Spoiler alert! The following story reveals the ending of The Bachelorette Season 17 with Katie Thurston. Proceed at your own risk!
Katie Thurston’s quest for love on The Bachelorette is over, and while things looked touch-and-go there for a minute, the Season 17 Bachelorette has given out her final rose and accepted a proposal. After Greg Grippo’s emotional and controversial exit from the show after Hometown dates, Thurston was left with Justin Glaze and Blake Moynes as her final two. So who is the lucky guy who gets to call Katie Thurston his fiancée?
Blake Moynes, who came into Katie Thurston’s season late, was the last man standing (or kneeling), as he got down on one knee and asked Thurston to marry him. Moynes took his sweet time to decide whether or not he would, in fact, propose. He waffled over rings and questioned whether he could make such a big decision. I mean, I guess they had to do something to fill three hours. But in the end, there were tears and lots of screaming, and a swoon-worthy speech from Moynes.
Since day one it’s been a connection and an understanding that seemed too good to be true. But I knew. I knew the moment that I first met you and you called me trouble, or the way that you looked at me the night of the concert while we were dancing. And just the way that we just need a minute before things get started to just hold each other and not say a word. Or just the fact that we literally don’t need words to communicate at all.
And what about the line that was teased in all the promos? The one where Blake Moynes told Katie Thurston he couldn't give her what she came here for? Yeah, I see you, editors, trying to throw us off.
I can’t give you what you came here for. Cause you deserve a lot more than that. You deserve the world and I’m excited to support you and be there for you every day moving forward. So that being said, Katie Lane Thurston, will you marry me?
Katie Thurston told co-host Kaitlyn Bristowe that her last date with Blake Moynes solidified her choice. She was completely honest with Moynes about wanting to quit after Greg Grippo left, but Moynes’ willingness to continue on the journey, and his steadfast commitment to what they had, made her realize she was in love. So on their date, after Moynes told Thurston he loved her, she reciprocated with her own expletive-filled “I love you.” In the moment it was a surprising move, since she’d promised she wouldn’t say that until there were no other men left.
But drastic times call for drastic measures, and after Blake Moynes was understandably shaken by just how close Katie Thurston and Greg Grippo had been, maybe she needed to take that step to make sure Moynes could be secure with their relationship. The daytime portion of their date was filled with laughs and certainly seemed to be a welcome escape for Thurston. Just as it has been all season, Thurston seemed present when she was with Moynes and able to escape the drama.
Bachelor Nation was wary of Blake Moynes’ intentions when he showed up to pursue Katie Thurston. Moynes first entered the Bachelor franchise in Season 16, vying for Clare Crawley's heart, before she quickly rode off into the sunset with Dale Moss. Moynes then stayed around and dated Tayshia Adams, who finished out Season 16. He was eliminated before Hometowns, and Adams ended up engaged to Zac Clark. Thurston's Aunt Lindsey gave Moynes so much grief about his past on The Bachelorette, saying he "flunked out" of last season. Seriously, the franchise should hire Lindsey to perform all interrogations.
While it’s true that dating three Bachelorettes in a row could come off as suspicious (and Thurston certainly had to wade through her share of “villains” this season), Blake Moynes’ chemistry with Katie Thurston was instantly obvious, and they always seemed to enjoy each other. On top of that, ahem, we know she gets along with his mother. It was a happy ending that I wasn't sure was coming. It didn't seem like Thurston would be ready to get engaged after the heartbreak she suffered with Greg Grippo. Moynes seemed like the only man left who made sense, although Thurston revealed that she and Justin Glaze had a lot of big moments that didn't air.
With Season 17 of The Bachelorette all wrapped up with Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes happily engaged, Bachelor Nation now turns its attention to Bachelor in Paradise, which premieres at 8 p.m. ET next Monday on ABC. I’m excited to see how the guest hosts share hosting duties, especially since they all have such unique personalities. We’ll also see some of Thurston’s contestants on the beach, including troublemaker Karl Smith and fan favorite Tre Cooper. Be sure to check out our 2021 Summer TV schedule to keep up with all of your favorite shows.
