The Bachelorette Recap: Happily Ever After? (Season 13 Episode 11)

This week’s big finale of The Bachelorette kicks off in front of a live studio audience, with Chris Harrison leading their cheers and applause. He announces that, for the first time in 13 seasons, he will have a very special guest joining him to chat and discuss the episode between breaks: our bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay.

Fantasy Suite: Peter

When the episode itself finally begins, we’re thrust right back into the fire, with Peter and Rachel discussing whether or not they have a future together if he chooses not to propose.

Rachel soon breaks down and sheds a few tears, but then tells Peter that this emotional outburst has only proven to her just how deep her feelings are for him.

The pair thus heads off to the fantasy suite together, but not before Peter talks to and kisses Rachel with the most uncomfortable body language ever seen on this show — at least this late in a season. His mouth is saying he cares about her, but his stiff neck and awkwardly tense hand say he’s ready to go home.

When the scene cuts to the morning after, however, Rachel and Peter are all smiles. Peter’s changed attitude makes it clear they had a good night together, whether or not that means they spent more time discussing their future. (It’s doubtful they did much talking…)

Fantasy Suite: Bryan

Moving on, it’s time for Rachel’s final fantasy suite date with Bryan. They spend the day horseback riding and strolling through a beautiful Spanish vineyard.

The couple soon stops to sip wine together and, unfortunately, their conversation does not have the romantic, joyful quality it usually does. Rachel admits to the camera they Peter has gotten into her head, and it looks as though Bryan can tell she’s disconnected.

Later in the evening, Bryan confronts Rachel, telling her he felt “a different energy” from her today and asking if something is bothering her. She responds by telling him that she’s glad he knows her well enough to notice she’s acting different.

Yes, Rachel, Bryan noticed that you’ve been sitting around sulking all day when you normally can’t keep your hands off of him. And this was probably not the response he was hoping for.

Rose Ceremony Surprise

After delivering a big speech about looking for someone who wants the same things as her and who is ready to commit to marriage, Rachel shocks Bachelor Nation by sending Eric — not Peter — home.

Eric is, of course, heartbroken. He tells Rachel that a part of him will always love her, and leaves graciously. Is a sweet, genuine leading man like Eric too much to ask for next season? Let this be a formal appeal to ABC: we want Eric for the next Bachelor.

With Rachel watching along with Harrison and the live audience in real time, she is able to sit down with Eric to talk things out — a conversation we would have normally seen during Men Tell All, if this season had followed the show’s usual format and shown the second runner up sent home during the previous episode.

Their reunion goes well, and Eric is as kind and grateful to Rachel as ever. His only mistake is telling her: “I was a boy who became a man” after falling in love with her. Too much.

Bryan’s Final Chance

The episode returns with Rachel and Bryan’s last date together before the final rose ceremony. They take a hot air balloon ride over Spain, and Bryan gifts Rach with a handmade Spanish dictionary including words that remind him of their relationship.

When it’s time for them to say their goodbyes, Bryan is visibly pained. Once Rachel leaves, it’s clear he is no longer fully confident in her feelings for him. The time leading up to his proposal will certainly be hard on him.

One Last Time with Peter

On their final date, Rachel and Peter visit with a monk who speaks to them about life and love and committing to one another.

The (very pointed) experience leads them to continue their conversation about whether or not Peter feels ready to propose. Still, he insists that, to him, multiple proposals and multiple marriages are “one and the same.” (Quite the exaggeration, Peter.)

Rachel is distraught again, confused by how Peter can’t commit to spending his life with her but says and does things that contradict himself.

When Peter finally tells Rachel that he is absolutely not ready to propose to her this soon, she lets him know how unfair he is being. Apparently, they had been talking about their future home together, vacations they would take, and dogs they would share.

Peter insists that, though he sees a future with her, he does not want to propose without being absolutely certain she’s his forever. But then he asks Rachel if he’s the one she wants, and her response — although she says “I can’t say that right now — makes it clear the answer is yes.

In this moment, it feels as though Rachel is issuing an ultimatum: propose to me and I will absolutely say “yes” to you.

After a heartbreaking back and forth, Rachel and Peter still cannot come to a solution. Both in tears, they part ways knowing it isn’t going to work but unwilling to actually say goodbye for good. After Rachel exits, Peter cries harder and exclaims: “What’s wrong with me?”

When we switch back into the live studio with Harrison, Rachel openly describes how hard this moment with Peter was for her. Then, in an incredibly confusing twist, they announce that she will be sitting down with Peter live, right now. Does this mean they actually ended things? Is she engaged to Bryan? What is happening??

Sadly, the answer to all of these questions is yes. Rachel and Peter reunite and express how much they hurt each other. Peter makes it clear that he had and still has intense feelings for her, but they are unable to end things on good terms. Instead, they coldly wish each other the best while still clearly hurting.

A Happy Ending?

Somehow, after such an emotional separation from Peter, Rachel does in fact end up engaged to Bryan.

In what could have been portrayed as a lovely proposal, the connection between Rachel and Bryan feels forced and uncomfortable when we know she told Peter she loved him just hours before.

Still, the couple appears together in the live studio, all smiles. They’re still engaged and claim to be loving it. But could all that change now that Bryan’s seen what we just saw?…

What are your thoughts on this whirlwind of a finale? Did Rachel make the right choice? And which contestant would you like to see as the next bachelor? Let us know in the comments and tune in when The Bachelorette returns next season.