‘The Bachelor’ Season 22 Finale Recap: Arie Proposes To Becca, But Has Second Thoughts

The Bachelor season finale opens in Cusco, Peru, after Arie Luyendyk Jr. told both finale contestants – Becca and Lauren – that he loved them.

THE BACHELOR RECAP

We quickly switch to the ladies meeting Arie’s family. He tells them that his relationship with Becca is more “comfortable” but that his feelings are Lauren are “intense,” despite being able to have deep conversations with her because she finds it hard to open up. In the next room, Lauren cries to Arie’s mom, telling her how afraid she is to lose Arie.

Slideshow: Check Out 16 Best Grammys Looks!

“It’s going to be really difficult for Becca, because we all think Lauren is a good choice,” Arie Sr. says bluntly before she walks in. He even tells her that he will be “fine with it,” no matter who Arie chooses. “That wasn’t fun to hear,” Becca tells the camera. The family talks to Becca a little too much about Lauren the whole evening, but she keeps a brave face.

Once the women leave, Arie talks with his family about his decision. “It’s hard because I feel like it makes more sense with Becca,” he says. “But with Lauren there’s like this undeniable love there.” Unlike past seasons, they all make it clear that they’re on Team Becca.

The Bachelor has two dates left before the big proposal, and first up is Lauren. The pair take a private train to Machu Picchu and marvel at the sight. Arie tells us that, at the beginning of the date, he was leaning more toward Becca, but now he’s not so sure. “Lauren’s found her way into my heart,” he says. Arie tells Lauren he loves her “so much” more than once throughout the evening.

The date with Becca starts with a downpour, which may or may not be foreshadowing. They overlook a beautiful vista and share their feelings, with Arie telling her he will always be honest with you, and Becca presenting him with a scrapbook of their relationship, leaving a blank space for the “Our First Baby” section.

Despite all of this and all the producers did to try to trick the viewers, come proposal day, Arie tells Lauren he “can’t go through with it,” and breaks it off. Lauren is upset and confused but takes the news graciously. When Becca shows up, Arie proposes and she of course says yes.”I choose you today,” he tells Becca. “I choose you every day from here on out.”

But all this happens during the first hour of the show, so what happens next? The producers visit the engaged couple some time later and everything seems fine until Arie is alone. “I go to bed and I think about Lauren, and I wake up and I think about Lauren,” he says. “I’ve decided to call off the engagement and break up with Becca.”

Host Chris Harrison talks to Arie about his decision. “Look, I know this isn’t going to be a popular decision,” Arie tells him. “But I’m doing it because I love Lauren.”

Becca on the other hand, shares: “I feel like I can finally kind of relax. I really just want to get to the point where the show’s done and we can finally start our life together.”

At this point, Arie breaks the news to her that he wants to work things out with Lauren. “Are you f–king kidding me?” is her very appropriate response. She lets him have it, telling him if he was so unsure, he should not have proposed in Peru. After not leaving the place for a while and Becca telling him to leave three times, Arie finally goes.

We get Becca in the hot seat with Harrison, where she says she cried for “four days straight” because of the “brutal” events. And this is the end of night one of the season finale. Tune in tomorrow for the finale two hours.