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Season 27 of “The Bachelor” wrapped up on March 27 with a three-hour live finale. For weeks, viewers have been watching Zach Shallcross’s journey to find love, which has been filled with drama, tears, and more than enough shower scenes.
The season premiere aired in January, where 30 ladies arrived at the iconic bachelor mansion with hopes of winning over Zach’s heart. Zach, a sales account executive from Austin, Texas, became “The Bachelor” after getting dumped on season 20 of “The Bachelorette” with Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey.
Many “Bachelor” fans, me included, are disappointed with Zach’s season. He’s boring, a bit awkward and rejected some amazing women like Charity Lawson, who is the star in the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette.”
After a season filled with positive COVID-19 tests, a messy Fantasy Suites week and plenty of crying women, millions of people tuned in to the conclusion of this lackluster season of one of ABC’s most successful franchises.
The finale kicks off with third runner-up and fan favorite Ariel Frenkel joining host Jesse Palmer live on stage. Ariel discusses the emotions she experienced after the breakup and then confronts Zach about how she was treated during Fantasy Suites week.
Viewers are then transported to Thailand, where the final two women, Gabi Elnicki and Kaity Biggar, meet Zach’s family.
Gabi goes into the meetup feeling unsure about where she and Zach’s relationship stands. However, Zach’s family loves her and everything goes so smoothly that she tells him she is in love with him afterward.
In similar fashion, Kaity feels uneasy going into things but Zach’s family also really enjoys their time with her. So much, in fact, that Kaity not only tells Zach but also his father that she is in love.
Next, Zach and Kaity go on their final date: a romantic but sweaty hike in a park in Thailand (wearing sandals, nonetheless). They end the date in Kaity’s hotel room, discussing the week ahead, but Zach leaves Kaity feeling unsure about their future.
Similarly, Gabi leaves her horseback riding date with Zach with little hope. Zach claims he’s still torn between the two women, but many viewers found it obvious who he would propose to, and spoiler: it isn’t Gabi.
Proposal day arrives and Gabi steps out of the car with a gut feeling she is about to be broken up with. She meets Zach and he begins his breakup speech, but she interrupts him. Zach insists it was a difficult decision, but Gabi, like the rest of America, knew all along she wasn’t the one.
Cut to the live show, where Gabi joins Jesse on stage to discuss her heartbreak. She also confronts Zach about the Fantasy Suites catastrophe and how he shared their private business not only with the other women but on national television.
The season ends with the first engagement since Peter Weber’s proposal in season 24. Zach gets down on one knee and asks Kaity for her hand in marriage on the beach in Thailand and, of course, offers her the coveted final rose of the season.
Zach and Kaity appeared on stage to update fans on their engagement and talk about future plans. The happy couple is planning to move in together this summer and to tie the knot in 2025.
I’m glad that Zach and Kaity found their happily ever after, but mostly that this mediocre season is over. A search of #TheBachelor on Twitter reveals exactly what viewers are thinking: Zach is the most disliked Bachelor yet, and Ariel and Gabi are too good for him anyway.
