Joey Graziadei Faced a Shocking Twist on The Bachelor Finale
It’s not a controversial statement to say that Joey is the best Bachelor we’ve had in a generation. All we need now is a perfect Bachelor finale to finish it out strong.
Will it be Daisy who grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Minnesota and is finding her self-worth again after losing her hearing?
Or will it be Kelsey from New Orleans who sees butterflies everywhere that remind her of her deceased mom?
No pressure, Joey.
Jesse Palmer opened the evening with his best hosting voice exclaiming that what we are about to watch, “has never happened before, ever.” According to him, “History will be made here tonight.”
I have a feeling this is another case of a man over-promising and under-delivering.
Prove me wrong, Jesse.
Daisy meets Joey’s family
Joey’s two sisters, brother-in-law and divorced parents have arrived in Tulum to meet his potential wives.
It’s kinda like a beauty pageant only the contestants give intimate details of their private lives instead of modeling evening wear.
Fortunately for Daisy, Joey has the most empathetic family I’ve ever witnessed on a Bachelor finale. They gave a masterclass in active listening and compassion.
No wonder Joey is the way he is.
Okay, so it was a little sketchy when Joey brought up Daisy’s hearing loss before she could, but I guess he thought they needed to know? IDK, maybe she was fine with it, but it felt like he was a first grader at show and tell.
“Look, Ma! My girlfriend is unique and different!”
For her part, Daisy was not pulling punches with her feelings. She told Joey’s sisters, “I love him. If he chooses me I’ll say yes and I’ll choose him every single day for the rest of my life.”
The cherry on top was when Joey’s mom said, “I would be honored to have you as a daughter.”
It really couldn’t have gone any better.
After Daisy left, Joey’s family told him that if he doesn’t choose her, she will be heartbroken.
Yeah, that’s the entire premise of the show.
Kelsey Meets the Family
The next day, Kelsey came bounding in to meet Joey’s family.
Joey’s energy with her is electric. They were smiley, giggly, and couldn’t stop touching each other.
Kelsey got emotional when she shared about losing her mom to breast cancer which got all of the women in the room crying. Nothing bonds women more than thinking about losing their mom.
She told Joey’s sisters that she knows she loves him and she wants to choose him every day. However, when they asked her if she is ready to be married she kinda hemmed and hawed.
I took her reticence less about Joey and more about the rapid pace at which they’re rocketing towards the altar, but it was a pinkish flag for his sisters.
The most touching part of the meeting was when Kelsey cried telling Joey’s parents that if he doesn’t pick her then Daisy is a wonderful, worthy woman, but it’ll tear her apart.
Daisy’s Last Date
Daisy and Joey’s last date before the finale rose ceremony was participating in a spiritual ceremony performed by a Mexican shaman.
If you’ve ever watched a season of Bachelor in Paradise, you’ve see this date before.
I wonder if they keep the shaman on retainer?
The whole day, Daisy felt like Joey’s vibes were off. She wanted to tell him that she’s in love with him, but couldn’t find the right moment between the incense cleansing and the sweat lodge.
Then, Joey’s vibes got even worse when they each had to toss a rock into a fire and confess their “true desire.”
This man really said, “My desire is for both of us to find happiness whether together or apart.”
He may as well have put on a blinking neon sign that said, “It’s not you, Daisy.”
Daisy is not an idiot so she read the sign, but she still wanted to give this journey her all. So, later that night she told Joey that she’s in love with him.”
He smiled and said, “That means so much to hear.”
Ouch.
Daisy’s smile got more and more strained as he said his good-byes with the admission that he doesn’t want to blindside anyone the way he was on Charity’s season. He even had the nerve to encouraged Daisy to be grateful for what they’ve built thus far.
She’ll be grateful when you put a giant diamond on her finger, pal.
Joey had one glaring omission when he failed to mention what their life would be like at the end of this.
After Joey left, Daisy looked into the camera and said, “If I’m being 100% honest, I don’t think it’s me.”
Same girl.
Kelsey’s Last Date
The Joey that Kelsey got for her last date couldn’t be more opposite of the Joey that Daisy got.
This Joey was happy, smiley, and flirty. He couldn’t wait to put his hands on Kelsey as they had a playful “spa day” in the hotel. They put on face masks, laughed at how ticklish Joey is, and then rubbed each other down with personal massages.
That night, Kelsey confessed that she’s confident about him, but it’s hard not to think about being left in the end.
Joey was like, “I don’t want you to think about that either!!”
In the end, Kelsey left their last date saying that she got a lot of reassurance.
Daisy could never.
