We made it, Bachelorette Fans!!! Congrats on sticking in there long enough to make it to tonight’s finale. I left work an hour early to mentally prepare for tonight. The Fiance is back to watch with me. Hooray!
We start out at the Big Island of Hawaii at the Westin. We get a brief recap of the season (yawn…let’s get to the good stuff). Jillian first has a date with Ed. Initially they sit down and Ed reassures her that his fantasy suite issues (which we still are not very clear on) are a thing of the past. They go to meet Glen and Peggy, Jillian’s parents. Cousin Tory and Grandma Marjorie are also there.
Ed explains to the family that he used to be married to his job. That he left and came back. Ed has gorgeous green eyes that I don’t think I noticed before. Peggy starts drilling Ed with tough questions to which he gives satisfactory responses. Jillian privately tells her mother that she is not worried about Ed’s feelings for her. She seems very relaxed and calm. Ed says straight out that he wants to propose to Jillian. Ed asks Jillian’s father what he thinks should he propose to her and the dad says he’d be thrilled. Ed and Glen put on some grass skirts and coconut boobs and do some hula dancing with the girls. It looks like the family meet and greet has gone successfully.
It’s the next day and it’s Kiptyn. He greets her in nasty turquoise plaid. Where on earth did he get this shirt? At a cattle ranch? He’s still very cute though, so that’s ok. Jillian is wearing a yellow top on both of her dates and looks very happy and tan. Kipper and Jilly just make out. He brings her back to the house to meet the whole family. Kiptyn says he’s a “work hard, play hard” kind of guy. When Jillian lists the things she likes about Kiptyn, it sounds like she’s selling him. “He’s cute, he is close with his family, he volunteers…” Maybe he should hire her after the show is over to be his PR rep. The mom thinks that his personality is much more like Jillian.
The dad asks Kippy whether he’s in love with Jillian. Why he can’t simply just answer “yes,” he Hdoes say that down the road, he can see having a life, marrying and having children with Jillian. But it doesn’t sound like he is actually in love currently. Kiptyn said he would never propose unless he was 100% sure. After the meet and greet, Jillian and Kiptyn kiss and make-out some more.
Once again, there are two remaining contestants and the bachelor/rette is confused. Shocker. Jillian seeks feedback from her family. Her father tells Jillian that Ed asked permission to marry Jillian. Dad is kinda leaning toward Ed and Mom is kinda on Kippy’s side. I think Tory could be the next Bachelorette. She’s hot and seems nice. The kind of person you want as your friend. Jillian pulls Tory aside to get some girlfriend advice – she confesses to Tory that her night with Ed was not so hot. Why do we keep hearing about this? It’s totally to confuse us that she’s not absolutely head over heals for him.
Ed says he wants to “seal the deal” with Jillian. She picks him up in a red jeep and takes him to a helicopter. This must be some kind of record for the amount of helicopter rides in one season. In his sweaty, 70s style tank top, the two start making out. They land in a jungle area and walk to a waterfall in the middle of a rainforest. They start making out in the middle of the jungle. At one angle, it looks like her hair is on fire, until I realize there is a lit torch behind them. Phew, I was worried the shocking ending would be that Jillian had second degree burns!! There is a nice little setup of lunch in front of them. They start making out again and Ed calls Jillian beautiful and a “genius” for keeping him around. These two could be in a prison and think it was romantic. They go into the waterfalls area and swim and kiss. There’s a lot of pressure for them to be passionate.
Later that night with Ed, we learn (thank goodness) that the sexual chemistry is back on. OH YEAH. Cheesy enough – ABC then pans to the volcano exploding. How poetic.
Next we’re up to Kiptyn’s date and Jillian and him take a motor boat ride to a private beach in Hawaii. They make a little picnic on a surfboard. Jillian goes on and on about how perfect Kiptyn is. She’s either buttering us up for her picking him or is campaigning for his candidacy to be the next Bachelor. They hang out on a surfboard in the ocean and just hug and make out. Personally, I would have gotten seasick, 20 minutes into this surfboard hanging, but that’s just me.
It’s nighttime and Jillian’s greets Kiptyn in a strapless purple dress. Kiptyn tries to explain to her as Jillian just gazes into his eyes that he’d be really hurt if he lost her. He says he knows he’s moved a little slower but now he’s full steam ahead. He basically tells her that he’s ready for it all: love, marriage, children, etc. Kiptyn tells Jillian that he’s falling in love with her and that he would like for her to come live with him in San Diego. As they lie in bed with glasses of wine, kissing and staring at each other, I say to the Fiance, “I don’t know. Maybe she does pick Kiptyn afterall. I mean really – there are no doubts about him.”
