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Finale Part 1, Men Tell All recaps

by November 14, 2024

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Joan Vassos is THE golden girl.

She went from cheering on the Marquette University Golden Eagles as a lacrosse mom to being a part of the inaugural season of “The Golden Bachelor” to becoming the first “Golden Bachelorette.” And, not to mention her heart of gold and gorgeous golden locks.

While working through her emotions and continuing to honor her late husband, Vassos opened herself up to finding love again. And, on Wednesday night, we’ll find out whether she found the second great love of her life.

Going into Part 1 of the season finale, which aired at the end of October, three senior suitors remained. But, by episode’s end, one would leave on his own accord.

Last week, more than a dozen of this season’s eliminated contestants returned to the show for the “Men Tell All” special. From bromances to bloopers, it was all sorts of wholesome, uplifting, funny and, at times, a real tear-jerker.

Ahead of Wednesday’s airing of the finale Part 2 and “After the Final Rose” on ABC, here’s what to know, including who Vassos is, what went down during Part 1 and highlights from the “Men Tell All”:

Who is ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Joan Vassos?

Vassos, a private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, appeared on last year’s hit inaugural season of “The Golden Bachelor.”

After bonding with Gerry Turner over the loss of their respective longtime spouses, Vassos withdrew (or “self-eliminated”) due to a family emergency, according to USA TODAY. Vassos’ daughter — Vassos has four grown children — was recovering from a difficult childbirth.

Vassos, 61, believes that her sad early TV departure was a big reason she received a surprising call from three show producers asking her to take a second shot at TV love on “Golden Bachelorette,” USA TODAY reported.

But, years before Vassos was looking for love on a reality TV dating show, she was a Marquette lacrosse mom who considered Milwaukee her “second home.”

Vassos’ son, Luke — who was recruited by Marquette to play Division I lacrosse — “fell in love” with the school, Vassos told the Journal Sentinel in an interview last month. She would come to town for every lacrosse home game — there were about six a year. And, at other times of the school year, she’d come just to visit.

A lot of her favorite Milwaukee memories have to do with lacrosse, like when the team won Big East tournament titles in 2016 and ’17.

She spent a lot of time in the Third Ward. She also enjoyed visiting the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, breweries, being by the lake and checking out Lake Drive homes.

“We absolutely loved Milwaukee,” she said.

Since Luke’s graduation in 2019, Vassos has been back to Brew City twice.

Going into ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ season finale Part 1, who were Joan Vassos’ remaining suitors?

  • Guy: A 66-year-old emergency room doctor from Reno, Nevada
  • Chock: A 60-year-old insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas
  • Pascal: A 69-year-old hair stylist from Chicago, Illinois

“I am filled with hope,” Vassos said at the beginning of the first finale episode. “I can picture a future with all three of them.”

‘The Golden Bachelorette’ season finale Part 1 recap

Joan Vassos gets a visit from a dear friend, reveals where she’s at with her three remaining men

All aboard! After flying to Tahiti, Vassos boarded a cruise ship ahead of fantasy suites.

During an emotional reunion with Nancy Hulkower — a fellow former “Golden Bachelor” contestant turned dear friend — Vassos shared where she was at with her three remaining suitors.

Vassos described Guy as a very handsome retiring ER doctor who’s an “amazing human being.” Guy wants to travel, she said, and shares a similar lifestyle to hers.

“When I’m with Guy, I feel like he really takes care of me,” Vassos said. “We have a lot of fun. It’s been like a slow smolder. He makes me feel wonderful. I can picture a life with him.”

Thinking he’s further along with his feelings for her, she was hoping to catch up to him that week.

Pascal “lives life big,” like Vassos’ late husband, John. He’s also spontaneous, fun-loving and tremendously confident, she said.

“Every day could be an adventure,” she said.

While she has pretty strong feelings for Pascal, she sees him as the most guarded.

Chock makes Vassos feel “safe and sexy.” Plus, she said, he’s a good kisser.

“He’s told me he’s falling for me,” she said. “He even whispered the ‘L’ word.”

But, a little part of her wonders if he’s too good to be true.

When Hulkower asked for red flags, Vassos revealed that the only red flag is her own heart.

“It just has to let love in,” she said, tearing up.

Joan Vassos’ date with Guy: Sailing, snorkeling and emotional intimacy

“My feelings are really strong,” Guy said in a confessional. “I believe I’m falling in love with Joan. And, I could see this going all the way.”

For their date, Vassos and Guy set sail around Moorea together and went snorkeling. He informed her that his family adored her during hometowns.

“I’ve told you before, I’ve fallen for you,” he said, adding that the two are “so aligned” in where they’re at in life and what they want for the future.

