‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Episode 5 Recap: ‘I’m on Cloud 11’

The Bachelorette star Trista, who also has been on this "journey,” arrived to give Joan advice

Trista Sutter — the very first Bachelorette in 2003 who’s famous for having made a rare love match on a Bachelor/Bachelorette series — showed up. She’s been married to her pick, Ryan, for some two decades now, so who better to offer advice to our struggling Joan? During a heart-to-heart discussion over lunch, Trista suggested that Joan let herself be vulnerable: “My biggest regret is that I didn’t share more.” Err, that’s not a problem here, Trista.

Keith got a one-on-one date, hoping to save himself after an epic fail earlier

Keith

Disney

The last time he had alone time with Joan, Keith stammered and stumbled on some crucial questions — like what he thought a typical day would look like when he retired. “Those are the things I thought of but maybe haven’t thought of,” he told her in a super cringey exchange. “I just wasn’t me,” he said later. But Joan hadn't given up on him yet. She invited him on a private date that started with a helicopter ride above the Bachelor Mansion. They waved down at the other guys, who were hanging out in the swimming pool and jealous as heck. “They’re going to be so jealous,” Keith said. “I’m on cloud, like, 11.”  (Later, he downgraded it; “I was on cloud 10,” he said.)

They landed at a winery, where they sipped a rose called Love Garden. Then the vibe soured a bit when the couple who owned the vineyard told Joan and Keith that they’d been married for 32 years. That’s how long Joan had been married to her late husband, she told them. Sigh. But she and Keith finally had the kind of soul-baring talk that Joan likes — full of vulnerability — where Keith shared the pain he felt seeing his ex-wife succumb to addiction.

The group bowling date was a bit tense

While in general the bachelors seem extremely supportive of each other, the green-eyed monster showed up in the bowling alley. After the guys donned retro bowling shirts, seriously smitten Chock proceeded to brazenly monopolize Joan. With his arm wrapped around her shoulders, he actually asked her what side of the bed she liked to sleep on (a bit premature, no?). “I’m crazy about her,” Chock told the camera. And regarding the other men? “I don’t care what they’re thinking, what they’re doing, that’s their business.” Guy seemed particularly perturbed by Chock’s possessive behavior. “Give the guys a chance,” he whispered to Chock, who ignored him.  

Disney/Gilles Mingasson

Mark received what felt like a sign from his late wife

Mark (the father of Kelsey Anderson, who was the chosen partner of Joey Graziadei from season 28 of The Bachelor) seemed to be having a tough time. He told the camera he was still deeply affected by the death of his wife, Denise, six and a half years ago. “I’ve looked really hard to find, am I doing the right thing? and I’m not seeing that.” Then he saw a hummingbird. Hummingbirds used to land on Denise’s hand, he explained to Pascal and Jordan, through tears: “It’s like she’s there and she’s saying, 'This is right.'"  

But his first one-on-one date didn't go well

He finally got time alone with Joan — “I’m ecstatic” he said — on a date aboard a yacht. It was a chilly day, which meant Joan had to snuggle into him for warmth, but the whole experience seemed terribly awkward. “We haven’t gotten into the easy flow yet,” Joan privately told the camera, mid-voyage. They bonded over having both lost spouses, and Mark shared the story about his hummingbird visitation. Unfortunately, Joan still wasn't feeling a connection.

She apparently couldn’t wait to get rid of him

The next morning, while Mark was chatting with the guys about all the fun stuff he planned to do with Joan on his hometown date, Joan came by to deliver some bad news. She took Mark aside, and tearfully told him, “You’re such an amazing man,” but “something just doesn’t feel right.” This meant he had to immediately hit the road, but also spared him from the ever-humiliating rose ceremony. He was gracious about the rejection. The other six men were shocked; a few cried. “I’m very sad,” Pascal told the camera, crying. “He was my best friend.” Oh, Pascal, mon cher! We’re sorry we made fun of your Prima donna tendencies!    

Disney/Gilles Mingasson

The “journey” count rose

There were 14 mentions of this special “journey” by Joan and the men during this episode, up from an all-time low of 8 last week and, again, far less than the 24 mentions of the word during the premiere. “Good luck on the rest of your journey,” said poor Jonathan to Joan, before he was whisked away in a limo.

The “coming up” reel offered some hard-to-decipher hints of the drama to come

We saw Joan with Chock in a field on his home turf in Kansas; an adorable little boy asking Joan, “Have you kissed my grandpa?” (“OK, I did,” she said, and he covered his face with hands. “It’s embarrassing I know!”); Guy telling someone, “I’ve fallen for this woman”; an older man asking Chock, “are you in love with Joan?” and Chock replying, “It’s getting closer” (wait, he's not in love yet?!); and a young woman telling Joan, “He’s not going to pick you” (insert gasp here). See you next week!