The Fiance’s response: “Don’t kid yourself. It’s Ed all the way.”
It’s the morning of the big day. Jillian wakes up and thinks about her two remaining men. She says she worried that on the last day she wouldn’t know who to choose – but she says that she knows. We see Kiptyn going ring shopping and then out of nowhere he’s going for a jog on the beach in an equally ugly pair of plaid khaki shorts (who runs in long khaki shorts?). His chest is glistening in the sun and he’s tanner and hotter than ever. Now I know he doesn’t win. This is all part of the hoopla to make him the next Bachelor. Would NOT be surprised if this is announced tomorrow night.
Next Ed goes into Neil Lane and picks a winner. Both guys are talking about how devastated they’ll be if Jillian doesn’t pick them. We see Kiptyn shirtless from like 30 different angles.
Jillian gets dressed in a beautiful strapless, sweetheart neckline white gown. She’s already got the dress – they should just get married. Everybody is in a limo, on their way to find out what the hell is going on. Both men say that they want to spend the rest of their lives with her.
Jillian arrives at a gorgeous house and walks across a wooden platform over the pool, awaiting her men. I can’t believe they would wait for this moment to reintroduce Reid. I mean – come on, isn’t there a cut-off for letting him come back? I like Reid, but how on earth does he stand a chance right now?
The first limo pulls up and Kiptyn in a navy suit comes out of the limo. OH NO. It’s not KIPPER!!! KIPPER will be the next BACHELOR!! HOLY COW!! HOLY COW!!!! I wonder if he’ll just drown himself in the pool once she rejects him. When he greets her, he does all of the talking. He’s clearly nervous and he doesn’t stop talking. I wonder if he’s supposed to do the talking. Kiptyn says: I love you and I want to spend this life with you.
Jillian then starts talking – since she met him, he has been the one that she’s been looking for. She tells him that she’s fallen in love with somebody else. Kiptyn says that it hurts a lot, that he loves her and wants her to be happy. His last words, “You’re an incredible woman and Ed is a lucky man.” As they walk out, I wonder if he’s going to push Jillian in the pool. I also wonder what he was doing futzing around with his coat – probably wondering if he still had the ring. Kiptyn is teary eyed in the limo, but the ever articulate Kiptyn is still campaigning to be the Next Bachelor. He said he would have pulled out the ring, but she started talking. He was waiting for her to finish so he could propose, but she dumped him. Hate when that happens!! At least she didn’t have to hear him propose and then reject him AND a proposal. Kiptyn gets his first ever heartbreak. Congratulations!! This will be a good thing for you in the long run.
The Fiance says he should have shaved.
Now that Kiptyn is out of the way, Jillian can focus on Ed. Ahhh, but not so soon. A red minivan arrives and Reid steps out with his sneakers on. So she’s expecting her future husband Ed to show up and out comes REID?? Ahhh, that’s a tough position to be in. Reid shows up and declares that he’s going to tell her everything and then he’s going to propose to her. HOLY SHIT!!!! (Sorry, it just slipped out).
He marches up and hugs Jillian. Then he tells her that he was an idiot. So he comes back to tell her that he loves her (moments before she could possibly get engaged to another guy!!). Jillian says letting him go was the toughest thing she ever had to do. He gets down on one knee and holy cow – PROPOSES!!! They are locked in an embrace for a while, then she says she will think about this. She goes inside to think and meanwhile, Reid stands where Jillian just stood waiting for Ed. How awesome would it be if Ed came in and saw Reid there instead of Jillian?? Maybe Ed would propose to Reid (or vice versa). Amazing that she had three guys willing to propose to her in one day. That must be really overwhelming!!! He is sweating like crazy (so am I!) and she leaves to go think. The Fiance thinks that Reid could have dressed a little nicer. Probably, but he also had to schelp from Philly back to Hawaii – quite a journey this guy came to propose!
Meanwhile, Ed is still on his way there. Ring in hand. Chris the Host steps in and basically tells Jillian who to choose. Good job, Chris! Is this the first time in Bachelorette history that he’s made the decision for the Bachelorette? Jillian tells Reid that she has truly fallen in love with Ed. She just hugs him and apologizes. She goes to walk him out. Not to worry, I am sure that the entire Philadelphia JDate population will be looking for a real estate agent after tonight’s episode, begging for the chance to meet him. I really hope that Ed doesn’t pull up while they are hugging. She mumbles more apologies into his ear and cries her goodbyes. I have no idea what she is saying, but it seems sincere.
