If you have yet to see tonight’s 11th episode, spoilers are ahead! Tonight is the final episode. We’re down to Michelle and Rachael as Matt James has to make the big decision on who will get the final rose. We also have After the Rose which is teasing more shockers! Before we get to that, we meet Matt’s mom, Patty and his older brother John who have come to help him out.
We kick off with Michelle first. His mother and brother ask her a lot of questions and it seems like she is connecting with both of them. His mother notes that she’s happy that Matt seems to be in a good place and has so much optimism.
Next up is Rachael. It’s such a strange place to see someone who from the beginning we liked for Matt - until we heard about a number of her problematic pictures in plantations. We definitely want to hear more when she’s on After the Rose. That aside for the moment, she gets a motherly grilling to find out more about her. Although John likes seeing his brother in a new light, he also grills her privately asking her about previous relationships and what she likes about Matt. Patty connects with Rachael and shares tears with her. It seems like Patty could go either way on the two women that are left.
After 2 great dates, his mom lets him know that although he can be in love with someone, does that mean that he should get engaged immediately? He’s left with doubts as they didn’t provide him the clarity that he was looking for. He decides to reach out to Chris Harrison and wants to figure out what he should do and how he should look at the task ahead of him. Once again, the idea of the conversation between him and Chris is ironic seeing that Chris’ position with the show seems to be on a bit of a pause. Chris seems to scoff a bit at the fact that Matt is thinking about what his mom told him. Chris asks him does he still want to get engaged and Matt seems to be pumping the breaks potentially on getting down on one knee. We can’t blame Chris for asking point blank, what he intends to do - Matt states that he still wants to be open and honest with both of them as they deserve that. He also still has a last date with each one of them.
Even though he is battling his own questions on what to do in the process, we join him on his date with Michelle. This will be the last time that they will be able to hang out with one another. Michelle is ready to “do the real world” with Matt. They end up on top of the resort looking down at their date spot which is on the ground. They will repel down the building to get there. They coach each other down the side of the building and thankfully, make it safely down without incident.
As they sit next to the outdoor fire, he asks her about how their talks went when she met his family. Matt lets her know that he wanted them to see who he met and the potential of her being in the group. Michelle asks will he be able to get to the point to make a decision. He tells her that he is thinking of everything that he needs to consider to make the best decision and the gravity of the choice that he makes. Matt realizes that Michelle is sure about where she wants to be and he knows that he isn’t which makes him feel conflicted.
Matt knows that he has to talk with Michelle so that he can ensure that he is making the right decision. Michelle lets him know that she came into the experience, looking for a teammate and that she is in love with him. She can’t imagine having anyone else in this experience with her. As he’s gifted Mr. and Mrs. James’ jersey’s from Michelle, he realizes that he needs to be upfront with her. He puts them to the side and she can tell that he’s thinking a lot about what is taking place for him in the next couple of days. He lets her know that he is having doubts and he knows that he shouldn’t have any. He tells her it’s the first thing he has ever felt that is different than what he has been feeling. She asks him to let him know what he wants - whether she should stop or fight for him and he says that he can’t get there with her. This is pretty heartbreaking and honestly, pretty cruel. Although he says it wasn’t a switch, she definitely got shocked with this news as he has never given her any other indication on what’s been on his mind - other then being in love with her. It seems like anytime he’s asked a serious question, he tends to tell the person that he’s not able to get there.
Chris meets up with him and says that he knows that breaking up with Michelle was tough. Matt admits that he loved her, but he wasn’t in love with her. He then thinks about Rachael and realizes that he’s not there with her either - he knows that he needs some time.
Rachael is excited about her date (obviously she has no clue about everything else that has happened) and hears a knock on the door. Chris is there and tells her that he was with Matt last night, that he was emotional and lost and that he needs some time. Chris tells her that there will be no date today. Without question, that’s a lot to process and leaves so many questions for her. She has been navigating her own emotions and there hasn’t been any indication that he would do something like this. We can definitely understand her feelings on this one. So, it looks like, she’ll have to wait until the next day - decision day - to see him.
The show continues on as he sits with Neil Lane to pick out a ring. Matt thinks by holding it, maybe he will be able to get there. Even Neil knows, there is only one woman left - he asks if Rachael is expecting a proposal. Matt says that what she expects is honesty. Neil feels that since he’s aware of where he is, there’s something in that and they can look at rings if he wants and if he opts to not do it, then that’s fine. Over the past few seasons, it’s been nice to see one of our favorite jewelers share stories about who he is and why these rings are so important.
