Gerry Turner's Love Journey: Reflecting on his Final Two Women
Recap Gerry Turner's enchanting journey as 'The Golden Bachelor' with his final 2 women, Theresa Nist and Leslie Fhima Relive the thrilling 1st night, captivating 1-on-1 dates, and heartwarming hometown visits Experience the love and excitement in this unforgettable romantic tale
Theresa Nist, Gerry Turner, and Leslie Fhima. ABC (3)
Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner, on his quest for a second shot at love, has unexpectedly found himself falling for two women: Theresa Nist and Leslie Fhima. These two women emerged as the final contestants in the debut season of ABC's The Golden Bachelor. Despite hoping to find love again after the loss of his wife, Gerry never anticipated developing strong feelings for both Theresa and Leslie.
In September, Gerry exclusively confessed to We that he had thought falling in love with multiple women was not possible and silly. However, he admitted that he was wrong, as he developed strong feelings for several of the women during the course of the journey. Turner hinted to Us last month that despite going against his initial instincts, his season will have a "good conclusion," and he was happy with how it turned out.
The 1st Night
Tune in to ABC on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET to catch The Golden Bachelor. Take a trip down memory lane as you watch Gerry's romantic adventures with Theresa and Leslie before his Bachelor Nation journey reaches its conclusion.
Right from the start, both Theresa and Leslie left a strong impression on Gerry as they stepped out of the limo. Leslie surprised everyone by shedding her old lady outfit to reveal her true self, expressing in a confessional, "The women are amazing. Everybody looks really, really good. We’re all breaking the stereotypical view of what a senior looks like or acts like."
Meanwhile, Theresa marked her 70th birthday on the show by arriving in her "birthday suit." She playfully revealed a nude bodysuit under her black robe and jokingly told Gerry, "I couldn’t do that! I’ve got six grandsons."
Later that evening, Gerry further made Theresa's birthday special by presenting her with a celebratory cupcake. Theresa assisted Gerry in wiping icing off his lip, then gave him a sweet kiss. In a confessional, she exclaimed, "It's been so long since I've kissed a guy, and it was amazing. It felt so good."
Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner ABC/Craig Sjodin
Theresa’s 1-on-1
Gerry and Theresa went on the first one-on-one date of the season in episode 2. Gerry shared in a confessional that he felt a calm and peacefulness with Theresa and was amazed at the depth of their connection. They ended the date by agreeing to learn Italian and travel to Italy together, and joined in on a surprise flash mob at the diner.
Leslie’s 1-On-1
During his one-on-one date with Leslie in episode 4, she and Gerry enjoyed an exhilarating afternoon of riding ATVs in the California desert. In a confessional, Leslie admitted, “I feel safe with him and cared for. It makes me feel special. This is different. This is really different. I know he’s got my back. … I feel like he is the man I’ve been searching for, for a long, long time.”
After their four-wheeler adventure, Leslie opened up to Gerry, admitting that her feelings for him had "grown in the last few hours" and she believed they could have a "real partnership" together.
"If this was happening with someone else, I would have walked away," she confessed. "But I'm staying because of you." The two then shared a kiss before continuing their public display of affection in a hot tub.
Gerry confessed, "The connection I share with her is incredibly warm and affectionate. If things keep moving forward like they have been today, I could definitely picture Leslie as someone I could end this journey with."
Leslie Fhima and Gerry Turner Disney/John Fleenor
Theresa’s Hometown Date
Theresa, who had previously received the first one-on-one date of the season, was the first of Gerry's three hometown dates. She expressed her unexpected feelings for Gerry and introduced him to her family in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Joining them were Theresa's sisters, Charlotte and Mary, her daughter Jen, her son-in-law Matt, and their three sons. Theresa emphasized the importance of Gerry fitting in with her family and expressed her confidence that they would all like him.
Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner ABC/Craig Sjodin
Fortunately, Gerry receives the approval of her family, although Jen expresses some hesitation. "She's normally here with us every day, so we see her a lot. She's a big part of our lives and we are a very close-knit family," Jen told Gerry as they discussed the couple's future after the show. "It will be challenging, but this is a different situation. I am not her parent, I am her child, so I support her decision."
Theresa and Gerry ended their hometown date with a romantic ride on a Ferris wheel, during which Theresa confessed her love for him. "When I joined this journey, I was looking for love. And for the first time since 1968, I know that I have fallen in love again," Gerry said in a confessional. "This is the love I have been searching for."
Leslie’s Hometown Date
Theresa’s hometown visit went smoothly, but Gerry encountered a challenging critic in Leslie’s older brother Stuart during their gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to introducing Gerry to her three children and three grandchildren, she revealed that Stuart had assumed the role of her father after her own dad passed away when she was 16 years old.
“Gerry is unlike any of the men I’ve dated,” Leslie reflected in a confessional. “I believe he would seamlessly blend into my family. … I am certain they will see the deep love I have for him, it’s written all over my face.” Alongside Stuart, Leslie presented Gerry to her three kids, Chloë, Eli, and Zack, as well as her three grandchildren.
Leslie Fhima and Gerry Turner Disney/John Fleenor
In a private discussion with Gerry, Stuart expressed his concern about Gerry dating two other women while seeing Leslie. He admitted that he is very protective of her and would hate to see her get hurt again. Stuart emphasized the importance of finding someone who truly loves and takes care of Leslie.
Gerry asked Stuart if he would give his blessing for him and Leslie to get married, and Stuart responded that he would be happy to give his blessing if they came to him. After their date, both Leslie and Gerry confessed their love for each other, with Gerry even admitting that he could see Leslie as his future wife.
