The Most Shocking 'Bachelor' Twists That Lived Up to the Hype (and a Couple That...Certainly Did Not)

Chris called this "one of the most shocking changes of heart in Bachelor history," and while nothing tops the MESS that was Jason's season, yeahhh...Arie ending his engagement with Becca on this depressing couch was a shock. Truly, the moment was so dramatic that ABC used a split screen so both of their faces could be seen at all times.

You'd think men proposing to their recently-rejected-at-the-altar exes would get old, but it really doesn't. And these two are still going strong, btw, with three kids!

Chris Harrison claimed Peter's season of The Bachelor was an "unbelievable journey like you've never seen before" and said it had "one of the most unexpected and complicated endings" he'd ever seen. Considering the show ended with Peter proposing to Hannah Ann, only to dump her on camera (in a "quick, get the cameras back out!" moment) and get together with runner-up Maddie before breaking up with her, like, 48 hours later, yeah. It lived up to the hype.

ABC teased Peter's mom, Barb, screaming "BRING HER HOME" for literally the entire season, and the moment we finally saw the full scene was perhaps the most powerful three minutes of my life. Sorry to my future children, but this is already my happiest memory.

Peter's "freak accident" was teased for 84 years and ended up literally being this, ahem: Peter bumped his head on a golf cart, accidentally broke the glass he was holding, cut his face, and had to have some stitches. A (historic?) event that was so intense that ABC felt the need to STAGE A LITERAL REENACTMENT.

I will never get over the AUDACITY of this man breaking up with Melissa on liiiive national television—but then again, it made for good television, so great job both of you.

Imagine watching your ex break up with the woman he rejected you for, and having him instantly pivot to you with nary a commercial break in between. This is the face I'd make too. (Though, to be clear, they got together and are happily married to this day!)

Just to give you an idea of how hard ABC went promoting the twists and turns of Jason's season: This is the shot they used when they casually called him "the most hated man in America." A liiiittle extreme, but are we surprised?

ABC truly chose violence when they decided to hire Victoria F's ex-boyfriend Chase Rice to be the "surprise celebrity singer" during their date. These producers! They're sick! (Compliment.)

Honestly, yes, accurate. Years later, I still gather strangers around a fire, shine a flashlight on my face, and tell them the story of Clare absolutely going off on Juan Pablo.

The twist? That this relationship was...not it. I, for one, have never wanted my body to leave my soul more than when I had to sit through their breakup.

Where were you when you first saw ABC's unhinged footage of Colton flinging himself over a fence to flee the camera crew? Perfectly hyped tbh.

Once again: the AUDACITY of this man making us suffer through an entire season of this show only to reject both his finalists. "I have to tell you goodbye" is forever etched in my brain, nbd.

Lest we forget that Brad returned for a second season as the Bachelor, in which he DID choose someone (remember sweet Emily Maynard?)...but it didn't last.

Sorry for the blurry screen grab, but what we have here is ABC trying to make viewers think that Desiree's ex showed up to declare his love in a surprise twist. What ACTUALLY happened? Desiree hired an actor to pretend to be said ex as a "prank" on Sean Lowe. 😐 Producers, you tried.

Things Clayton felt the need to do, in no particular order: 1) Tell literally everyone, at the same time, that he loved them. 2) Tell literally everyone, at the same time, that he'd slept with multiple people. 3) Sow absolute chaos whenever he entered a room.

So yes, Chris Harrison 100 percent accurately called Clayton's season "unbelievable television" and "crazy drama." (Also a fan of his use of "the Rose Ceremony from hell.")

The scream I scrumpt when Chris Harrison had to awkwardly tell Rozlyn she was being kicked off The Bachelor for allegedly having an "inappropriate relationship" with a producer. Did! Not! See! That! Coming!

Behold: a moment The Bachelor attempted a twist that truly didn't live up to the hype.

ABC tried (bless them) to make it seem like one of Ben Flajnik's exes was joining the season by showing us a montage of his contestants screaming/crying/throwing up (and saying things like, "This makes me want to punch a wall!") Buuut, it was just a former contestant who he pretty much immediately told to leave.

Another twist that didn't live up? When Chris Harrison tried to imply that something dramatic or unexpected was going to happen during Sean Lowe's Final Rose Ceremony by calling it "the emotional season finale you won't believe." We believed it, Chris.