Is anybody else going to come back to propose? Perhaps Dave? Jake? Michael Stag? I wouldn’t be surprised at this point. That was really rough to spring that on her right after she rejected Kip. I wonder why they didn’t give him a chance to talk with her before the actual final part of the show. Perhaps if she had 24 hours to think it through and if Chris Harrison hadn’t given her the pep talk he had with her, the results could have been different. But I guess ABC needs to deliver their shocking ending – and so here it is.
After she gets rid of Reid, she goes back to her spot and says, “Ed better not F-in disappoint me!” Hilarious. She says she’s 100% sure she made the right decision.
As he’s about to show up – Jillian calls him her best friend and that she’s 100% madly in love with him. Ed gets out and says he’s nervous, he’s scared, and he just wants to be with her. Ed gives her a whole speech about everything he loves about her, and he says that before he can go further, he needs to know that she loves him. She then lets him have it. She’s in love. She’s wanted to tell him for so long. Ed then gets down on one knee and proposes. She happily accepts and then we get a cool video montage of the two of them together. It’s a good thing he came back!!!
Congrats to Jillian and Ed!!!! I think the Fiance got choked up. I did too. I’m happy for them. I am sure Kiptyn and Reid will have no problem finding their happy ending too. Good luck to them.
This has been a long and adventurous journey. Jillian started with 30 men and ended with 3 proposals. I started with a Boyfriend and ended with a Fiance. Certainly, our lives will never be the same. Thanks so much for joining us in the journey. I will comment a bit on tomorrow’s show and then we’ll be in the off season. I hope you will continue to check in to this blog for more updates about this crazy show, and other shows I watch, updates on our wedding planning and hopefully – some published writing from me in the near future (fingers crossed!). Happy rest of the summer to all of you. Please leave your comments here. Were you surprised? Do you approve of her decision? Let’s hear it!!
Anonymous says
Felt sad for both Kiptyn and Reid; this was a good outcome, Jillian seems very happy. Think it was pre-planned all along that Kiptyn was prepped for the next Bachelor. ABC is ALWAYS 2 jumps ahead. Hope Jillian and Ed's relationship endures; they look good together.
Anonymous says
And I thought last week was the best show I had ever seen.
Jillian is great.
Ed was not my first choice, but in matters of the heart, who can figure?
Ed really got lucky.
With that said, let's see where they are three months from now, away from the cameras.
Stacey B, I love your blog, and would look forward to anything you would write.
Have a great summer, and enjoy the fiance.
kwt says
This show could definitely have been 1 hour instead of 2, but I'm satisfied with the outcome. I always liked Ed, right from the beginning, but was a bit iffy about him when he first came back. But seeing him and Jill interacting tonight, I really believed in them, much more than I did in her and Kiptyn, and I'm glad she didn't choose Reid, not because I don't think he was a great guy, but talk about a heck of a rushed decision. I think I would have lost some respect if she'd gone from 100% sure to "Oh, changed my mind, it's Reid" in a span of 5 minutes. That would have made Jason's change of heart last season look good!
If Kiptyn is the next Bachelor, that's a good thing. I need to drop a show from my TV watching and I really don't think I can stomach a whole season of watching Kiptyn trying to inhale his dates when he kisses them. Watching him and Jill excessively making out in this episode earlier on, it was actually bothering me, like seeing two horny teenagers on the bus unable to keep their hands off of each other. It was just too much. Makes you wonder how long THAT would last if they were back in the real world before they got tired of each other.
Anyways, Kiptyn and Reid will both do well. They were both good guys, but I think Jillian made a good choice for herself.
Anonymous says
Wow!!! I liked this season of the Bachelorette, and I loved Ed for Jill from the beginning. I'm glad she chose him. The "shorty shorts", I don't know about. But the man, adorable!!! I'm happy for both of them.
hanlil says
Stacey, you shouldn't be wrapping up your blog yet…there's still another episode tomorrow night!
Anyway, I guess I'm happy with tonight's outcome. I was a Reid fan but it was just too late in the game for him to return. If the producers weren't so intent on ratings they would have allowed Reid to talk to Jillian earlier. I'm curious to hear what Reid has to say on tomorrow night's show.
Also, please don't let Kiptyn be the next bachelor…I'm hoping for Michael and his twin.
Anonymous says
I am very happy with Jillian's choice! Am definitely an Ed fan 🙂 And I am also a Stacey's blog fan, for that matter. Seriously, I laugh out loud when reading. Thank you!!!
