What to Watch the Week of November 26: The Golden Bachelor 's Jaw-Dropping Finale, and Virgin River 's Cozy Holiday Episodes

ABC/Disney; Netflix; Hulu

Well, The Golden Bachelor finale is upon us, and I'm both super excited for Thursday night and also very bummed. If you're invested in Gerry Turner's journey to find a second life partner, then you get why I'm looking forward to the finale; also, if you're invested in Gerry Turner's journey, you don't want it to be over either.

The show has been such a wonderful surprise; it's appointment viewing. To think it's going to be months before we maybe get a Golden Bachelorette (which hasn't even been ordered or announced, yet)—I'm just not okay with it! No offense to Joey, who will take the reins of the Bachelor in January, but it's just hard to get invested in those twenty-something love stories. ABC, if you're listening, I need a Ladies of the Golden Bachelor catch-up special this winter.

But as for this Thursday's finale, it's a two-hour and four minute episode where we'll see what happens in Costa Rica when Theresa and Leslie meet Gerry's family. We'll also find out if Gerry gets engaged, and what's going on with him now. Based on everything I've heard, we're going to be in for quite a night of television. (Also, there's no better time to have a viewing party where you make Edith's guacamole and Susan's meatballs).

Thursday also marks the return of Virgin River, as part two of season five—also known as the holiday episodes—air. Executive producer and showrunner Patrick Sean Smith tells Glamour that episode 11 opens right before Christmas as the town is preparing for the holiday season.

By now, you've probably seen the trailer for these two episodes (if not, you can watch below), in which Charmaine is finally in labor. For Smith, it was a moment that was a long time coming. “Charmaine’s seemingly four-year gestational period I think started to take fans out of the story around season four, so I really wanted her to have those babies,” he says. “While I couldn't justify doing it in part one of season five, it felt like part two was the next best thing and a holiday gift to the fans.”

Speaking of holiday gifts, fans also want to know who might be Mel's biological father, and yes, you will get an answer. While Smith surmises that fans have their own suspicions and theories for who it could be, “there will be some surprise when they find out, but there will also be a lot of emotion around it.”

Check back here next Thursday as we break down all the developments with Smith and look ahead to season six.

With that, we've officially entered the holiday programming season, so take a look at everything else coming to the small screen and big screen this week. There's a lot!

Sunday, November 26

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (ABC): This two-hour holiday season staple returns for its eighth year from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii. Musical performances include Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, Michael Bolton and Mickey Guyton, Adam Blackstone and Andra Day, Chris Janson, Tori Kelly, Chrissy Metz, The Smashing Pumpkins, Robin Thicke, and Iam Tongi. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Faraway Downs (Hulu): Nicole Kidman reunites with Baz Luhrmann for this sweeping series centering on an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset: a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback called ‘Faraway Downs.’ After the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown), plots to take her land, so Lady Ashley reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch. It's all explored through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government's draconian racial policy now referred to as the “Stolen Generations.” Together the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the Drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia. Streaming

A Biltmore Christmas (Hallmark Channel): Per the official synopsis, here's what we know: Lucy Hardgrove (Bethany Joy Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved, holiday movie classic, His Merry Wife!, which was filmed in 1947 at beautiful, historic Biltmore House. When the head of the studio isn’t satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original’s feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore Estate for research and inspiration, where she’s welcomed by Biltmore employee Winston (Jonathan Frakes), who shows her around. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the 1947 set of His Merry Wife! through the help of an hourglass. And then, while on set, she and Jack Huston (Kristoffer Polaha), one of the film’s stars, spend time together and become close. But her sudden appearance has set off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, Lucy must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever. 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT

Tuesday, November 28

Welcome to the O.C., B*tch: The Oral History (Mariner Books/HarperCollins): Rolling Stone chief TV critic Alan Sepinwall uncovers all the behind-the-scenes stories you want to know, including why Marissa was killed off. All the key cast members, writers, and producers are interviewed in this 20th anniversary homage to one of the most popular show of the aughts. Available for pre-order here