“That made me really happy,” Vassos said in a confessional. “I feel comfortable with Guy. I feel like, you know, as a couple, we are ready to enjoy life. And, it’s taken me a long time to come to the feeling that maybe like I actually deserve this happiness. I want it more than I ever did before.”

Over dinner, Vassos told Guy that their day together was “one of the best” she could think of. She felt hopeful and could picture a future with him more vividly. He was on the same page, saying he could reciprocate those sentiments completely.

With the stigma surrounding fantasy suites and overnights, Vassos revealed to Guy that she would be saving physical intimacy for her final person, who she plans on spending the rest of her life with. Instead, she wanted to use that private time for off-camera conversations.

“I respect what you’re saying so much,” Guy told her, adding that “emotional intimacy” takes precedence.

In a letter from show host Jesse Palmer, they were presented with a key to an overwater bungalow for alone time. And, yes, they were all for it.

Following the overnight, Guy shared: “Having an evening like we had last night, I could easily see that for the rest of our lives. It would be just as magical or maybe even more magical. I feel good about things.”

Joan Vassos’ date with Chock: Off-roading, a picnic and reassurance

With Chock behind the wheel, he and Vassos embarked on an off-roading adventure through the jungles of Moorea.

“I trusted him. I trusted that I wouldn’t get hurt. I’m like, ‘Go fast. Go as fast as you want.’ I felt safe,” Vassos said. “But, it made me feel so much more than that. It made me feel wanted and loved and cherished.”

After the two pulled off for a picnic, Chock expressed to Vassos how much he had missed her and how great it was to see her.

“I’m the happiest guy, you know that,” he said.

Later at dinner, Chock told her he’s crazy about her and that their closeness and how they work together as a couple is worth taking to the next level.

“I felt that we were the right couple from Day 1,” he said, adding how his love and appreciation for her has grown since then.

“I just think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said.

In another letter, Palmer gave the pair an invitation to a suite for one-on-one time, which they took him up on. When Vassos informed Chock that she’s not comfortable having a physical relationship with more than one person, he was “perfectly OK” with that.

Following the night they shared, Chock said: “It was everything I expected and more. The question is — and I ask myself this — is can I see myself getting engaged to Joan? Absolutely.”

Joan Vassos’ date with Pascal ends in his departure

Pascal opened up to Palmer about the passionate relationship he had with a woman he almost got engaged to the year prior. Their relationship turned into a roller coaster of breaking up and getting back together. While Pascal wants to move on and rebuild, he said, he’s having a tough time doing so and is hurting.

If he finds the right person though, he said, he thinks he’d be able to move forward. Could that be Joan?

After a traditional “la ora na” welcoming ceremony, Vassos and Pascal were invited to a Tahitian feast. Afterwards, they entered the water and took part in a Tahitian bonding ceremony.

Pascal released his fear of bringing someone into his life. Vassos released that, too, as well as her fear of falling in love and not honoring her late husband’s memory.

“I’m amazed at how vulnerable and comfortable I am with Pascal,” Vassos said in a confessional. “I thought about this journey before I came on it. And, I wasn’t going to say I love somebody until I was literally at the end of this process. But now, I’m at the end of this journey and my heart is completely open.”

Pascal thought their day would’ve been spent being casual and silly, like kids — not talking about their feelings and emotions. He said the ceremony actually freaked him out.

“I appreciate the thought behind it and I did my very best to show her who I am, but my wall’s still up and I’m guarded, I’m scared, I’m not ready,” he revealed in a confessional.

Later, things got deep over dinner.

After getting hurt in that relationship last year, Pascal’s daughter signed him up for “The Golden Bachelorette,” he shared with Vassos.

When he met Vassos, he thought she was beautiful, but didn’t think he’d last too long in the competition since he’s a lover, not a fighter, he said.

“Why am I here? Why me?” Pascal asked Vassos.

“There’s a lot of things. You know, I’m a little hesitant to say this, but you remind me a lot of my late husband,” she said. “Because he embraced life like you do. He thought there wasn’t anything impossible. If you want to do something, you figure out how you can make it happen.”

She clarified that she’s not looking for a replacement for John, but rather, someone who she can have a future of fun and adventure with.

“I’m having a very difficult time to let go,” Pascal told her. “I just care very much about you. The least thing that I want to do is to hurt you. And, I just don’t think I could get to the place where you want me to be.”

It’s one thing to not be ready yet, but it’s another thing to never be ready, she told him.

“I’m having a very difficult time because I know what love is,” he said. “I’ve experienced it, you’ve experienced it. And, I care about you as a friend. But, I’m not in love, you know. And, I just can’t be there.”

While they have a good time together, he said, he needs a “spark” that they don’t have.

