The Golden Bachelor season 1 introduced Gerry Turner and Leslie Frima, who viewers were hopeful would work out until the end of the season when he chose Theresa Nist, but many realize now that Leslie deserved better. Leslie, who joined the rest of The Golden Bachelor season 1 cast to try and win Gerry’s heart on the inaugural season of the Bachelor spin-off, was excited at the prospect of getting to know the new lead. Having been single for many years, Leslie didn’t let her lack of romance deter her from living her tremendously active life to the absolute fullest.
Throughout The Golden Bachelor season 1, the connection between Leslie and Gerry was palpable to viewers. It was clear that the pair had a strong attraction toward one another, and Leslie was vocal about how she felt about Gerry to him and the rest of the cast. While she understood that Gerry had other women that he was building connections with as well, Leslie felt strongly that she was the right fit for the widower, and didn’t care who knew it. While many believed Leslie would be Gerry’s final choice, he surprised The Golden Bachelor audience when he chose Theresa.
While Gerry advertised himself as a widower looking for someone with an active lifestyle, the match he met in Leslie didn’t actually seem appealing to him. Gerry’s decision to choose Theresa over Leslie was surprising, but it became clear as time went on after TheGolden Bachelor finale that Gerry was far more traditional than he made it seem on the series. From the moment she first appeared on The Golden Bachelor, it was clear that Leslie’s lifestyle was different than many of the other cast members. Leslie’s free spirited personality may have been too much for Gerry to handle.
Though she’s a mother and grandmother, Leslie was clear from early on in her journey on The Golden Bachelor that she prioritizes her social life as frequently as she can. Consistently traveling for work and pleasure, Leslie’s interests include an abundance of outdoor physical activity, music festivals, and keeping up with the trends as best she can. Leslie’s free spirited nature was inspiring, but may have been too much for Gerry as he moved into the more mature second act of his life, which pushed the pair apart.
While Gerry’s home state of Indiana was incredibly important to him, the rest of The Golden Bachelor ladies also had homes that mattered to them dearly. Leslie, who shared that he traveled frequently early on in the season, lives in Minneapolis and enjoys her home base. As an entrepreneur and physical fitness instructor, Leslie has the ability to move freely around the country for her business ventures, but keeping her home base in Minnesota matters to her, as her family is in the area. With her children and young grandchild around, she wouldn’t want to relocate.
Leslie’s home base being in Minneapolis was important to her, which she shared with Gerry during their time together. While Gerry’s home in Indiana was a major part of his dream retirement with his late wife, Toni Turner, the fact that his reluctance to leave his dream home was likely part of his marriage with Theresa crumbling is surprising. On the other hand, it’s likely that Gerry and Leslie would have the same issue if they’d wound up together at the end of The Golden Bachelor, as neither would’ve wanted to move from their respective homes.
If Gerry’s Relationship With Theresa Ended, The Same Would Happen With Leslie
The demise of Gerry and Theresa’s marriage was likely due to an array of factors, but it’s likely that one of their major issues came from the fact that neither Gerry nor Theresa were willing to move after their wedding. Gerry, whose dream home in Indiana was a milestone for him, and Theresa, who lived in New Jersey close to her family, both felt that they wanted to stay put, but would’ve needed to compromise in order to live in the same vicinity. While the pair weren’t compatible, it would’ve been likely the same happened to Leslie.
Should Leslie and Gerry have wound up together and gotten married, the pair probably would’ve had the same end to their relationship that Gerry and Theresa did. Though the couple clearly were able to get along and find love for each other, Gerry and Theresas marriage ended quickly, hurting both of them. If Gerry couldn’t make one relationship work, it’s likely that his potential marriage with Leslie would’ve been an issue for The Golden Bachelor star as well.
