The Bachelorette airs on ABC this evening with an all-new Monday, August 21, 2023, episode, and we have your weekly The Bachelorette recap below. In tonight’s season, 20 episode 8 called, “Winner Chosen,” as per the ABC synopsis, “In the Bachelorette’s three-hour season finale Charity Lawson will make her final choice. After her decision “After the Final Rose” will air and we will find out what Charity has been up too!”
We will be liveblogging tonight’s episode of The Bachelorette and you know there will be tons of drama, catfights, and tears. So come back tonight at 8 PM for our live three-hour The Bachelorette recap of tonight’s episode. While you wait for the recap, hit the comments and let us know how excited you are for this season of The Bachelorette.
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With just a few suitors remaining, did Charity make the right choice on tonight’s season finale? Let’s see. Charity began tonight in beautiful Fiji. She was happy as well as in love with two men. Or so she thought until Aaron showed up. Aaron B. came back to talk to Charity. She was fully in love with the other guys or so she claims. Yet, she paused after seeing Aaron’s again. She didn’t tell him to leave or even yelled at him. Something in her made her pause when she saw him again. It made her realize that maybe she does still have feelings for Aaron.
Charity became nervous when she saw him. She gave him a smile on top of a hug. Only Aaron wanted more. Aaron will always want more. He wanted the chance to be in the finale with her. He wanted the chance to be the man she’s taking home after this. Aaron told her he’s still in love with her. He came back to fight for her. She must have seen something worth fighting for because she chose to let him stay. She also chose to kiss him. They kissed a couple of times before he was willing to meet up back at the hotel.
Charity later admitted to the cameras that she loved that he made such a grand gesture. It shows that he really does wish to fight for her affections. He took the time to fly to Fiji to fight for her. There were other guys on this season that proved to be fair-weathered entanglements, but not Aaron. Aaron has always tried to fight for her. He got into an argument with other contestants he felt weren’t there for the right reasons. He spoke up for Charity. He defended Charity and now Charity has to determine if he’s worth fighting for.
Aaron had already left. The other two guys had believed he was out of the picture. It technically wasn’t fair to them that he returned or that he wanted another chance. They later saw him at the rose ceremony. They were expecting Xavier, they got Aaron. Joey had looked amazed to see him. Dotun was more composed. There were only two roses and the first went to Joey. The second didn’t go to Aaron. Charity pulled Aaron to the side to tell him that time was against them. She said maybe if they had more time then things would have been different.
Charity just knew that Aaron wasn’t the person for her. She still respects him. He respects her. She even walked Aaron to the car so that they could stretch out their goodbyes for as long as possible. He eventually left. Charity told herself it wasn’t meant to be and then she returned to the rose ceremony. Charity knew she owed the two remaining men an explanation. She told them that she had to close that door with Aaron before she could move forward with them. They understood. They accepted her explanation and the final rose went to Dotun.
Charity was happy with her choice. She loved both Joey and Dotun. She also couldn’t wait to talk to her family about them. Her parents as well as her sister Mia flew to Fiji to meet with her. Charity told them all about being in love with two men. Her mother doesn’t approve of that. She visibly recoiled when she heard that. She felt that Charity needed to learn to be decisive. She has to pick one. Her mom wanted her to pick that one now rather than later. Charity’s whole family would soon meet her love interests.
They met Joey first. Joey was a nice guy. He was very handsome. He said love is love, it doesn’t know color. He also told her family outright that he hopes to be a part of their family. Joey said all the right things. They all thought he was honest and transparent. He connected with each of them. He showed honesty to her mother. He showed his love for Charity to her sister. He discussed football with her dad. They all approved of him. They see now why Charity has feelings for him and so right away Dotun was on the backfoot.
Dotun went to meet the family second. Everything he did, said, and just his facial expressions were compared to Joey. Charity’s mom privately spoke to Dotun. She asked him when he did know he was in love with Charity? He said he’s known for a few weeks. He said he’s always been sure about his feelings. He felt familiar for the family. His mannerism and his swagger reminded Charity’s mother of her daughter’s exes. She said that could be Dotun’s appeal. She felt her daughter was going to the familiar and that time has showed that the familiar doesn’t work.
