Bachelor in Paradise finale: An exit, a proposal and a crushing disappointment
ONE couple fled the show and another got engaged in the Bach finale — but all eyes were on one contestant’s bitter ending.
SUNDAY night’s penultimate episode of Bachelor In Paradise saw three deeply loved-up couples — and one pairing still struggling to connect.
Monday night’s finale starts with Sam and Tara, Keira and Jarrod and Ali and Grant all preparing for the season’s climactic commitment ceremony. All seem like they’ll go through with it: Tara’s talking about bringing Sam home to meet the family, while Keira says Jarrod “makes me feel like I’m the only girl in the world” (excellent Rihanna quotage, babes).
For Megan and Jake, though, it’s a different story altogether: Megan knows she can’t go through with a televised commitment ceremony with a man she doesn’t love.
Previous recap: “I don’t love him”
Fans slam Ten’s ‘boring’ Bachelorette choice
“Like, we’re right before the commitment ceremony and we don’t know what we’re doing. That doesn’t inspire confidence in me,” she tells Jake, who says he feels “terrible” at the not entirely unexpected news.
Bags packed, Megan then makes a hasty exit from the show, leaving Jake to just sort of wander around the resort feeling depressed and hoping they haven’t finished the bar tab yet:
But how will Megan ever find somebody with the same personality as Jake? I mean unless she has a roll of paper towels or small moth at home. #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Jo Thornely (@jothornely) April 30, 2018
Flo right now watching Megan fully reject Jake: #BachelorInParadiseAU pic.twitter.com/jC51N5nQoM
â AtomicNicky (@AtomicNicky) April 30, 2018
Meghan to Jake: Iâm not sure if you can be faithful while I go away travelling. Meghan to herself: Iâm not sure I want to be faithful while Iâm away travelling #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Merryn Porter (@Merryn_Porter) April 30, 2018
THE COMMITMENT CEREMONIES
Keira and Jarrod
As he walks towards his pivotal meeting with the woman he now considers his “soulmate”, Jarrod delivers quite the monologue:
“I’m ready to do this. I’ve been training for this for 32 years now, and I’m a bull at a gate. And I just want to be released and I want to run in there and SMASH IT OUT.”
Keira, you in danger girl.
As they hold hands under the palm trees, the pair finally exchange “I love you’s”, and seal their new love with commitment rings as the OTT soundtrack strings swell.
“I feel honoured to call you my girlfriend,” says Jarrod, a pronouncement that leaves Keira “hyperventilating.”
Jarrod tells Keira that when it’s the right time, he’ll swap her commitment ring for an engagement ring.
We’re not sure if this qualifies as “smashing it out”, but well done to the both of them.
“I now have a girlfriend that will be my future wife,” says Jarrod, sounding more like Tommy Wiseau than ever.
Aw Keira.
â Osher Günsberg (@oshergunsberg) April 30, 2018
I love that we managed to find this happy ending for you.
xx#BachelorInParadiseAU
Keira and Jarrod are just so gorgeous. There is real love there. I hope they stay together- yvie. #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Angie and Yvie (@angieandyvie) April 30, 2018
Can Keira and Jarrod have a reality show? Do you hear me @channelten #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Kiera (@UnderYourPorch) April 30, 2018
I'm still not over the fact that Keira has been the most sensible person on the whole series. She was a total ratbag on Bachie#BachelorInParadiseAU
â Nez (@fraggle73) April 30, 2018
Ali and Grant
Will Grant propose to Ali? He has form — he proposed to a girl on his US stint on the show.
Ali heads into the commitment ceremony hoping that they make their relationship “public” — apparently she’s unaware that she’s actually been filming a TV show these past four weeks.
Ali tells Grant she’s “looking forward to the day where we can raise our children together in a home full of peace and love and happiness,” presenting him with a commitment ring.
Grant does not freak out despite having known Ali for approximately five minutes, telling her: “I already know I want to, and I will, spent the rest of my life with you.” He, too, gives her a commitment ring and she looks ... kinda disappointed:
Grant has given Ali a.... commitment ring... #BachelorInParadiseAU pic.twitter.com/mxD3e1y7dJ
â BachelorInParadiseAU (@BachParadiseAU) April 30, 2018
Lady, were you really expecting a marriage proposal at the end of this?
