- Juan Pablo chooses Nikki, but he doesn't propose
Family Meet-and-Greet in St. Lucia
Juan Pablo's entire family: brother, sister, niece. cousin, his mom and dad and of course Camila.
Clare is up first. The first introduction with Camila was a little awkward. Camila didn't even seem to recognize she was in the room, even though she was like a foot away from her and Juan Pablo pointed to her. I think his family thought she was crazy when she said her mother was Mexican and her whole family speaks Spanish, but she doesn't and only understands a little bit. I still don't understand how you grow up with that much of a Spanish background and are that clueless about the language.
Juan Pablo's mom told Clare that he is hyperactive and is sometimes rude. Clare said that even though they had a disagreement, but they communicated and it was all OK. I wouldn't exactly call what they did as perfect communication. They seemed to talk in circles forever.
His cousin talked to Clare and afterward, he told JP that she is very in love with him and they both agreed that she was very ready to be married and have a family.
His dad was very sweet and he even told her that he loved her and that even if it didn't work out with them that he would think of her. Wow.
Nikki arrives with flowers for his mom. She sat next to Juan Pablo, who was holding Camila on his lap. She looked so bored, as she stared off into space while Nikki was talking. I don't think Camila really thinks much of these 2.
She talked to his dad, and he thought she was honest and that she would be able to handle Juan Pablo.
His mom asked her what they would do on the weekends. Nikki said that she knows that he has Camila on the weekends and she could see them going to the beach and playing games. His mom asked her if she was in love, and Nikki said "yes". "Are you sure?" "Yes."
His cousin asked her how much fighting she can take because he tends to walk away when thinks things are getting difficult. She said she wasn't worried about the fighting, and that she was ready to see what the future holds.
I have to say I'm definitely Team Nikki. I know A LOT of the girls had some not nice things to say about her after the show, but I think Nikki is the better choice. Clare is just annoying, and I think his relationship with her is more superficial than his relationship with Nikki.
The fans in the live audience brought up the fact that the family was kind of warning both Nikki and Clare, and none of them seemed super sure about how ready he is for marriage. They also weren't shy about the fact that he is brutally honest, often rude, and tends to walk away when things get difficult. Red flags going up all over if his family is saying these kinds of things. His mom even said "I'm pretty sure he's ready". Yikes!
Final Date with Clare
They went on a helicopter ride for views of the island: classic Bachelor date. As the helicopter landed, Clare says that there was no camera on them and there was no audio. She said he leaned in, and she said she was expecting something romantic. However, what he said was so disturbing to her that she had trouble describing exactly what he said. She said he told her something that no girl wants to hear. I'm thinking...just tell us what he said already! She said that he told her he didn't really know her, and then said something sexual that she didn't want to repeat. I'm having a hard time figuring out what that could be that follows "I don't really know you". Any way, she goes on to say that what he said was very offensive and made her feel really awful. Wow! This coming from someone who was totally in love with the guy just a few seconds before this happens, so it must have been pretty horrific. As they get off the helicopter, he drags her by the hand up this hill that seemed like it took forever for them to climb. It seems like Clare is thinking "I hope that helicopter sticks around because I need to get out of here!"
Back in the hotel, Clare is crying and she again talks about what he said to her, and she elaborated a little more by saying that he said that he didn't know her very well and that he loved hooking up with her. Whoa! Everyone knows that's always what happens on The Bachelor (except for with Sean), but no one EVER talks about it!!! She said she wanted to be treated with respect and not seen as just an object. For once, I'm on Clare's side with this one.
JP shows up for the evening part of the date and she doesn't greet him with a kiss, and he begs her over and over for a besito. She says "I need to talk to you". Looks like he's about to have Andi part 2. She starts off by saying that she wanted to talk about their conversation in the helicopter. She asked him to tell her what he said when there were no cameras around. He said "OK, remind me". She said that he talked to her about things that happened when they were together, and he said it was in private so "Iss OK". She said that he told her that he didn't know her at all, and he said he meant that they didn't know each other enough. He asked her if that's why she wouldn't give him a kiss, and she said that she wanted to be able to talk about it. He said go ahead and talk about it...not "let us talk about it". Apparently, that's another cultural/language barrier...either that or he doesn't really want to talk about it, and he's just going to pretend to listen to her talk and then try to defend himself.
