sean lowe"I wouldn't be here if it was going to end badly," said Sean Lowe to his worried, teary-eyed mom. Oh Sean. If history is any indication, it's not if, but when. But regardless of what happens three months from now, one lucky girl -- either fun-loving Catherine Guidici or girl next door Lindsay Yenter -- was finally selected tonight. It was a tough decision, to be sure. Both women wowed his family. Both look good in bikinis and booty shorts. Both have professed their undying love. But the final rose went to ...

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read on if you don't want to know who Sean's future ex will be!

AGAIN. STOP READING IF YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

Sean certainly seemed like he was leaning toward a life with Lindsay early on in the three-hour finale. They both have strong family backgrounds, he talked about how there was never a dull moment, they had similar senses of humor, and she really felt like the one for him at that very moment. For her part, Lindsay revealed she didn't know what she would do if she lost Sean. Well, unfortunately for her, she would soon find out. He sends the school teacher packin'. Poor thing. She kept up a brave face, though she was clearly shocked and devastated. At least she has one thing to look forward to -- getting ditched in the finale means you are in the running for The Bachelorette!

Of course that means Catherine won the grand prize, which includes her life-size Ken doll (aka Sean), a sparkler from Neil Lane, probably a future invite to be on Dancing With the Stars, and at least a few Us Weekly covers when the romance crumbles in four months. I sound really cynical, but can you blame me? I got tired of rooting for these couples only to find out they weren't even still together by the time the finale aired. That said, I do think Sean and Catherine are in deep like, if not actually in love.

I have to admit, there were times when it seemed as though Catherine was getting cold feet. She has suffered some terrible tragedies in her young life and she was skittish about risking her heart. I bet there was a little voice inside telling her to RUN. No one knew what to expect when he was given a letter she had written. Of course ABC ups the drama with an annoying breakaway to Chris Harrison in a live studio audience. When the show resumed, it turned out the note was just more lovey-dovey gushing. It ends with Sean down on bended knee and a doe-eyed Catherine shaking with disbelief and joy.

Question is, can it last? It's hard not to feel swept off your feet when you are wined and dined and every conversation is filled with mushy platitudes like, "I can see spending the rest of my life with you" and "I have never been happier than when I'm with you." Of course you haven't. That's because they have yet to try to love this guy in the real world. Isn't that the killer in these made-for-TV romances, anyway?

Perhaps Catherine and Sean will defy the odds. They don't seem as cunning and fame hungry as, say, a Jake and Vienna. Maybe they can go the distance ... or at least make it through the year. If the proposal is any indication, there are some intense feelings there. We'll just have to wait and see.

Do you think Catherine and Sean will be a Bachelor success story?

 

Image via ABC