'The Bachelor' Finale Recap: Clayton Can't Let Susie Go

Susie Evans ended up with Clayton Echard after all during the season finale of The Bachelor, but don’t expect them to get engaged anytime soon.

Susie Evans is not ready to be Mrs. Echard. After Tuesday night's dramatic season finale of , the wedding videographer appeared on podcast to reveal what would make her say no to a proposal from Clayton Echard, whom she reconnected with post-show after initially turning down his ask for a relationship.«We have a lot to learn about each other, and we have a lot to learn about ourselves still. I think we both are still growing and learning from this,» Susie said.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentBachelor Nation got whiplash this week from the season finale of “The Bachelor” Season 26 — which went from breakup to makeup to another breakup and another makeup to a dual breakup, all ultimately for leading man Clayton Echard to end up with contestant Susie Evans, who had actually left the show the week before the finale.If that sounds confusing, it’s because it is.Never, since the two decades its been on-air, has the dating show seen such a change-of-heart from its lead than it did this season: Echard told three women (Evans, Gabby Widney and Rachel Recchia) that he was in love with them, also admitting to sleeping with two of them.After being left alone and single in the final episode, which filmed roughly four months ago, Echard ended up walking away with Evans, despite her turning him down in the shocking finale. And in last night’s “After the Final Rose” episode, instead of a proposal, Evans confirmed she was his girlfriend, accepting Echard’s final rose — but not before he was reamed out by Widney and Recchia on live television with both women calling him selfish, manipulative and thoughtless.

Clayton Echard is delighted by the announcement that both Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia will be the next Bachelorette. The co-Bachelorettes were revealed on Tuesday's season finale of , which saw Clayton have uncomfortable post-split conversations with each of the soon-to-be leading ladies.«I wish the best for them. I was extremely happy when they announced they were dual Bachelorettes,» Clayton told ET's Denny Directo.

Susie Evans had a hard time watching her beau reunite with his exes. The morning after the season finale of , Clayton Echard's final pick told ET's Denny Directo that watching the medical sales rep's conversations with Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia was «heartbreaking.»During the two-part season finale, Clayton reeled from Susie's decision to leave the show, after learning that he'd been intimate with and was in love with multiple women.Clayton came clean to Gabby and Rachel about the same thing, and convinced them to stay and meet his parents, but ended up breaking up with them when he couldn't get Susie off of his mind.Those splits led Clayton to have awkward live conversations with Gabby and Rachel on Tuesday's episode, both of which Susie watched from the wings as she waited to make her couple debut with the Bachelor himself.«It was really tough,» Susie told ET. «We obviously knew those conversations were coming.

Susie Evans didn't wait long to get back in touch with Clayton Echard. On Tuesday's finale of , Susie rejected Clayton's offer to leave Iceland together, but the pair patched things up post-show, and appeared happy and in love during a live, in-studio appearance.The morning after their public debut, Susie told ET's Denny Directo that she «pretty much reached out to Clayton immediately» after her initial rejection.«I got my phone back, called my parents, and then I slid into Clayton's DMs,» she recalled.

Sucks to suck, Clayton Echard! But you were so s**tty in your run on the reality TV juggernaut this season, we actually appreciate you for breathing new life into The Bachelorette now!

Season 26 of The Bachelor concluded Tuesday with a finale twist that brought the ABC series to the top of primetime.

The most dramatic season yet? Clayton Echard‘s Bachelor journey came to a shocking end on Tuesday, March 15, and even former ABC stars couldn’t see the twists coming.

Clayton. On Tuesday night's finale of , Rachel reunited with this season's leading man for the first time since he sent her home in Iceland.On part one of the show's season finale, Clayton confessed that he had expressed feelings of love to each of his final three women, and said that he had been intimate with both Gabby and Rachel.Rachel decided to stay and meet Clayton's family, despite feeling some lingering uncertainty.

Haley Kluge Senior DesignerSPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not watched the March 15 finale of ABC’s “The Bachelor.”Clayton Echard’s run as “The Bachelor” has been less than smooth. His season’s conclusion was no different.During Monday’s penultimate episode, Clayton attempted to salvage his relationships with finalists Gabby Widney and Rachel Recchia. He confessed that he loved and had slept with them both, which had everyone in hysterics and nearly caused Gabby to self-eliminate.Despite the dramatic rose ceremony, both women stuck around and met Clayton’s family in Iceland.

