The Golden Bachelorette: Chock Chapple Being A Front Runner Proves The Show Doesn't Care About It's Lead (Is He Too Good To Be True?) - SPOILERS

As Joan Vassos prepares to make her final decision on The Golden Bachelorette, Chock Chapple has emerged as a clear front-runner. Chock, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas, made a lasting impression on Joan when he presented her with his homemade “chock-o-noodle” soup upon their first meeting. He established himself as a safe choice for Joan and even received the coveted first solo date. Although Chock looks good on paper, Joan admitted she worries he is “too good to be true.”

Joan, a school administrator from Maryland, first appeared on Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor. The mother of four had recently lost her husband, John Vassos, after a heartbreaking battle with pancreatic cancer. Although Joan ended up leaving the competition early due to a family emergency, she made a triumphant return as the lead of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Joan has battled guilt and conflicting emotions about dating following the death of her husband. Chock appealed to Joan with his strong yet comforting demeanor, having also faced loss himself, but he has also exhibited several red flags.

Chock Made Joan Feel Like Family Too Soon

His Hometown Date Put Her In An Awkward Position

Chock’s eagerness to welcome Joan into his family is worrisome. Like Joan, Chock is very close to his family. He has two children and is a devoted son. Sadly, Chock’s mother passed away while at the mansion. He made the difficult choice to leave, mirroring Joan’s experience on The Golden Bachelor. Fortunately, he made a quick return once everything was settled at home. The tragedy brought Joan and Chock closer as they bonded over similar experiences. Joan’s mother was also in poor health and respected Chock’s dedication to his family.

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While it’s important for Joan to find someone who values family the same way she does, Chock’s attempt to incorporate Joan into his family felt like too much, too soon. During Chock’s hometown date in Wichita, he brought Joan to a family ceremony honoring his mother. As Chock’s family members tearfully spoke about their late matriarch while planting a tree in her memory, the event felt like a bizarre way to introduce Joan to his family. It was incredibly intimate, which placed an unfair amount of pressure on Joan.

As somebody who had experienced profound loss herself, Joan was moved by Chock and his family’s grief. However, bringing Joan to the ceremony may have been part of Chock’s effort to secure a rose. She would feel uncomfortable eliminating him after he and his family had been so vulnerable in front of her. Although the ceremony was beautiful, it forced Joan to connect with Chock’s family faster than she should have. After sharing in their mourning, Joan probably felt obligated to keep Chock in the competition out of fear of causing him any more heartbreak.

Chock Wants To Propose But Joan Has Expressed Her Concerns About Getting Engaged

Chock May Pressure Joan To Move Fast

Chock has always been confident about his connection to Joan. He made it a point to steal Joan away from the other men on group dates, much to their disappointment. Chock stated he was Joan's first date and intends to be her last date. He made it clear that he wants to end the season with an engagement.

While Chock has shown no hesitation for Joan, she can’t say the same. Joan has been open about her struggle to balance the love she has for her late husband with her desire for companionship. She knows she deserves to find happiness, but Joan still feels guilt, as if she is betraying John by looking for love.

Although Chock gives Joan a safe place to vent, he may not be entirely sympathetic toward her needs. His assertive behavior on group dates and certainty that Joan is the woman for him, means he may not accept if she wants to take things slow. If Chock pushes Joan to move faster than she is comfortable with, it will potentially leave them both devastated.

Chock Is Likely Swept Up In The Moment

Is He Honest About His Feelings For Joan?

Chock has a good heart, but he also seems to enjoy the competitive nature of The Golden Bachelorette. Although Chock bonded well with the other men in the mansion, he also took pride in beating them to win Joan’s affection. He appears to be loving the attention the show has brought him. Chock recently shared a video of him cooking his famous soup, even creating a logo that mimics the famous Campbell’s soup cans. While he appears passionate about Joan, his desire to stay in the competition may have been swayed by his desire for fame.

Chock admitted during a conversation with his father that the entire situation was very unlike him. Like Joan, Chock is recovering from a broken heart. Chock's fiancé, Kathy, passed away after battling a brain tumor. Like Joan, Chock was elated at the prospect of finding romance again after such a painful loss.

His desire to heal his broken heart may influence his confidence in Joan. Chock has claimed to love Joan and have hope for their future together, but he might not truly mean it. Being in the mansion is a surreal experience. If he and Joan end up together in the real world, he may find that his feelings have changed.

Are Chock & Joan Engaged?

Reality Steve Claims Chock And Joan Are Together

Although Chock and Joan’s current relationship status hasn’t been confirmed, there are promising signs. Reality Steve shared The Golden Bachelorette spoilers confirm Chock wins Joan’s final rose. The spoilers also said the hometown dates would be awarded to Chock, Pascal Ibgui, Guy Gansert, and Jordan Heller, which later proved to be true, giving credence to the rest of the claims.

Joan and Chock’s future depends on many factors. Joan has stated she’s willing to be in a long-distance relationship. She wants a partner who has built a life for himself just as she has. Considering Chock’s life is in Kansas and Joan’s is in Maryland, it may be difficult for them to build a future together. While Joan is happy taking things slow, that could be a dealbreaker for Chock.

More importantly, Joan needs to get to a place where she is comfortable moving on from her late husband. Her time at the mansion has tremendously helped her healing process, but she still has some work to do. Joan’s role in The Golden Bachelorette forced her to confront a future without John, which she may not be entirely ready for. If Chock can’t give her the time she needs, it proves that neither he nor the show had Joan’s best interests in mind.

Sources: Chock Chapple/Instagram, Reality Steve/Instagram

Cast Joan Vassos , Jesse Palmer , Gary Levingston , Pascal Ibgui , Jonathan Rone , Charles Chock Chapple , Charles Ling , Keith Gordon , Guy Gansert , Jordan Heller , Mark Anderson , Daniel Roemer , Gil Ramirez , Charles King , Kim Buike , Gregg Lassen , Michael Stevens

Character(s) The Golden Bachelorette

Release Date September 18, 2024

Seasons 1

Streaming Service(s) Hulu

Showrunner Bennett Graebner