The Bachelor host Chris Harrison has acknowledged Ben Flajnik's edition of the ABC reality dating show has represented a departure from the show's usual feel-good format.

ADVERTISEMENT

(SPOILER ALERT: Please stop reading immediately if you don't want to know any details of the ending of Flajnik's The Bachelor edition -- including the identity of the bachelorette he selected and their current relationship status.)

"It doesn't compare at all to other seasons. It's more competitive, darker and has raised a lot of debate and outrage from viewers," Harrison told People about Flajnik's The Bachelor edition, which has been dominated by the controversial behavior of bachelorette Courtney Robertson. 

According to The Bachelor host, the viewer outrage has effected Flajnik -- who reportedly got engaged to Robertson when his final Rose Ceremony was filmed in Switzerland on November 16 but dumped her last month before having a change of heart and reconciling.

"Ben was taken aback by the public outcry and the anger he's faced. The Courtney thing was not easy for him to endure." Harrison told People.

"For him to go through so much trouble and pain, unless he's a masochist, definitely leads me to believe he wants to find love. ... A lesser guy -- or a guy who didn't care -- would have checked out a long time ago. But he fought like hell the entire time and ended up with a final two he really connected with and cared about."

Harrison told People he knew Robertson, a 28-year-old model from Santa Monica, CA, would be one of Flajnik's final two bachelorettes after seeing The Bachelor star's reaction when they met at the season's initial cocktail ceremony.

"The moment she got out of the limo his jaw dropped to the ground and she always remained a front-runner," he said.

Harrison also said he had expected Kacie Boguskie -- not Lindzi Cox -- to end up as the other member of Flajnik's final two bachelorettes.  But that changed following the season's hometown dates when Flajnik came to believe he wasn't a good fit with the more conservative values of Boguskie and her family.

According to Harrison, selecting Cox would have been the "easy" decision for Flajnik.

"[Lindzi] is the easy choice. They have great charisma and fun together. Their whole relationship has been effortless. She sailed right under the radar because she's the only woman who never got caught up in the drama," Harrison told People.

"[Meanwhile, Courtney] doesn't get along well with others and that worries Ben considerably," he said. "He has a very tight-knit group of friends that he rolls with and loves dearly. I'm guessing he's thinking, 'Who can I bring into this circle of friends?' Who will be accepted?' That's a huge obstacle."

Harrison also said the lengthy gap between the conclusion of The Bachelor's filming and the broadcast of its finale are always the most difficult period for The Bachelor couples.

"All of the Bachelors and Bachelorettes say that between the show airing and the finale is the toughest time to endure," he told People. "It can tear you apart. But it can also bring you together. In the end, he's going to be okay. There is a good chance for him to be happy."
About The Author: Steven Rogers

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS