What a crazy and dramatic finale to The Bachelorette! My head is spinning from everything that went on! Reid’s return, multiple proposals, multiple heartbreaks!

In the end, Jillian chose to give the final rose, and her heart, to Ed, the technology consultant from Chicago. In what was a very touching and heartfelt moment, Ed told Jillian that he loved her and asked if she loved him back. At which point she smiled and said that yes, she was madly in love with him. He then got down on one knee and presented her with a gorgeous teardrop shaped diamond engagement ring. All’s well that ends well for Jillian. Let’s hope she and Ed are indeed happy together for the rest of their lives.

But it was a long journey for Jill to get to that place, not just over the course of the show but in the finale itself. First, she introduced the two finalists, Ed and Kiptyn to her family. Both men seemed to make a good impression, although I think Jillian’s dad seemed to prefer Ed for putting his feelings for Jillian out there, while the ladies (Jill’s mom, cousin, grandma) seemed impressed by Kiptyn and his spirit.

Next, the guys had their final dates with Jillian, and Ed made up for the lack of intimacy in the previous overnight date. While we naturally didn’t see what went on between them, a shot of an erupting volcano was a none too subtle metaphor (That elicited lots of laughs on the live blog, btw). On his date, Kiptyn told Jillian that he was indeed falling in love with her — words she’d wanted to hear for some time.

After some soul-searching and lots of thought about the two remaining guys, Jillian made up her mind that she had to let Kiptyn go. It was an emotional goodbye, but Kiptyn took it like a man and was a gentleman about his being rejected. I do sense that he could end up being the next Bachelor, but we’ll see.

So it should have been smooth sailing for Jillian after that right? Wrong! Before Ed arrived, Reid came back to profess his love to Jillian. He told her how he was feeling, and even got on one knee to propose to her. A teary Jillian told him she’d have to think about it. Host Chris Harrison helped talk her through what was obviously a difficult decision. And thought it was obvious she still cared very deeply for Reid, she opted to let him go and stick with her original choice: Ed. Reid was obviously quite stunned, figuring that by finally saying what Jillian wanted to hear he’d win her back. No dice, Reid.

That left Ed, and he was beaming as Jillian accepted his proposal by saying “Absolutely!” and jumping into his arms.

So, let’s wish Jillian and Ed all the best, shall we? Congratulations to them!

For those of you who want to hear more from Jillian and Ed, watch the After the Final Rose special on Citytv tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10pm ET. We’ll also be live blogging the special, so come back to citytv.com/bachelorette for it!

We may also find out who the next Bachelor will be — let’s hope!

It’s been fun!

Cheers,

Suzanne

Well this is it folks. Decision time for Jillian.

Monday night’s finale of The Bachelorette promises to be one of the most dramatic in the show’s history. There are two men still standing, Ed and Kiptyn. And let’s not forget wild card Reid, who apparently returns to profess his love for her (or so the preview suggests).

Such a tough call, as on the surface all three seem like decent guys. As many of you know, especially the ones who have joined me on the live blog week after week, I’m on Team Reid. I think he and Jillian have the best chemistry. They just seem relaxed and easy going around each other, and overall they just look happy together.

From the first episode I figured Kiptyn would be in for the long haul — and though he’s said and done all the right things, I just don’t see him falling for Jillian the way she seems to be falling for him. Would he eventually break her heart if she chose him? I wonder.

And then there’s Ed, who left of his own accord mid-show (citing work reasons) only to return and say that he’d made a terrible mistake in leaving. He subsequently flew his parents down so she could meet them, and that same episode told her he was falling in love with her. Major bonus points for Ed, but some bloggers have said they sense something’s off with him. Did his profession of love come too early? And what about his seeming inability to make direct eye contact with her. Is he just shy? Or does he have something to hide?

As for who you, the fans, want Jillian to end up with it appears to be a more or less even split between Kiptyn, Ed, and Reid.

I guess only time will tell, let’s just hope Jillian is happy with the decision she makes!!

Hope to see you all on the live blog tonight!!

Suzanne

So the rumours appear to be true. Eliminated bachelor Reid (booted in last week’s episode) will indeed be back for the season finale next week. I, for one, am ecstatic. Of all the guys, Reid (aka Jillian’s ‘Honey Bear’) seemed the most comfortable and real with Jillian and though he hasn’t been able to say exactly what she wants to hear, I think he’ll come through in a big way next week. That shot of him in the preview holding the wedding band? Gold!

But what about the other two guys: Kiptyn and Ed? Though at the start of the show, I thought Kiptyn was a sure bet, he’s been fading a lot in recent weeks. I really don’t see Jillian choosing him — though I know there are lots of fans who disagree with me on that. Kip talks a good game, but I really don’t see the affection from him that I do with the other guys.

Ed is another guy I now have reservations about. He was one of my faves early on, but since he decided to bail on Jillian midway through the season I’ve had my doubts. There are rumours of a girlfriend in Chicago, but even if he doesn’t have one he still left the show. Did he deserve a second chance? Obviously Jill thought so, and that’s her prerogative. Still, I would have serious questions about a future with him.

Looks like next week will be even more action-packed than previous Bachelor/Bachelorette finales, with the possibility of multiple proposals, the return of Reid, and who knows what other surprises. Looking forward to the live blog that night and hearing what all of you have to say about the outcome.

As for the ‘Men Tell All’ show, nothing really shocking happened. Reid wasn’t there (and now we know why), and neither was Wes. Not a huge surprise Wes didn’t show up given that the guys, Jill, and the audience would’ve collectively ripped him a new one.

So who was there? Well among the eliminated bachelors returning to confront Jillian: Jake, Tanner P., Tanner F., Jesse, Michael, Mike, David, Sasha and Juan.

David and Juan, who had it out on the show in one of the early episodes, had the chance to explain why they butted heads. They clearly still don’t like each other, and the other guys seemed to be on David’s side, accusing Juan of being a fake.

Chris wasn’t about to let David off the hook though, bringing up the painfully uncomfortable date with Jillian in Vancouver. Later on in the show David apologized to Jillian for his inappropriate behaviour and comments.

Another bachelor who featured prominently in the ‘tell-all’ was Jake. The guys grilled him on his apparent perfection, which Jake handled well, although he did tell Sasha to “f*** off” at one point. He was also criticized, though not by everybody, for returning to the program to tell Jillian about Wes having a girlfriend. Some of the guys felt he did the right thing by telling her, others felt he was betraying the ‘man code’ by snitching on one of the other guys. When one of the audience members asked Jake if he’d consider being the next Bachelor, he responded by saying he’d be flattered if the producers asked and would have to think about it when the time came.

When Jillian came on the show in the last half hour for a chat with host Chris Harrison, she talked about some of the most difficult eliminations (Reid being one), her beliefs about Wes, and why she made some of the decisions she made. She also said she’s very happy now, suggesting that whoever she ends up with (if anybody), she’s in a better place for having done the show.

Share your thoughts on who Jillian chooses! I’d like to hear what your thoughts are!

Til next Monday,

Suzanne

Kiptyn, Reid, and Ed.

Only three guys left, and thankfully not Wes.

There’s smooth Californian Kiptyn, neurotic but sweet Philly dude Reid, and the Chicago comeback kid, Ed.

In this third-to-last episode, Jillian took the guys to Hawaii for some serious conversations amid beautiful scenery. On the island of Maui, Jillian took Kiptyn on a rope course high in the air as a way of establishing trust. She had some difficulty with the last element, which involved getting up on top of a narrow pole, and taking the Leap of Faith. But Kiptyn coached her through it and she managed to conquer her fears and go through with it. Later, she confessed that whe was still nervous about the fact that he’s never been rejected, and said she was worried he’d break her heart. He told her that he’s not perfect, and tried to reassure her of his feelings. The date ended with a romantic night in the Fantasy Suite.

Next, Jillian and Reid spend the day together. First they went on a helicopter ride over Maui and took in some gorgeous sights. Then, they sat and enjoyed a romantic picnic by the ocean. Jillian pressed Reid on his inability to express his feelings to her, and he admitted it was difficult for him to put his feelings into words. He also said the relationship was going faster than he’s used to and that that was another issue. At dinner, a romantic get-together on the beach, Jillian appeared to enjoy herself but still seemed frustrated, apparently not hearing what she wanted to from Reid. But she did say she could see in his eyes how badly he wanted to tell her how he was feeling. They also spent the night together, and at one point shared a romantic bubble bath.

Next up, was the date with Ed. Ed took her on a sailboat, and they went swimming in pristine water. He revealed that he felt at a disadvantage because of missing so much time with her, and said he wanted to make it up to her. As a surprise for Jillian, he flew his parents down to meet her, because he’d missed the hometown date episode. Jillian was obviously thrilled, and she seemed to get along really well with Ed’s parents. Ed’s dad even got choked up at one point.

After a long day, Ed and Jillian retired to the Fantasy Suite. And that’s when the date headed south. It started out fine, with Ed even telling Jillian he was falling in love with her, but for all the romance the sparks weren’t flying between them. We don’t see exactly what happened between them, just that something was off. Jillian admitted she was worried that they just might not have any chemistry.

At the rose ceremony, Jillian took Ed aside and asked him about the previous night, explaining that she had some concerns. He told her that his feelings were sincere, and assured her that any problems they currently had were a function of the stress and pressure of the environment and that they’d go away.

