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Finalewatch '07: 'Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman'
Love has lifted Lt. Andy Baldwin where he belongs: down on one knee before the lucky lady left standing during The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman season finale.
Spoilers ahead. If you didn't see whom the Navy man proposed to yet, it's best to not read further.
Blonde Bevin, the clinical research coordinator from Palo Alto, CA had a strong chemistry with Andy from the start. He always talked about that special electricity with her, and their relationship deepened after she admitted that she had married as a teenager and the subsequent divorce made her grow.
The brunette Tessa, a social worker from San Francisco, had a rockier time, since she had many misgivings about the Bachelor process -- namely, sharing Andy with the other girls and putting her emotions on the line for someone who was concurrently seeing other women. She even threatened to quit once from the pressure, but stuck around when he gave her a dream date.
As the race for the final rose came to a close, the remaining two women girded their loins to meet Andy's family in Lancaster, PA. Tessa went first, but frankly, both of the women's visits went perfectly fine. Grandpa had a few good zingers, demonstrated his mind was still sharp with his observations and offered some sage advice, but in the end, Dad summed up: "Either one would be a fine decision for you." Thanks for the help.
Back home in Oahu, the one-and-a-half couples had their final dream dates: Bevin overcame her fear of flying to climb into a helicopter with Andy, and the following day Tessa went horseback riding with her shared man. In a sad parallelism, each woman decided to put it all out there, first by giving Andy a gift and then confessing their love.
Bevin, who had once received Andy's watch when she hurt herself, gifted him with a replacement watch (no obvious sponsor here) and expressed how "time stands still" when she's with him and that she wanted to be with him "forever and eternity." "I love you," she confessed. "I'm dead serious. I can see an amazing future and I hope you can see that too. I love you, baby. I normally wouldn't put myself in this position, but you are completely worth it to me."
In contrast, Tessa opted for a homemade gift, a collage of images and words from magazines that summed up their relationship thus far: the bad muffin joke, the pineapple, etc. Andy had never received such a thoughtful gift. She also finally admitted, "I'm falling in love with you ... It's totally and completely real to me. I can't pretend ... I want to be here tomorrow. I want to stay with you."
In response, Andy told both women that he loved them. The actual words were, "I freakin' love you." Later, he went ring shopping, and was tranparently manipulated into choosing a conservative but sparkling round-cut rock courtesy of Chopard.
In the end, both women dressed themselves up for the best/worst day of their lives: Tessa in a pale blue gown and Bevin in a red dress.
Perhaps it's the power of negative thinking, but Bevin, who once claimed, "I'm the girl who is unlucky in love," was the first girl out of her limo, and thus the one to get the boot. To be fair, Andy was completely broken up about rejecting her. He became verklempt several times trying to let her down easy and had to stop and just hug her. She just wept and didn't say one word to help or hinder him.
In the limo, Bevin observed, "I gave him my heart, and he didn't want it. I thought we could have a future together and now I feel like a fool. This happens to me all the time. This is the story of my life."
So now that we knew that Tessa was The One, we're all set for what was touted as "the most romantic proposal" in Bachelor history. Oddly enough, it kind of was in a sweet, uncomplicated way. It was also funny because it was probably the windiest day ever, which played havoc on Tessa's hair and probably irked the sound guys to no end.
"You are everything I've been looking for," Andy said after distracting Tessa with a compliment on her dress. "I feel like a king with my queen at my side ... With you, anything is possible ... Do you know what's so special about today? It's just you and me. I want to thank you so much for sticking with it. I'm so happy, so in love with you."
He went down on one knee. She gasped. He proposed. She accepted. They both acted giddy and happy, hugging and spinning around. Those two crazy kids just might make it. It's possible that ABC is already planning a wedding special. Can you imagine the uniforms and archway of swords? Didn't you hear Andy? Anything is possible.
Did Andy pick the right girl? Will they last considering the Bachelor track record?
What dreck.
Siansonea | May 21, 2007 9:39:09 PM | #Yes! this story ended exactly how it should have! Good Luck Andy and Tessa!
| May 22, 2007 12:44:01 AM | #I personally "fell" for Tessa, but was almost sure the chemistry was stronger with Bevin would win out. I do feel Bevin let her heart out right away, but that can also mean she is more desperate. In contrast, Tessa was honest about her approach and never forced herself to be what she was not, or act more in love than she was at any given time. This is probably why I thought she was the better choice. Bevin is a wonderful woman, but Tessa is a woman I could marry. I think Andy saw Tessa's guarded heart shine through in the end, and I really believe they are a perfect couple.
Jim A. | May 22, 2007 1:15:50 AM | #I think Bevin's first marriage hurt her. Andy was looking for someone who does't jump back and forth over a broomstick. Tessa is the right woman for Andy because she has values and made sure of her feelings before saying she loves Andy. Tessa does not fall IN LOVE WITH LOVE,but she did FALL INN LOVE WITH ANDY.
Terri | May 22, 2007 2:30:30 AM | #May Andy rot in the ninth level of hell for hurting Bevin, may he be joined by the producers of this show who hurt so many more girls in the name of entertainment.
Richard | May 22, 2007 6:37:35 AM | #I am so happy Andy picked Tessa. She truly compliments him and they should have a wonderful life together. Good luck!
Barbara | May 22, 2007 6:51:39 AM | #I'm so glad that Andy picked Tessa. She has all the values that he wanted and I think that Bevin put her heart out there way too quick. So I think that Tessa was the right choice for Andy. Good Luck Andy and Tessa!!