“I wish you were ready, but if you’re not, you’re not,” Vassos said, holding back tears. “And, I can’t force that.”

Pascal’s departure left Vassos feeling unlovable and like a failure, she shared in a confessional. While she felt gradually more hopeful throughout her journey on the show, she said, that hope was back “down to nothing.”

“I might leave with nobody,” she said.

‘Men Tell All’ recap: Joan Vassos was reunited with Pascal

During the “Men Tell All,” over a dozen of this season’s eliminated gentlemen returned to join Palmer on stage in front of a studio audience, including several of their kids.

The men took a trip down memory lane to their living quarters — and called out the snorers — “burgergate” — when Christopher put barbecue sauce on burgers and Jack wasn’t having it — and the Chippendales group date.

During that group date, the fellas showed off their moves to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer. Vassos’ late husband died of pancreatic cancer. On “Men Tell All,” Palmer announced that ABC would be donating to the foundation in honor of the cast — and their families — who have been affected by the disease. Michael S. revealed that he was diagnosed with the disease just before getting the initial call to be on the show.

We looked back at several of the men’s “Golden Bachelorette” journeys, including Jonathan, who revealed a moving moment when fellow contestant Mark left beautiful post-it notes of affirmations in his coffee cup.

Mark’s future son-in-law, Joey Graziadei, was in the audience. He found love with Mark’s daughter, Kelsey, on “The Bachelor.”

There was a lot of love for fan favorite Charles. An audience member called for him to be the next “Golden Bachelor” … or date her mom.

Pascal, who we last saw during his self-elimination from the competition, joined Palmer in the hot seat. After watching back his time on the show, Palmer asked Pascal how he felt.

“It’s very emotional,” Pascal said. “I mean, I think it was a very difficult decision I had to make. It just felt like with more time I could’ve been there. But, I wasn’t at the time.”

When Palmer asked how hard it was to say goodbye to Vassos, Pascal told him it was “very difficult.”

“I hope I didn’t hurt her. That was not my intention,” he continued. “She’s a wonderful woman.”

After seeing Vassos talk about how she feels unworthy of love on the show, Pascal said she is worthy and that he just wasn’t able to give her what she was looking for at the time.

When Vassos joined Palmer on stage, the men showered her with praise, admiration and thanks — and she gave it right back.

Pascal called Vassos an incredible woman and that he hoped by him leaving she was able to find her right person.

“After being at hometowns, and I really loved your family and I loved your lifestyle. And, I, like, pictured a life with you,” she replied. “And, I know that that Tahitian bonding ceremony was very uncomfortable for you. And, I thought maybe in fantasy suites, we could have figured out something in either direction. But, you had already made up your mind. You were very kind and I just want the best for you. I want you to be happy.”

He told her he loves and cares for her very much, and wants to continue their friendship.

“Thank you for saying that, Pascal, because that is important to me,” she said. “And, that’s like for everybody. Like, I miss you guys. I haven’t seen you in months and seeing you here tonight just opens my heart up again. And, I want to have a friendship with all of you. I truly do.”

Palmer called Vassos the “embodiment of class, elegance and grace.”

How to watch ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ season finale, plus a sneak peek

“The Golden Bachelorette”: Finale Part 2 and “After the Final Rose” airs at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday on ABC. The episode can be viewed the next day on Hulu.

The episode’s description says:

“It’s a crucial week on the breathtaking island of Bora Bora as Joan’s family arrives, eager to meet the men who have been vying for her heart. As her journey to find a second lasting love draws to a close, Joan grapples with the uncertainty of whether she can truly let another man in after the passing of her late husband. Meanwhile, Joan, her family and her final two men join Jesse Palmer in front of a live studio audience to watch her final dates unfold.“

At the end of the “Men Tell All,” viewers got a sneak peek of what’s to come:

In breathtaking Bora Bora, Vassos is seen with the “two great guys” she “could see a future with.” Guy tells her he has fallen in love and intends to ask her to marry him. Chock tells Vassos he loves her and wants to spend his life with her.

“I never in a million years thought I’d feel love like this again,” Vassos said.

Surrounded by family, Vassos questions that if she “loved Dad so much,” would she be able to fall in love again.

Vassos is seen knocking on a cabana door. Soon after, her voice is heard apologizing and saying “this is the last thing” she wanted.

While the camera reveals Vassos in a sleek long white dress with floral accents, she says in a voice-over: “I don’t know if this is fate or good luck, but I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now. I’ve only been in love with one person. More than one now.”

Cutting back to the studio, Palmer asks Vassos what she can divulge ahead of the final episode.

“It was emotional. And, there are a lot of tears,” she said. “But, I will tell you that some of them are happy tears.”

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