Claire Supporting Clare: The Finale

As long-time fan of The Bachelorette (and previous recaper), I’ve taken it upon myself to recap Clare Crawley's season. So here it is: my Rose Recap of Season 16 Episode 4.

The Bachelorette aired on Thursday this week, because of the election, and that's really the only politics you'll get out of me this recap because this show is some form of escapism for me and I'm sure you don't want my mildly hot takes.

Chris Harrison shows up to have a “serious, honest, just you and me talk” with Clare, which is just about the boys being aware that Clare is only into Dale; it's hurting their feelings and isn't going to make good tv. Clare sets Chris straight and says that she's always been here only for Dale, she didn't talk to Dale before filming, but she has been into Dale since she found him on social media.

Clare talks about how she's in love with Dale and that he reminds her of her dad and she starts crying and I start crying, and even Chris Harrison starts crying. Clare asks Chris what she can do and honey, they already had Tayshia quarantining so it’s not like this decision was entirely Clare’s to make.

Chris goes ahead and tells the boys there isn't going to be a rose ceremony, then sends Clare and Dale to have a one on one. And say what you want about Clare but I think she valued her relationship more than making good tv; Dale is never going to have to wonder if he was anything other than Clare's first choice since night one. On their one on one, they talk about their parents. I think there's such symmetry and similarity in their upbringing that Clare really could not have ended up with anyone else. They both say that they're falling in love with each other, and I'm happy for them, and getting me to care about any Bachelor couple is a rare feat, so congratulations to production for successfully manipulating me.

Bri and Chris from Listen to Your Heart make a brief cameo, which was fun for me and the 14 other people who watched that show. Then Clare and Dale go back to her room and we get the iconic shot of the outside of her room as the lights turn out, followed by b-roll of bees, then Clare and Dales clothes on the floor the next morning.

Clare breaks up with the rest of the boys and some of them take it better than others (I'm looking at you Blake). Some of these boys are sweeties and I hope they find love with Tayshia or in Paradise. Bennet stays one of my favorites by keeping out of drama (and dare I say he's one of my top 4 for Tayshia).

Chris tells Clare that the next step is a proposal, which seems kinda speedy to me but I guess if you want ABC to pay for the ring, you have to agree with their timeline. Because this season is more rom-com than competition, the show tries to create some conflict that Dale might not propose. He gets down on one knee and Clare says yes. Not to make their proposal about me but I actually missed the live show where we get to catch up with the couple after they've been together longer than two weeks (the vlog footage at the end was appreciated though).

Chris tells the boys what's going on and lets them know their time on the show doesn't have to be over, but he doesn't give any further details, which is kind of weird because giving the boys some sort of heads-up about who they might be dating next will allow boys who just aren't that into Tayshia to go home, but the bachelor got one engagement out of this season so they aren't too worried about setting Tayshia up for success. That being said, every single guy stays to meet Tayshai, and this episode is now To Be Continued...

Tune in next week to see if I actually blog or if it's just a thinkpiece about how much I did not like Tayshia's dress.