In a dramatic conclusion that captivated audiences, the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelor reached its climax on Sunday night, with Barry 'Bear' Myrden finally selecting his partner after a romantic journey to South Africa.
A Final Choice and a Stinging Rejection
The emotional finale saw the 61-year-old Pilates instructor from Victoria, Janette, and the 58-year-old CEO from New South Wales, Sunny, as the last two contestants vying for Bear's heart. After intimate dates and heartfelt conversations, Bear made his choice, leaving one woman elated and the other utterly devastated.
In heartbreaking scenes, Bear let Janette down, confessing that while he had developed strong feelings for her, he had not fallen in love. "I was so nervous about doing this, because you made me feel like I haven't felt in a long time," Bear admitted to her. "I feel like I could tell you anything Janette. You deserve a love worth fighting for. And I'm so sorry... It's not with me."
Janette's response was stoic and curt. "I'm fine. I read your eyes the minute I walked up here," she replied. When Bear insisted, "I do really care for you," Janette sharply retorted, "Don't disrespect Sunny by saying anything like that. I hope you're very happy, both of you." Clearly enraged, she then cut the conversation short and stormed off.
Heartbreak and Hope After the Final Rose
Once inside the privacy of a car, Janette's composure shattered. She broke down in tears, revealing the depth of her disappointment. "I thought he was going to choose me. I truly meant I was falling for him. I feel like a fool," she confessed. She revealed her instinct was to "shut down again" but clung to the hope that love was still out there for her. "My turn will come. There's still someone out there for me," she said, showing a resilient spirit despite the painful outcome.
A New Beginning for Bear and Sunny
In stark contrast to the rejection, Bear's confession to Sunny was filled with warmth and admiration. "You amaze me with your resilience. You blow me away. You're a force of nature," he told her. "You deserve somebody to lift you up and never clip your wings. When I think about the future, I can't imagine doing it without you."
A sobbing Sunny responded with equal emotion, telling him, "For me, my dark days are gone and bright days are here because of you. I can't wait to go on this journey with you in life." To cement their new relationship, Bear presented a clearly delighted Sunny with a commitment ring. The episode concluded with both declaring their love for one another, with Sunny gaspering "I love you Bear!" and Bear replying in turn, "I love you, Sunny!"
The path to this final decision was not straightforward. Hours before the proposal, Bear had admitted he had "fallen in love" during his final date in South Africa. A pivotal snag occurred when the women met Bear's brother and two sons. Janette faltered under questioning, admitting she was not yet in love, while Sunny easily confessed she was "falling for" the Golden Bachelor. However, in a last-minute twist, Janette was finally able to confess her own feelings to Bear and shared what she described as a breath-taking kiss with him just hours before his final choice was revealed.