Speaking their minds. Clayton Echard‘s exes Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia didn’t hold back during After the Final Rose on Tuesday, March 15.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you have not watched Clayton Echard’s finale of “The Bachelor,” which aired March 14 and 15 on ABC.ABC has picked not one, but two stars for its next season of “The Bachelorette.”Making history in a franchise first, both Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia will co-star in “The Bachelorette” Season 19, which will air this upcoming summer, premiering on July 11.Windey and Recchia certainly deserve another shot at love, after the back-and-forth heartbreak they endured on Clayton Echard’s season of “The Bachelor,” which wrapped up with its shocking finale tonight.Both finalists on Echard’s season, Windey and Recchia were put through the ringer when Echard told them each he was in love with them and admitted to being intimate with both of them — not to mention, another women in the mix, finalist Susie Evans, who he said he actually loved more than the other two, after asking them to trust him and stick with him ’til the end. After the devastating dual breakup on “The Bachelor” finale, both women emerged as fierce supporters of each other, and won over America’s hearts, as viewers were shocked by the turn-of-events with Echard over the past few episodes.ABC has not provided details as to how exactly the next season of “The Bachelorette” will work with two leading ladies, other than saying, in a press release, that Windey and Recchia will “stand by each other’s side yet again as they set out on a journey to find love.”Jesse Palmer, who made his debut as the franchise’s new host this past season of “The Bachelor,” will return to host the new season of “The Bachelorette.”“The Bachelorette” typically airs on ABC in the spring.

Relationship redo! Clayton Echard and Susie Evans were reunited on The Bachelor: After the Final Rose on Tuesday, March 15, after their emotional breakup — and revealed they are giving things another try!

Clayton Echard's journey came to an end in a way no one could have expected. On Tuesday's episode of the ABC series, the Bachelor said «I love you» to his final woman, Susie Evans, but she did not return the sentiment.Clayton's relationship with Susie turned rocky during Fantasy Suites week, when he admitted to being in love with and having been intimate with both Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey.Susie left the show in tears, unable to accept that Clayton held similar feelings for two other women.

Clayton Echard. On Tuesday night's season finale of , the leading man broke things off with the nurse after realizing his heart was with someone else.On part one of the show's season finale, Clayton confessed that he had expressed feelings of love to each of his final three women, and said that he had been intimate with both Gabby and Rachel Recchia.Gabby decided to stay and meet Clayton's family, despite feeling some lingering uncertainty.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentSPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you have not watched part one of ABC’s “The Bachelor” finale with Clayton Echard, which aired on Monday, March 14.If you were hoping to get some clarity from watching part one of “The Bachelor’s” Season 26 finale, you were severely disappointed.Following last week’s dramatic fantasy suites episode where contestant Susie Evans left the show after leading man Clayton Echard admitted to sleeping with two other women and confessing his love to all three contenders, viewers were left wondering what would happen with his finalists, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia.Well, turns out, the love triangle has turned back into a love rhombus.The episode began with Clayton telling host Jesse Palmer that he was lost and didn’t know what to do after Susie had surprised him with her ultimatum. “I’m hurt right now.

Susie may not be done with Clayton after all. At the conclusion of Monday night's episode of , fans got a sneak peek look at the second part of the season's two-part finale, in which Clayton grapples with his feelings for the one who got away.During part one of the season finale, Clayton convinced Gabby and Rachel not to leave the show when they learned that Susie did just that because he was in love with three women and had been intimate with two.Both Gabby and Rachel met Clayton's parents and brothers to successful results, but despite that, Clayton couldn't stop thinking about Susie, and told host Jesse Palmer that he wants «one more shot» with the wedding videographer.In the preview for Tuesday's finale, Clayton reiterates those feelings, saying, «I have fallen in love with two women, but I can’t stop thinking about Susie.»With that in mind, Jesse has a conversation with Susie, telling her, «I think he really regrets how it ended.

It ain’t over until it’s over! Susie Evans made a surprise return on the season 26 finale of The Bachelor after Clayton Echard sent her packing during the overnight dates.

SPOILER ALERT! Stop reading now if you don’t want to know what happens in the finale of Clayton Echard’s season of The Bachelor!

Calling in the experts! As Clayton Echard’s dramatic conclusion began on the Monday, March 14, episode of The Bachelor, several members of Bachelor Nation appeared live to weigh in on how he handled the end of his journey.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior Correspondent“The Bachelor” is always full of drama. But according to its new host, this truly will be the most dramatic season finale ever — so dramatic that even the Bachelor, himself, doesn’t know how his journey ends.“As I sit here talking to you, I still cannot believe that I don’t know how it ends,” host Jesse Palmer tells Variety, about the finale, which airs live Monday and Tuesday night.The finale shot last November in Iceland.

There was some controversy this week on The Bachelor after a contestant told Clayton Echard that she couldn’t stay on the show if he had slept with the other women in the fantasy suites.

Topher Grace received a big “Bachelor”-themed surprise during his visit to “The Drew Barrymore Show” on Thursday, March 10.

