The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman

The popular romance-reality TV show "The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman" wrapped up on Monday evening. This season the bachelor was Andy Baldwin, a thirty year old medical officer for a special operations dive unit stationed in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. Added to his medical degree and time in the Navy, he's also a world-class tri-athlete. Who wouldn't love this bachelor?

The show on Monday began with the two remaining girls, Bevin and Tessa going to Andy's hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania to meet Andy's family. Tessa was up first and did a great job of being accepted as part of Andy's family as soon as she entered their home. After having Tessa help her with lunch, Andy's mom describes Tessa as "witty, bright, natural, and very real." Tessa was also very welcomed by Andy's sister, Susie. Andy then tells Susie that Tessa had strong reservations several times throughout the process and actually wanted to leave. When questioned about it by Susie, Tessa is honest about it not feeling right to her at some points and wanting to leave. She then assured Susie that Andy was the reason she stayed and she no longer had any doubts.

Bevin was to come later on that day for dinner. It was an admittedly tough job of going second, especially after Andy's family liked Tessa so much. Even being prepared with gifts of a bottle of wine and a flower basket, Bevin's visit began awkwardly. She starts the evening off by telling them about her current project at work: studying the libido and sexual dysfunction of women going through menopause. This certainly gave pause to the entire family as nobody spoke right away. Over dinner, Andy's grandfather asks if she has any particular religious beliefs or affiliations. She claims that her parents both raised her in the Bahai faith. Everyone at the table agrees that they have never heard of that they are not familiar with it and again, there is awkward silence. It's after dinner that Andy is telling his family why he is so attracted to her and why she's still there and his mother said that he was trying to justify his feelings for her. It doesn't seem as if the visit is going very well until Bevin is sitting with the women a little later on. "Make it happen" the grandmother urges. "We'll help! I think you're just drop-dead great!"

After Bevin leaves, Andy sits in the living room with the family and opens discussion on the two girls. Although the family's preferences seemed to lean toward Tessa, everyone agrees that he really can't make a mistake in choosing either of these two girls.

After both girls have met his family, it's time for one last final date with each of them. This time, Bevin is to go first. After meeting on the beach, Andy admits that he has a surprise for her and leads her over to a helicopter which will take them on a tour of the island. Despite her fear of flying, Bevin agrees and seems to thoroughly enjoy the ride as she and the audience both see what beauty surrounds them. After they land, they go for a hike and end up at a picnic that Andy has laid out for them. Here they discuss what they both need out of relationships and the lunch seems to go well. Later that evening, Bevin cooks dinner for him and presents him with a present. The gift is a watch, much like the watch he had given to her previously on the show. She also tells him that she loves him and he admits that he loves her too. After leaving, it seems that Bevin has won and she will be the girl Andy chooses.

Then it is Tessa's turn for the final date. They too meet on the beach and again, he has a surprise for her: horseback riding. After having a romantic ride on the beach, they stop for a sunset swim. Here the romance is kicked again into high gear as they play and kiss in the waves. Andy admits though that Tessa still hasn't opened up to him and that worries him. Tessa invites Andy back to her room later and orders in food for them. Over dinner, she gives Andy a present with a very touching note that she asks him to read out loud. He digs deeper into the bag and pulls out a collage Tessa has made for him of all the fun times they have had together. She then tells him that she has fallen in love with him and that she doesn't want to have to leave him. He is obviously blown away by the effort she has put into his gift and by how much she has let her guard down and let him see what she's feeling.

The next night is the final rose ceremony. Bevin is the first to meet Andy. Walking up to him, he tells her how beautiful she is and what a tough decision this has been for him. As he keeps talking, it is clear to Bevin that he has not chosen her. Holding her face in her hands and not saying a word, she keeps nodding at what he is saying and is not comforted even when he hugs her and tells her that he will never forget her.

Tessa comes next and the nervousness in her face is enough for the whole audience to feel. As she faces Andy, he tells her that she is everything he's been looking for. He says she makes him feel "like a king, with a queen by my side." After telling her that it's just the two of them from now on, he gets down on one knee and proposes. She starts crying and accepts the ring. He stands up and picking her up, twirls her around as they both excitedly chatter about how happy they are.

They kiss over sunset and the theme from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman starts. The show closes with video clips of the two of them together and the times they have shared.