Jill gave the two remaining rosee to Kiptyn, and then Ed, sending Reid home. In the limo ride to the airport, Reid admitted he’d screwed up by not telling Jillian how he feels.

Next week: the guys reunite for the tell-all show. And in two weeks, it’s the big finale! Who will Jillian choose? Kiptyn or Ed? Only time will tell.

Cheers,

Suzanne

He’s the man everybody loved to hate on The Bachelorette, but Spain was Wes’s final stop, as Jillian finally saw his true colours and let him go.

With four guys remaining, Wes, Reid, Ed, and Kiptyn, Jillian travelled with them to Spain to enjoy the food, architecture, and culture.

The first stop was Madrid, and a date with Kiptyn. On the date the pair took a flamenco dancing lesson, drove a scooter through the city, and then sat down to a fancy dinner. Though Kiptyn was affectionate, it seemed as though Jillian was more into him than he was into her, and when she asked about a possible proposal, he stressed that he wouldn’t want to rush into things. A fantasy suite card came, suggesting that they could spend the night together if they chose to, but Jillian turned it down, saying she wasn’t sure she wanted to take that next step just yet.

From there, Jillian travelled to Sevilla, where she met up with Reid. Their date appeared to be much more relaxed and natural, as they strolled through town trying in mangled Spanish to buy food for a picnic. Sitting on a bench eating their food, Jillian asked Reid to elaborate on his feelings for her. He admitted it normally takes a while for him to develop feelings for someone, and that he was sure he really liked her, he couldn’t say much more than that. At dinner later on, Jillian asked him again to talk about his feelings, and this time he was more successful, and even admitted to being jealous of the other guys. At the end of the date he gave her a piggyback ride back to the hotel. And though a fantasy suite card came up again, she once again turned it down, saying that if their relationship continued to go in the direction it was going in, they’d have other opportunities.

Jillian remained in Sevilla for her date with Ed. They took a horse-drawn carriage ride around town, and Jillian attempted to make up for lost time with Ed, who’d left the show previously by choice, for work reasons. They easily reestablished the physical connection they’d had, but Jillian felt she needed to get more out of him in terms of his feelings, and she raised the legitimate concern that he might hurt her again. She also expressed regret at not getting to meet his family in a hometown date. When the fantasy suite card came at dinner, Ed convinced her that they didn’t have to rush into anything but said he wanted as much time with her as possible. So they went to the fantasy suite, but just talked into the wee hours.

The fourth date was with Wes, in Barcelona. It was obvious from early on that Wes’s affections for Jillian seemed to be waning. As they ate lunch underneath a gazebo, he said the kind of thing she wanted to hear but his body language was sending off a completely different vibe, as he sat far away from her and barely looked at her. He also seemed ill-at-ease when she asked him about how they’d make a relationship work, for example if she wanted him to leave Austin, where his band is, for her.

Sensing his lack of affection, Jillian didn’t hold back at dinner, grilling him about the apparent girlfriend Jake said he had, asking him why this woman was so special. At one point he slipped up and said, ‘girlfriend, I mean ex-girlfriend,’ and at that point Jillian just looked deflated, and was likely kicking herself for letting things get so far with Wes. Though he had the nerve to push for them to spend the night in the fantasy suite, she said no.

At the rose ceremony, Jill picked, in order, Ed, Reid, and Kiptyn. She walked Wes to the waiting limo, and said afterward she knew she made the right decision. In the limo, Wes dropped the mask completely, saying he was the first person in Bachelorette history to make it to the final four with a girlfriend, as if it was a badge of honour. He also slagged Reid and Ed, and said his acting days were over.

Next week, Jillian takes the three remaining guys — Ed, Reid, and Kiptyn — to Hawaii.

Looking forward to what happens next!

Suzanne

What a drama-filled episode!

We saw the return of not one, but two departed bachelors. Both Jake and Ed showed up — and though Jake’s appearance was teased in the Episode 7 preview, Ed’s arrival was a complete shock.

First, let’s get caught up! Going into tonight’s episode there were five guys left — Reid, Kiptyn, Jesse, Michael, and Wes. Judging by the comments on the live blog over the past few weeks, none of us want Wes around anymore. He’s overstayed his welcome by about three songs. But it’s obvious Jill has a major thing for him, and doesn’t see what the rest of us see, which is that he’s clearly there to promote his music career.

Tonight was the hometown dates episode, meaning the guys brought Jill home to meet their families. First stop was Philadelphia, where Reid took Jillian to meet his family. They seemed to get along quite well with her and Reid’s mom said she hoped Reid had finally found the right woman to settle down with. Some of Reid’s extended family showed up in an impromptu 30th birthday celebration for him.