Anonymous says
Yay! I'm so happy, I have been an Ed fan all along too. I got sick to my stomach reading another board that bashed him all the time. I'm so happy she picked him! I hope they are happy for many years to come! *crossing fingers!*
Anonymous says
Jillian went the Trista route. She picked the guy she knew for sure loved her and would propose. And it was the smart route. I like Ed, I LOVE Reid, and I am lukewarm on Kiptyn.
I never got past the ears with Kiptyn.
Good for Jillian and Ed. I hope it lasts, and this season was a good one.
I prefer Reid be the next bachelor.
Debby/Toronto
Anonymous says
I was so nervous she might be Kiptyn. I never got what she saw in him.I was too nervous to watch who was getting out of the limo first. I was SO happy she picked ED! I loved him right from the start. My fellow Canadian girl made the right decision and I truly hope they are happy together. She is one lucky girl! Ed is so hot and yummy!!!
I don't think I would watch if Kyptin was the next Bachelor. Not sure I could stand to listen to his voice for too long.
Anonymous says
I'm so happy my Peace River girl chose Ed! I had never noticed his green eyes before tonight either! Who wouldn't fall in love with him! I read her blog that said the scene last week was all edited to look like there was a problem, but that Ed had a sunburn and she was just rubbing Aloe on his back. I'm hoping Micheal is the next Bachelor. Love your blog! Look forward to tomorrow's ATFR!
Jennifer Atterman says
IF YOU LIKED JILL'S JEWELRY TONIGHT AND THROUGHOUT THE SEASON- CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE!!! Select pieces are 25% off until Aug. 10.
http://www.stelladot.com/jenniferatterman
On her final Hawaii date w/ Kippy she's wearing my turquoise sea drop earrings (only $29) and that night my Kelly Cuff in Black.
We ship anywhere in the US and Canada, and Jillian knows one of our stylists. Clearly she has great taste in jewelry…and decent taste in guys, though she dissed Kip and Reid:-(
Madly Minnesotan says
Stacey, thanks for the great blog…I'm sorry to say I'm really disappointed. I thought Kiptyn was really her equal — had a well rounded life and was super fun with lots of interests and friends. Ears, shmears. Look at those abs, say why dontcha? I'm seriously concerned about Ed. Women love to hear those things "you helped me reprioritize…you make me a better man…" at first, but then it gets sickening, and you wish you had chosen a man who was already more robust and manly to begin with. And…my sister pointed out Ed has very rabbity features. Sorry to be a downer, I'll really try to like Ed more, for Jilly's sake. I think he really does adore her and that made her feel very secure. Maybe tonight's After the Final Rose Show will convince me that she really made the right choice after all! Wasn't that volcano "eruption" hilarious!? We all groaned "cheesy!" when it happened! haha. As for the new bachelor, I've got my heart set on Mike and his twin. That would be SOOooooooo fun! but Kiptyn baby would be pretty awesome too. Cheers!
Hilllary says
This show was so predictable, it was kind of boring, even with the Reid scene which was strategically planted for your viewing pleasure. Maybe they asked him to come back? He sounded like a little kid asking him Mommy if he could come out of the corner during "Time Out"…he's just not mature enough for her, but is a fun and attractive guy. He mentioned that he had done this with a past girlfriend and didn't want to make the same mistake – wrong! – never mention another girlfriend in the same breath as a proposal to another girl – you know he's still thinking about his past girlfriend! Kiptyn is great – doesn't have screen presence, so don't know what kind of Bachelor he would make, but c'mon everyone, he has a gorgeous body – stop picking. Half of our husbands don't look the way they did at 30! Kiptyn is a nice guy – just not dynamic….say shoot him for that! I think Mike Staglione should be the next Bachelor because of his phenomenol personality and great looks. Now Ed – I always knew he was the man of her dreams. And what's wrong with a man that is into his job? And what's wrong with a man that is not wooden and can't perform on the first time after sunburn and cameras flashing at him. He's normal! Jillian needs a normal guy. He is also sexy and I love the shorts…he's not a paper doll – he has a little flesh, but still has a hot body. His eyes are amazing. It is so sexy the way he stops and thinks before he talks. And he came back and it is obvious, he fell hard for Jillian. I think she knew all along, so when he left, it was completely awful for her. What is it like, when you've already decided….to have sex with these other guys. Is it hard to get into…do you think she turns them down and they know the story ahead of time? What are your feelings. Most women, but not all, couldn't do it. Wow, I don't think there are men that could do that either.
I'm so excited about tonite and please don't stop writing Stacey — love your blog and wish you all the best with the fiance.
I think Jillian should run to Chicago and live with Ed…the man has a good job and adores her…it could be paradise for them…at least almost paradise. It's never perfect, unfortunately.