Wednesday, November 29

Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC/Peacock): Settle in for two hours of dazzling holiday surprises before the world's most famous Christmas tree gets lit. Kelly Clarkson hosts. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Christmas at Graceland (NBC/Peacock): This is the first live musical televised holiday special from Elvis Presley's estate. It will feature music’s biggest stars celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his music and his favorite time of year live from his iconic home, Graceland. 10 p.m. ET/PT, 9 p.m. CT

Thursday, November 30

The Golden Bachelor: Finale and After the Finale Rose (ABC): Tonight's the night when we find out if Gerry's family sees Leslie or Theresa fitting in more, and if it lines up with who he sees as the woman he wants to spend his golden years with. Also, note that tonight's finale is two hours and four minutes, so prepare your evening accordingly. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Bachelor in Paradise (ABC): Another new episode airs, but most likely you'll be on the phone with your mother discussing the shocking end to Gerry's season. 10:04 p.m. ET/PT, 9:04 p.m. CT

Virgin River (Netflix): It's Christmastime in Virgin River as Charmaine goes into labor and Mel searches for her biological father. What's a holiday without family drama and excitement, right? Two episodes streaming

Bookie (Max): Following the success of The Kominsky Method comes Chuck Lorre's latest creation, the eight-episode comedy series, Bookie, with co-creator Nick Bakay. Per Max, “the dark comedy follows veteran Los Angeles bookie Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) as the potential legalization of sports gambling in California threatens to upend his business for good. Alongside best friend and former NFL player Ray (Omar J. Dorsey), side-hustling sister Lorraine (Vanessa Ferlito), and reluctantly reformed drug dealer Hector (Jorge Garcia), Danny must contend with his increasingly unstable clients as he tries to settle their debts, all while making plenty of risky bets of his own.” Two episodes streaming at launch, followed by one a week

Paris in Love (Peacock): In season two, fans will get an intimate look at Paris Hilton’s journey to motherhood. All episodes streaming

Julia (Max): Episode 5 is titled “Bûche de Noël,” and was written by Emily Bensinger and directed by Erica Dunton. Here's what we know: While preparing for an interview with Life magazine, Julia is thrown by a surprise visit from Paul’s domineering twin brother, Charles. (And two of David Hyde Pierce is always a good thing). Streaming

Family Switch (Netflix): Based on the book, "Bedtime For Mommy," by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, this family comedy stars Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers, Brady Noon, Bashir Salahuddin, Matthias Schweighöfer, Xosha Roquemore, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, Paul Scheer, Fortune Feimster, and Rita Moreno. Here's the logline: Jess and Bill Walker are doing their best to keep their family connected as their children grow older, more independent, and more distant. But when a chance encounter with an astrological reader causes the family to wake up to a full body switch, on the morning of the most important day of each of their lives, can the Walkers unite to land a promotion, college interview, record deal, and soccer tryout? Streaming

Friday, December 1

May December (Netflix): Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple buckles under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their past. Todd Haynes directs an all-star cast featuring Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton. Streaming

25 Days of Christmas (Freeform): For the next 25 days, get ready to watch nonstop holiday favorites like Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Richie Rich's Christmas Wish, Eloise at Christmastime, and more. Click here for the full schedule. All day

Candy Cane Lane (Prime Video): If Eddie Murphy in his first holiday film was on your Christmas wish list, then do I have a gift for you. He stars alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, D.C. Young Fly, and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes in this family film set on the picturesque Candy Cane Lane. Streaming

The Snoopy Show Christmas Special (Apple TV+): Snoopy searches for the perfect tree topper while Woodstock gets trapped in a window display. Streaming

Saturday, December 2

Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas (Lifetime): Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray, Donna Mills, and Nicollette Sheriden star in Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas, about five glamorous ‘80s soap opera stars who reunite to film the final Christmas episode of their long-running soap opera. The movie’s theme song was performed by '80s pop sensation Tiffany ("I Think We’re Alone Now"). 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the NYT best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.

Originally Appeared on Glamour