Tensions began to rise at the "Golden Bachelor" mansion this week as the women competed for Gerry's heart -- literally, with a talent show competition.
In addition to the romantic dates Gerry, 72, went on, this week's episode focused on the women and the tension in the mansion.
MORE: Women of the 'The Golden Bachelor' share the one thing you should look for in a partner"Golden Bachelor" host Jesse Palmer surprised the women in the mansion by saying that Gerry wanted to see all of them on a group date. The activity? A talent show, which elicited some apprehension among some of the women, including Joan, who didn't know what to do onstage.
Gerry said that he wanted to host a talent show to "see a different side" of the women's personalities. The prize? Gerry, of course. Specifically, a romantic dinner with him.
Jesse, along with Bachelor Nation's Kaitlyn Bristowe, helped Gerry judge the talent show, and despite the women's nerves, each one wowed the audience, including Sandra, who performed a stand-up comedy act; Susan, who gave a karate demonstration; Ellen, who taught a sex education lesson; and Faith, who serenaded Gerry with a song on her guitar. But it was Leslie's dance performance that left all the women speechless.
"Leslie's a very talented dancer," Susan said afterward. "But she got a little dirty there. A little sexy -- maybe it was a little much."
When it was Joan's turn, she took the stage and performed an original poem titled, "I Just Hope I Don't Vomit on Your Shoes." The sweet poem resonated with everyone, including Gerry, who said that he felt like Joan "was just talking to me and no one else around."
In the end, Gerry chose Joan as the winner of the romantic date.
MORE: Meet the 22 women competing for Gerry Turner's heart on 'The Golden Bachelor'On their date, Gerry and Joan connected over the loss of their spouses. Joan told Gerry that she loved being married and tried to start dating a year after her husband's death two and a half years ago, but said that she "tried to find it too soon." By being on the show and meeting Gerry, Joan told him that it felt like she was doing something for herself.
Gerry said he was touched by her story and said talking to her felt like "the first step to a very strong connection."
There is no “right” timeline for love after loss, but there is always hope. #TheGoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/cHBMfFkaiF
— The Golden Bachelor (@GoldenBachABC) October 13, 2023
Gerry's date with Joan ended with him giving her a rose, but the next day, Joan received a call from her daughter, who just had a baby.
"It wasn't a normal, everyday delivery at all," Joan said. "Things go wrong, and even if everything went right, you need your mom. My family will always be first. Once you become a mom, you're always a mom, even if your kids are older -- nothing is more important."
The private school administrator brought the other women to tears when she told them that she had to end her journey. "My family needs me," she told the women. "My heart is breaking, I wish I could be here for this whole journey."
Example 9000 of how incredible and supportive these women truly are. Wishing nothing but the best for Joan and her family 💛 #TheGoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/dTh2HKiq9n
— The Golden Bachelor (@GoldenBachABC) October 13, 2023
Before she left the mansion, she met with Gerry and told him about what was weighing on her heart. The news brought him to tears but he told her he understood. "There's a moral compass we both share," he told her. "Sometimes, the right thing to do is the hardest."
As Joan left the mansion, she talked about the reality of finding love later in life.
"My heart kind of got a little fixed from Gerry," she said. "He's helped with the journey because as you get older, you become more invisible. People don't see you anymore. You're not as significant as when you're young."
After Joan left, Gerry moved forward with his one-on-one date with Ellen, surprising her with a room full of gowns. Fashion designer Michael Costello helped Ellen out by choosing the perfect dress to wear on their date.
The pair then hopped in a limo that took them to a romantic spot with a view of the mountains. Gerry said Ellen is the person with whom he could be his most authentic, genuine self, but added that he wanted to see if they had a romantic connection.
“She looks stunning! But what completed her look was the big smile on her face!” 🥹 Gerry is truly Prince Charming. #TheGoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/GI2UPUyioK
— The Golden Bachelor (@GoldenBachABC) October 13, 2023
The two spoke about their previous marriages and Gerry surprised her with a pair of teardrop diamond earrings. At the very end of their date, they hopped in a hot air balloon, and while up in the air, Gerry gave Ellen a rose.
"There's something about her personality that pulls me in," he said about her.
Roberta would have loved this. 💛 #TheGoldenBachelor pic.twitter.com/qlfvAkrlIH
— The Golden Bachelor (@GoldenBachABC) October 13, 2023
Ahead of the cocktail party, Kathy opened up about her feelings toward Theresa, who got the first one-on-one date last week. At the mansion, Theresa got into Kathy's head by telling her about everything that happened between her and Gerry on their date the previous week.
"Theresa, you can tell that her eyes are saying like, 'Yeah, you don't have a chance,'" Kathy said. "And I don't like it at all."
April came to Kathy's defense with a pointed comment, saying, "If there is an intimate moment with somebody, I think the only way to handle that is with dignity and respect for him and you -- keep your mouth shut."
During the cocktail party, Kathy opened up to Gerry about the tough day she was having. She didn't name any names, but told him that what he sees in other people may not be as it appears. "I don't want to make a mistake and I don't want you to make a mistake," she told him. "My biggest goal for you is to be happy."
Kathy's words touched Gerry and he surprised her with a rose and said that he's "developed some real feelings for her."
Meanwhile in the mansion, Theresa pulled April aside to ask who her comment was directed at. April told her that she should take it up with Kathy, and when Kathy went back into the mansion with her rose, Theresa confronted her privately.
Kathy didn't hold anything back and told Theresa how she really makes her feel.
"I feel like you're dismissing me," Kathy told her. "[Like], 'He and I are going off into the sunset, so go pack, because you're going home.' That's how you've made me feel sometimes. You've made me feel like it's a foregone conclusion."
Kathy then told Theresa, "When you say things like you guys have a huge connection, I think that's the kind of stuff that sounds possessive, territorial, and get the hell out of my way, he's mine."
"That's not a pretty picture, Theresa," she added.
Theresa's conversation with Kathy eventually brought Theresa to tears. While crying in her room, Gerry found her and tried to console her, telling her to try to "let it go."
"There's this disturbance and that's not what I'm here for," Gerry said. "That's the one area that I think could be a real stumbling block for us."
The mood of the rose ceremony was stressful after the incident, with Gerry admitting "it's been quite a week" with "exceptional highs" and "unfortunate lows." But he told everyone to "keep hope in the journey and the process we're all going through."
In the end, Edith and Kristina went home.
At the very end of the ceremony, Theresa continued to boast about her time with Gerry and told Kathy that he came up to her bedroom where she was crying. Kathy said she was taken aback by Theresa's comment and told her again that she should keep such things to herself.
"I run my mouth all the time, as we all know," Kathy said in an interview later. "But I also am intuitive and I'm like, is anybody else seeing it? I think Theresa is a nice person but I can't figure out if she's dumb as a rock or knows exactly what she's doing."
The women who remain include Leslie, Ellen, Sandra, Susan, Faith, Nancy, April, Theresa and Kathy.
