Gerry Turner definitely has a little more faith in the process after night one.
After years of anticipation, The Golden Bachelor finally premiered on Sept. 29. And the newest entry to the Bachelor franchise proved well worth the wait as the series premiere was both heartfelt and hysterical, with Gerry effortlessly proving why he was chosen as America's most eligible elder.
"I'm Gerry and today is the first day of the rest of my life," the 72-year-old widower, who lost his wife of 43 years, Toni, in 2017, said in the opening scene. "How lucky would I be to find a second true love in my lifetime?" Less than three minutes into the episode, we were crying!
To find that next great love, Gerry welcomed 22 women into the iconic Bachelor mansion, all of whom impressed the new Bach as he complimented their "beauty, poise and intellect."
But there was one woman who caught Gerry's eye, going on to receive the first impression rose: Faith Martin, a 61-year-old high school teacher from Benton City, Washington.
Ironically, Faith was the final contestant to meet Gerry, though she made an entrance to remember, arriving on a motorcycle, much to Gerry's delight.
"I am proof that you can live fast and not die young," Faith told him. "And if you leave here with me, it'll be the ride of your life."
And Faith, who was married for 21 years before getting divorced in 2005, continued to impress Gerry throughout the night, performing a song for him while playing the guitar.
"See you sitting here, in the night," she sang, while staring directly into Gerry's eyes. "Be the man of my dreams, if I'm right…"
Taken aback, Gerry said, "That was a gorgeous song, you had me right from the get-go," before commending her eye contact. "I love that about your eyes," Faith responded. "I can sense that peace in you and I need that in my life, too. I really do."
And when Faith asked Gerry how he was hoping to spend the rest of his life, he admitted, "A little bit of this would be just about right."
Swoon City, population: Us.
When it was time to hand out his first official rose of the season, it wasn't too surprising when chose Faith, who has two children and four grandchildren.
"I want you to know you made this impression not because you rode in on a motorcycle, not even because you have a beautiful voice and sang a song to me," Gerry shared, "but because of what you are doing right now, you are making me feel very special."
Faith, who didn't even know what the first impression rose was initially, accepted the flower.
"This rose represents hope," she said in her confessional, "a hope that we can create something beautiful together and that's the beginning. I felt so special."
Look back on how every first impression rose recipient has fared in previous seasons:
Jen was the first Bachelorette to hand out a first impression rose, and she gave it to a man named Keith. Keith only made it a few weeks, and Jen ended up with Jerry Ferris in the end, though their relationship didn't even last until the finale actually aired.
In 2008, the season four lead was given three roses to hand out before the rose ceremony. Her picks: Jeremy Anderson, who made it to the finale three; Richard Mathy, who was sent packing in episode three; and Jesse Csincsak, who also clinched the final rose. Though the pair eventually called off their engagement, DeAnna found her happily ever after in Stephen Stagliano. (His brother competed on The Bachelorette season five!) The duo have kids Addison, 5, and Austin, 3.
Good just didn't cut it: The Canadian Love It Or List It host gave her coveted rose to David Good during 2009's fifth season. But, in the end, she accepted a proposal from Ed Swiderski. They split a year after the finale aired and, today, Jillian has two babies with longtime love Justin Pasutto.
She thought she picked a winner. Back in 2010, on season six, Ali gave her first and last rose to Roberto Martinez. They quickly began planning a wedding for spring 2011, but constantly kept pushing the date back until they finally announced their split in November of that year. She now has kids Molly, 2, and Riley, 11 months, with husband Kevin Manno.
Fans watching Ashley on season immediately knew J.P. Rosenbaum was a contestant to watch. Our lead, on the other hand, did not. On night one, she gave the coveted boutonniere to Ryan Park, who, after getting the boot, begged for a second chance on the penultimate episode. In the end, however, J.P. was her perfect match. They exchanged vows in 2012—Chris Harrison officiated!—and now live happily ever after with their two adorable kids in Florida.
Looking back on season 8, the most well-know contestants were obviously Arie Luyendyk Jr., Jef Holm and Sean Lowe. (They were also Emily's final three!) But, on night one, she was actually most impressed with, uh, Doug Clerget. As Bachelor Nation knows, Emily chose Jef, which resulted in a tumultuous, up-and-down affair. These days, the mom of four is happily married to Tyler Johnson.
Though Des presented Drew Kinney with the first rose on the premiere of season nine, by the finale, she told her runner-up she just didn't see a "future together. I feel like there's something missing." Later in the episode, she accepted a proposal from Chris Siegfried. (Remember when fan-favorite Brooks Forester abruptly quit the show!) The Seattle-based pair wed in 2015 and now are parents to two boys.
Ah yes, this is where the never-ending, always entertaining feud between Nick Viall and Josh Murray took shape. From the get go, the two had captured Andi's heart, but, in the end, Josh was the one to take her first and final rose on season 10. Their fairy tale was short lived. Following their split, Andi chronicled their volatile romance in her 2016 tell-all, It's Not Okay. "If I talked to another man," she wrote, "I was a 'whore.' If I disagreed, I was 'argumentative.'" Josh, on the other hand, has denied the allegations.
Nick Viall returns! Alas, not in time to score the first impression rose. Before his comeback in a later episode, Katilyn was swept off her feet by none other than Shawn B, er, Shawn Booth. Though he, like Josh, butt heads with Nick throughout season 11, Shawn came out victorious. He and Kaitlyn were engaged and living in Nashville together until 2018. Now, she dates fellow alum Jason Tartick.
From the moment Jordan Rodgers stepped out of the limo, it was game over for the other season 12 contestants. He earned JoJo's first rose, the last rose and her forever. The duo are still engaged—and are in no rush to say "I do."
Bryan Abasolo had her with three little words: "I'm 37-years-old." Yes, really. Impressed by his maturity and eagerness to settle down, Rachel was quick to bestow the chiropractor with her first impression rose (and a hot make out session). Fast forward eight weeks into season 13 and he was down on one knee. They're now married!
After Garrett Yrigoyen rolled up the Bachelor mansion in a minivan—a nod to his future skills as a soccer dad—Becca was ready to do the damn thing, a.k.a. offer him her rose. And it came as no surprise that he later proposed on the season 14 finale, though the couple had to address some controversial social media activity on Garrett's part. They've since broken up, having struggled with differing views throughout the Black Lives Matter movement.
Hannah actually got to give out two first impression roses—one on live TV, and one on her actual first night. Cam Ayala won the live one with an attempt at a rap, and the infamous Luke Parker earned the real one. Hannah ended up briefly engaged to Jed Wyatt before he was revealed to have had a girlfriend, and is currently single.
When Dale Moss stepped out of the limo, it was love at first sight. The Bachelorette quite literally whispers to herself in the premiere, "I knew it! It feels like I just met my husband. Oh my god. I'm shaking."
She later gives him the first impression rose, telling him, "I've talked to so many men and you're the one I still wanna keep talking to. And I feel like as much as we talked, I want more of that, I absolutely want more of that."
After a brief three-week romance and a shocking departure from the show, the pair is now engaged!
After taking over for Bachelorette Clare Crawley, the 30-year-old meets the remaining contestants and introduces four new men, one of which is Spencer Robertson.
At first sight, Tayshia feels a connection, but the other guys vying for her love don't. Clearly, Spencer asking, "Who scared away Clare?" didn't make a good impression on the men.
But the only opinion that matters is Tayshia's, right?
The Golden Bachelor airs Thursdays at 8 pm. on ABC.
