Just over a week ago, the season finale of "The Bachelor" aired. I have been watching the show all season and was looking forward to finding out how everything culminated at the end. I didn’t listen to any rumors about the ending because I wanted to watch it with an open mind. Chris Harrison can finally say that this was "The Most Dramatic Season Ever," or more like, “The Most Dramatic Season Finale In Bachelor History."
Throughout the finale episode, it was evident that Arie’s heart was with Lauren, but his head was with Becca. Arie decided to go with his head and choose Becca. They grew their relationship for a couple of months, but Arie was still thinking about Lauren every day. In the end, even though she took him back, Arie still broke her heart when he initially didn't choose her, and he broke Becca's heart when he called off the engagement.
Watching the emotional interaction between Arie and Becca during their breakup, I noted how they painted Arie out to be a villain. I understand why he would be portrayed this way because what he did to both Lauren and Becca was indescribable.
However, I can understand why it turned out the way it did. Arie’s final choice says a lot about not only love but human nature. I would like to highlight two of Arie's biggest mistakes and what he should have done.
1. He shouldn't have told both of them how he felt.
Arie clearly loved both Lauren and Becca, and with no hesitation, he told both of them that he loved them. This is a big no-no in The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, as seen in Ben Higgins’ season. Telling the women that you love them gives them both false confidence that will be the one at the end.
If you love someone you wouldn't let them go, right? Well, Arie shared his feelings with both women, and in the end, he let them both go. Both Becca and Lauren were confident it would be them at the end of it, but they were both in for a rude awakening.
2. He didn't have to propose to either of them.
Another mistake Arie made was choosing to propose to both of them in the first place. Arie’s decision was clearly a hard one. Every time he would go on a date with one woman, he couldn’t stop thinking about the other one. Shouldn’t he have listened to these thoughts and decided he needed more time for his decision? No, Arie woke up and "suddenly knew" that Becca was the one.
So, why did he do what he did to both women?
Arie decided to go with his head instead of his heart. He listened to other people's opinions and not what he personally believed. I think he chose to propose to Becca in the end because of one thing: pressure. Not only the pressure of his family but also the pressure that is placed on the bachelor to choose someone at the end of the show. In the end, it’s television. Viewers don’t want to dedicate weeks of watching to discover that in the end, no one wins.
Lauren unsurprisingly took Arie back immediately, but if Arie didn't make those two mistakes in the first place, then he wouldn't have broken Becca's heart in the process.
Toying with the hearts of others is just a part of the show, and even though the thought of that is unsettling, I will definitely be watching The Bachelor next season.