Next up, Jillian visited Astoria, New York, and Michael’s fam. We learned that Michael has a twin brother, and the two tried a switcheroo, changing clothes, to see if Jillian could tell them apart. Of course she could! Michael’s family was sweet and exuberant, and seemed to get along really well with Jill.

The third family visit was to the Kiptyn clan in Encinitas, Calif. They immediately put her to the test — tasting two lasagnas and two glasses of wine and picking the best combination. Fortunately she chose well, and passing the test proved to be a good icebreaker. But Jillian still had to endure some tough questions from Kiptyn’s mother — methinks she’d make for a tough-as-nails mother-in-law.

Next was Jesse and his family in Carmel, Calif. The winemakers — Jesse’s parents and brother — definitely seemed sweet on Jillian, and they capped the night off rocking out in an impromptu jam session.

Finally it was Wes’s turn — and before introducing Jillian to his family in Austin, Texas, she met his ‘other family’, aka his band. It was more proof that Wes is on the show to further his music career and not for her. To that effect, Jake flew to Austin to tell Jillian what Wes said to him, chiefly that he has a girlfriend. There were some tense moments, especially when Jake confronted Wes and challenged what he had to say. Wes, of course, denied everything, and for some reason Jillian opted to believe him. She decided to meet his family, and they defended Wes and his motives for being on the show.

After heading back to Beverly Hills, Jillian was in for another shocker. Ed, who left previously for work reasons, came back and begged Jillian for a second chance. She invited him to attend the rose ceremony, suggesting that he might be back in the running.

With Ed at the rose ceremony there were six guys and only four roses. She chose, in order: Reid, Kiptyn, Ed, and finally Wes. That meant Michael and Jesse were sent home packing.

So, lots of drama! What do you think? Did Jill make the right decision keeping Ed on? And what about Wes? Will Jillian ever see the truth about him?

Next week Jillian takes the four guys to Spain!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Suzanne

I, like most of you Bachelorette fans, was shocked to see favourite Jake, the sexy and sweet pilot from Dallas, Texas, dismissed by Jillian tonight. He was shown the door along with Tanner, aka Mr. Foot Fetish, while the sneaky Wes received a rose.

What gives? How is Wes, who on Monday’s episode (Ep. 6) clearly stated he’s on the show to promote his album, still a contender for Jillian’s heart? How is it none of the guys have filled her in on his true motives? Tanner came close, but he’s gone now.

Well, if the previews for future episodes are any indication, Jake returns to tell Jillian about the country singer’s apparent motives. Will she listen to him? Will she give him another chance? Or is it too late for Jake?

Some of you are also wondering if Ed, another front-runner before he opted to leave last week for work reasons, will come back. Hard to say, but I’m not sure if I see that happening. That’d be a real surprise.

The current front-runners, as I see it, are Kiptyn and Reid. I don’t see Jillian choosing Michael, Jesse, or Wes in the long run. But we shall see.

Tonight’s episode, for those who missed it, was set mainly aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train, which travelled through the mountains. Beautiful scenery, and once again the Canadian West was the star of the show, in this episode both B.C. and Alberta got their due.

The first date was with Robby, and although Jillian said she adored him, she worried he was too young and not ready for a big commitment. She opted not to give him a rose, and he was forced to leave the train with his bags.

Next up it was a group date snowshoeing by Emerald Lake, and the guys had fun horsing around with Jillian in the snow. Though all the guys had individual moments with Jillian afterward, she gave the group date rose to Kiptyn.

Finally, it was the second one-on-one date, with Reid. They went snowboarding together and Reid was terrible at it, but a good sport, which Jillian appreciated. They then shared fondue, and Reid admitted that fondue makes him nervous — something about dipping strips of raw beef into cooking liquid apparently bugged him. Anyway his neuroses finally made an appearance, but Jillian wasn’t put off in fact she gave him a rose and said it seemed as though they were on the same page in a number of ways including their feelings on relationships and moving to another city to be with the right person.

So with Kiptyn and Jillian safe, and Robby gone, there were five more men to choose from. Three would stay, two would go. Tonight’s rose ceremony was particularly important because the men who receive roses this week get to take Jillian to meet their families in future episodes.

After a lot of deliberation, Jillian gave roses to Jesse, Wes, and Michael, sending Tanner and Jake packing.

I read a lot of comments on the live blog about people not watching anymore now that Jake is gone. I say, not so fast. The preview showed Jake coming back in another episode, and by the sounds of it one man gets down on one knee with a surprise proposal (maybe Jake?).

Anyway, I think the most dramatic events are yet to come. Fear not, Jake fans. I think this boy will be back.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts,

Suzanne