At this point, she's thinking that this is done if he can't tell her that they have more than just a physical chemistry because she wants more than that. Just like Andi, she finally saw a side of Juan Pablo that immediately told her that this isn't right for her. She told him that the kissing is wonderful, but she wants more than that. He told her the best thing she did was give him the no kissing rule in Korea. Then he said not to blame the kissing on him because she was the one who broke that rule in Korea and not him. Wow...he just seems like he has to always be right and always has to have the final say in everything.
Somehow at the end of the conversation, he was able to work his charm on her and she ended up actually feeling like things were OK. Um...did you forget about what he said to you that had you so upset and ready to leave because he made you feel awful? She said "tonight, I know that he wants me here." Really? That's what you got from that conversation?
Suddenly he starts playing music on his phone, the song that they listened to on their first date. She asked him if he liked this song and he said yes, and she said he should play it at their wedding. Then there was some awkward singing by her and then by him. Why? Just make it stop. I can't take it any more.
I think this will go down in history as the worst final date at the final 2 ever.
I have to say I loved Sharleen's reaction to the whole Clare thing. She was spot on about how he was patronizing her and not really telling her specific things he liked about her. Sean even said that he was just talking in circles like he normally does.
Final Date with Nikki
Do you think he's going to talk about his time with Clare? That would be very predictable at this point.
They spend the day on a boat. He asked her if she had any concerns. She said she thinks sometimes he's guarded and might not be opening up as much as he could. She thinks what they have is so special that she can't imagine that he has that with someone else.
The evening part of the date goes about the same as Clare's: a lot of talking. Nikki's in love with him and is wanting him to tell her the same thing. Then there's more of classic Nikki just staring into space, "thinking".
She gives him a picture of them riding a horse and she has a card in which she thanks him for the amazing experience and how much she loved being with his family and Camila. He said "thank you........*kiss*............I'll see you tomorrow". Maybe not the reaction she was looking for. He gets up and whispers "I've got to get all my...stuff", as if it's kind of junk that he could care less about. Again...kind of rude JP.
He leaves, and now Nikki's crying. Cut to an absolutely quiet audience. Awkward!
So let's see, it's 9:35, that means after the commercial, there is only 20 minutes left. I don't think that's enough time to watch him picking out rings, so it looks like the spoilers were right...no proposal. But wait...he does have a ring...
Juan Pablo's Decision
Nikki says she will absolutely say "yes" if Juan Pablo asks her to marry him. Clare says this has all been her version of a "perfect fairytale" and at the end, she could have a ring on her finger. Wait, so all her crying, and Juan Pablo blaming her for the ocean incident and then the rude, sexual comment that she couldn't even talk about, which made her feel awful...all that was her idea of perfect fairytale? Are you kidding me? She is so sure that it's her, and that he couldn't possibly have what he has with her, with anyone else. Really? Him not really knowing you...he couldn't possibly feel that way with Nikki? She said nothing he said the other night led her to believe he had any doubts. So, him not really knowing her...that's not a doubt?
Clare arrives on a boat, and makes that long, slow walk towards JP. He barely has a smile on his face. He kind of moans when she reaches him, and he kind of mumbles, in an "I don't care" kind of attitude "how are you". Boy, could you be any more obvious? Apparently he could, because Clare is beaming from ear to ear like she just won the lottery. This isn't going to be pretty. She said she's nervous and he said, of course "it's OK". So, apparently he wasn't going to say anything else, so Clare had to start talking about how at times she wanted to bolt, and the times she questioned things, but she was there because they have something special and she believes in him. He said they've had their ups and downs and she is unbelievable and an amazing woman, but he's been honest from the beginning. He said he needed to follow what was best for him and he has to say goodbye to her. He was going to hug her, and she put out her hands and physically pushed him away. She said she stuck around because she believed in him, and last night she needed the reassurance and he told her that he could see himself with her and having babies. She said she saved this moment for the man of her dreams, and that wasn't him. She said he had every opportunity to tell her how he felt, just like Sharleen and Andi did when they walked away. She got very upset and when he tried to talk, she said she wasn't finished. She said she thought she knew what kind of man she thought he was. She told him that he shouldn't have made her go through what he just did and that she lost respect for him and wouldn't want her children to have a father like that, and she stormed away so hurt and upset.