. After a contentious appearance on «Women Tell All,» the villain of Clayton Echard's season stopped by the podcast to weigh in on all the drama that played out.«I do regret isolating myself from the women. I wish I got a chance to know them a little bit more.

Clayton Echard is responding to criticism that he was gaslighting Susie prior to her exit from the Fantasy Suite dates in Iceland, insisting that that characterization doesn't add up, though he does feel «embarrassed.»During an interview that aired Wednesday on Ben Higgins and Ashley Iaconetti's , Clayton took issue with the accusation for several reasons, which ultimately boiled down to the fact that he never had any ill-will feelings behind the way it all played out.«It's tough because I've seen what everyone's saying and they're using some pretty descriptive terms, some pretty heavy-hitting terms that I couldn't disagree with more,» he said. «I don't agree that I was gaslighting because I looked that up, and it said gaslighting, the definition is to try and convince someone of a different reality than what is actually the true reality of the situation.»«Gaslighting,» he continued.

Clayton Echard is looking back at the way he treated one of the women during this week’s edition of “The Bachelor” with some regrets.

Bachelor Nation, prepare for another messy ending. Clayton Echard, Jesse Palmer and more have been promising a dramatic finale to season 26 for weeks — and it’s finally (almost) here.

a preview that aired at the end of Tuesday night's episode, host Jesse Palmer ominously states, «Welcome to the rose ceremony from hell.»Jesse's words may not be far off, as it's during that upcoming rose ceremony that Clayton Echard tells Rachel and Gabby, his final two women, that he's in love with — and was intimate with — both of them.When ET spoke with Clayton ahead of the episode, he assured fans that there was a reason he came clean in that way, noting that it «felt justified based off of what all had occurred.»What occurred, as fans now know, is that Susie left the show after learning the truth of Clayton's feelings and intimacy with the other two women. Still, Clayton knew his decisions likely wouldn't go over well with America.«I will not have 100 percent of people on my side.

Clayton Echard may not get his happy ending. At the conclusion of Tuesday night's episode of , fans got a sneak peek at next week's two-part finale, which promises to bring epic amounts of drama and tears.After Susie left the show in tears upon learning that Clayton was in love with — and had slept with — both Rachel and Gabby, the two remaining women get the same confession from the Bachelor.«I want to be fully transparent,» Clayton tells Rachel and Gabby at the upcoming rose ceremony.

Clayton Echard has narrowed it down to his final two women. Tuesday night's episode of , saw its leading man travel to Iceland for Fantasy Suite dates with Rachel, Gabby and Susie, all of which ET is breaking down in the recap below.Clayton went into the week believing he «might be falling in love with all three of these women, and I also might already be in love with Susie,» and his love for all three women grew even more throughout the episode.He went deep with Rachel, had a dune buggy date with Gabby, and enjoyed a swimsuit-clad adventure with Susie, but one woman broke things off after revealing her biggest deal breaker.Keep reading for a full recap of episode 9 of .Rachel landed the first date of the week, which left Susie stewing in uncertainty, as Susie told the cameras, «If I find out that he’s falling in love with other women, or that he has become physically intimate with another woman, that would be devastating.”Rachel, meanwhile, went into the date with nerves, after hearing her name called last during the rose ceremony the week before. The pair embarked on a scenic helicopter ride full of PDA, as Clayton admitted that he and Rachel have „the strongest physical connection“ out of his remaining women.When they landed, the couple headed 400 feet underground inside an inactive volcano.

Even worse than it looks? Clayton Echard teased what fans can expect from his Bachelor ending after months of anticipation.

The Bachelor: Women Tell All? I'd recap it, but I honestly have no idea how to describe everything that went down. Shanae continued to drive all the women crazy. The women all yelled at Shanae.

The Bachelor's Clayton Echard. I jokingly ask whether he's received one of ABC's press mailers that included a huge Bachelor body pillow, and his answer is quite telling. “I have one, but not with me,” he says.

Clayton Echard. ET spoke with the teacher after the taping of Monday's «Women Tell All» special, and she opened up about her exit from, and why she accepted Clayton's apology during the reunion show.When they were reunited, Clayton apologized to Serene for making her wonder if he was ending things because he couldn't reciprocate her confession of love.«I really feel terrible and I want to apologize, because I hope you don’t close off going forward,» Clayton told Serene.

Clayton Echard just confronted some of his season's most controversial women. During 's «Women Tell All» special on Monday, the leading man was reunited with Shanae and Sarah, two people he sent home under less-than-positive conditions.Up first was Shanae, and Clayton took loads of criticism from Sierra and others for not sending her home when multiple women suggested he do just that.«We had a connection.