The Golden Bachelorette contestant Chock Chapple had to leave Joan Vassos for a few days because his mother passed away, but his return gives me hope that her season won't end in heartache like that of The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner. Joan, a 61-year-old private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, lost her husband of 32 years, John, to pancreatic cancer in 2021. The mother of four and grandmother of three was devastated, but she joined The Golden Bachelor starring Gerry in order to find the second great love of her life.
However, Joan had to leave Gerry's season in order to attend to a family emergency. She thought that her journey was over, but now she has the chance to find love again on her own season of The Golden Bachelorette. Joan began her journey with 24 men, and has now narrowed down that group to just seven--Chock, Guy Gansert, Pascal Ibgui, Jordan Heller, Jonathan Rone, Mark Anderson, and Keith Gordon. It's Chock, though, who seems to be the frontrunner, and I believe that him returning to Joan is a good sign that she'll find true love with him.
Joan & Chock Share The Strongest Connection
Joan Gave Chock Her First One-On-One Date
Joan gave her first one-on-one date to Chock, a 60-year-old insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas, which I believe was a sign that she felt the strongest connection with him and wanted to spend more time with him as soon as possible. They went to Disneyland, where they shared a truly magical day. During dinner, Chock opened up to Joan about his life, including his first marriage, which lasted 12 years and gave him his two children, but ended in divorce.
However, their bond grew even closer when Chock shared the story of his late fiancée, Kathy, who tragically passed away in 2022, five months and four days after being diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He'd met Kathy three years after his divorce, and they were in a relationship for nine years. Joan and Chock understand each other because they've both tragically lost the loves of their lives.
Joan and Chock continued to grow closer, and she even gave him the group date rose during the Stand Up to Cancer Chippendales date. He was feeling on top of the world after being chosen by Joan. However, the following morning, he received the sad news that his mother had passed away after a long battle with cancer. I was worried that Chock and Joan's relationship was over, but he returned to her after taking care of his family at home. I believe that Joan and Chock share the strongest connection, and that Chock could be The One.
Chock Is Crazy About Joan
Chock Put Joan First At A Difficult Time In His Life
When Chock returned to Joan, I could tell that he'd had time to reflect on their relationship, and his feelings had grown even stronger. He told her that he was crazy about her, and I believed every word he said. Chock put Joan first during a difficult time in his life by returning to try to win her heart, and it's clear that, if she chooses him in the end, she won't end up heartbroken like Gerry and Theresa Nist, who got divorced after just three months of marriage after the Golden Wedding. They couldn't decide where to live because they didn't want to leave their families.
However, Chock has already proven that, while his family is extremely important to him, Joan is too. He couldn't imagine leaving The Golden Bachelorette without her, and so he returned to the show. This gives me hope that Chock will do what it takes to make their relationship work. Joan has already expressed that she'll never leave her family, so it seems to be a good sign that Chock did what he had to do with his family, but then came back to Joan.
Joan Won't Have To Wonder What Could've Been
Gerry & Joan Had Unfinished Business
When Joan left The Golden Bachelor to help her daughter who had postpartum depression, there was definitely unfinished business between her and Gerry. At the time, I even wondered if Gerry would end his season early and chase after her. During the "Women Tell All" episode, Joan confessed that she'd imagined that she'd come home from work and find Gerry sitting on her front porch. There was a real connection between them, and I could even still see it when Gerry visited Joan during her season.
Although they're just very good friends now, Gerry must've wondered what could've been between him and Joan, especially after his divorce from Theresa. However, Joan won't have that feeling during The Golden Bachelorette because Chock came back to her. If Chock hadn't returned, and Joan had chosen someone else, there would always be the question of whether she would've picked Chock if he were still there. Chock's return gives everyone a fair chance, and, even if Joan doesn't end up with him in the end, at least he won't be the one that got away.
Gerry Implied To Joan That He Forced Himself To Choose Someone
Gerry & Theresa Ended Up Heartbroken
When Gerry appeared on Joan's Golden Bachelorette season, I was shocked that he never mentioned Theresa or their failed marriage. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if they did discuss it and the producers chose not to air it because they didn't want to remind viewers of their divorce. However, it was another comment that Gerry made that really struck me.
Gerry asked if Joan had considered the possibility that her guy wasn't there. Joan responded that she'd considered that more in the beginning than in her current situation. Gerry then made a vague comment in which he told Joan that she was at an advantage over him because she had considered that she might not find true love on The Golden Bachelorette. This implied that Gerry had perhaps forced himself to find love, which Joan might've done too if her true love Chock hadn't returned to her.
Thankfully for Joan, she won't have to wonder if her guy was actually Chock, and she lost him, because he came back to her. If she chose someone else after Chock left, there would always be the question if that man was Joan's second choice after Chock. That's a recipe for disaster, and has led to failed Bachelor Nation relationships in the past.
Although watching Chock go through the loss of his mother was devastating, I was so happy when he returned to Joan. Going through a tragic time always makes people reflect on their lives, and I could see that Chock had done some thinking during his time away from Joan. He returned even more sure than before that he and Joan could share a happy and loving life together. I really hope that Joan will choose Chock in the end, and they'll live happily ever after.