Clare made her way back to Chris and he asked if she was OK, and she said "no". Cut back to Juan Pablo, and he said "whew, I'm glad I didn't pick her." Oh wow...that is NOT going to win him any fans. The few fans he did have probably aren't going to be able to get over that one. That was pretty low! Another Bachelor first...an "I'm glad I didn't pick her"...wow! Too bad Nikki couldn't have watched that go down before her turn...it might have affected her response.
I've never been a huge fan of Clare, but I feel awful for her!
Nikki's turn. She's pretty sure she's going to be engaged after this. He's definitely smiling more than he was when Clare walked in. She starts rambling about never feeling like this before and wanting to be a part of his family. He said he loves so many things about her. He said she would be a good step-mom for Camila. He said he had a ring in his pocket. He said he likes her a lot but wasn't ready to propose, but he is 100% sure he doesn't want to let her go. So, he asks her to accept the final rose, and she said "absolutely". Not exactly what she was hoping for, but at least she fared better than Clare. Not even an "I love you".
And then as they fade out, as Nikki and Juan Pablo are hugging and kissing, he says "don't get cranky, I know it's hot...you can get cranky later, not now." What?! What?!
After The Final Rose Special
Chris has been teasing that Juan Pablo has a surprise for the live After The Final Rose. Anyone want to take a bet that he's going to propose to Nikki? As if his season hasn't been controversial and "shocking" enough, he has to make it even more memorable by not proposing on the day he chose the final girl, it seems totally like something he would do, to want to do it live.
Time to bring out poor Clare. I kind of hope she lets JP have it again on stage. Chris asked her about the comment in the helicopter and she still didn't want to repeat what he said. She said hearing what he said was a real letdown and it was very disappointing. She said she should have left and she should have listened to her gut. She said she wanted to go into the whole experience with an open heart and with her guard completely down. She trusted that he was there wanting what she wanted. Chris asked her if she wanted to talk to Juan Pablo (because normally they have the lead come out and talk with the "runner up"). She said she thought about it, and she said she had never been able to stand up to a man the way she did and that was all the closure she needed. She said she also didn't want to have to sit there and get fed any more B.S. I have to say, she handled the whole thing very classy, and she actually changed my mind about her a little bit.
Juan Pablo's turn in the hotseat. It's no secret Chris hasn't been a big fan, so let's see how this goes down. He asks again if he regrets anything that he did or said. He said, he wasn't there to play games and he was always straightforward. Chris tried to talk and Juan Pablo cut him off "can I talk?' Geez! Chris asked about Clare and he said they had a rollercoaster and it is what it is, and blah blah blah. Lots of talking in circles again. He seemed so confused about the helicopter comment and why he should have any regrets...only because he didn't watch it with everyone. Um...weren't you there when it happened?
Nikki's turn in the hotseat. She said she's still very much in love, but she doesn't know if he loves her. They've been "together" for about 4 months, and he still hasn't told her he loves her? So is that his big secret, he's going to say he loves her? I sure hope he's not going to propose if he's never told her he loves her. She said it's been hard being the one to say "I love you" first, but she's happy and his actions speak louder than words. Well, maybe if he's really honest, he's going to break up with her? I'm so confused, I have absolutely no idea what his surprise could be. He could be starting his own talk show called "It's OK" for all I know!
Juan Pablo comes back out and the audience is so quiet! This whole thing is just really awkward. Chris says that he heard that Juan Pablo told the network executives that he had a big surprise planned for tonight. JP looks at him all crazy, and he said he never said that and there is no surprise. So the surprise is that there is NO SURPRISE! Well played, JP, well played. Apparently just another thing to get lost in translation. He said he kept the secret (of who he had chosen) and his "surprise" is that they are going to start their relationship out in the open like a normal couple, and that's the only surprise.
