‘The Golden Bachelor’ Episode 5 Recap: ‘It’s Been 52 Years Since I’ve Told a Man I Was Falling in Love With Him’

Three women’s hearts soar on the grownup dating show — and three hearts get sore

Tim Appelo,

AARP

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En español

Published October 26, 2023

Gerry Turner

John Fleenor/Disney

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

In the Oct. 26 episode of The Golden Bachelor, six surviving contestants remained in the race for the heart of Gerry Turner, 72, and they were about to face a romantic casualty rate of 50 percent. The emotional stakes kept rising, as many of them started developing alarmingly deep feelings for the man of everybody’s dreams. And they take roller-coaster rides that serve as a metaphor for thrilling, scary romance.

You kind of knew that Sandra and Susan’s hopes were toast from the get-go

"The Golden Bachelor" contestants Sandra and Susan.

(Left to right) Sandra, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia, and Susan, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania.

Ricky Middlesworth/ABC

Alert viewers could guess, long before the tense final rose ceremony, that wedding officiant Susan, 66, and retired executive assistant Sandra, 75, weren’t going to make it to Episode 6, when Gerry will meet the women’s families. On this and prior episodes, the kinds of sparks and emotional waterworks Gerry had with the other women simply did not happen with them.

He could be making two serious mistakes. He’s told Susan he admires her empathy and strength, and indeed, she’s been everybody’s upbeat pal — even befriending irascible Texan educator Kathy, 70 (a now-vanquished candidate). Susan, a Kris Jenner lookalike, makes people feel better, especially fellow contestants. Sandra is eccentric yet levelheaded, lively and kindly.

Oh well, Sandra lost on this reality show, but she’s a past winner on Wheel of Fortune, so she may win on her next spin at love. Hope so: This episode she noted she’s been single for 29 years.

ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” stars Faith.

Faith, 60, a high school teacher from Benton City, Washington.

Ricky Middlesworth/ABC

Faith and Gerry had an amusing linguistic misunderstanding

For a high school teacher who roared onto the show on a motorcycle Faith, 61, proved a remarkably fearful person. “It feels tumultuous in my stomach right now,” she confessed. When Gerry whisked her off for a helicopter ride over L.A., she admitted, “I am really afraid of heights. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

A look of horror crossed her face when Gerry told her, “Faith, you make my heart soar.” She heard it as “You make my heart sore.” “Oh, not ‘s-o-r-e,’ ” she said, getting it. “Oh, that’s good.”

Gerry’s feelings for Faith deepened — but perhaps with reservations

“I am very hopeful that today reveals that sky's the limit with the connection with her,” Gerry told the camera, and their aerial date went well. Afterwards, he said, “I kind of felt guilty at the beginning because I felt like I was only attracted to her because of the physicality. But after the time with her today, it's like, that's not important. I'm really intrigued by her as a person.”

So far, so good. “She's a woman who's exciting and vivacious and gorgeous and is always smiling,” he said. More ominously, he added, “Faith does have feelings for me. It's just in that connection — is it something that will grow and blossom? Or is it something that maybe has maxed out at this point? Of all the women here, Faith is the big question mark.”

I wouldn’t put down any nonrefundable deposits on a white dress just yet if I were Faith.

Faith told the women how high she felt with Gerry, and not all were delighted to hear it

The funniest part of the show was Faith regaling the ladies with the tale of her date. “I'm actually debating if you even want to know,” she said, to a chorus of “We want to know! We really want to know! Share!”

“Oh my God,” bubbled Faith, “We flew all over gorgeous California!”

Looking very bummed out, retired teacher Ellen, 71, and Prince’s ex Leslie, 64, gave the ebullient Faith the stink-eye. “Gorgeous California,” Ellen said with zero enthusiasm.

“And then, you’re never going to believe this!” Faith obliviously continued. “All of a sudden I see this gorgeous yacht out there in the middle of the ocean. We freakin’ landed on the yacht!”

“That was my dream,” Susan joked. Bitter heartache does not seem to be her thing.

“We had champagne and we had charcuterie,” said Faith, “and we got to go in a boiling-hot hot tub and look out over the ocean as we hot tubbed.”