Daisy Wants Answers
The next few scenes were a flurry of Joey picking out an engagement ring with Neil Lane and Kelsey looking pensive in her white finale dress.
Then it cut to Daisy in her red finale gown knocking on a door.
Kelsey opened it and burst into tears when she saw her friend. They hugged each other and then sat down to find out what Daisy had gone there for.
Daisy has ovaries of steel because she was at Kelsey’s room to find out if Joey was being weird with both of them or just her.
Kelsey confirmed that Joey had been validating and reassuring which was further confirmation that Daisy isn’t the one.
Daisy looked at the camera again and said, “I really think it’s Kelsey but I’m not going to just walk away because, what if it’s not?”
Who’s it going to be?
Listen, this has been a great episode so far, but nothing has reached most “dramatic rose ceremony ever” yet.
Hold on…
It can’t be…
Kelsey and Daisy road to the Rose Ceremony in the same car?!?
I actually gasped aloud.
You got me, Bachelor. You got me.
Daisy gets her moment to shine
Despite arriving at the final rose ceremony together, Daisy walked toward Joey all on her own.
She smiled warily while he complimented her and talked about her relationship. Then she took her time telling him how much he means to her.
Typically this is when the Bachelor would butt in with a “but” to let her down easy, but not this time. This time it was Daisy who said, “I do love you but…the thing is…you’re not going to choose me. As much as it hurts, I’m going to do what’s best for me and I’m going to go.”
Joey was shocked but quickly recovered to confirm that he was falling for Daisy but he’s in love with Kelsey.
He offered to walk her out, but Daisy stopped him saying, “I think it’s something I should do on my own.”
She walked down the aisle before looking over her shoulder and saying, “I’m pulling for you.”
That’s some boss sh*t right there.
Daisy further cemented her title of badass when she hugged Kelsey at the car and said, “I know your mom is looking down on you and she’s going to be so happy and proud of you.”
Then she left in the SUV saying, “I wanted it to be me and it hurts, but I can leave with my head held high. If I can love the wrong person that much, imagine how much I can love the right person.”
I haven’t seen a Bachelorette audition so strong since Hannah Brown.
I just wish I hadn’t seen Daisy’s music video.
Kelsey + Joey = Love
It’s not like Joey has done a stellar job of hiding his feelings for Kelsey over the past several weeks, but by the time she walked down the aisle it was clear as day.
Joey loves Kelsey.
A smile overtook his face as he told her that this process has been difficult but, “There is nothing difficult about choosing you and I can’t wait another minute without telling you I love you.”
He got down on one knee and proposed with a giant diamond while Kelsey shrieked in excitement.
This show gets me every time.
After the Final Rose
Back in the studio with Jesse, Daisy and Joey met again for the first time since their break-up. She looked stunning in sequins, as she congratulated him on his engagement.
She admitted that she first realized that he was choosing Kelsey when she saw them look at each other during the fantasy date rose ceremony.
Daisy was nothing but complimentary of Joey and he returned the sentiment.
It was drama free and classy in a way totally unlike The Bachelor I know and love.
Where’s Maria?
Kelsey + Joey
After a commercial break, Joey and Kelsey were back on stage to tell the world how happy they are.
They’re, like, really happy.
Joey plans to move to New Orleans for now with future plans of relocating to New York together in the summer.
Kelsey’s dad even had his moment to shine as he wiped away tears of happiness for his daughter. For the record, he did not turn down Jesse’s hints that he could be back as The Golden Bachelor.
As for Joey? Well, he officially closed out his reign as Bachelor by looking at Kelsey and saying, “I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I’m so glad it’s over and we can start the rest of our lives together.”
Classic Joey.
The Next Bachelorette is…
Jesse tried to fake us out by bringing out Daisy for a second time, but Daisy shockingly turned down the opportunity to be The Bachelorette (if she was ever asked).
Daisy explained that she’s only had one year with her cochlear implant and she’s still recovering from this show. She’s just not ready yet.
Okay, so who’s it going to be? Is it possible that I’m really going to get the Maria season I’ve been dreaming of?
Nope, the next Bachelorette is Jenn.
I know, “Huh, really?” was my reaction too, but when you think about it, it makes sense.
Jenn Tran is a 26-year-old first generation Vietnamese-American who is nearly finished with her Physician Assistant program. She’s funny, a bit brash, and gorgeous.
More importantly, she’s the first Asian-American lead in Bachelor history.
I’ll take the progress where I can get it.
Plus you know I’ll be watching no matter what. I can’t quit you, Bachelor. I can’t quit you.