All of which she told the cameras.
Charity’s mom was rooting for Joey. Charity’s sister was also rooting for Joey. Mia spoke to Dotun and she saw that her sister didn’t glow as much as she did when she was with Joey. But Charity didn’t like hearing that. She got upset. She said she really cares for Dotun. She couldn’t see why her family didn’t see it. Charity then got Dotun and they left together. Charity didn’t tell Dotun what her family had said about him. She just focused on him when they were together. And then she spoke with her whole family on her own.
Charity wanted to know who they liked better. They wouldn’t give her that. Mia said both men seemed like great guys. Her mother said they couldn’t be the one to decide who she chose. She has to make that decision. She kept pressuring her mom to give her a name and her mom wouldn’t give her that. They actually had to move away from the cameras for these two to argue. Her mom wouldn’t say who she preferred or who she thought was better for Charity. She wouldn’t go there even as Charity was in tears. Charity quickly stormed off once she saw the conversation wasn’t going anywhere.
Charity wasn’t happy with her family. She introduced them to the men because she was hoping they would give her clarity. She couldn’t see their reasoning for keeping quiet. Her family realized that they couldn’t tell her who would be best for her because either they talk her into a relationship that doesn’t work or choose someone that she doesn’t love. Charity later went on another date with Joey. Joey made her smile. He made her forget her worries. She felt very much in love with him while she was with him. She just didn’t know if she preferred him over Dotun.
Charity spent some alone time with Dotun too. She felt comfortable around him. She enjoyed her time with him and so she really was wavering back and forth on who to choose. Dotun did come out ahead for a moment because of the gift he gave Charity. He had gotten their baby pictures. He put them in a heart locket and the locket was so cute. Charity loved it. She loved him. She didn’t even mind that he admitted he was insecure about everything.
Dotun knew she had feelings for Joey. He wasn’t as sure of their love because of that, but him being open and honest had also won him a few bonus points. It showed another side to him. One that her family didn’t get to see. Dotun also still got a ring in spite of his insecurities. He hoped he’d get engaged to Charity. Joey hoped for the same. He also got a ring. Joey’s ring was a teardrop. Dotun’s ring was an oval. Both rings looked beautiful. If Charity had to choose between the rings alone, it would be an uphill battle.
Charity had one last rose to give. She chose not to give it to Joey. Poor Joey was so happy when he got out of the car and Charity just had to go and break his heart. She told him she loved him. She said she would always love him. Only she was choosing Dotun. See this is why her family didn’t say they preferred Joey over Dotun. They all liked Joey. They tried to tell Charity that and Charity wouldn’t hear them out. And so all that was left was for her to do was meet up with Dotun, everyone knows she was hoping to get engaged.
Present Day Joey was watching that moment he was sent home. He said he hadn’t remembered that day because he pretty much blacked out. He doesn’t remember crying in the car. He just remembered the overall sadness of the day. He said he cares for Charity. He was sad that he hasn’t seen her since Fiji. But luckily the show was going to reunite them for one night. Charity came out. She saw Joey and they hugged.
Joey was completely gracious. He didn’t tell her that she hurt him. He simply said it was her story and he was just glad to be a part of it. Joey genuinely wanted the best for her in whatever came next. Everyone knows what came next. Charity later met with Dotun after she sent Joey home. She talked to Dotun. She put him at ease because she could see that he was nervous. Dotun started his speech without knowing he had been chosen. His whole speech was sounding like he thought she’d choose Joey over him and that he wants to tell her that he loves and will always love her. Even if she doesn’t choose him.
Dotun was truly sweet. He’s always been sweet. Its why Charity chose him and the two got engaged on the finale. Charity gave him the final rose. He gave her the engagement ring. There was only one question that remains: did it last? Dotun came out and he joined Charity on the couch. They said it felt great to finally be in public together. They’ve been hiding their relationship for months because of the show. Both of their families were in the audience. They were so happy in love that Charity’s family came around on the idea of them together.