Hillary says
I went on another site and there is so much stuff going around, its ridiculous. Ed with a girlfriend, Ed gay, she's with Reid now.
I have to get a life.
Anonymous says
I think she saw Kiptyn's suit and then made her decision! Just kidding…although I was not a fan of it. When Kiptyn was talking to her I was screaming at the TV – SAY SOMETHING JILL! I felt horrible for him.
I have been an Ed fan all along so am really happy for them. At least Ed paused and said I can't go on until I know how you feel. I hope they last.
Reid coming back was just sad to me. I really expected her to tell Ed that she had to think about her decision (between Ed and Reid) and we wouldn't find out until the ATFR tonight. Glad that did not happen.
Volcano erupting = ridiculous.
Anyone else see Reid opening a bottle of something in the taxi van on the way out? Poor guy.
I am happy to say I don't have a strong affinity toward Kiptyn, Jake, or Mike Stag (although he would be the best one), so I will no longer be watching the Bachelor. I needed to get rid of a show!
Keep up the great blog, Stacey. Best to you and the fiance.
Michelle says
"The Fiance thinks he should have shaved".
At my house The Husband said, "He was so busy shaving his chest that he forgot to shave his face.
Hillary says
I love it, Michelle.
I could never withstand the scrutiny on this show.I give a lot of credit to these people.
Anonymous says
Just read an article that Jill's ring was $60,000. I really wish the guys had to buy the ring themselves…
Joanne says
Thanks for another great recap. I was smiling all through the last 10 minutes. I have been a closet Ed fan since the beginning — and hope they enjoy a world of happiness.
Also wishing you and The Fiance a life time of happiness – keep us posted on your plans.
Anonymous says
I hope Kiptyn isn't the next bachelor either, I can't stand the way he kisses. I have to turn away from the tv! lol.
Christina says
Wow – that was intense. So much breakup and heartbreak the happiness almost didn't outweigh it. But I do think she made the right choice. She and Ed just make sense and seem the most real and probable as a real life couple.
This episode definitely turned us a bit and made Kip look like a much more viable candidate. When he invited her to move in with him, she looked SO happy, I thought it was a done deal. And her mom and cousin preferred Kip. But there was just a disconnect between the Kip on paper and her ability to trust the Kip in real life. I liked Jill's dad's observation that Ed is deeper. And maybe Jill needs a lower-key, less energetic counterpart.
Going into this, I was rooting for Reid, but man, oh, man, what a SLOPPY return! He couldn't even tuck in his shirt! And those sneakers? He must've been making some kind of rebel statement, but I would've liked to see him try harder, clothes wise, and flatten down his spikey hair the way he did in the last rose ceremony, like an adult. I know he isn't a poet and doesn't profess to be, but you'd think Reid would've had enough time and feedback from outside sources to come up with a better speech. It was just I love you, this is right, the others are not. And that proposal sucked! He said they "could have a lifetime together" — not that he wanted a lifetime or they deserved a lifetime. Come on! She needed to hear a promise of security, of commitment, of support — and he didn't give it. I have to wonder if he would've gotten a better outcome with a better proposal?
But Ed does make sense, and I loved that Chris actually swooped in and helped during an intense, pivotal moment! Finally showed some of his hosting chops.
You could tell Ed had memorized his speech, but it's cute that he tried so hard (as opposed to sloppy, inarticulate Reid).
My favorite moment was when she pinned the rose on Ed, and he looked up with this huge smile and kinda blinked — blinking back tears, maybe.
I found myself rooting for whichever guy was on the screen — crazy torn! — and yet, it was Ed who seemed the most invested, and whose heart I worried about breaking. They will make a great couple.
Anonymous says
Btw, Kip exited with such character, when he said, "Ed is a lucky man." Oh, man, you could tell he was envying Ed at that moment.
In his exit interview online, Kip said he respects Jill's decision and knows she's got her head on straight, whereas Reid said he thinks she made a mistake that she'll regret later. Interesting…
He obviously didn't like Ed. And he probably saw how different he is from Ed…
But other guys liked Ed, I think, and some predicted Ed would be one of the final men standing.
Anonymous says
No, I still like Reid. He looked cute in his sneakers and his untucked shirt and a breath of fresh air from the suits. Jillian made the right choice with Ed, they suit each other, and Reid should not have been expecting a yes. Too much time was lost. At the same time he is an interesting guy.
I agree with Stacey. All three of the last standing guys were great and Jillian made wise choices. She pulled through the last segment with Reid and stuck to her guns. I am not sure I would have been able to do that. And Chris gave her great advice and finally made himself useful!
Debby/Toronto