On the Bachelor shows, hot tubs spell trouble

Ellen said, “I was fine up until the hot tub. Then I got a little nervous — hot tub on The Bachelor is serious, it really is.” Ellen made a face and said sarcastically, “Faith came back on cloud nine. But it’s like — don’t give those details. You’re not that special, girlfriend!”

Faith and Gerry had such a good time, Leslie burst into tears

"The Golden Bachelor" contestant Leslie sitting outdoors looking into the distance.

Leslie, 64, a fitness instructor from Minneapolis.

John Fleenor/ABC

Ellen comforted Leslie, who said, “Watching somebody who you potentially could be in love with taking someone on the most romantic date — It’s just …” She cried. “Maybe I’m taking it a little bit harder because my past relationships haven’t been very secure.”

What she was most scared of was falling in love. “I'm falling for him,” she said, “and for women our age to meet someone like that — It's really hard. I don't want to get my heart broken again!”

Theresa made Leslie look stoic

Financial services pro Theresa, 69, who was accused by Kathy of smugly claiming she’d stolen Gerry’s heart, was less confident this time around. “It’s hard because I’ve had to step back and watch other women go on dates with him,” she mourned. “Oh my God, I’m so nervous tonight. It’s been 52 years since I’ve told a man that I was falling in love with him.”

They found their thrill at Santa Monica Pier

"The Golden Bachelor" Gerry Turner playing an amusement game with Susan, Sandra, Leslie, Ellen and Theresa.

John Fleenor/Disney

The women all had a ball with Gerry at the Pier’s amusement park, and it was good, colorful television. But the drama revved up when Theresa poured out her roller-coaster emotions to Gerry.

ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” stars Theresa

Theresa, 69, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

Ricky Middlesworth/ABC

Once again, Gerry seemed both encouraging and equivocal

“I feel like I can’t live without you now!” said Theresa.

“Oh, that’s so nice of you to say,” replied Gerry. Not the response she was hoping for! Afterwards, she told the camera, “He didn’t say it, but it felt like he felt the same way. It’ll be worth the wait when he can finally tell me that he is falling in love with me. And I’m really looking forward to that.”

“It makes me feel very special to hear her say that,” Gerry told the camera. “And I have very strong feelings back for her. She is the picture of safety and security. She’s just such a sweet person.” He paused and shrugged. “They all are.”

Gerry went from hot to coolish on Ellen

Retired teacher Ellen, 71, has often been the cheeriest member of the cast, and why not? Last episode, Gerry told her, “I feel your emotion. I’m in the same place.” Then he cried and said, “She makes me think back to the last time that happened … with my wife of 43 years.”

Yet this time, when she told him, “I am absolutely falling head over heels in love with you. Because you’re a man of character and not too bad on the eyes,” he replied, “It touches me deeply to hear you say that,” in a tone markedly less passionate than last week.

“My nerves are like, shot,” Ellen told the camera. “I haven’t felt this way in about six, seven years. I can’t even look that rose — I’m nauseous. I just wanted it so bad.”

Leslie got a much more satisfying reaction

Gerry made low guttural noises in Leslie’s ear and murmured, “You’re my girl.” Well, one of a rapidly dwindling number of girls, anyway. A fitness expert who’s run 10 marathons, she’d like to be in for the long haul with this guy.

"The Golden Bachelor" Gerry Turner looks down at a small table that holds a rose.

John Fleenor/Disney

Theresa sized up the competition, in terror

“I know he has a really strong connection with Leslie. He’s had a really strong connection with Ellen. And Faith already has a rose. That’s three right there. So I’m really concerned.”

But Theresa got that rose

However, Susan, Sandra and Ellen got their walking papers. “I am in an impossible situation right now,” Gerry said. “I’m in love with three women.” But unlike in previous episodes, he didn’t cry about this predicament. Maybe he’s getting used to it.

Ellen left the show with high hopes

ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” stars Ellen.

Ellen, 71, a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Florida.

Ricky Middlesworth/ABC

After a painful last talk with a guilty-looking Gerry, she told the camera philosophically, “I just thought he was the one. It’s a little upsetting. But the experience has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have a lot more optimism about love and possibility of finding love at this stage of my life.”

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Tim Appelo covers entertainment and is the film and TV critic for AARP. Previously, he was the entertainment editor at Amazon, video critic at Entertainment Weekly, and a critic and writer for The Hollywood Reporter, People, MTV, The Village Voice and LA Weekly.