For card-carrying members of Bachelor Nation, it has all come down to this. At last, Ben Higgins’ final rose was on the line this evening.
Months of rumors, tears, heartbreak and The Bachelor spoilers have led us to this moment in time. But how would this fairy tale end?
All will be revealed and all rumors will be put to rest at last. Those who watch The Bachelor online or LIVE on ABC know the routine well.
Two hours building up to Season 20’s epic conclusion, followed by one hour of analysis, make for one compelling three-hour EVENT.
For JoJo Fletcher and Lauren Bushnell, both of whom Higgins admits he is so in love with, hopes and emotions ran very high coming in.
You can’t blame them, considering all they’ve been through. Either could make the case that they should be who Ben Higgins picks.
Only one can wear the Neil Lane ring, of course.
Ben breaking Bachelor tradition by professing love to not one but two women has been the big storyline in the back half of the season.
Is that all it is, though? A compelling storyline?
We don’t doubt Ben’s professions of love, but these producers, editors and writers are good at pushing our buttons in all the right ways.
Just saying. Simply because there were some emotional declarations doesn’t mean there’s an epic, unprecedented twist in the offing.
There could be, sure. But not necessarily.
Who did Higgins decide on? And would there be a live, unpredictable ending to Ben’s journey to find everlasting love on reality TV?
Well, let’s get right into it and find out!
After romantic, last-chance dates with both women, one dramatic phone call, and a whole lot of tears, Ben gave his final rose of 2016 to …
Lauren Bushnell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The spoilers and editors were both correct in a sense. There was no real jaw-dropper or last-minute switcheroo a la Jason Mesnick.
Jojo Fletcher was left out in the cold, despite Ben being all over her (and gushing over her) as much as was Lauren all episode long.
Could Ben have been prodded to openly profess his love for both women and to say that he’s “struggling” countless times? Of course.
Nevertheless, dude looked genuinely torn at times, and more upset than most Bachelors in his position when he had to cut her loose.
“I didn’t know if I could find love … I did find it with you. It was real. I just found it with somebody else more. I don’t want to say goodbye.”
Brutal. Dragging it out like that for effect.
Anyway, it was pretty romantic from then on (if you’re #TeamLauren) as Ben got down on one knee and asked her to spend a lifetime with him.
Think it will last?!