Chris asks how he feels about Nikki and he said he feels fabulous. Chris said "how do you feel about her". He said he shows her how he feels about her and she's happy with that. Chris asked if he loves her and he said he wasn't going to answer the question. He said some feelings are private and they are glad the show is done. He said the show hasn't been easy and he's glad he has a boxer who has taught him how to dodge things (negative comments I guess). Then he goes on to say that what he was going to say before when Chris cut him off (cue the boos from the audience), that he is honest and the people in the computer say things of support and sometimes not. At this point, I'm so confused. I know part of it is that his English isn't that good, but seriously, I don't think he knows how to speak any kind of coherent sentence whatsoever. He just talks around the subject and never actually answers a question. Meanwhile, Nikki looks like she would rather be anywhere than on stage with him. She looks embarrassed and I think a little hurt because he keeps dodging the question about how he really feels about her. He keeps answering for her saying that she's OK with the way he talks to her and shows his feelings. I don't really think she's that OK with it to be honest, and he's only making things worse and more obvious that she's not...by saying that she's OK with it!
Chris keeps forcing the issue and asking Juan Pablo to explain himself and his feelings. He got input from Sean who said that he knew he was in love with Catherine and couldn't wait to tell her. Chris said it's been a rough ride, and he'd like to say that they were in love but he isn't sure what he's looking at. Nikki continues to sit in silence and smile, having nothing to say about it. She obviously can't even defend him because she doesn't believe what he's saying. I never thought I'd say it, but Clare actually had the guts to stand up to him and put him in his place, and apparently Nikki's self-esteem is so low, that this is OK to her. Finally Chris asked her what she thought, and she said that a lot of couples will be on the show and say they're in love, when you don't really know if you can believe them or not. I can respect that, and I don't think they should say they are in love if they are not. But there's just something not right about the way he talks about it and seems to be leading her on. It's clear that Nikki's way more in love than he is, so they may not really be on the same page with things. I don't know how much of the last 4 months they've spent together or how many conversations they've had, but it sure seems like they haven't said one word to each other since St. Lucia. That's just now how any other couples have acted at this point in the show.
After the break, Chris makes a joke saying "we're back with Nikki and Juan Pablo who are engaged and clearly in love"...haha! Chris asked what their plans are, and Juan Pablo said they've made plans, and they drastically changed 2 weeks ago after The Women Tell All. He said it was private and it was something that production told them. Chris asked what happened on The Women Tell All, and he said it wasn't because of anything on the show. What?! That makes no sense whatsoever. Why would something production said to them 2 weeks ago, drastically change their plans about moving forward with their relationship? He said they are going to start "today" with their relationship. It's odd that he says that because most other couples start as soon as they stop filming after the final rose ceremony. He acts like something changed in the last 4 months, and they are starting over now.
Everyone criticized Juan Pablo for saying that everything now is going to be private. Sean said he didn't want to burst his bubble, but they are still going to be in the public eye no matter what they do. Catherine told him not to bite the hand that fed you, basically because he was saying that he came on the show to find someone and now that it's done no one needs to know what happens with them.
I really feel bad for Chris Harrison, because interviewing Juan Pablo has to be the most difficult thing he has ever had to do. It was pretty funny how the further the season went, the more he let it show that he wasn't really liking Juan Pablo all that much. As he got ready to announce the next Bachelorette, he said "not gonna lie, I'm ready to move on". I bet you are Chris!
Next Bachelorette
It's Andi! ...as predicted and spoiled by RealitySteve.
Season premiere for The Bachelorette is May 19...here's hoping for a less complicated season!
Final Thoughts
I just realized that this might be the first time that they didn't replay both the "letdown" and the "proposal" when each of the girls are in the hotseat. I'm guessing they didn't replay Clare's just because we had just seen it a few minutes before and it was incredibly painful the first time we saw it. But normally, they replay the final, what usually is a proposal, but in this case was just an "I like you a lot...will you except the final rose", when the happy couple is being interviewed. Interesting.
Something else I just thought of and would LOVE to have an answer to: why did Juan Pablo have a ring...a ring that he had in his pocket the day he picked Nikki? He had a ring that he potentially could have proposed with, but chose not to. He had a ring, for a girl who, 4 months later, he STILL can't say "I love you" to. Does anyone else wonder what the heck happened to the ring, and why did he have it in the first place, if he had no intention of proposing?
There are SO many questions. But it's VERY obvious that JP is never going to give us any satisfying answers, so there's no point in even trying to ask him any more. I hope he and Nikki are happy, but if ever there was a couple who didn't look like they would be able to go the distance, it's these 2. (OK, maybe Ben and Courtney were a more obvious failure.)
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