âAli, the feeling I feel for you Iâve never felt before...except for that last time I proposed to a woman on The Bachelorâ #BachelorinParadiseAU
â Adam Bub (@TheAdamBub) April 30, 2018
If Ali doesn't get an engagement ring, two kids and a green card at the rose ceremony she'll flip a table #BachelorInParadiseAU pic.twitter.com/PRjUY7b9g9
â AtomicNicky (@AtomicNicky) April 30, 2018
#BachelorInParadiseAU Hearing Grant profess his love for Ali: pic.twitter.com/JRq3x7olB1
â Ian Astalosh (@ianasta23) April 30, 2018
LMAO HOW DEVO IS ALI THAT ITâS NOT AN ENGAGEMENT RING. #BachelorInParadiseAU pic.twitter.com/uVXOkg1k14
â Mark (@markp_) April 30, 2018
You can actually watch the moment Aliâs heart breaks #BachelorInParadiseAU pic.twitter.com/8Ii6RVZefW
â Paul Barton (@PaulBarton78) April 30, 2018
Sadly, it was revealed at the end of the episode that while Ali had indeed gone to Los Angeles to give it a go with Grant, the relationship had ended shortly afterward and both contestants were back on the market.
Tara and Sam
If there was any lingering doubt that their early friendship hadn’t blossomed into a proper romance, tonight’s episode ended it: They’re shown lazing around in their dressing gowns the morning before the commitment ceremony, having spent their first night together in a suite at the resort. Host Osher Gunsberg filled in the blanks on Twitter for viewers:
It's the morning after.
â Osher Günsberg (@oshergunsberg) April 30, 2018
And they're both in bathrobes.
We can't show what happened between now and last night, but...
You get it right? #bachelorinparadiseau #timeslottroubles
Curse that PG rating.
These two are properly loved up, and Sam’s walking into the commitment ceremony with a plan: “As soon as I see Tara, I’m going to drop down to my knee and I’m going to ask her to marry me.” (Act surprised, Australia).
Seems they both have marriage on the brain, because Tara’s rocked up to the ceremony wearing what appears to be a late-80s bridesmaids dress:
She gives him her commitment ring and tells him: “I love you and I want to be with you forever.”
Sam REALLY lays it on with his speech: “You’ve been an incredible part of my life. And some might say that’s a short amount of time. It’s not. I feel like I’ve had the liberty of waking up next to you for years. It just feels that way. I adore you. I’m proud of you. I’m so proud of the woman you are and the woman you’re going to continue to become,” he says — quite a lengthy monologue for a man who insisted he’d propose the second he saw her.
But wait! Suddenly he’s on one knee:
“It might seem crazy, but it’s not. And I’ve said it to you 1,000 times in my sleep. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re incredible. Will you marry me?”
It’s an instant yes from Tara:
“I feel like I’m dreaming. It’s such an exciting feeling. I was so excited to just go home with Sam and now, like... ..I’m getting married to him and we have so much to plan and I’m so happy,” gushes Tara as the newly-engaged couple walk off into the sunset together.
Bet Ali’s pissed.
Congrats Tara - but your story’s not over yet. There’s still one thing Australia needs from you...
Please make him cut his hair Tara. Please! #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Joel Gillmore (@GillmoreJoel) April 30, 2018
"I'll never try to change you"
â thingy (@mcthingface) April 30, 2018
FOR GOD'S SAKE AT LEAST WORK ON HIS HAIR#BachelorInParadiseAU
Oh Tara.....change his hair at least. For all of our sakes...... #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Sue K. (@SueKennedy19) April 30, 2018
You could change some elements of him Tara. The hair, at least. Go full Delilah #BachelorInParadiseAU
â Victorian Values (@vic_values) April 30, 2018
Meet Australia’s New Bachelorette: Ali Oetjen
Following the show, Network Ten revealed Ali Oetjen will be Australia’s Bachelorette in the fourth season of The Bachelorette Australia, coming later this year.