Matt sends Rachael a note to let her know that he wants to meet her at the lake to give her answers. Matt arrives in a suit and Chris joins him. Matt still has uncertainty and feels heavy compared to what he thought he would be feeling going into it. He tells Chris that he loves her, smiles as he says it; however, he feels that it’s only when he sees her that it will all come together for him.
Rachael meets Matt and lets him know how she is feeling and where she’s at. She lets him know that she pictured this moment so differently - especially with him canceling their date. She lets him know that she hated not being able to be there with and for him. She assures him that she won’t run when it gets tough and she wants him to know that she is here and wants him to be happy.
Matt tells her that everything he wanted, he found with her. He tells her that rushing into an engagement is not what he wants to do. He says that he can’t propose to her today and that that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to lose her. He wants to live the life he has imagined with her and for them to build on that and he tells her that he loves her. In terms of the finale, the decision has been made and it seems like they’re both happy and ready to continue their journey on their own terms.
AFTER THE ROSE
It feels like regardless of whatever took place during the season finale, that this is the main event where we hope to get a lot more answers that are in real-time as so many things took place socially outside of the show. Tonight’s episode is hosted by Emmanuel Acho who will surely talk about a number of the issues in and outside of the show in a frank and open way. In addition, we’ll see who will be The Bachelorette which is about to begin or just started production for the show which will drop this summer.
Emmanuel kicks off the show with Michelle as she walks us through the last hours of being with Matt and what it’s like to watch it back. She asked him to have 2 minutes to talk for closure and he refused to sit down and talk with her. That definitely seems like a Matt that we haven’t really seen before and is a bit shocking. Michelle explains that she’s hurt about the Antebellum pictures that Rachael participated in and that although she thinks that she’s a good person, she has a lot of learning to do. In terms of Chris’ support for Rachael and the way that he talked with Rachel Lindsay, she felt the weight and the exhaustion of those conversations and responses.
Matt comes out and lets Michelle know that he is still processing everything. She explains that he left without a word, producers were in her room and saw how she was hurting and she asked to see him for clarity and not to change his mind - she just wanted inner peace and he said no. He lets her know that he can’t justify why he did what he did although he didn’t know she was hurting (which we will call BS on that - she had no indication that he would dump her so of course you know she was hurt). Emmanuel asks about how she feels about Matt. She explains that she still cares for him and is not in love with him like she was on the show. We love the little burns that Michelle gave in terms of not closing his eyes when he kisses, telling people “thank you for sharing” and more. It was a bittersweet conversation, but one that covered the main points that took place between one another.
Emmanuel and Matt talk about what it’s like to be a Black person navigating what it’s like in terms of how you present yourself, speak etc. There is an awareness of your space and the fact that you may be interacting with people or be seen by those who are not used to being around Black people and there is a need to present your best self. As the first Black Bachelor, he felt the weight of that. Emmanuel then talks about Rachael and her social imagery that has resurfaced. Matt explains that at first he stood by her when it was in the rumor stage; however, once he realized that these incidents happened, he questioned how she could be with him as a Black man and not understand what those actions meant, even though it was 3 years ago. As they are no longer together, he looks forward to her doing the work and being where she needs to be. Emmanuel lets him know that he will talk with Rachael alone before the two of them get to see each other for the first time after their breakup.
Rachael explains that she didn’t think about how wearing the dresses could be an issue with Matt as a Black man. She explains that she is doing the work to understand and educate herself and ultimately to put it in action. Upon seeing Matt she explains that she loves him and understands how it would have been difficult to break up with her in light of what she actively participated in. It’s clear that they will not get back together again and whether Rachael truly understands the ramifications of what she did is still questionable.
The Bachelorette will have 2 separate seasons Katie will be in the first season this summer and then she will be followed by Michelle for the fall season! Now, we know that Kaitlyn Bristowe and Tayshia Adams will be the hosts - does that mean they will host it together or one will be attached to a dedicated season?
This season, we tweeted about The Bachelor (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to share reactions about what took place during the show.
We also suggest a podcast that we enjoy, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour which is hosted by Rachel Lindsay (contestant on The Bachelor Season 21; The Bachelorette Season 13) and co-hosted by Becca Kufrin (contestant on The Bachelor Season 22; The Bachelorette Season 14) to get their feedback throughout the season as well as insights into upcoming seasons!
LAST WEEK
Last week Michelle and Rachael advanced to the season finale.
THIS WEEK
This week, we got our answers. Matt chose Rachael on the finale. During the After the Rose Show, we found out that they are no longer together.
THE FINAL TWO
THE BACHELOR CONTESTANTS
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