express their deepest desires and then throw a copal into the fire, Joey says, “My desire is for both of us to find true happiness, whether that’s with each other or just in general … You deserve nothing but the best.” And her face falls. That sounded like a goodbye.
But by the evening part of the date, Daisy’s had a change of heart. “Earlier on the date today, I was, like, it’s not me,” she says. “Going into tonight, I’m gonna think it is me. I’m choosing to believe that and move forward because if I don’t, there’s no way I’m gonna be able to tell him exactly how I feel.”
Finally, she tells Joey he’s changed her life, and at last says, “I do love you.” Sadly, his reaction is underwhelming.
“That’s so good to hear,” he smiles at her. “That means so much. You really are so special to me.” I have a bad feeling about this.
Joey doesn’t want Kelsey to have doubts
Not only is today Joey’s final date with Kelsey, but it’s his final date, period. He leads her into a room where a massage table is set up. So, Daisy gets a sweat lodge and Kelsey gets a spa day? That doesn’t seem quite fair.
“When I’m with Kelsey,” he says, “I’m goofy, I’m funny. We just have a really good time.”
Joey and Kelsey give each other massages and facials, while Daisy’s back in her cabana having a breakdown. She told him she loved him, but he didn’t react the way she’d hoped. You can hear in her voice that she’s been crying. Poor Daisy.
And now it’s Kelsey’s turn to light the candles and set up a romantic atmosphere for their final evening together. Or is it?
Joey says his family loved her, and he was so excited to introduce her to them. She admits that both his parents asked how she’d feel if it wasn’t her at the end, and she says she broke down in tears both times.
“I don’t want you to think about that,” Joey tells her.
Even though she can see a life with him, “the thought of it not happening is terrifying,” she says.
Joey doesn’t want her to feel that way. “I don’t want you having doubts,” he says. “I feel very lucky to feel loved by you, and I don’t take it for granted.”
“You just make me feel so special,” she says, before kissing him. He’s a lot more affectionate with her than he was with Daisy.
As Joey walks away, he seems subdued. He’s still worried about having to hurt someone, and it’s overshadowing everything else.
“There’s no right way to do this,” he says. “It’s going to hurt either way.”
Joey picks a ring
“Waking up this morning,” Joey says, “I am feeling really good. I’ve got two incredible women here.”
And here’s Neil Lane at the door with his case of diamonds for Joey to choose from. How convenient. But will he even need one?
“A ring symbolizes so much,” Joey tells us. “It’s something that will be on her finger for the rest of her life.” So, has he made a decision then? Neil’s a busy guy. Let’s not waste his time, Joey.
In her room, Daisy’s still going through it. She’s convinced she’s not “the one,” so she puts on her beautiful dress and walks down the hall. We think she’s going to the proposal, but she knocks on a door. Is it Joey’s door?
But no, it’s not Joey’s door. It’s Kelsey’s door, and Kelsey is surprised to see her. Daisy seems to be testing the waters and seeing how the competition is feeling.
They trade notes on their final dates. They both love Joey, but neither woman wants to see the other get hurt.
Daisy makes a bold move
Finally, Joey’s at the podium waiting for the two women to arrive. Who will be the first to step out of the car? We see both women being driven to the proposal site, but as the camera pulls back, we see them both in the same car. Wow. This is a first.
Daisy is the first to walk down the path to Joey. He says he has a strong connection with her.
She says she loves him, “but the thing is … you’re not going to choose me.” She’s realized he’s not her person, so she’s gonna go. Damn, girl. Way to steal his thunder. Good for you!
“You don’t understand how special you truly are,” he says. “But I have something more special with someone else.”
Though he offers to walk her out, she says it’s something she has to do on her own. They hug goodbye, and she walks away, as the studio audience applauds her bravery.
As Joey cries, Daisy hugs Kelsey in the parking lot. “She’s really special,” he sobs. But Daisy leaves with her “head held high.”
“If I can love the wrong person that much,” she concludes, “imagine how much I can love the right person.”
Kelsey gets her man
Dry those tears, Joey. It’s Kelsey’s turn. Joey’s ready not only to say he loves her, but to back it up with a ring. But will Kelsey say yes? Will Joey’s biggest fear come true and his love not be reciprocated?
She smiles as he tells her how special she is. It’s been a tough journey, but now he can tell her that he loves her, and he chooses her. Finally, he gets down on one knee and asks, “Will you marry me?”
I wasn’t sure she’d say yes, but she does. It’s kind of bittersweet, since she knows her happiness comes at Daisy’s expense. But she cries tears of joy as he slips the ring on her finger.
After the final rose
To his credit, Joey admits that he decided not to tell anyone he loved them until the final day – unlike some former Bachelors who unnecessarily broke some hearts.
When Kelsey joins Joey, she looks fabulous. Her hair is sleeker, she’s wearing cute shoes for once, and the body is on point. Love agrees with her.
One question remains: who will be the next Bachelorette? Even though she didn’t end up with Joey, Daisy says she’s happier than when she started because of all the friends she’s made: the other women, the producers, all the members of the crew, even the fans who’ve reached out to her. But she’s not ready to be the Bachelorette. Boo!
Finally, the big announcement Jesse’s been promising all night: who is the next Bachelorette? Trotting out Charity Lawson to pass the torch, she announces Jenn Tran as the next Bachelorette. Jenn?! That’s a curveball I didn’t see coming. That’s a shocker.
The nice thing is that Jenn will be the first Asian-American Bachelorette, so there’s that. But still. Jenn? I barely remember her. But let’s give her a chance!
“I feel so grateful and so honored to be the first Asian Bachelorette,” Jenn says. “Growing up, I always wanted to see Asian representation on TV.” Most of the Asian people she saw were supporting characters, so to be the “main character” in her own love story is a big deal.
And we’re done. We did it! Whew! See you in July 2024 for the premiere of The Bachelorette.
The Bachelor Season 28 is available for streaming at ABC.com.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BACHELOR SEASON 28, EPISODE 11? WERE YOU SURPRISED AT JOEY’S FINAL CHOICE? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JENN AS THE NEXT BACHELORETTE?
