'The Bachelorette': Chris Harrison Blogs the Season Finale

What can I say about this season that hasn’t already been said? It truly was the most dramatic, intense, shocking season of The Bachelorette ever. We have a happy couple, Kaitlyn and Shawn, who have been through tremendous ups and downs and fought it out until the end. We have two men who dislike each other as much as two men have ever disliked each other, but they both love the same woman. Truly, this finale, and this season, had it all.

Kaitlyn’s family had been through this before when they met Chris last season, so as you could see, especially when it came to Nick, they came out with strong and pointed questions and wanted to get to the bottom of who these two men were who were vying for Kaitlyn’s heart. By the end of it, they all seemed pretty confident that Kaitlyn couldn’t make a wrong choice.

And in many ways, that’s really wonderful. Kaitlyn has been a bold and independent woman from the very first moment of her journey as the Bachelorette and her final choice went the same way. It was interesting to see Shawn and Nick both able to be so confident in their relationships with Kaitlyn. I attribute this to her real ability to keep her relationships separate.

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Shawn had obviously been waiting a long time for this very difficult roller coaster to be over for him. Not that he didn’t love every moment he was with Kaitlyn, but, understandably, the times in between really got to him. I don’t think people understand how hard it can be to watch a person you love date other people, but let me tell you, it’s nearly impossible.

Nick is also in an interesting situation. He’s the first person ever to make it to this part of the journey twice. Last season, Andi sent him home before the final rose ceremony, so watching his face when Neil Lane opened the door was hysterical. He was so relieved he jumped up and down. Unfortunately, his luck didn’t last much longer.

We decided to end this season in the very place it began and it was a beautiful way to celebrate a journey that took us to the other end of the world and back. Watching Nick walk up to Kaitlyn was difficult, and watching him try to understand how all of his feelings could be so unreciprocated was truly painful. I felt so bad for the guy. Like him or not, he really put himself out there and let his heart go where it needed to go, and you have to feel bad for a man who gets his heart crushed twice. But he handled it with grace, I thought. I wish him the best of luck, truly.

And then our happy couple was finally together. The look on Shawn’s face and the emotions that Kaitlyn couldn’t keep contained really made the proposal into a thing of beauty. It’s been a long ride, but moments like that are what this whole show is really about. Kaitlyn came to find love and Shawn stepped out of a limo and knew that he wanted it to be Kaitlyn from day one. He got the first impression rose and she said it was as close to love at first sight as she’s ever experienced, and here, a few months later, they’re happily engaged. Sometimes, when love is strong, nothing can get in the way. Shawn and Kaitlyn are proof of that and I hope they’re happy together until they’re very old.

I’ll share my thoughts on After the Final Rose tomorrow, but for now, thank you for being a part of this very exciting season. And I have great news for you. Next Sunday, Aug. 2, is the beginning of our very dramatic two-night premiere of Bachelor in Paradise, and the next night we’ll be debuting our new LIVE after show, After Paradise. It’s going to be a great summer. See you next week, Bachelor Nation!

Bachelor in Paradise premieres Sunday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. on ABC.