Trudy | May 22, 2007 7:03:21 AM | #I was hoping Tessa would be "The One" all along and I'm glad Andy chose her, but at the end, I felt sorry for Bevin. I know all the girls knew ahead of time that they might get hurt, but this is the first time I've followed The Bachelor from beginning to end, and it was harder to watch the girls get hurt than I thought it would be. That's the price of entertainment, I guess.
Lee | May 22, 2007 7:08:36 AM | #I'm happy Andy picked Tessa but I feel for Bevin. In the end, I really liked both women, and I think the process of The Bachelor is really what set up Bevin for a fall. The system is "mean". Someone worthy is bound to get hurt. I hope Bevin meets someone wonderful.
Donna | May 22, 2007 7:10:10 AM | #This is total CRAP
MOZO | May 22, 2007 7:13:48 AM | #I have to admit I only watched the last couple of episodes of this season. However, as the father of 2 naval officers and their naval oficer wives. Did the subject of what it takes to be a military wife ( deployments, transfers, etc.) ever come up with either of these women? If not I wish Tessa well.
Chrisg | May 22, 2007 7:32:53 AM | #i actually never watch this show until now. the reason i started to watch (although he's kinda bland) was because he was genuine and sincere. tessa and him are better together. he's a conservative kinda guy and him and bevin were pretty much all lust and infatuation. she will be happier with someone else. Besides, i don't think she was herself when she was with him. She has tattoos and probably loves liberal things (and she's very sexual)and he look so embarrassed about what she wants to do with her research.
go tess and andy!
leslie | May 22, 2007 7:34:43 AM | #I'm am so thrilled that Andy picked Tessa. I didn't like Bevin ever since she used her ankle situation to get through the end. Tessa is so sweet and sincere. She had morals and values and not want to jump into Andy's pants right away.
Congrats Andy and Tessa!!!!
I'm very happy he chose Tessa. She was definitely the right choice for him and will make a great addition to his family. Like Bevin said in the limo as she was leaving "This always happens to me, this is the story of my life", sounds like she's had too many bad relationships to me. She just wasn't right for Andy, and once I saw all of the tattoos's I knew I was right. They were two totally different people.
Kim | May 22, 2007 8:03:42 AM | #I personally think if he feels deeper for Tessa great, however, he should have never made Bevin feel like she was the one. By telling her he loved her and showing her so much affection he was sending her the wrong message. Bevin is better of finding someone else. She had class by not saying a word to him at the end. If I were Tessa I would wonder why he was saying the same things to Bevin if he wanted to be engaged to me, will he think of Bevin while with Tessa?
Michelle | May 22, 2007 8:15:48 AM | #Congrats Andy and Tessa! I think he definitely made the perfect choice. I was somewhat torn during the final episode. I thought for sure he was going to pick Bevin because of how he always talked about their strong connection but I really wanted him to pick Tessa. I loved how real and genuine she was. They make a beautiful couple. Hopefully they will have a televised wedding!! :)
amy* | May 22, 2007 8:31:36 AM | #Did he choose Tessa because she was the "good" girl and the "ideal" wife material that the family would have approved of but was actually in love with Bevan? Why cry and say "I love you" to Bevan just before declaring your love to the woman you will be choosing next?
mn | May 22, 2007 8:59:51 AM | #I think he made the right choice!!
I do however think he shouldn't have told Bevin that he loved her.. it was just kinda cruel to have those chemically charged words said and then turn around and tell her she's not the one... but I'm sure he realizes that now!
God willing they'll continue to grow in friendship and in love and I can't wait to see the wedding!! That's a hint.. it needs to be on TV!!
Rebekah Swindlehurst | May 22, 2007 9:21:53 AM | #I think that he should go jump off a cliff and die. I think that Bevin was a better match for him and he let her down. I also think that they will not last. My you rot in Hell for Eternity
Hailee | May 22, 2007 9:27:44 AM | #I think that he should go jump off a cliff and die. He hurt Bevin and she didn't deserve it. I also think that you chose Tessa because she had not been married before. MAY YOU ROT IN HELL FOR ETERNITY.
I am glad that Tessa won because Bevin was annoying and got on my nerves. She was the biggest crybaby in the world. She said that Amber was to young for Andy, but she was the one acting young when she went crybaby BOO HOO! Err!!! I really didn't like her. Plus, Tessa is like a million times more pretty than her anyway. She looks so much better with Andy(who by the way is a HOTTIE!!!)
Kayleena | May 22, 2007 9:32:53 AM | #As sad as it is that someone must be hurt for entertainment purposes this was absolutely perfect, this country gave back something for a guy who fights so hard for it, Andy and bevin were purely sexual and nothing more, him and tessa were in love in a deeper sense and everytihng he did was the best thnig
kat-elan | May 22, 2007 9:33:36 AM | #I really did not like either girls but I really did not like Tessa ever since her stupid muffin joke. If I was Andy I would have sent her home that night. Throughout the show she annoyed me by having the same lame "feel bad for me" conversation with Andy. I think she learned how to play on his emotions by making him feel bad. And it also took me awhile to be able to look at Tessa. I find her face awkward and not easy on the eyes. For me Bevin was the better choice b/c you could obviously see Andy felt more for her and I believe no matter what he says he will never get over Bevin.
Ali | May 22, 2007 9:48:55 AM | #Bevin reminded me of a fishing lure--no substance, all plastic--quit your crying there's no such thing as "real" in this situation--not to mention that he said "I love you" to both of them so basically it's all crap
dodie | May 22, 2007 9:48:59 AM | #He followed his heart. I feel sad for Bevin, but both of them knew of the potential hurt. I wish he best for Andy and Tessa. Maybe Bevin can be on the next "Bachelorette
Joe | May 22, 2007 9:53:06 AM | #
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