The Bachelorette, Ep. 8.11: The Finale and After the Final Rose

I'm glad to be going into this finale already knowing who she picks. No surprises, just waiting to sit back and enjoy.

Emily's family joins her in Curacao to help her make her big decision.

Jef's up first. He seems so calm and relaxed talking to her Mom. You can tell he means what he says. Talking to her brother, he says the last guy she brought home was Ricky. What about Brad? Hmm... Her brother seems very impressed, so it looks like he has the green light from Mom and brother. What about Dad? Yep, he's got his approval too. Things are looking good for Jef.

Arie's turn to meet the family. He's nervous, and when he's nervous, he talks a lot. They just sit there and listen to him ramble on about fishing. So awkward. He did win some points for pulling out a box with all of his roses in it. Mom approved, and she and Emily's brother are confused. They both like both of the guys. Dad also gives his blessing to Arie. So, they aren't going to be any help to Emily.

Emily's Mom's advice: wait on an engagement. She thinks she should wait and see how they are with Ricki. Emily is still debating whether or not to have the guys meet Ricki, let alone whether or not to accept a proposal.

Jef's last date:

They have a serious talk about the future, and he tries to convince her that meeting Ricki is important. She was really hesitant, but after talking to him, she suggested that he meet her that day. It seems kind of odd that she was so hesitant, but then all of a sudden she was like “so, I thought it would be best if you come to see her where we're staying.” Seems kind of like she was planning it all along and just wanted to see what he would say.

Emily says that if their meeting doesn't go well, then that would be the end of their relationship. How could it not go well? Seriously? They're so cute! I loved Jef wearing Ricki's goggles.

After the date, Emily said that Ricki asked her if he could come back tomorrow. Aww! He then presents her with a book of Curacao. Hidden in the book, he drew stick figures of them in places where they were, haha!

Time for Arie's date:

I don't really need to even see this, because I already know exactly what they are going to do. Basically, it's going to be a lot of kissing, and very few words.

But wait, is there a twist about to happen? Emily wants to talk to Chris (Harrison, that is, not rejected Chris). She basically tells him that her date with Jef and Ricki was so wonderful, that it totally made up her mind. She knows that Jef is the one she wants to be with. She doesn't want to go on the date because she already knows he's not the one. (Take that tabloids, who said she chose Arie and he rejected her, and then she was left with Jef.)

Guess there won't be any kissing for a change. I really didn't think she would make her mind up that fast.

Looks like Arie is about to have a “Sean” moment. He has no idea what is going to happen. Like Emily said, there really hasn't been anything leading up to this point, for him to see it coming. I know it would be hard for him to be let down at the final “limo” moment, but to be all ready to spend the day together, and get let go before it takes place? Wow...that's rough!

Did anyone tell Arie that The Bachelorette is like Big Brother: “expect the unexpected”. Guess not.

Her opening to say “I have something I need to tell you”, should have happened before he rubbed his love potion on her...just sayin'... Poor guy. It doesn't help him any to hear that she thought it was going to be him.

Whoa! Deja vu! Arie leaves, and he's very upset/angry. Emily goes running after him. This is EXACTLY like Ashley and Ben!!!! I really didn't expect him to react that way at all! Of course he would be upset, but he kind of threw a little temper tantrum, as he slammed the car door.

It kind of makes you wonder, if Arie had the first date: (a) would she have let him meet Ricki, and (b) would she have known so quickly that Jef was the one? I'm sure she probably would have come to the same conclusion, but she said that seeing Jef with Ricki pushed her over the edge. I'm sure Arie would have probably been just as good with Ricki, so I'm guessing that would have made her decision a lot harder. I'm betting after watching this that he's probably wishing that he would have been given the same chance that Jef was.

Haha! They cut to the live studio audience just after viewing Arie getting dumped, and there isn't a dry eye in the house! It was like someone died! Geez Louise!

Such an interesting location for the proposal this season. Usually, it's on some cliff, or on a beach with the ocean in the background. This season? In the middle of a town, with buildings all around. Not exactly the most romantic setting they've ever done. Emily says that she has a big decision in front of her and that she's not really sure what she's going to do. It sounds like she's still deciding between Jef and Arie. But really, the decision she's referring to is whether or not to accept a proposal. She is fearful that this engagement could end up like her engagement to Brad.

Proposal time:

Yay Emily! She started the conversation, so he didn't have to wonder if he should propose or not. Gotta say, I thought Jef would be a little more excited when Emily said that he was the only one to meet Ricki and that she didn't go on a date with Arie. He's so sweet though, and says all the right things...and she says...after a very long, and kind of awkward pause...YES! And what a rock! Another Bachelorette first: immediately after the accepted proposal, they are joined by Ricki, and the three walk off into the sunset (OK, not quite, but almost).

Live After the Final Rose:

The big news: she's still in love!

She's nervous to see Arie again because she still cares for him and she knows that she owes him closure. We learn that Arie is doing better now, but after he went back home, he wasn't doing so great. He actually booked a flight to Charlotte to see Emily. However, once he arrived, he thought better of it and just called her and talked to her. He also left his journal on her doorstep, because at the time, he thought if she could read his words, that she might change her mind. Still Emily didn't tell him that she was with Jef, and Arie said that if she would have just told him that, that he would have gotten closure. He also talks to Jef a lot because they were best friends on the show. He said that Jef actually helped him move on. Emily then returned his journal, and she said that she didn't read it out of respect for him and for Jef, because she said it wouldn't have changed anything.

Jef finally gets to join Emily on stage. They are happy and doing things as a family. How cute are the family pictures and him fishing with Ricki?

First thing they are going to do now? Oh, just go to Africa and build wells for people. Wow! Beyond that, Jef is going to move to Charlotte. They won't live together until after the wedding.

I'm happy for them both, and I hope they can make it work. It would be nice to add another success story to combat the multitude of failures.

Next up: Bachelor Pad starts tomorrow night. And in case you haven't heard, Roberto is going to be the next Bachelor; no word when it will be filmed or when it will air. Since it hasn't filmed yet, I'm hoping that he backs out, so they can ask Sean :)